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[ricekrispie]

Thank you Blakeygray I used a lot of this at the docs today.

UPDATE

So I went to see my GP this morning, turns out she was the one who okayed my testosterone test a few months ago. She is young but very openminded hence when I asked to be referred to a meno clinic she said "there are meno clinics?" She had no idea they existed but is more than happy to refer me to one. So I can either be referred to Jan Toledano or Nick Panay or any other specialist who takes NHS referrals. Hooray! What a relief. I said I thought I'd taken a good enough amount of responsibility for my own health and would appreciate some help to which she agreed. Dr Toledano is a private practitioner now so I can be referred to her but it will only cover any more blood tests as she can request the GP to do them for her, and they can do it or refuse. I would still have to pay for prescriptions. Or, she can recommend NHS equivalents which may or may not help me based on the test results. But I'll still have to pay for consults. So not much of a winner there but if I want to go to an NHS consultant I can. I am a bit loathe to change to someone else to be honest while this is working so well, we shall see.

So that's where I am right now. I'm not going to patronise anyone on here by saying 'go for it, ask!' as I know most of you have and often get nowhere! I just hope it gives you a little encouragement and you're able to dredge up a little energy from somewhere to keep going with your GP.

Thanks for all your support.

The GP knows this forum too and comes here quite often. She freely admitted to knowing hardly anything about the menopause but was so open I couldn't get wound up about it, they've got enough on right now.

[ricekrispie]

What about thyroid though? What were your results, what was tested and are you getting any treatment for this too? Sorry I can't now see your original post!

Hurdity x

Hi Hurdity

Thyroid was
THYROID STIMULATING HORMONE 2.05 mIU/L 0.27 - 4.2

R.RANGE

FREE T3 3.7 pmol/L 3.1 - 6.8

R.RANGE

FREE THYROXINE 12.3 pmol/l 12.0 - 22.0

Thyroglobulin Antibody 26.7

Method used for Anti-Tg: Roche Modular IU/mL(0 - 115 )

Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies 13.1

Method used for Anti-TPO: Roche Modular IU/mL(0 - 34 )

[Hurdity]

Thanks Blakeygray for putting all that together - I see you reproduced one of my posts there re the NICE Guidelines - well done for searching for it all!

ricekrispie - great that you can be referred to Nick Panay on NHS - I presume anyone in London can ask to be referred to him? What a great GP you have who is willing to listen and refer on, and admits she lacks the knowledge. Sorry I see you did post your thyroid results in your previous post below - I didn't look far enough down! I presume from the ref ranges etc that everything is normal on this score because T4 and T3 are within range, TSH is not high and antibodies are low? I know very little about thyroid problems but know that issues can manifest themselves around menopause and can confound with other symptoms.

Good luck with it all

Hurdity x

[ricekrispie]

Hurdity, no I'm on the Sussex coast, she said if I give her a name she'll refer me!

Thyroid ok, Dr T thought one was a bit on the low side but anything to worry about.

Called Dr T's PA, they can take an NHS referral but because she no longer works in the NHS too I would still have to pay for private prescriptions but....my GP would cover the cost of further blood tests and if Dr T thinks there are any NHS available hormones that would suit me she could prescribe those and they would be the NHS normal charge. I'm sticking with her for a bit as I've spent so much getting here and the cream is working.

I feel so relieved. Thanks for all your encouragement everyone.

[abbyH]

Great you've been able to share these experiences!
All valuable information and advice!
Thank you!

Abby xx

[Blakeygray]

Thanks Blakeygray for putting all that together - I see you reproduced one of my posts there re the NICE Guidelines - well done for searching for it all!

ricekrispie - great that you can be referred to Nick Panay on NHS - I presume anyone in London can ask to be referred to him? What a great GP you have who is willing to listen and refer on, and admits she lacks the knowledge. Sorry I see you did post your thyroid results in your previous post below - I didn't look far enough down! I presume from the ref ranges etc that everything is normal on this score because T4 and T3 are within range, TSH is not high and antibodies are low? I know very little about thyroid problems but know that issues can manifest themselves around menopause and can confound with other symptoms.

Good luck with it all

Hurdity x

Yes I got all my info from here,  so thank you for looking it all up and posting. All I did was read and take out what I need. 
I've been given a gp appointment for Nov 14th , I hope I can get a referral or a prescription.  Mind you what's another two weeks after suffering for over a decade.

[dangermouse]

For crying out loud, Dangermouse, I don't know how you do it! You sound far worse than me I'm so sorry. This prescription has really made a difference to the determination, motivation and drive. Yesterday I had a masonry drill in my hands and was hammering holes into walls. I can honestly say I haven't had the wherewithal to do anything like that for a good four years. I think you're amazing.

Ah thanks but I'm only choosing not to take anything because the things I've tried haven't helped. If they did, I would be happy to partake. Saying that, I think we're all amazing for adapting to all of this physical and mental upheaval!

I had a look at my creams and I was prescribed different strengths to you (which I guess is the main purpose of compounded products), I had testosterone 2.5mg per 0.3ml pump, progesterone 25mg per 0.3ml (twice per days 14-28) and estradiol the same but once every day. They are out of date now though and so I may get in touch with Jan just to see what she thinks might work for me at this stage. When I first went to see her (when she was at Marion Gluck), they advised me to get my blood tests done through my GP first (post ovulation as all hormones are low when NHS normally test - which is purely for fertility reasons and doesn't transcribe to meno) so I did only pay for the consultation and the products which was slightly cheaper than going to a private gyno who only prescribes the 'one size fits all' products. I also believe that an endocrinologist is more knowledgable than a gynaecologist when it comes to hormones.

