 Posted 22/09/2010 20:41:37
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| I am 61 and was diagnosed with osteoporosis last Spring, after breaking my wrist. I finally stopped taking HRT because of the risks of cancer, after taking it for 16 yrs. That was three yrs. ago and my health and well being has deteriorated since then. I would say to anyone thinking of HRT, the symptoms of the menopause return when you stop taking it, which is horrendous (I am still having hot flushes) and would advise that if or when you do stop taking it to do so VERY gradually. While taking HRT I was as fit as a fiddle and am sure that taking it slowed down the onset of osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. I feel as though I've aged overnight so to speak. I had never heard of HRT being prescribed for osteoporosis before I read the items on this forum and now wish I had never stopped taking it. Other forms of hormone treatment are mentioned on this forum, but do they also carry risks of cancer?
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Posted 08/10/2010 10:31:06
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Osteoporosis is a disease developed in the bones where the calcium is reduced in the bone mineral density. Bones contain calcium. Enough calcium in the body makes the bones grow stronger and healthier. Therefore intake of calcium is very much necessary for a person to prevent oneself from any bone diseases. Individuals suffering from Osteoporosis must take more calcium in order to compensate even for the bone tissue. Those who have also experienced any breaking or cracking of the bones in any stages of their life should also make a point to take in more calcium in their daily food source.
source:osteopeniaandosteoporosis.com/
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Posted 04/11/2010 09:47:04
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Hi
I am new to the site although I was diagnosed with osteoporosis at 42 - I am now 59. The treatment then was HRT which I gladly took to push back this insidious disease. I too was worried with the results of the big test in USA regarding HRT and the risks. But what it boils down to is that medicine is not an exact science not all bodies are the same and therefore we will all react in different ways.
I trawled the internet and read what I could about HRT the menopause and took advice from my doctor. She told me the USA trial demographic was not in my age range (at that time) and that if I was happy to stay on it then she would prescribe it. To be fair HRT had been prescribed not only for the osteoporosis but for a severe hormonal imbalance that I'd had since probably birth. (I believe I had a menopause at around age 15/16 which made it impossible for me to have children normally).Taking all this into consideration I decided it was right for me. I know the risks and I know how important it is to check my breasts regularly to have my mammograms and blood pressure checked when requested to. I also know it's important to look after myself, to exercise to eat properly ensuring a good intake of calcium. What I'm saying is it has to be an informed personal decision and if your Doctor refuses to prescribe the drug that is the best for your condition then maybe it's time to get at least a second opinion or change your doctor! I read that one member's doctor is male and that, for me, says it all - they don't go through the menopause!
These thoughts are my own based on what I have read and how I personally feel. I am not a doctor but I do believe that I know my own body and what is good for it.
Polly
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Posted 10/11/2010 00:58:47
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| I am now 56. When I was 37 I had a Hysterectomy and my GP put me on Evorel 50 patches, I felt well, thick hair, good skin and nails. At 42 I was diagnosed with Osteoporosis and over the years have lost 4 inches in height, my GP kept me on the HRT and kept the pain under control with DF118's, valium for muscle and stress and co-codamol, I felt well but had to limit what I did, not walk to far or stand too long. In the end I was registered severly disabled but I stayed on the HRT. Unfortunately I had to move and my new GP stopped most of the pain killers and stopped the Evorel 50 (I had a heart attack in 2006), I had to explain to him that it is not a good idea to stop HRT dead and he has relented and put me on Evoral 25. I do not mention wean off to him because the HRT helps. Wish I could go back to the 50 but his opinion is my heart is at risk so NO. I wish you luck because these scare stories can make life miserable for a lot of people, Jane
Jane
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Posted 15/01/2011 10:50:06
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| Hello Heather - I am also new to the site and this is my first post! I have been on HRT since the age of 44 (having had an early menopause with every possible symptom, following a hysterectomy at the age of 57). I am still on HRT at the age of 70 and do not intend to come off it. My GP agrees with me. I started on 1.25 mg and lowered it to 0.625 mg a few years ago (I did it gradually) after the Ovarian Cancer scare. (I still have one ovary left.) I am high-risk for Osteoporosis as my mother had severe osteoporosis of the spine, I am of small stature and light-boned, I had that early menopause, I had no children, and all sorts of other reasons, and this is why my GP is happy for me to continue with HRT. I also have taken Calcium supplements for 30 years, and I try to do weight-bearing exercise like walking as much as possible. I have regular Mammograms and 3-yearly DXA scans to check my bone density, which is always just about keeping above the osteopenia level. I am lucky, I suppose, because there is no history of Breast Cancer (or any cancer) in my family. Having weighed all the pros and cons, I will stay on HRT. (I did try coming off it - gradually - a few years ago, and all my menopause symptoms came back - including severe Depression and constant anxiety about everything. I couldn't take it, so I went back on HRT! It is up to each person to weigh up the pros and cons in their own case.
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Posted 14/02/2011 12:32:05
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| I was given HRT prior to a hysterctomy as I had endometriosis, strangely enough found in my bowel first. Within a few days of taking the HRT my right leg started to swell and although I always had normal blood pressure it shot right up. I was told later on I should not have been given it in the first place. When I had the hysterectomy several months later they also found I had cancerous cells in the cervix.
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Posted 27/02/2011 12:05:03
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My own view for what it's worth.
HRT can cause breast cancer which is treated with drugs that can cause osteoporosis.
OJ - Diagnosed age 57, T score -2.5 (osteoporosis) on right femur neck. Left hip and L1 through to L4 of the spine are osteopenie. Prescribed Calcichew D3 Forte, (I take one tablet a day)+ 1000iu supplement of D3 cholecalciferol)
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