HRT

[Eskenazi]

I know this may be a touchy subject for some, but looking at French women 'of a certain age' in supermarkets / villages etc, it appears to me that most don't take HRT. I do, and intend to continue - does anyone know if this would be a problem in France, in terms of getting it prescribed? A friend told me that her doctor (in Ardeche) opined that 'women ought to grow old gracefully'!

[Hereford]

When I first joined the health service in France the doctor was quite happy to continue prescribing. I had been happily using HRT in the UK for about 8 years. A few months ago I took into the doc an article from a UK newspaper which explained that it was now considered better only to use HRT on a short term basis (increased risk of breast cancer). Doc said "Yes, that is what we are saying in France too". "How long have you been taking it?" (answer by then 10 years). Doc said his advice was to stop immediately. Which I did. I am now nearly 60 so nasty symptoms all stopped.

I was given a drug to take for a few days to avoid any unwanted side effects from stopping - in the event there were no effects and I feel fine!  The doc did say that in five years time he might be saying "false alarm - go back on if you wish.........." !!!!

You may find the brand is different here to the UK but they can check ingredients.

Hope this helps, I should discuss the risks with your doctor.

Mrs H

[Jon 1]

My wife took the leaflet from her box of patches to a local pharmacy and they supplied an identical generic French brand without prescription.  They were considerably less expensive.

[Iceni]

What ever you do, do not just come off it. A report published just this week shows that the symptoms return with a vengeance (if that was the reason you took it in the first place and not for other reasons). When you take HRT you 'put off' the symptoms, they do not go away, it is a bit like delaying menopause. I had patches and took 6 months to gradually wean myself off it by cutting them into ever smaller pieces. I did get some hot flushes but nothing like the horrendous symptoms I had when I was originally prescribed it (like totally forgetting everything including how to dress myself and what to do when I got up - I thought I was going mad but in 2 weeks I was back to normal).

I do take notice of what the doctors say here. I was on Celebrex maximum dose when I came over for arthritis. My French doctor told me again to wean myself off, this was long before all the scare stuff came out about Cox-2 inhibitors. The funny thing is that the pain level is identical now I am off them, so they were obviously not having any effect except to increase my blood pressure to a nasty level and increase my risk of heart attacks.

All the best with whatever you decide to do. I had been on HRT for over 10 years and have been off for 2, my skin has not deteriorated and my hair is still thick - all things that improved when I started to take it - well apart from a loss of a little memory, but at my age it is best to forget some things...

[Tony F Dordogne]

Seems odd replying to this thread but I've learned more French gynaelogical terms in the past few weeks than I'd ever thought I'd need to.

J had a p[roblem a few weeks ago and after shopping around we were told about a femaly gynae in Perigueux, Dr Girronet.  I spoke to her secretary, no chance of an appointment until 3 October.  We then went to see our GP, he was a little miffed, made telephone calls and we got to see her within 10 days.

J had been on HRT for 10 years and when the gynae found that out she stopped the medication at once.  And, as she said at J's age now, she shouldn't get any of the previous symptoms.

Visited the Clinic again yesterday for XRays following receipt of results of all clear 'women's' tests and all appears to be well with the XRays.

Fantastic service all round, couldn't have been more helpful, both GP's and specialist's care and support and both explained that the French system now says no HRT for longer than - say - 5 years with some flexibility.

[Catalpa]

[quote]I know this may be a touchy subject for some, but looking at French women 'of a certain age' in supermarkets / villages etc, it appears to me that most don't take HRT. I do, and intend to continue - ...[/quote]

er... how can you tell ???

...that they don't take it?

(wondering if it's quantity of facial hair, bowed spine, general SOH failure...??)

[Monika]

[quote]er... how can you tell ???...that they don't take it?(wondering if it's quantity of facial hair, bowed spine, general SOH failure...??)[/quote]

Yes, how do you spot a woman who is not on HRT? Perhaps I look like that too but have not realized!!!

[Jacks]

Has anyone tried any herbal remedies that have reduced syptoms instead of HRT?

