Tuesday 9 February 2010

Guess Who's A Happy Bunny?

I went to the doctor's today, I couldn't get an appointment with my regular doctor. 
I saw a young woman doctor and I thought I was going to have a problem with her
and the symptoms I was attending with. Lack of sleep, nausea, aching joints, very dry skin,
emotional wreck, vaginal dryness TMI? sorry if it is but it is part of me and my problems.

I was on HRT for 21 years, yes 21 years, a long time.  I had a hysterectomy and my ovaries removed when I was 38 and commenced on HRT a week later. It became an intergral part of my life until last November.
It is recommended that HRT should only be taken for 10 years, but this recommendation is for women taking it at the onset of the menopause so my mam started her's age 52 so it is taken that I would have started around the same time. So I could have been on it for another couple of years from now.

I was advised to come off it a couple of years ago after having a breast cancer scare. (It turned out to be an abcess) The specialist went through all the figures and percentages and blinded me with numbers.  She advised dropping down to the lowest dose over six months then letting it go.  I begged, literally begged my gp to let me stay on it but he pulled the plug and my last patch was November.

Gradually since then the above mentioned symptoms have grown worse, culminating yesterday with me flipping good style. I really felt I was heading for a breakdown, I looked a total mess and felt even worse.
One of the doctors I work for asked me how I was and I just let it all go.  She was fabulous and gave me hope.  Suggesting asking my gp for the lower dose patch and I could cut it in half and see if it relieved the symptoms she has done this for patients who suffer menopausal migraine. My gp and the gp I work for are friends, she gave me a post in note with some relevant notes on to dicsuss. So armed with a little post it note I went to the doctors expecting a battle, I was called in by this young woman who I thought would not understand my problems.

Boy was I wrong!!  She was so sympathetic and understanding I was so lucky to get an appointment with this young woman.  I launched into the speech I had rehearsed in my head, not taking a breath and tears stinging my eyes.  She asked me a few questions and then said "It is all down to your quality of life isn't it?"
I nodded, this time the tears were falling.

She went on to tell me about her mum is 62 and had the same problems as me, only problem was her sister had breast cancer and so she told to stop the HRT.  She did and the problems arrived within days, after several months she could take it no more and went back to her gp and asked for HRT again.  Her doctor advised her against it, but she said I" have weighed the risk against my quality of life and would like to restart the HRT."  The gp gave her a prescription and here quality of life has improved 1000 fold. The gp said her whole family had seen the change in her mum and knew it was the right thing for her.

So she said to me it is up to you, you know the maths, you know your quality of life, if you want HRT and have no underlying health problems I will give you the prescription.  She also pointed out that breast cancer in later life tends not to be as aggressive as the form that attacks younger women.

So I now have HRT back and I am A Happy Bunny. I have to go to her for a check up every 6 months and she will discuss the risks and it will be up to me to assess wether to take the risk.  At this time in my life I am prepared to take the risk. My family are grown and not dependent on me.  I have a wonderful husband I want to enjoy. I have a life I want to live to the fullest. Since November my life has been faltering in several ways and I am happy that in a matter of days it should begin to improve in several ways.

There will be readers who will not agree with me, I respect your view but please respect mine and my life.

I think this is the longest post I have written but I beleive it is one of the most important too. I hope I haven't bored you rigid.

Good Night God Bless xx

12 comments:

266 said...

You are doing what is right for you. End of story. Hugs!!!

WWSuzi said...

Actually i think if i was in the same shoes i would have done that as well!! Good for you on tacking care of you :) "hugs"

F. McButter Pants said...

RELIEF! So happy for you. Great post. Makes my hormone problems look like a walk in the park!!!

I hope you stay happy.

hugs to you Friend~

Beth said...

Good for you! Fantastic that there is a doctor who will let you, the patient, assess the risk and make the decision.

Sam Squires - A Crafting Niche said...

At the end of the day only you know yourself inside out and if it's right for you, who is anybody else to say that you've made the wrong choice. Enjoy your ne found happiness.

Friend of the Bear said...

Hi Sheilagh. How could anyone possibly disagree? It is your body and your mind so you have to do what's right for you.

I really hope you feel the benefits of going back on it ASAP. And hopefully you'll have plenty of sleep. (And a more enjoyable bit of the other as well!)

Bearfriend xx

Anonymous said...

I would never cast a stone. You have to do, what you have to do. I hope your husband is fully supportive of you on this. :)

Julia Dunnit said...

It's not a shelfish risk; more a calculated, informed and totally in your hands decision. As your other friends have said, no-one's decision but yours to make, own and I think, enjoy! Hope it all kicks in real quick and you start to see a way through the fog. Go you!

Tina xx said...

Oh sheilagh. I really feel for you. Of course you have to do what is right for you. Sorry this reply is short, im rushing back to work, but i just wanted to let you know that its your body and you must do what you feel is right. Your loving family will support you all the way, Im sure. ((hugs)) x x x

Tammy said...

Good for you! So glad you're finally going to get some much-needed relief and your quality of life is going to improve so drastically. That is what's most important! :)

VRaz60 said...

I'm so glad you've found something that will work for you. I agree with everyone that you should absolutely do what is best for YOU!! What anyone else may think or say, matters not one whit. I hope you find wonderful relief.

accidental carer said...

That is exactly what I did - told my GP I know the risks but am prepared to take them You know how low I had got She. Its not good for you or for those you love, So good for you. I am sure that you will feel so much better almost immediately . My first patch 75mg did the trick and I am sleeping better; not perfect but vast improvement; might be coincidental but my appetite has increased so beware of that to start with.
Are we not our own physicians?? xxxxxxxxxxxxx