Have you been told no to hrt if you are 10+ years post menopause?

Posted by gravity3 @gravity3, May 16, 2024

Starting hrt 10 years post menopause and the flawed Women's health initiative study.
I have been told no and yet the current findings seem to indicate that hrt can still help.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Osteoporosis & Bone Health Support Group.

@bayhorse

I'm reading your post belatedly, zhaner, and wondering about the oxytocin nasal spray. Is it prescription? Can you tell me more about what it is used for? I don't see any relation to bone health.

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Hi bayhorse, the oxytocin nasal spray is by prescription and for bone health it is primarily to lower stress and make the relationships more mellow.
Stress is a bone killer.

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@bayhorse

Oddly enough, my cardiologist okayed HRT for me in spite of my heart issues because, as he put it, I am "the poster child for osteoporosis and should use anything that will help strengthen" my bones. But my endocrinologist, who actually manages my osteoporosis, said no to HRT. She felt it was an unnecessary risk, especially given that I have ulcerative colitis.

I've had UC for 33 years, and this was the first I'd heard about UC increasing blood clot risk. In fact, I was on HRT when I was in my 40s & 50s to guard my bones because I was on chronic steroids to treat the U.C.!

I am now 73 years old, have severe osteoporosis, and would like to use every possible weapon against it. I am also just past 10 years post menopause, which my gyn says increases stroke risk. I would like to hear from any post-menopausal women who have UC. Have you also been warned of clot risk if you use HRT for your bone health?

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Hi - I did not take HRT during menopause because it was just after that study came out saying it increases breast cancer risk (and that study has now been debunked). My docs will not prescribe HRT now for my osteoporosis because I am 10+ years out from menopause, but an endocrinologist has suggested a kind of drug called a SERMS, which acts like HRT but does not cause estrogen uptake anywhere but the bones. So I’m looking into that. By the way, I had a Reclast infusion in March of last year and will never do it again - it was the sickest I have ever been in my life, and has apparently triggered fibromyalgia in me, so I am in constant pain with fatigue.

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@lwmarcrum

Hi - I did not take HRT during menopause because it was just after that study came out saying it increases breast cancer risk (and that study has now been debunked). My docs will not prescribe HRT now for my osteoporosis because I am 10+ years out from menopause, but an endocrinologist has suggested a kind of drug called a SERMS, which acts like HRT but does not cause estrogen uptake anywhere but the bones. So I’m looking into that. By the way, I had a Reclast infusion in March of last year and will never do it again - it was the sickest I have ever been in my life, and has apparently triggered fibromyalgia in me, so I am in constant pain with fatigue.

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Thanks for posting. I haven't heard of SERMS, but will investigate. So sorry to hear about your reaction to Reclast. I find these drugs terrifying, but am equally terrified of what will happen to me if I don't take something.

Wishing you all the best...

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@bayhorse

Thanks for posting. I haven't heard of SERMS, but will investigate. So sorry to hear about your reaction to Reclast. I find these drugs terrifying, but am equally terrified of what will happen to me if I don't take something.

Wishing you all the best...

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And SERMS stands for selective estrogen receptor modulators. There are two brand names - Raloxifene and Bazedoxifene.

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@lwmarcrum

Hi - I did not take HRT during menopause because it was just after that study came out saying it increases breast cancer risk (and that study has now been debunked). My docs will not prescribe HRT now for my osteoporosis because I am 10+ years out from menopause, but an endocrinologist has suggested a kind of drug called a SERMS, which acts like HRT but does not cause estrogen uptake anywhere but the bones. So I’m looking into that. By the way, I had a Reclast infusion in March of last year and will never do it again - it was the sickest I have ever been in my life, and has apparently triggered fibromyalgia in me, so I am in constant pain with fatigue.

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I've been on HRT for 25 years. Some of my doctors have approved and some haven't. I'm planning to stay on it to the end unless there is a medical reason (breast cancer) to get off of it.

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@bayhorse

Oddly enough, my cardiologist okayed HRT for me in spite of my heart issues because, as he put it, I am "the poster child for osteoporosis and should use anything that will help strengthen" my bones. But my endocrinologist, who actually manages my osteoporosis, said no to HRT. She felt it was an unnecessary risk, especially given that I have ulcerative colitis.

I've had UC for 33 years, and this was the first I'd heard about UC increasing blood clot risk. In fact, I was on HRT when I was in my 40s & 50s to guard my bones because I was on chronic steroids to treat the U.C.!

I am now 73 years old, have severe osteoporosis, and would like to use every possible weapon against it. I am also just past 10 years post menopause, which my gyn says increases stroke risk. I would like to hear from any post-menopausal women who have UC. Have you also been warned of clot risk if you use HRT for your bone health?

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Oh my gosh, I went through menopause at age 49! And no one put me on HRT, which in hindsight I wonder about. I'm down to -3.6 in my lumbar spine, and have now been on Tymlos for almost a year. I try to stay at the full dose, but when I start feeling muscle weakness, I cut back. Once I feel ok again, I try to up the dose for awhile.
I do get plenty of soy, which is supposed to be somewhat of an estrogen mimic?? My endocrinologist also had recommended taking a soy product daily. Who knows if it helps, but it can't hurt, since the soymilk is also loaded with calcium.

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@pennykj

I am 16 years post menopause (age 71) and my gyn told me that she would only prescribe if I received a written clearance from a cardiologist. My gyn was concerned about blood clots. My cardiologist would not commit to a written clearance.

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Finally after mammogram and blood work nurse practitioner perscribed .025 estradiol patch and progesterin at night as well as estradiol cream. I am 72 and went through the scare years ago and stopped therapy. After a recent bone scan had deveoped pretty high scores for osteo and same nurse said possibly prolia injections might work and referred me to a rheumatologist. More blood work to see if i would "qualify" for Prolia ensued. After researching those side effects went in total bone strenthening mode of resistance training thinking the side effects for some have been scary. So now am hoping that estrogen therapy and resistant training might be the best option. Seems calcium levels in blood as well as test for hypopararhyroid are a bit high and that prohibits taking this injection are not a good idea. Keeping calm to keep cortisol at bay may help. Prayers too...for all of us 10+ years left behind. Incidentally, the nurse who was around 62 was on HRT and seemed to gloat (smile) when telling me it was too late for me. I am not giving up though. If anyone who might be a few years older and took HRT after 10 years of menapause with promising results would so love to hear of your journey!

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