Hrt

[Islay]

My MIL is 80 and is still on hrt, she had a hysterectomy 40 years ago! Should she still be on them? Her consultant has questioned this and told her to cut down but she says if she doesn't take them she has horrible night sweats wetting the bed with sweat!
Her gp appears happy to let her stay on them but it doesn't seem right!

[anneasquith]

She's 80 years old she's not wanting night sweats at her age, I'd say, keep taking the tablets :-)

[gness]

Islay.....I was on HRT from 36 till I was about 60....I took myself off it slowly when I figured I didn't need it any more...

Your MIL is a pussy cat compared to what I was like before HRT.....
I'd be inclined to let her continue.....just in case.... ;-)

[Mamyalynne]

HRT for those 80+ is quite common in some Countries - Sweden for example.

If both she and her doctor are happy I'd probably not get involved.

[woofgang]

It used to be quite a common thing to go on it and stay on it. Now its seen as risky and I can see if you are much younger then you have to consider the risks....but honestly at 80 if she is happy and the GP is happy I wouldn't worry. I know its not the same thing but I had Depo Provera for a while when I was entering menopause because I had a month long heavy bleed (sorry, all enjoying dinner are we?) I asked the nurse specialist who was dealing with me how long I could keep using it and she said her oldest user was in her 90's!

[woofgang]

Islay....I mean this nicely but...well....is it your business?

[Sqad]

I cannot think of any underlying disease process that would be an contraindication for taking HRT at that age.
I would continue.

[Islay]

She is using it as an excuse not to do something that she has spent the last 4 years complaining about!!

[jourdain2]

I started the menopause about 48-ish. When I was 52 there was the 'scare' and my HRT was stopped. I went through a form of bodily & mental Hell that I would never wish on anyone, never, ever, ever..... lying in bed shivering and shaking, sweating and soaking the sheets and mattress, brain all over the place - went on for years. I am now 68 and the intervening years have regularly brought on attacks - now stretching out to about once every 3 weeks. I am currently on my 3rd day of sweats/shivers of the latest bout - they are always accompanied by anxiety and depression. I am pleading with my G.P. to put me back on H.R.T. --- leave your MIL alone for Heaven's sake. Do you really want to put her through all this?

[anneasquith]

Seriously , she's 80 years old, let her do as she wants,

[Islay]

It is not out of malice that I ask this question!! As I said she is using this as an excuse to get out of something!!!
Also she takes over 30 tablets a day a few years ago I found out she was taking 5 asprin a day because she heard it was good thing to do!!!!

[anneasquith]

And I'm going to repeat she's 80 years old !!!!!! What is so urgent that the hrt is stopping her doing ?

[Cloverjo]

Islay, I'd just leave MIL to it if she and her doc are happy. Jourdain, why won't your GP put you back on HRT?

I'm thinking of going on it myself, I'm 'only' 47, which I've been told is a wee bit young for perimenopause - it started a couple of years ago. I'm fed up with all the sweats and hot flushes. Should I just grin and bear it or take HRT?

[anneasquith]

Jo, don't grin and bear it , I have a theory , if men had menopause hrt would be added to our water :--)

[Cloverjo]

Thanks, anneasquith. Who'd be a woman? What we have to go through!

[Islay]

I asked a question!! That's what this site is about!!!

[anneasquith]

We are answering your question ( I think ).

[woofgang]

cloverjo, my perimenopause started around age 42. Islay if she doesn't want to do something, why should she?

[ummmm]

I'd be more anout the aspirin she's taking.

[Islay]

Unmmm she won't tell us if she has stopped taking them the fact that she lied to the ambulance men, nurses and dr's terrifies me!! She only let it slip a couple of days later!!!

[Tilly2]

This is from the NHS website.
Stopping HRT

There's no limit on how long you can take HRT, but talk to your GP about the duration of treatment they recommend.
Most women stop taking it once their menopausal symptoms pass, which is usually after a few years.
When you decide to stop, you can choose to do so suddenly or gradually.
Gradually decreasing your HRT dose is usually recommended because it's less likely to cause your symptoms to come back in the short term.
Contact your GP if you have symptoms that persist for several months after you stop HRT, or if you have particularly severe symptoms. You may need to start HRT again.

Her GP thinks she should continue. Leave it to the GP, Islay.