Going off BCP and HRT

[cmclien]

So I am turning 49 soon. My gyne tells me that at the age of 50 I will have to go off of the pill. I thought I read somewhere that this will make things worse and some people stay on it with their uro's approval. So my questions are:

1) For those of you forced off of the pill, did your symptoms get worse?

2) Did you start HRT immediately and did it help?

3) Has HRT patch helped any of you?

I'm really nervous about this and will speak to my gyne at my next appt but want to prepare myself for next year.

[snowgirl]

Yep I am 49 was on continous bcp pills for IC pelvic pain. Now in peri menopause having rough time with anxiety, depresssion, fatigue , insomnia and palpitations
I was switched to hormone patch= helped menopause symptoms . Having problems with the progesterone in patch if too low I spot and they increased patch with progesterone and it makes my IC flare. I do need progesterone thought and it helped.

sorry so confusing . I am calling gyn on Monday he has to find happy medium between two doses of progestrerone. My gyn does not use bio identical hormone creams at all

[suzannes]

I had a mirena IUD removed and then started Bioidentical HRT with no problems. I know the American Academy of Family Physicians recommends bioidentical HRT over synthetic. There is a book called It's My Ovaries Stupid by Dr. Elizabeth Vliet that does a great job of comparing the two types. I think all women should read this before starting any HRT.

Suzanne

[Snowden1]

I am on bioidentical hormones - all three estrogen, progestrone, and testosterone. Without the estrogen I was getting heart palpatations and severe anxiety also. (But I still have anxiety and take Klonapin). My NP just increased my dose of progestrone and it seemed to make my chest hurt (costiocondritis?). So, she is also trying to find a happy medium for me. I had horrible hot flashes all the time, but those are getting better. I really felt it was from my pain medication, Diluadid. But, it may have been hormones. Also, the pain nurse said Diluadid really messes up men's testosterone levels so I wonder if it does this with females too?

I researched and read several books and I feel bio-identicals are the way to go - for ME.

[snowgirl]

for me adding progesterone helped my anxiety and heart paplitations. It is best to get hormone levels drawn by gyn......... if insurance will pay for it saliva testing more accurate

** long term use of pain meds are know to lower testosterone levels in males and femlaes both ~

[Snowden1]

I didn't know that about testosterone... thanks

[snowgirl]

I would not expect u to know that about testosterone. I did not as an RN of 28yrs I was taught that by an MD peer and then I came home did some reading on it .