I started the menopause about 48-ish. When I was 52 there was the 'scare' and my HRT was stopped. I went through a form of bodily & mental Hell that I would never wish on anyone, never, ever, ever..... lying in bed shivering and shaking, sweating and soaking the sheets and mattress, brain all over the place - went on for years. I am now 68 and the intervening years have regularly brought on attacks - now stretching out to about once every 3 weeks. I am currently on my 3rd day of sweats/shivers of the latest bout - they are always accompanied by anxiety and depression. I am pleading with my G.P. to put me back on H.R.T. --- leave your MIL alone for Heaven's sake. Do you really want to put her through all this?