Thanks for the support and input---when I first wrote I thought I had had a couple of hot flashes---and was asking how long symptoms last after having to go cold turkey getting off HRT---I was taking Activella, but because of a blood clot from an airplane trip and former knee surgery, no more hormones.
Well, it seems those might not have been hot flashes. I sure got hot, but I have not had any since. And I saw my ob/gyn on Monday and we talked about a lot of things and he even said since you haven't had any hot flashes during the day, I wonder if what you felt at night were hot flashes, and I think this process may not be so bad for you.
I looked back and I started on Activella in December of 2001 when I was about 53--I will be 61 this December---I was about to ease off the hormones anyway. I am glad to say that they ironically they did their job in spite of the fact that they could have been a contributing factor to my blood clot---but my doctor says according to my last dexa scan I have the bones of a 26 year old, I have a clear colon, and my heart is in good shape. So they did their job.
So I guess not everyone has a horrible time going off hormones. It could be that I never had issues when I first entered menopause. Who knows. Plus my wonderful doctor says if I do have problems he has a number of solutions that we can try.
So don't give up hope.
Full Version: Update on stopping Activella cold turkey
QUOTE (Abbie @ Jul 12 2009, 02:45 AM) 
Thanks for the support and input---when I first wrote I thought I had had a couple of hot flashes---and was asking how long symptoms last after having to go cold turkey getting off HRT---I was taking Activella, but because of a blood clot from an airplane trip and former knee surgery, no more hormones.
Well, it seems those might not have been hot flashes. I sure got hot, but I have not had any since. And I saw my ob/gyn on Monday and we talked about a lot of things and he even said since you haven't had any hot flashes during the day, I wonder if what you felt at night were hot flashes, and I think this process may not be so bad for you.
I looked back and I started on Activella in December of 2001 when I was about 53--I will be 61 this December---I was about to ease off the hormones anyway. I am glad to say that they ironically they did their job in spite of the fact that they could have been a contributing factor to my blood clot---but my doctor says according to my last dexa scan I have the bones of a 26 year old, I have a clear colon, and my heart is in good shape. So they did their job.
So I guess not everyone has a horrible time going off hormones. It could be that I never had issues when I first entered menopause. Who knows. Plus my wonderful doctor says if I do have problems he has a number of solutions that we can try.
So don't give up hope.
Well, it seems those might not have been hot flashes. I sure got hot, but I have not had any since. And I saw my ob/gyn on Monday and we talked about a lot of things and he even said since you haven't had any hot flashes during the day, I wonder if what you felt at night were hot flashes, and I think this process may not be so bad for you.
I looked back and I started on Activella in December of 2001 when I was about 53--I will be 61 this December---I was about to ease off the hormones anyway. I am glad to say that they ironically they did their job in spite of the fact that they could have been a contributing factor to my blood clot---but my doctor says according to my last dexa scan I have the bones of a 26 year old, I have a clear colon, and my heart is in good shape. So they did their job.
So I guess not everyone has a horrible time going off hormones. It could be that I never had issues when I first entered menopause. Who knows. Plus my wonderful doctor says if I do have problems he has a number of solutions that we can try.
So don't give up hope.
Dear 'Abbie'
It is wonderful to hear how well you are doing.My sister-in-law got off them successfully too though not Cold Turkey but by gradual weaning.
Now I gave it my best shot for one year but it seems my was not ready.I ended up a real mess so back on them again.I try not to worry as the quality of my life is good.I get regular check ups from my Gyno. who,although not amused by my still being on them,continues to give me a script.
I don't know if the fact that I was Post Menopausal at 39 has made me more dependent on Hormones.
Anyway shall see how I go on!
And continued Good Luck to you
Warm Wishes
Elizabeth
I am sure age has a LOT to do with it. You don't say how old you are now. And I think it really depends on your overall health, if you smoke, the kind of hormones you are taking. My ob/gyn always really believe in Activella because it is pretty low dose compared to many of the more common hormones---in fact many people have have never heard of it. He likes the natural plant based progesterone that is in it. And I am 60--will be 61 in December---it was time to phase off it anyway. But he says my years on it gave me great bones, kept my colon healthy and strengthened my heart.
I think knowing your medical history and family history is so important. I never smoked, there is not a history of cancer in my family, but there is a history of coronary artery disease---and the estrogen helped my heart all these years. I have mammograms every year.
