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[Chi chi]

I'm waiting to send my email but I'm worried it's too long  it's 4 and a half A4 pages! It says £25 per question but I feel I have to explain my history for her to be able to help or advise me?
It's basically asking her what her thoughts are on what I should do next .

Do you think this is ok? 

[Joyce]

I would imagine she is very busy so possibly a bit long. Any way you can just use bullet points for things bothering you & summarise your history?

[peegeetip]

Not sure what is unethical about charging for a service? Lots of sites do this on???

I'm sure there are a lot of ladies very thankful for Dr Currie's advice and intervention.

For the advice, no idea on what would be too much or not.

To get a proper answer to a question then background is essential for those giving advice I'd say.

I'd send what you have and make the "question" part clearly defined from your background.

Hope that it helps

[Winterose]

Estelle

Am sure Dr Currie will let you know when you send it whether its acceptable or not and a background is essential before she can reply,

[Chi chi]

Thanks everyone 
I'm just worried that I might leave something 'crucial' out if I didn't give a proper history 

[peegeetip]

Its not via this site 

Dr Currie discusses with the patient in complete privacy.
That is no different to any other private session you might want to have with a doctor or even going to your local pharmacist for a chat

Nothing from that private discussion would be posted on this site as advice.
 
 

[Cassie]

Why unethical? We are very fortunate to have this...obviously she is not going to advise the patient with regards dosages etc if she cannot do proper physical exams such as ultrasounds, bloods, etc, but to have a medical person to call on, to advise the way forward, or just to be there through this rather arduous journey,  I think is 1st prize and a wonderful service indeed.

[Hurdity]

Estelle

I agree you need to give all your background but perhaps as cubagirl says you could summarise with bullet points eg the date and your age at the time in chronological order and what was prescribed etc/the outcome/whether it worked - so that she can see at a glance. I'm sure you've done this already. You could always at the end say you realise it's long and that you'd be prepared to pay a bit more (if you are!) - and as peegeetip says - make your Q absolutely clear.

Totally agree re Dr Currie ie a fantastic service. It is nothing to do with the forum - as has been said she offers a professional e-mail service via the main website. Dr Currie founded and manages this website and is one of the leading gynaecologists in UK for menopause.

Prajna - I think you do her a disservice by suggesting she would offer a complete diagnosis on the basis of an e-mail - and that she wouldn't use her considerable experience and professional judgement to decide how to advise a woman who asks a question. Of course she would do that but give a professional opinion on what could be happening or what the general advice is regarding a particular problem. It would not be intended to replace a doctor's diagnosis.

Most women find it particuarly vaulable when they are faced with outdated views from their GP as to when to stop HRT, who can be given it, what could be the causes of bleeding etc.

As an example I sent an e-mail when I had some bleeding. I had already been to the doc who told me to stop using HRT immediately and then if the bleeding continued, they would investigate. I e-mailed Dr Currie who advised that I did not need to stop HRT and that investigations could take place while remaining on HRT. I then went to another doc in the practice, with my reply and managed to have the investigations while still on HRT, and the second GP was quite happy with this.

Other members have for example been given suggestions about types of HRT etc.

Hurdity x

[Briony]

I too worried my email was too long, but what I did was summarise everything at the end and ask a final, more specific question.

At all times Dr Currie was professional and objective (reply took about three days). It's very clear she doesn't aim to replace your  doctor or give an absolute diagnosis; she's there simply to offer guidance to women who request it - many of whom have reached stale mate with their GP. It's a real life line to some people. (A close friend whose doctor refused to accept she could be peri menopausal because of her age and instead diagnosed her with CFS was, thanks to this service, able to confidently ask for a second opinion at her practice. She'd never have had the confidence to do this without the reassurance from Dr Currie that you can indeed be perimenopausal at a younger age.

I think it's pertinent that my own GP recommended I refer to this site (which is obviously run by Dr Currie) as she rates Dr Currie so highly.

[Limpy]

There is so much a doctor can miss by not seeing someone face to face.

Er - Let me make sure I've understood this correctly.
Seeing a doctor face to face guarantees an accurate assessment and diagnosis?
Even when they have limited knowledge or experience of the subject being discussed 

Dr Currie is a professional and knows what she's talking about.

Many of us have seen doctors face to face who have missed the blatantly obvious

[Limpy]

Sorry Prajna I'm a bit off the face to face thing at the moment, having failed to get a broken ankle diagnosed, despite three "face to face" consultations.

Ok, email wouldn't have helped but face to face did absolutely nothing.

Dr Currie is an expert who knows what she's talking about.

[Dr. Heather Currie]

I do apologise if the email consultation service is causing some concern. This is offered by many other organisations, along with telephone consultations and while it can never replace a consultation with your own doctor, it may offer some support. I try to make the replies fairly general and I cannot issue prescriptions. Many women find that the advice given then helps them have a useful conversation with their own doctor. It only aims to provide support.
With increasing pressures on the NHS, the use of telephone and email advice is being used more.
The £25 fee is used to help cover costs of running Menopause Matters, both website and magazine publishing costs. I do have to withdraw the service at times due to workload, and apologise when my reply is delayed.
I hope that this provides enough reassurance

[warwick01]

Hi Estelle

I agree with Hurdity offer to pay  double which Im sure you agree £50 is far less that Proff Studd charges.

Let us know how you get on

Wx

[Chi chi]

Thanks everyone, I'm quite happy to pay more if I need to? My emails all ready to go just waiting for Dr Currie to email me so I can send it 

[Hurdity]

Thank-you Dr Currie!

Hope all goes well Estelle.

Hurdity