Timeline for hormone use?

My hysterectomy was in May 2009 and I thought I would have time to decide what to do about Menopause but after I was released from the hospital I went into major "illness" - migrane, pain everywhere, vomiting, and hot flashes from HELL! I was 49 at the time, it has been 3 years.

My doc put me on the lowest dosage of the Vivelle Dot 0.025 which has worked like a charm, with only a rare hot flash. I decided it was time to try to get off of it and my new MD said it wa sporbably time to try. Well I did, and man I have been back to square 1! Sick, sick, sick...last night couldn't stand it any more and put my patch back on...I already feel so much better!

I was wondering if there is a timeline or not? I will call her this week, but just wanted to know if someone had any input, I really have had no issue with the Vivelle Dot and found it to be a God send, but with concerns about long term effects of any medication I would like to find out what to do. As natural as possible. I cannot function long term with the regular menopause symptoms -

Input would be greatly appreciated.

kateema

Kateema,
I've been on hormones for 13+ years now. No way am I ready to get off of them. My doctor says as long as I have my annual exams and everything checks out okay I can continue as long as I need/want to. I just had my annual bloodwork and mammogram, everything was In fact, she even wrote on my chart "do not change a thing".

I've been on estrogen since the late 80's. I stopped for 6 weeks and found it absolutely impossible. Surgical menopause is WAY different from women in natural menopause. They still produce some much needed estrogen. If you really start doing some research, you may find that there are actually more benefits to continuing estrogen than what happens after you stop. Your dose is so very minimal and I've read that it's main use is to prevent osteoporosis.

I'm also one who's very good about seeing my Dr. on a regular basis and who will continue to use estrogen until my last breath

Thank you so much for your response, I have been kind of freaking out wondering how in the world I am going to ween myself off of this if my body is a total wreck without it!

I've been on hormone replacement now for 27 years and I will not go off. I started on just estrogen and just over the last 5 years was put on progesterone and testosterone. If I didn't have my hormone replacement, I'm one SICK person!!

I don't think it's necessary to get off at all and if you do, you might want to supplement with some type of serotonin enhancing med before trying. Several of the side effects of low estrogen are actually caused by estrogens effect on neurotransmitters, specifically serotonin.

However, the last dr visit, the dr (not the NP who I usually see) said that it's "time" to wean myself off...something about 7 years. I know what she's saying, because there is now a guildeline about 7 years after menopause, but again, she is mixing up regular meno with hysterectomy. So, I may be finding a new dr next year...*sigh*

My mom is still on a low dose premarin and she's 84...so about 25 years for her now with no issues. At one point her triglycerides got high, but she started walking every day and that took care of that.

My HRT will have to pried from my hands.

My Gyno told me I would be on it for a min of 8 years