Do you know if the NHS referral will pay for future consultation fees? I wonder if this would then mean you have to wait a while for the appointment.

I was actually listening to a menopause specialist on Vanessa Feltz's show the other day and she said that menopause is not seen as a medical condition so is not taught at medical school. I guess they only learn about it if they specialise or do CPD on the subject and this would explain their genuine fear of prescribing the wrong thing.

[ricekrispie]

Hi Dangermouse,

Love Vanessa Feltz, I work at home so can often be heard as one of her callers having a rant about something. I am 'that' person.

I think I heard her, she was a GP I think talking about the walking wrecks she sees who've had to retire early?

The NHS referral means I will still have to pay for consults and private prescriptions as she no longer does NHS work but she can request tests on the NHS and if she thinks I'll benefit from any NHS products she can write me an NHS script for those. So it doesn't save much but if I need another load of bloods to see where we are now, which we will I think then that's £300 odd saved.

She has started out on her own at The London Hormone Clinic, they will be open for business next week but her PA is already answering calls and emails so get in touch.

xx

[dangermouse]

Haha!

Yes the Vanessa Feltz recording can be listened to here, for anyone else who didn't hear. She was very pro HRT.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p049k3kb

That's all helpful thanks.

[ricekrispie]

Here's that GPs website too. Runs a clinic, still a GP so one could be referred if your GP will do it.  https://www.menopausedoctor.co.uk/

[Blakeygray]

Thanks for this dangermouse. I'll add it to my list of things to mention.

[ricekrispie]

Hello

It's been six months since I started BHRT and I wanted to update you all on progress in case it's any help to you.

October - started on Test .5 and Prog 1.0 and Estradot patches.
All good, bags of energy, new muscle mass, better sleep etc. (see the very first post for the full story).

Now, six months on I have been experimenting (with the doctor's advice) on all three hormones to get the levels right for me.

I can honestly say that testosterone, progesterone and a better balance of oestrogen has transformed my life, and my earning power.

I am now on Prog 5mg Test .75mg in a combined cream and Estradot 37.5 one patch a week. We upped the test a little and lowered the oestrogen and it's doing the job.

I'm sleeping better, my muscles are in better shape, no more trembling arms! My weight isn't great but I'm an emotional eater and I'm getting a handle on it which is working. I am fitter, walking five miles with the dog at the weekend is no longer an issue. I'm not sleeping in the afternoons any longer. My appetite is back, I definitely feel better for eating properly.

I have also stopped drinking caffeine (that's a week I don't want to repeat!) and that's made a massive difference to any lingering insomnia. I only drink tea and can recommend Clipper decaf and Birchall Great Rift decaf tea - expensive but like builders, it's delicious.

Work is no longer a problem, I am optimistic that I can cope when my assistant goes on maternity leave later this year.

Cost - up to now, including the initial £800 for initial blood tests, consultation and first batch of creams I have had one follow up appointment at £90  plus one more set of creams at £109. That's just over £1000. Now every three months I'll need a £109 cream and £27 of Estradot. That's £45 a month to get my life back.

Worth. Every. Penny.

I go to the London Hormone Clinic and see Jan Toledano.

[Hurdity]

Thanks for the update ricekrispie and so glad you are feeling better - long may that last! . I know testosterone has helped me although I am still not excatly how I would like to be - maybe to be expected as I'm in my 60's

Those prices are out of reach of most women though, so to reassure anyone reading, oestrogen and progoesterone (the bio-identical ones)  are available on NHS. Estradiol comes as tablets, patches and pills and progesterone is available as Utrogestan. Tesosterone is more difficult but there are an increasing number of GPs/menopause clinics willing to prescribe it although sometimes one low cost private visit may be required ( with prescription available on NHS thereafter).

I'm not sure about the quantities in the creams - these (creams and BHRT) are not recommended by the usual gynaecologists as they are non standard and it is important for example to have the right amount of progesterone to protect the womb. Do you have regular scans to check?

Well done with the caffeine - I do like my fixes though!

Anyway - I do hope you continue to feel good on your chosen regime

Hurdity x

[ricekrispie]

Thanks Hurdity

Totally agree with money. I'm paying off my interest free card to do it. To be honest I was so empty and listless I couldn't fight the NHS to get it. However, now I am cooking on gas I intend to visit the doctor again, armed with info and evidence so that I can get them on the NHS in future.

I use a most excellent compounding pharmacy for my cream. The Estradot can be bought on the NHS but if you can only get it privately it's £9 which is 60p more than a script.

Good luck to us all I say xxx

[dangermouse]

Glad you're still doing so well Ricekrispie and thanks to you I'm also back seeing Jan again. I don't yet need oestrogen or testosterone but the progesterone cream is what my body was lacking. Thank you!

Out of interest Hurdity (or anyone who uses Utrogestan), can the tablets be cut up to have smaller amounts? Jan said it would be too potent for me but would be good to know for the future if can't get the creams. I may also try the lozenges she mentioned which are cheaper but can't be combined with other hormones like the compounded creams (I think).