going off HRT, anybody done it with success? Options

[sciencelady]

Well, here I am again seeking advice from all you wonderful meno ladies.....Does anybody know somebody who has successfully gotten off HRT without returning to their meno hell that they escaped from? This is my biggest fear and the main reason that I am holding out on starting them. I have felt ROTTEN for about a year and a half, and it's slowly getting worse. I can rarely enjoy a meal because I feel so sick to my stomach most of the time, and then I have the usual symptoms, too - night sweats, some anxiety, lots of trouble sleeping, dizzy/foggy head at times. During this time, I've had 4 periods, most recent one was in Sept. 08. My FSH in Sept. was 71. I think my hormones are not bottoming out because I'm slowing going down hill. I took 1 month of PremPhase back in the fall. All my symptoms STARTED to improve by about the 3rd week. But, then I got scared and stopped taking it. I just saw my GYN. She said that taking HRT often evens out the ups and downs when you're at the bottom, and that not everybody gets all their symptoms back when they stop. She wants me to take Activella for a couple of years, to get through the worst. I asked her if she would do it and she said, "Without a doubt". I really wanted to get through this on my own, but am really wondering if I can make it. I have read lots of posts on PS from people who are happy with their decisions - those that have toughed it out and those that have taken HRT. What do you all think?
Enjoy the holidays - next year, I'm determined to be able to enjoy them more than this year - medicated or not!!

[sciencelady]

Whoops - should have proofed this before I posted. I think my hormones are NOW bottoming out ( certainly don't mean NOT, like I wrote)!

[Bigheart]

Well, here I am again seeking advice from all you wonderful meno ladies.....Does anybody know somebody who has successfully gotten off HRT without returning to their meno hell that they escaped from? This is my biggest fear and the main reason that I am holding out on starting them. I have felt ROTTEN for about a year and a half, and it's slowly getting worse. I can rarely enjoy a meal because I feel so sick to my stomach most of the time, and then I have the usual symptoms, too - night sweats, some anxiety, lots of trouble sleeping, dizzy/foggy head at times. During this time, I've had 4 periods, most recent one was in Sept. 08. My FSH in Sept. was 71. I think my hormones are not bottoming out because I'm slowing going down hill. I took 1 month of PremPhase back in the fall. All my symptoms STARTED to improve by about the 3rd week. But, then I got scared and stopped taking it. I just saw my GYN. She said that taking HRT often evens out the ups and downs when you're at the bottom, and that not everybody gets all their symptoms back when they stop. She wants me to take Activella for a couple of years, to get through the worst. I asked her if she would do it and she said, "Without a doubt". I really wanted to get through this on my own, but am really wondering if I can make it. I have read lots of posts on PS from people who are happy with their decisions - those that have toughed it out and those that have taken HRT. What do you all think?
Enjoy the holidays - next year, I'm determined to be able to enjoy them more than this year - medicated or not!!

Hi Sciencelady,

I just recently (3 weeks ago) went off of HRT. So far I am having mild hot flashes which was my worst symptom. I did wean myself instead of going cold turkey. I wore the patch and instead of changing it 3 times a week, I changed mine 2 times a week and I also cut it in half. I will keep you posted on my progress. Right now I am adamant about staying off of it. I felt good when I was on it, but everyone I have talked to has told me that they came off of HRT and their symptoms went away on their own. Now I have been going through this for 14 years so I am hoping that my symptoms will go away and if not at least become bearable.

[lizardlover42000]

i was on prempro for like 6 months and decided to go off cause i was getting congested and having weird thoughts.What i did was gradually cut does in half i swear it took me 3 months to completley go off i did this on my own and just did it real slow and i had no problems but the secret also is i started on zoloft the same time which helped alot.Anyways what was the gyno thinking to give me hrt i really didn;t need it now that i think of it i was just depressed i still get periods they are changing but i am peri i had a few hotflashes but nothing bad. I wish you luck just take your time weaning.

[pookish]

sciencelady

I tried hormones for a few months last year, had success (bhrt) but was freaked out with the risks associated. Anyway when I went off I did have some bleeding which scared the crap out of me but was quite a normal part of the process. Just wanted to alert you tho the fact that this might happen, bleeding I mean, so that you would not be frightened if it did.

xo pooks

good luck darling

[RoundRobin]

yup, me too...I was on Prempro for a month and felt much, much better, but then i switched to bios. They work, but not quite as well as the synthetic HRT...howver, every time I go off them, my symptoms all return. So I go back ON them (the bios, that is.)

Now I just found out my mother might have breast cancer, so I'm all freaked out again and have stopped taking them. Ugh! When will this rollercoaster ride stop???

To answer your question, I find going off hormones difficult...but it's a balancing act between feeling good and trying to make reasonable choices about your risks...

[sciencelady]

Thanks everyone for your input. Sounds like there are some success stories out there about getting off the hormones down the road and not returning to all the meno bedlam you once were in. My GYN said that I need to stay on them for at least a year, because the stopping and starting sometimes makes things worse. WHY ME? I've been healthy all my life until 18 months ago when this hit me like a brick wall. (I'm 51, by the way!) IT"S NOT FAIR! Still not sure if I'll start them, but I'm seriously considering it, and it might be soon. The Activella is sitting on my pantry shelf calling my name. I would love to feel better. (Am I making too big of a deal out of this?) Happy Holidays everyone and thanks so much for all of your feedback - it really helps a lot!

Pookish - I see you're from Long Island. My daughter goes to college on Long Island and just drove home (upstate) last night. She really likes it there.

[joyceveronica]

Thanks everyone for your input. Sounds like there are some success stories out there about getting off the hormones down the road and not returning to all the meno bedlam you once were in. My GYN said that I need to stay on them for at least a year, because the stopping and starting sometimes makes things worse. WHY ME? I've been healthy all my life until 18 months ago when this hit me like a brick wall. (I'm 51, by the way!) IT"S NOT FAIR! Still not sure if I'll start them, but I'm seriously considering it, and it might be soon. The Activella is sitting on my pantry shelf calling my name. I would love to feel better. (Am I making too big of a deal out of this?) Happy Holidays everyone and thanks so much for all of your feedback - it really helps a lot!

Pookish - I see you're from Long Island. My daughter goes to college on Long Island and just drove home (upstate) last night. She really likes it there.

Dear'sciencelady'

Sorry you are still travelling a rough road.Now for the good news!My sister in law took HRT for three years till she gradually,very gradually weaned off them.She did this with the help of her Gyno. and she told me that the first few months were a bit hard but eventually all was o.k

The secret is not to go off them 'Cold Turkey' because that is when the bedlam begins.It is like getting off an AD.It takes time and patience.However,I would encourage you to try the HRT.You will experience a better quality of life.It might take a while for them to kick in.Expect some higher anxiety levels.A little Xanax at this time will take the edge off and by about three weeks you should be feeling the benefit.

I have followed all your posts and advise you,with compassion,to help your body and mind with some much needed Estrogen.The quality of your life is very important and you have felt way too bad for waytoo long.

Seasons Greetings
Elizabeth

[chaotichar]

I was on the patch for two months along with an AD. The patch was a waste of time for me since I have been post meno for 5 years with no symptoms. 5 months ago I started getting heart palps, anxiety, and insomnia. Doctor thought a small dose of the patch would work. Not at all. In fact when I stopped a got a period. I had been dx with anxiety and still on Paxil and xanax. I have horrible anxiety in the morning and gets better in the evening.
If you don't need to be on HRT maybe think it over.