That side effect is mentioned for early days HRT in a Sally Wainwright dramedy that should hit Britbox soon, Riot Women, where women in their 50s form a punk rock band in a small Yorkshire town.
“Give me HRT” is one of their songs’ very angry chorus.
That’s why I’m not a fan of pellet therapy. If they give you too much of something, you just have to deal with it and try to counter the side effects until it wears off.
Wait! People voluntarily get IVs for no real reason??! IVs are the absolute worst. The few I’ve had over the years takes multiple nurses multiple tries to get started. And then I want them to get that thing out of my arm as soon as they can!
While I wouldn’t get an IV for no reason, they don’t bother me in the slightest. I do have giant veins though.
I’ll make a deal - I’ll take your IV and you can get weighed and measured for me?
I appreciate Dr. Jen Gunter’s balanced approach:
Some of it is good for some things and some women. One size does not fit all.
I have a question - since upthread it was discussed that HRT could be (is) beneficial for cardiac health.
I don’t want to start a rant on this particular drug because I know the side effects and link to future Alzheimer’s is controversial and I struggle with whether to take it or not, despite my PCP’s recommendation - BUT, I’m wondering whether HRT may help manage a slightly higher than normal bad cholesterol number so I don’t have to struggle with whether or not to take a statin drug?
I don’t eat poorly (or eat a lot of red meat), exercise, etc. but my number is always slightly elevated, and my PCP recommends statins. My SM feed is full of extreme warnings against taking them but with the “risk vs. benefit” disclaimer. It would be a “pro” for me if HRT could help without my having to take the statins. I have an appt. in early December with a hormone specialist and am making a list of talking points.
I have TINY veins and they roll, so getting blood from me is never fun. AND I hate getting weighed. I only ever get weighed at the doc’s office, and I don’t have a weight problem, but it’s still stressful.
What cholesterol numbers specifically? I am hearing less emphasis on the total number and analysis of LDL vs HDL and whether the LDL is “fluffy” or dense.
I have LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol that are a bit above the 200 level. But my HDL, triglycerides, cholesterol/HDLC ratio, and non-HDL cholesterol are all well within normal range. My PCP doesn’t recommend statins for me. OTOH, my H has total cholesterol a bit above 200 and LDL within the normal range - but his HDL is really low, so he is on statins. It depends on the total picture. I don’t know that HRT would be a replacement for statins if statins are indicated, but it’s always worth asking.
I am 55 and started HRT a year ago after struggling for 2 years. I have no family history of breast cancer or ovarian cancer. At first I could not figure out what had happened. I had gotten covid and then super depressed. I thought it was long covid. For my whole life I had been a high functioning professional. Diagnosed with OCD/anxiety & dysthymia (low grade depression), but functional, moderately successful if a bit quirky.
I just hit a wall. Significantly more depressed, joint pain, brain fog, and the typical symptoms of weight gain, low energy, decreased libido.
I changed up my mental health meds for the first time in 25 years. This stabilized me, but it was just ok. Brain fog continued to be an issue. I finally saw my GYN who validated my concerns. I use an estradiol cream, a transdermal estradiol patch (0.05 mg/day), and 100 mg progesterone. It was an absolute game changer in terms of my mental health and brain fog. I continue with my mental health meds but will ask about returning to my old med/dosage next year (or at least in the non-winter months).
The interviews in the NPR program below (and my family history of Alzheimer’s) prompted me to pursue HRT. I also recommend r/menopause on Reddit. 
So, my LDL is 126. My HDL is 66. Total cholesterol is 207 Triglycerides are in the normal range. VLDL (whatever that is) is also in the normal range.
I agreed to go back on statins for 3 months and retest.
When I had my physical a year prior, everything was in the normal range. Not sure what caused it to spike this time. Like I said, I’m not a huge carb/red meat eater and I’ve lost weight.
Immediately after menopause I saw a huge spike in my bad cholesterol and I was very alarmed. No other changes (diet/weight). However, after a year it went back to my normal (low) levels and have stayed there.
@CollegeNerd67 I read losing weight might spike cholesterol.
Yes, my numbers had always been great and I was so proud of myself LOL. Then I went thru menopause and my total cholesterol shot up over 200 and my LDL elevated out of normal. I did absolutely nothing different in my diet and exercise and it was pretty much overnight, so definitely due to the hormone changes of menopause.
My LDL and total are a little “worse” than yours and my HDL is a little better and my doctor is in no rush to put me on statins at all. I had a calcium scan that was 0 and another test that showed the cholesterol is more “fluffy” than dense. Plus no family history of heart attacks etc.
I stopped HRT a few years ago thinking it was time. I’m now realizing that many women stay on it longer than I thought. I messaged my gynecologist today and walked her what her thoughts are on going back on. My sister started HRT and testosterone recently at 63. She’s sleeping so much better.
This might be helpful….
She discuss the issue with Dr. Danielle Belardo, a preventive cardiologist who is on the board of the American Society of Preventive Cardiology, and Dr. Martha Gulati, Director of Prevention and Associate Director of the Barbra Streisand Women’s Heart Center, Past President of the American Society of Preventive Cardiology, and author of the book, Saving Women’s Hearts.
The plug for her clinic at the end is a bit off putting but I thought this MD had some good advice about cardio vascular lab testing that should be done in order to make a better informed decision about HRT. She also discusses some considerations to weigh in deciding whether or not it is prudent to start and/or stay on HRT after 60. It’s a short video.
When scrolling quickly I read the title of this thread as “HOME Replacement Therapy” 
I thought I could use that.
I had planned to get through menopause without hormones because it’s a natural phase of life and can probably be managed with lifestyle changes etc but omg it hit me like a ton of bricks! I was astonished by how disruptive to quality of life it was, mostly the sleep disruption due to hot flashes. I have been on HRT for about 10 years now. After 5 years or so, my doctor insisted that I stop, because their office protocol was to just stay on it for 5 years, I think. But it was still intolerable. I tried some supplements and also a low dose of gabapentin but I couldn’t stand the side effects and still wasn’t getting any sleep. Back on estrogen, now both vaginal and patch, plus progestorone pill. I feel like a normal person again.
Off topic, but a reply to @1214mom
A while back, my gyn got after me for missing a couple years of regular appointments. I told him it stressed me out to get on the scale, so I hadn’t come in (I’m not overweight either). He just looked at me and said….”So….don’t get on the scale then!!!” It never even occurred to me that I could just….say no. Since that day I haven’t stepped on a scale in any drs office. It’s so freeing.
Now back to HRT topics, which I’m reading with much interest…
I love that! I only ever get weighed in docs office, and always stress about it. (Maybe I already posted that upthread somewhere?)