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[Joyce]

I vote for quality of life. If HRT helps, then so be it. At my surgery, half of GPs will give me it no questions, other half give me the speech. Fortunately not encountered to much negativity of late, but know it will happen. I'm prepared to try an alternative, so long as they will guarantee me my HRT if alternative fails. I was given clonidine 5 years ago, but at that time it was useless as I was already having full blown flushes & sweats having come off cold turkey. But I've been reducing my HRT for some time now. Tried to come off it couple of months back, but sweats kicked in pretty quickly. But maybe this time the clonidine would work.

You could be right there HB, maybe it's just part & parcel of aging. We're not 20 any more.  Maybe in our heads we are, but our bodies are telling a different story.

[dazned]

I have no great expectations of running marathons! 

However I do expect to be able to function enough to able to do housework,food shopping,making a dinner,book trips,days out etc. Handle paperwork ,bills,go out to work ,enjoy living all the things I haven't done for past 4 weeks! This meno stuff is stopping me doing this nd no gp has that right to deny us the remedy if that is what we decide to take,we can make rational decision s.  Well most of the time 

[dazned]

2 days on and I am now calm and not so angry ! 

[CLKD]

I would be sending Dr Currie an e-mail about this GP too  - don't forget medics often meet up during the year so maybe a few heads could be   

It's the attitude.  I understand that patients need to be aware of any problems that might be found with various medication regimes, however, to deny that HRT in particular doesn't do this/that/etc. whereas women are aware that HRT can ease certain symptoms ……….  ………

[GeordieGirl]

Gps get extra.cash for prescribing ads thats why they are so keen to prescribe but not for hrt !

Is that the case Lancashirelass? They certainly seem far too quick to jump to hand over ADs for anything you go in for - I did wonder if there's some kind of financial incentive behind this, probably from the pharmaceutical companies? 

None of this gives me any confidence at all in our medics though the jury is still out on mine (first one prescribed sleeping pills without even considering my age / history; the second, gynae doc, has been open to discussion about BHRT, let's see what comes next).

GG x

[dazned]

I'm hoping my gynecologist will have something to say on it !   

[GeordieGirl]

2 days on and I am now calm and not so angry ! 

Well done you, I'd still be bloody furious!!

I'm in a FB menopause group and everyone has been posting up their responses from their doctors - unfortunately your doctor seems to be the norm rather than the exception. Do they have a menopause clinic at all that you can be referred to?

GG x

[dazned]

No Iam under a gynecologist.

Well not literally 

I've just never heard of a gp questioning a specialist,seems the days of specialist being God are gone !

[CLKD]

The prescription will come out of the Surgery budget though ………. and HRT is probably longer term and more costly than ADs etc.  ………. however, GPs should remember that is what they are: GPs : and Specialists are ……… some GPs are there because they didn't qualify to be Specialists 

[Meg]

Sorry to sound pessimistic but in my own case the menopause symptoms have been simply going on and on.  What is a woman to do in these circumstances.  Initially I was given the information that flushes, sweats and worst symptoms would likely last a couple of years.  Sad to say this is not the case for many women.  GP's can be very unwilling to prescribe HRT or not know enough about it.  As stated maybe fearing litigation later.  It seems very likely that they will prescribe an anti-depressant or clonidine.  Also many women are unwilling or afraid to take things in the long term.  It is all very depressing at a time when depression can strike anyway because of the hormonal changes!

Meg   

[honorsmum]

2 days on and I am now calm and not so angry ! 

Well done you, I'd still be bloody furious!!

I'm in a FB menopause group and everyone has been posting up their responses from their doctors - unfortunately your doctor seems to be the norm rather than the exception. Do they have a menopause clinic at all that you can be referred to?

GG x

Which group is that, GG?
PM me if you'd rather not say here - I'd be interested in a UK FB group.x

[GeordieGirl]

As stated maybe fearing litigation later.

Given the risks of some of the things they do prescribe, this is topsy turvy. I was given sleeping pills (NOT taken!). There is an increased mortality rate in patients taking sleeping pills or sedatives.  I'm sure if anyone searches on ADs they'll probably find a number of clinical trials that bring up inherent risks there too.

British GPs tend to treat symptoms not the cause. We feel sh*t because of our hormones, so they prefer to give us ADs or pills because we're feeling bad, rather than treating the actual cause, hormone imbalance.  We see this in a lot of medical issues, eg with anti biotics - in France if you get prescribed an anti-biotic, they tend to prescribe a pro-biotic at the same time. We invariably end up going back with thrush and getting treatment for the something that could easily have been avoided.  A friend has only recently been referred to an endocrinologist after decades of suffering, and needless to say her hormones have been a huge issue (thyroid).

I rarely go to the doctor, but when I do I always do my own research too so I can discuss and indeed, if necessary question. My last GP was a darling and took very much a holistic approach, unfortunately he retired recently and I'm really not as confident in the new replacements. We'll see.

GG  X

[GeordieGirl]

Which group is that, GG?
PM me if you'd rather not say here - I'd be interested in a UK FB group.x

I'd happily say, but no doubt would be banned.  I'll message you instead 
GG x

[dazned]

Can you pm me too please GG thanks