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[Jamily50]

Hi , so far I have ' coped ' with my awful symptoms and now its time to see the GP for help . I have done a bit of reading and having seen good reviews on Oestrogel and Utrogestan , I would like to discuss it with my GP . I am worried he will refuse me and perscribe something else , last time he gave me Premarin which I dont want to take .

Is this form of HRT available on the NHS and how will the GP find out if it is a suitable HRT for me ? I have been period free for a year but suffer aches , depression , cant sleep and the brain fog is so unbearable its affecting my life . Thankyou in advance

[Keepgoing]

Yes your gp can prescribe it. I asked my go for it she just had to read up on the utro as she hadn't heard of it docs may know it better as micronised progestorone. I gave her both names anyway she checked it out and gave me it xx

[Kathleen]

Hello Jamily50.

Your GP can prescribe Oestrogel and Utrogestan but as Keepgoing says you may have to direct him/her.

The first doctor I asked had never heard of either  and wanted to prescribe patches instead. I wasn't happy with this so I saw another GP in the practice and they knew all about both preparations and were happy to let me have them. Moral of the story, don't give up lol.

Wishing you well and let us know how you get on.

K.

[dazned]

Hi no-one will be able to tell if it will work for you,unfortunately hrt is very much try it and see ,each of us reacts differently. Hope you find that it suits you .

[Jamily50]

Feeling deflated , just got back from GP and he chuckled because I dont wat to take Premarin on ethical grounds then he said , you wonder how our mothers and grandmothers coped before hormones . I wasnt hoping for miracles . I then asked if I could be referred to a Meno clinic but apparently there are very few of those now, Im in Wales . He has told me to have a blood test to look at my hormones but ..... .

How on earth can I discuss what type of hrt with him .

[Jamily50]

Yes but he is almost the same , its a small practice. The other GP put me on Premarin which I had already said I didnt want to take so I tried the second GP  . There is a well woman nurse but she is into doing things naturally , always suggests herbal remedies and exersise etc . I walk miles a day and have tried all that stuff . I really wouldnt be asking if i felt I could solve it naturally . Will have the blood test then take it from there , feels like a very long process .

I went in ready to ask questions about Estrogel and other similar forms but didnt even get that far . Cant believe in this day and age HRT is so difficult to discuss.

[Cassie]

How frustrating you poor thing, Premarin is vile, I wonder if he would prescribe it for his wife! In my humble opinion, The best  HRT you can use is the gel and Utrogestan, keep pushing for this combo.

[Mary G]

Jamily50, I'm afraid I can believe it, you only have to look on here to see that many GPs are in the dark ages when it comes to the menopause and HRT.  The advice you have been given is rubbish, Premarin is an outdated form of HRT and you cannot replace vital hormones and protect yourself from the long list of health problems caused by oestrogen deprivation with diet and exercise alone.  We now have the new NICE guidelines that are supposed to stop this kind of thing from happening and doctors should offer you HRT but you can quote the guidelines to your GP practice until you are blue in the face, if they don't want to play ball they don't have to, it's as simple as that. 

That is why so many of us have been forced to seek the help of the brilliant Professor John Studd who has made hormones his life's work and I am going to say what I always say and that is, depending on how you are placed financially, I would not waste any more of your valuable time and would book a consultation with Professor Studd in London.  I believe he does telephone consultations and another member recently had one which was very successful.  He is a great advocate of the Oestrogel/Utrogestan regime and many of us, myself included, have found this to be the best HRT regime by far.  I tried so many different types of HRT before and none of them were even close to being any good. 

Why not have a look at his website and then give his office a call tomorrow?  His secretaries are very nice and very helpful and they will be able to talk through you options with you and give you an idea of cost.

[Jamily50]

I would love to see Professor Studd but im afraid I probably couldn't afford his fees sadly . I have read up on HRT and come to the conclusion that Estrogel seems to be the way forward although I know there are others I can try . Anything is better than feeling this rotten and not coping .

I am due to see an endocrinologist next week for a separate matter . Eleven years ago I had a Pituitary tumor removed , I am fine now but they still check my general health and hormones . He mentioned HRT last year when I talked about Peri menopause . I will raise the subject with him and see if he has any advice I think . Fingers crossed .

It is scarey to think that many women are suffering in science because GPs seem to refuse to move on

[Kathleen]

Hello again Jamily50.

So sorry to hear that you've had this problem.

It seems your GPs are fine with HRT as long as it's the one they approve of!  Also happens to be the cheapest and crudest version. If you needed blood thinning meds would they prescribe leeches I wonder? I'm being facetious I know but I feel for you, it must be so frustrating.

I think seeing your endocrinologists is to your advantage, hopefully get their approval for the HRT you want to try then tell your GP that your consultant has insisted on this course of treatment.

I truly hope you are successful and do please keep us informed.

Take care.

K.

[dazned]

My friend sees an endocrinologist for her thyroid condition and he happily perscribed her estrogen and utrogeston and wrote to her gp telling him of this. An endocrinologist deals with all hormones so that would seem to me the way to go.

[walking the dog]

Could you afford the 25 pound to email Dr curry who runs this site you could then go to your gp armed with her response and ask for the hrt she recommends ? 😉

[Trufflecat]

The endocrinologist seems like a better bet. Perhaps arm yourself with some literature and write down your symptoms before you go.

[Jamily50]

Thanks for the suggestions , I feel a bit calmer now , I still think I am going to struggle to convince my GP although I will change back to the other one in the practice I think . I will have a chat to the Endocrinologist and see where I go from there . I can do without this fight at the moment as anything seems like a gigantic struggle .