[Iceni]

[quote]Has anyone tried any herbal remedies that have reduced syptoms instead of HRT?[/quote]

Yup, I got some hot flushes for a time after I came off it completely and found Phytosoya to be very good. Just GMO free soya in a capsule and although not cheap worked like a dream after a few weeks.

Give it a go and I hope it works for you.

[Patf]

I take Omega7 which was recommended by my GP before last who was keen on alternative medicine. This is a bit expensive too. Supposed to "promote and maintain the health of skin and mucuous membranes." Pat.

[Jacks]

Thanks for quick replies. Can you buy these products in France?

Jacks

[Jon 1]

Something that has always puzzled me, and perhaps those of you who are taking alternatives to HRT can answer.  Why would oestrogen alternatives like phyto oestrogens and soya etc be any safer than plant based bio-identical oestrogens produced under highly controlled pharmaceutical conditions and delivered in a measured dose through the skin, thus bypassing the metabolic changes taking place in the gut?  I post this as an interested spouse of someone who has been on bio-identical oestrogen patches for almost 5 years.  On the matter of the media hype and pull back by some medical professionals on the potential dangers of oestrogen therapy.  I think it is grossly exaggerated, without proper consideration being given to the actual increased statistical risks, which are quite minimal.  I also believe that the benefits far outweigh the potential risks.  Research the views of HRT experts on the Internet rather than the knee jerk responses of ill informed medical practitioners and the media.

[Eskenazi]

I agree 100% and can only assume that people are deluded by the 'natural' or 'organic' tag attached to such products as opposed to the 'chemical' tag attached to others. As for dangers of HRT, I'm with you again - the small increased risk of breast cancer is negligible when compared to the huge risk of Osteoporosis in many individuals, of which I am one: great - grandma and grannny both lived to 101, both bent double with Osteoporosis from the age of 60, but Mum, 1st generation to take HRT, lived to 91 looking much as she did when she was 50. Hurrah for HRT, and complimentary enemas to those GPs who make remarks like 'Women should grow old gracefully.'

[Tourangelle]

I too am still mystified about how you can tell whether a person has been on HRT or not? This post caught my eye because the original poster mentioned the Ardeche and it made me laugh the idea that women there grow old gracefully... weatherbeaten is the word that springs to mind.

[Teamedup]

I'm not planning on going onto it. My friend tried it and was ill and was given other things to calm the hot flushes which worked pretty well. I can understand anyone with a family history taking it and that is understandable.

Personally I actually don't mind the idea of getting old. Although how one lives one's life is quite something different.

There was something on CBS news last night about 70 and 80 yearold men getting plastic surgery in the US and I would suppose that there are blokes in europe who would too. Just makes me laugh actually.

 

At the moment I'm commiting the sin of not getting my hair coloured, it is getting salt and peppered and I've had a few comments about it recently. From women with that 'red' hair and half an inch of grey roots showing. C'est la vie.

[Russethouse]

I started HRT some years ago and after 6 months realised I felt no different, I had no hot flushes anyway so I stopped taking the tablets - nothing happened, about 3 years ago I had a test and apparently 'its' all over.

I defy anyone to pick out HRT takers and non HRT takers by looks alone !!

[Janey]

I,d much rather be on HRT as the benefits outweigh the disadvantages. I,ll continue taking it as long as I can. My French doctor says I,m far too young to start ..getting old. I think the ones that don,t take it have got that...wrinkled dry skin look.......weather beaten as someone said.

Janey

[Iceni]

[quote]I,d much rather be on HRT as the benefits outweigh the disadvantages. I,ll continue taking it as long as I can. My French doctor says I,m far too young to start ..getting old. I think the ones that do...[/quote]

You all seem to have got it wrong, HRT and the alternatives have nothing to do with wrinkles and looking old before your time - they have a lot to do with other things which I will not go into here BUT I am not on HRT, am 18 months from my pension and I don't have a wrinkle, neither does John (have wrinkles that is) who is a little older than me. We put it down to never having smoked, have our own teeth, partake of the falling down water daily but far more importantly both come from families where the oldies are not wrinkled and do not look their years. I also have very fair skin so stay out of the sun most of the time - another cause of wrinkles.