The use of hormones takes so much investigation and study I think to make sure you are on the right thing and that the doctor is up to date. You know for eons in the human race, women simply didn't live much past their child-bearing years and so were not faced with years of not having as much estrogen in their bodies. Estrogen affects so many systems in our bodies, and if we do have our ovaries, they will produce a little bit after menopause and the fat in our bodies produces some, too.
It is so important to be in dialogue with your doctor--
I am curious what kind and dose of hormones you are on. If your doctor seems not that pleased, maybe there is something else that is not so strong that would help you just as much. I would pin him down exactly as to why is he not so happy about you being on hormones and find out, so could there be something better, newer that would make you happier---
I think knowing your medical history and family history is so important. I never smoked, there is not a history of cancer in my family, but there is a history of coronary artery disease---and the estrogen helped my heart all these years. I have mammograms every year.
The use of hormones takes so much investigation and study I think to make sure you are on the right thing and that the doctor is up to date. You know for eons in the human race, women simply didn't live much past their child-bearing years and so were not faced with years of not having as much estrogen in their bodies. Estrogen affects so many systems in our bodies, and if we do have our ovaries, they will produce a little bit after menopause and the fat in our bodies produces some, too.
It is so important to be in dialogue with your doctor--
I am curious what kind and dose of hormones you are on. If your doctor seems not that pleased, maybe there is something else that is not so strong that would help you just as much. I would pin him down exactly as to why is he not so happy about you being on hormones and find out, so could there be something better, newer that would make you happier---
QUOTE (Abbie @ Jul 13 2009, 06:45 PM)
I am sure age has a LOT to do with it. You don't say how old you are now. And I think it really depends on your overall health, if you smoke, the kind of hormones you are taking. My ob/gyn always really believe in Activella because it is pretty low dose compared to many of the more common hormones---in fact many people have have never heard of it. He likes the natural plant based progesterone that is in it. And I am 60--will be 61 in December---it was time to phase off it anyway. But he says my years on it gave me great bones, kept my colon healthy and strengthened my heart.
I think knowing your medical history and family history is so important. I never smoked, there is not a history of cancer in my family, but there is a history of coronary artery disease---and the estrogen helped my heart all these years. I have mammograms every year.
The use of hormones takes so much investigation and study I think to make sure you are on the right thing and that the doctor is up to date. You know for eons in the human race, women simply didn't live much past their child-bearing years and so were not faced with years of not having as much estrogen in their bodies. Estrogen affects so many systems in our bodies, and if we do have our ovaries, they will produce a little bit after menopause and the fat in our bodies produces some, too.
It is so important to be in dialogue with your doctor--
I am curious what kind and dose of hormones you are on. If your doctor seems not that pleased, maybe there is something else that is not so strong that would help you just as much. I would pin him down exactly as to why is he not so happy about you being on hormones and find out, so could there be something better, newer that would make you happier---
I think knowing your medical history and family history is so important. I never smoked, there is not a history of cancer in my family, but there is a history of coronary artery disease---and the estrogen helped my heart all these years. I have mammograms every year.
The use of hormones takes so much investigation and study I think to make sure you are on the right thing and that the doctor is up to date. You know for eons in the human race, women simply didn't live much past their child-bearing years and so were not faced with years of not having as much estrogen in their bodies. Estrogen affects so many systems in our bodies, and if we do have our ovaries, they will produce a little bit after menopause and the fat in our bodies produces some, too.
It is so important to be in dialogue with your doctor--
I am curious what kind and dose of hormones you are on. If your doctor seems not that pleased, maybe there is something else that is not so strong that would help you just as much. I would pin him down exactly as to why is he not so happy about you being on hormones and find out, so could there be something better, newer that would make you happier---
Dear Abbie
Thank you for the reply.
I have just turned 58,quite tall and lean.I do not smoke and we do not have a history of Cancer.
And actually the Doctor is really understanding .He is just very cautious so when I said he was not amused I meant that he wishes I had not been on HRT for so long.
I started off with Angelique.It is a low dose Estradiol but unfortunately it was no longer available.I live in The Middle East and the availability of Meds. is limited.
So now he has put me on Trisequens and so far so good.I have regular check ups and Mammos.
I eat well with the occasional treat. of chocolate or a piece of cake.
I also walk a fair amount when it cools down in the evenings and I practise Yoga.
Once again,Thank you for your kind concern and I really hope you to continue to do well
Warm Wishes
Elizabeth
This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.