HRT post SAH

[julie.1]

Hi,

Has anyone got any experience of taking HRT post SAH? I started taking it a couple of weeks before my SAH and now can't seem to get a straight answer as to whether I can restart it or not. I had quite severe menopausal symptoms and thought long and hard before taking medication, it did seem to help. Now I have a mixture of symptoms and don't know which are menopausal and which due to SAH

I've had doctors who have said yes take HRT, others saying definitely no.......help! I know no one on BTG is allowed to give medical advice, but any experiences would be very helpful

Thanks

Julie

[Winb143]

Hi Julie,

HRT I found never helped me.

Good luck and try a herbal one if you can't get a straight answer from Docs.

Always ask Doc first though.

Keep well

WinB143 xx xx

Edited September 7, 2013 by Winb143

[MaryB]

Julie,

I was on HRT ( Premarin) for 23 years. I was taken off the estrogen but stayed on a low progesterine as my gyno and family doctor think the heart benefits out weighs the cancer risk for me. I have no cancer in immediate family but high risk for a stroke or heart attack. So for me I was pulled of estrogen the minute I was talked to about it but continued with the progestine as they thought full blown menopaus would be a nightmare for me. Noting I have hot flashes now even on the low dose.

I think this is another area where there is no clear answer but you & your doctors need to out weight the risks. Good luck.

Maryb

[jillbb]

Hi Julie , I have also been on HRT for over25 yrs, after a hysterectomy. I have been on estraderm 25 for years having had great difficulty finding the right pill. I did try to stop a few years ago, but I became so tired, that my GPS gave me a blood test and found I had no estrogene and said I should stay on HRT.

I had never thought there could be a problem with HRT. if I forget to change my patch , I know with in 2days by the sudden onset of extreme tiredness. I have never discussed HRT with my GP, but I have had no side effects. Love jill

[julie.1]

Thanks everyone, I managed to speak to the neurovascular nurse specialist today and she had asked one of the consultants for advice. They feel I should definitely go back on the HRT and are writing to advise my GP of this, so hopefully he will now prescribe for me. Interestingly she also felt I should be on more pain medication and sleeping medication, not sure what I think of that, but will take one step at a time.

Thank you so much for responding to my question, don't know where I would be without BTG.

Julie xx

[Karen]

Hi Julie,

I'm about to start HRT so will let you know how I get on ....xx

[julie.1]

Feeling a bit better after only a couple of days of restarting HRT...but now my GP wants me to go to see the Gynaecology team...I appreciate he wants to be cautious, but it has taken 5 weeks to get this far. I really don't want to go to yet anther hospital, particularly as I can't drive at the moment. Not convinced the gynaecology team will know enough about SAH to make an informed decision aaarrrrrrggghhhhh!!!!!

[MaryB]

Has anyone had a hormone test? I have only had it done once at the University Hospital In the city. Interesting that every other doctor dismisses it but back before I had SAH in 2011 so maybe in 2007-2009 when I was a exhausted, tripping, falling and hitting myself in face they tested me and I was so low that the Gyno there put me on 2 different HRT pills as my numbers were non exsistence. But when I was suppose to come back for a recheck that doctor left........once again gotta love the plan that works out with follow through. Anyway I was on them for longer than I should of been.

A year later I had a breast lump that had a core biopsy done and I was sure it was from the hormones but it was from falling with the lawn mower a year earlier and I developed a thing called fat necrosis from the blow to my chest.

Just interesting that no one even checks levels except big hospitals. I guess it does not matter but you would think if your numbers were in the gutter they would dose you different than if your numbers were just low.

Just a morning thought that pop in my head.

Maryb

[julie.1]

Hi Mary,

I had FSH tests done via my GP, but had to ask specifically for it. Apparently they don't test in pathology to tell the difference between low and non existent oestrogen levels - they only test to find a level that shows you are in the menopause. From what I understand this means you could still have low blood levels of hormone but low enough to get symptoms.

Julie x

[julie.1]

Just seen you are in USA Mary....don't think the UK system is quite so good at fine detail

Incidentally, I had symptoms like falling, loss of balance, extreme tiredness etc. The first GP I saw thought my symptoms were not menopause related and I had to see a private specialist to get any answers...

Edited September 12, 2013 by julie.1
wrong words...oops

[kpaggett]

I haven't been tested for any hormones, but my period started coming every 21days. I've had 2 normal length cycles just in the past 2 months. I was also very sensitive to when exactly my ovulation occurred. Crazy as it all sounds, I even felt the pull of the moon at first. I figured it went hand in hand with my new sensitivity after SAH.

I am finding most things, including hormonal fluctuations, are returning to my pre-SAH state. I miss some of the sensitivity sometimes...but not the crying over every little thing.

~Kris