My aunt of 85 has never taken HRT and could easily be taken for a fun loving person in her mid/late 60's. She is also a sun worshiper.

You can ignore medical advice if you want to (I have done so in the past) BUT lets be serious, you cannot all defy the statistics. Yes HRT works if you have very severe symptoms but if you are willing to risk breast cancer because you don't want wrinkles - well - it sort of defies belief - and I have had cancer so speak from experience (not breast I may add). If the medical opinion is that 5 years is the max - then I would take that advice.

As John quoted, 'Oh vanity, thy name is woman'.

[Alexis]

Just a little swerve to the left here but did anyone see Télé Matin this morning when they were talking about the dangers of soya?  Apparantly you can overdose on the stuff and get into the breast cancer higher risk bracket.

They say you should have 1g/kilo weight you are per day.  So 60g for 60kilo.  This includes soya milk yoggies and whatever else they make.  People are, apparantly, taking their 60g and popping supplement pills as well.  Just to be sure.

Very dangerous for children up to 3 and us oldies.

I have never taken HRT or eaten/drunk soya and at my vast age, no signs of the menapause either.

But I'm hoping

I will try and see if the article about the soya is on the telly page so you can peruse it.

[Alexis]

No.  They mentioned it but not much information.  Les phyto oestrogénes.

[Eskenazi]

'Di'or'Iceni' or whoever you are - I seriously doubt that you have NO wrinkles if you are over 50! As for vanity... I take HRT to prevent serious Osteoporosis, I'm not too bothered about wrinkles. And yes, you can tell those who don't take it - they look 10-20 years older than their real age.

[Russethouse]

>>And yes, you can tell those who don't take it - they look 10-20 years older than their real age.<<<

Sorry but I thinks thats tosh, genetics have a very great deal to do with it, plus exposure to sun etc.

If you have bad symptoms, a family history of osteoporosis, or a test that shows your bone density is not all it might be then it may be your choice to take it, but IMHO I think its worth giving going without a shot.

I understand that women often follow the same pattern as their mother, in my case my mother had a hysterectomy before the onset of the menopause so I had nothing to go on. However I really had very few symptoms and several years of taking HRT would have been rather a waste of time and needless risk.

[Iceni]

Eskenazi

Please do not accuse me of not telling the truth, I can assure you I am not lying and I take offence at your serious doubt.

Many/most women do not take HRT and certainly do not look 10 - 20 years older than their real age. The fact that you take it for a medical condition, as I had to do once (when I was much younger) does not give you the right or the insight to assure other women that they will be raddled old crones who will look 60 or 70 when they are in fact only 50. Scarmongering like this does no one any good.

I look better than I have for years, am slimmer and fitter - nothing to do with the 'change' or the HRT that I once had to take, everything to do with more exercise as I live in a renovation and have a much larger garden to help in.

 

[Russethouse]

I'm on the left (have since lost another 10lbs plus and changed my hair style) How old do you think I look ? (Talk about asking for trouble !!

[Janey]

Iceni,I,m not talkng HRT to avoid wrinkles I,ve got very few of them, I,m lucky I,ve got good skin. I,m taking it because I need to, had a complete hysterectomy aged 39 for various medical reasons. I had an excellant surgeon who has studied HRT for years and years and really knows his stuff. You don,t risk getting breast cancer because you take HRT. It is true though that if you already have the cancer gene or cancerous cells it is possible the cancer will develop quicker than it would have done. If you,re lucky enough to go into your menopause naturally, then maybe your symptoms won,t be so bad( not always the case) but when you have a sugical menopause your body is thrown into an almighty shock and the symptoms can be worse than you could ever imagine. I,m personally taking it to cope with the symptoms of the menopause(which are bloody awful..men are soooo lucky:rolleyes and to protect myself from other various things eg osteoporosis,heart disease,senile dementia. I,m not saying you don,t get these things whilst on HRT but you do have a greater degree of proptection. I suppose each of us has to make the right decision for ourselves.

Going back to the wrinkle thing though, I do know 2 women who started taking HRT after going into the menopause and they swear that their skin improved 100 per cent, smoother ,plumper, not so dry.

Janey