My doctor wants to wean me off of HRT :(

Hi,
I went to my gynecologist today for my yearly physical and he wants me to go off of HRT. I am just horrified at the thought of this. I had a complete hysterectomy 18 years ago and have been on the Estraderm patch since. I am not having any problems with the Estraderm but he told me that there is a new study out that says now it is not a good thing to be on hormones for this long. He said I could get a blood clot in my leg or have a stroke. I do not want to go off of my hormones. I tried it once a couple of years ago and it was horrible. I had extreme symptoms of just about everything everyone has mentioned here. The worst was the depression, and I have never been depressed in my life. It will completely change the quality of my life. I feel like this could do me in <for real> and I am wondering if anyone has heard of this being bad for you to be on hormones for this long and if I should get a second opinion? He gave me samples of Climara that will slowly taper me off and he wants me completely off of them in 3 months. I also have diabetes so he says that I am at high risk for heart disease. I am 56 years young, but I know this is going to make me old. I thought I would be taking hormones the rest of my life. Any thoughts appreciated. Charette

I think that such a change deserves your consulting another doctor for a second professional opinion......maybe even an endocrinologist who specializes in this area.

My Mother had a hysterectomy at age 35. She has been using hrt ever since. She will be celebrating her 70th birthday, come February. She swears by her hrt and plans to take it forever. Her bone scan results were better than mine! She still works full time and is very sexually active (Sorry, Mom.....).

Personally, I figure that even if hrt could cause me to stroke or die in years to come, I would rather be happy and healthy in the meantime, as opposed to living longer and in misery....

Thank you for your thoughts on this. When I do a search online about this I find different opinions. I already see an endocrinologist for my diabetes and I will ask her at my next appointment. Right now I am having problems with my eyes being so dry that they are irritated. This is from the diabetes. I also am very achy a lot of days because of the diabetes. I can't imagine the problems I would have if I didn't take my hormones.

Charette

Awww, Charette,

I know how you feel, there are so many different opinions out there. My gyn said I could stay on it as long as I want , but does recommend being on lowest patch and even eventually trying to get off so as to mimick going through natural change. I had my hyst in '03 and I am your age. I have lowered my patch and even tried to get off several times. It wasn't too bad, but our summers are awful here in Texas and moods and sleep problems showed up.

I would try to see if you can slowly lower and then get off. Ask your dr for the vaginal estrogen cream so you won't have a problem with dryness. I have dry eye and did not notice any difference being off or on hrt. I use Refresh eye lubricant vials and this helps a lot and have tear duct plugs to keep what tears I have in there.

I really would like to eventually get off or at least get to the .03 patch. I am on the .05 vivelle now. I think some people don't have any problems on hrt , but there is the chance of increased risks after so many years and our age.

Maybe this time you will have better luck lowering and then getting off. I would give it my best and then after trying and if you are truely miserable, then you may have to make a decision based on your quality of life. I believe everything has risks and we just have to make a decision based on our family's history, our health, and how we feel and what we can live with.

Good luck and let us know how you do. hang in there, Charette. There have been several ladies here that are successfully off of hrt due to medical or family history reasons.

s

Thanks for responding. I just feel like it is a bad idea to be without any hormones after a complete hysterectomy. When people who still have their ovaries go through menopause they say they are still producing some estrogen. I believe that estrogen protects your heart and bones. Not to mention many other good reasons to stay on it. I made an appointment with another gyno today and I also will be seeing my endocrinologist on Monday. I know if I keep looking I will find someone that will keep prescribing it to me but I also know just because I find a doctor that will do that it doesn't mean it is the right thing to do. They keep changing their minds about the effects of long term therapy every few years. First it's good for you, then it's bad for you, and on and on so who knows. Charette

MY mom and aunts are in their 70's. My aunts are still on HRT and plan to be until they die. My mom couldn't tolerate it and only took it for a year. She put up with mild hot flashes for about 10 years and still deals with vaginal dryness with Estrogen cream, but otherwise she took vitamins and supplements and has done great. I couldn't tolerate HRT either and take vitamins, supplements and fish oil. I also take Zoloft to control my IBS and it keeps me emotionally on keel also. The only real menopause symptom I seem to be dealing with is joint aches. I am going to try some gloucosamine for that. My gyno only recommended the HRT for 3 years anyway and was going to wean me off so I decided why go through it twice. It made me so nauseous that even with the joint aches I feel much better off than on. Good Luck.
Happy Holidays! Vickey

I think it might just be a liablility issue. I'm dealing with my OB/GYN, endrocronologist and a Nurse Midwife who is wonderful and nautral. She is the only one that believes in the NHRT. The other two do not want me on ANY HRT!!!! I think it's a cruel trick by the drug companies!!!
They have most doctors convinced that HRT is horrible for ALL women, when it will only effect a few.
It's hard to know what to do.
Blessings