Looking for advice please…

Everyday living
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I have a diagnosis of RRMS (since 2005 officially). I started on Tecfidera in 2018 & have recently been confirmed as early post menopause at 44. I am looking for any advice about Menopause & MS generally, MS & HRT (trying to work out options) and on the off chance anyone is in a similar position to me on Tecfidera & my age/similar issues. I am awaiting a referral to menopause clinic & am aware the notes are not shared & they are all specialists in their own field. I keep being told by the MS nurse that I need to be led by the GP regarding menopause. Any experiences or advice welcomed. Thanks in advance. Confused & open to suggestions.

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This piece from the excellent Prof Giovannoni is full of good information.

I am very sorry that you have been pitched into post menopause so early. That is a lot to deal with.

I’m much older than you and have had MS for decades and am on Tysabri. For what it’s worth, I have been on HRT for a few years and will take a great deal of persuading to come off it. It is part of my strategy of using all the help I can get to stay as well as I can be.

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Thank you so much for responding. Absolutely so important to focus on being as well as possible. Feeling a little thrown but trying not to get too down about it. I have been strong & positive through the past twenty years of the MS things but hadn’t anticipated this extra part of the journey. Thank you again.

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Hi, I’m new to this forum but felt compelled to answer your query. I’m quite a bit older than you but also on Tecfidera and had the early menopause at 42, just a few months after having my son…talk about under the wire! I didn’t feel well so the GP put me on HRT and I felt so much better. I did notice that I felt really well throughout the pregnancy so convinced (and there is scientific evidence) that those hormones can supress inflammation, as in autoimmune disease. So the MS nurse is quite right to advise you to listen to the GP as there are risks to be aware of, but I just thought I’d share my positive experience of HRT.
All the best!

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