Been on hormones too long?

I was on birth control pill from age 17 to 48 (combined pill initially & switched to mini pill in my 30's).

I went on to HRT 6 weeks post op to try and sort out my emotions, hot flashes, night sweats, broken sleep and because my Dr thought I was too young to be without estrogen for bone health. After a few changes we settled on 2mg Elleste Solo which only seems to keep the flashes at bay for about 14 hours a day & I am still having night sweats.

Today I was at my local Breast Clinic as I have cysts that need checking regularly and the consultant there raised concerns about how many years I have been on hormones and has advised that I try to get off HRT quickly.

I am going to go back and talk to my Dr about this as she was happy for me to be on HRT for up to 5 years but have any of you been told this or have any advice to offer?

Should I come off HRT and just learn to deal with menopause without it?

Or should I try black cohosh or something like that?

Help!!!!!!!

Here is some information about taking hrt:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hor...herapy/WO00046

We are all different and what is important is your health, health history,family history and what the doctors say is the best for you.

My personal thought on it is if health is good, no family history to worry about, doctor okays it, then take the lowest dose for the shortest possible time if you need to get through the horrible hot flashes. The hot flashes are why I take it, but I have over the last 5 years gotten down to the lowest dose.

Hang in there

s

Thanks for your help Suzi

I am just so confused about all this. I hadn't even considered the BCP to be hormones, stupid I know.

I started of on 1mg of estrogen and was still having hot flashes all day. Increasing it to 2mg allows me to get through the day at work and part of the evening before it starts & then I wake through the night very hot.

Are you on a patch? I started out on pill form and it would not cover me till the next dose. The patch worked out better till the next time I changed it. I change mine 2x a week.

s

I have been on tablet form so far but we were going to look at other options on my next visit.

Now I think the discussion may be more along the lines of have I been taking hormones for too long already I really hope that I can continue on HRT as I feel so much better, but there again I was only 6 weeks post op when I started & maybe I would cope better a further 4 months on

Thanks for your support!