Suggest Treatment For Shortness Of Breath And Body Pain
Detailed answer below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
It seems that you have been on HRT for a long period of time. Long term use of HRT is associated with problems in cognitive function and dementia means people have trouble understanding and doing things and become forgetful. It also increases the risk of breast and ovarian cancer. However the risk decreases once the drug is stopped. Even though research in this direction is still going on but it is not recommended to take HRT for so long.
Your symptoms of shortness of breath and body pain may be due to fibromyalgia. Uncontrolled hypertension also causes similar problems. The weakness and body ache may be attributed to HRT. Other reasons may be low hemoglobin and many more and will need an evaluation.
You are already 65 and so HRT is not needed as you would have progressed to menopause by now. You are bound to experience some symptoms after stopping the drugs. However this had to happen sometime in life.
I suggest that you start natural hormone replacements like balck kohash and phytoestrogens. Menosan or menopro powder are prepared for natural products and contain plant estrogens. Addition of soya beans and tofu, lot of green vegetables and carrots, whole grain cereals, sprouts, red clover help provide natural estrogens and decrease the need of synthetic ones. Lifestyle modification measures with regular exercise help tone up the system. You will also need a calcium supplement if HRT is being stopped. Try to taper the drugs slowly. Use them alternate days for 2-3 weeks then every 2 days and so on so that the transition is more gradual. Also get a blood pressure check and an evaluation about the fibromyalgia. You will also need to see your doctor to evaluate the shortness of breath as this is not related to stopping HRT.
Drugs like clonidine are useful to control hypertension as well as symptoms of menopause. So discuss this with your doctor. If the neurological symtoms are severe take the help of a neurologist as short term use of drugs like SSRI help to tide over this period.
I understand that your body has got used to the hormones. But with such long term use any medicine will show some adverse effects. These symptoms will disappear after some time when the body gets used to low hormones.
Hope this satisfies your query.
Thanks for using HCM.
Feel free to ask any more questions that you may have.
Dr Madhuri Bagde
Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist