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[Lynanne]

Hi all  not sure if I am being fair to my gp. But when I 1st went to see her with menopausal symptoms she gave me elleste duet 2mg as mentioned before no discussion nothing. Felt ill on this so went back this time she said HRt dosnt suit me take black cohosh didnt tell me about warnings etc. So I took remifemin wary of the fact it could damage my liver. Then when I go back cause not happy on black cohosh she gives me an anti depressant amitrypiline. Didnt tell me it was an anti depressant. So go back as no sex drive gives me tibolone didnt help anything made me ill. anyway go back as sore and dry gives me vagifem again no discussion. anyway to cut a long story short I stopped using vagifem as it irritated me didnt know how bad things would get sore dry itchy etc as i use a moon sponge for my prolapse even this irritated things. at smear test nurse found a polyp  this would bleed occasionally so went back to gp told not to worry about it. So last week really bad sore etc  |I had a bleed and thought enough is enough saw a nurse practitioner who said yep a polyp and yes very inflammed. refered me to hospital. But she was not amused at the treatment I have had thus far and has said when the polyp has been removed to go back and see HER she is going to help I feel let down by my gp all the way though this she has been no help
Should I stick with her?  and where do I go from here need to be fully armed  As even if I see the nurse I want some ideas

[Evelyn63]

Lynane, I'm not surprised you are feeling despondent and have lost faith in your GP, and I don't blame you.  Are there any other GP's in the practice you could perhaps see for a second opinion?  You have had so many different treatments and meds that I am sure you don't know what suits you and what doesn't .  Have a look at the drop down menu at the top of the page and hopefully you can download some information to take with you .  The nurse sounds very good and at least you can go back to her .

[CLKD]

Your GP is being dismissive.  Your Practice Nurse may be the way to go!  Which Dept have you been referred to and why  .  I had a polyp which bled on contact that disappeared with menopause  .  My Gynae wanted to remove it but I dug my heels in as I was at that time very depressed.  It went, all by itself  .

Maybe keep a mood/food/symptom diary in the first instance.  Have a browse round the treatment area on here.

Some are sensitive to the fillers in Vagifem.  I find Ovestin1mg suits me.  Others use one of these plus other moisturisers, i.e. Sylc - if you put the names into the search box you will see current threads and how ladies have found them. 

Don't despair, we are here ;-)

[Lynanne]

Hi yes I know GP is not very good at talking etc.
Been referred to post meno bleed clinic as nurse said just as a precaution. Seemed convinced it is the polyp and the fact I am so inflammed down there so not concerned really.
Now the soreness has reduced things have settled much more, down there so I am sure she is right.

[Greyhoundgal]

I would stick with the nurse - the GP's at my surgery are mostly young and male and seem to have no idea about the menopause and HRT.  My nurse specialises in it and is of a certain age herself - they can prescribe and usually have a much better idea of what is going on with our bodies.

[Londongirl]

Hi Lynanne

The problem that I discovered is they are all mostly keen to dish out Elleste Duet and even more foolishly I was not started on the lowest dose (don't get the logic in that!).  I'd done so much research on here and after a few attempts with patches that didn't work for me, I insisted on Femoston Conti (I'm post meno).  The Elleste Duet given to me initially just didn't agree with me and when I went back to see another GP she was inisistant on prescribing me Ellest Duet and actually told me that it's exactly the same as Femoston Conti - she said has the same preparations (well I'm pretty sure it doesn't!).  She also had the cheek to tell me that they prefer to prescribe Ellest Duet because it's cheaper so always opt for that one first! 

I'm afraid it will be trial and error finding what works for you but you must keep pushing.  If anything, ask for a referral to a meno clinic at the hospital (or have you got one already?). 

I also asked one of the GPs at my place about the creams and he said, oh this is only used in France, not here! 

To make matters worse though when I was referred to the meno clinic at the hospital, the consultant was adamant that there is no ultra low does of Femoston Conti and told me I was wrong.  Fortunately, I'd taken my box with me and that shut her up! 

Keep seeing other GP's until you find the most sympathetic one (there usually is) and avoid the others !

Good luck

[Evelyn63]

Another issue with GP's especially younger ones is that they have no experience in prescribing HRT, since the scare of 2001, a lot of women stopped using it.  I think GP's now just look it up in the BNF and prescribe it, a one size fits all . 

[Hurdity]

Lynanne

So sorry to hear about your appalling treatment - I presume you stopped the anti-depressants as you don't need them and should never have been given them for menopause! Oh and I've just realised - even worse they aren't even ADs - amytrip is for nerve pain primarily but sometimes used I gather for anxiety. Dooh these doctors!

Hope all goes well at the post-meno clinic and you will be treated and then be able to find the right HRT preparations to suit you, as well as local oestrogen for vaginal soreness. There are plenty to choose from - if only the doctors were better informed and open to trying something different. It really is depressing and I feel for you and anyone who has to put up with this treatment. I realise I am so lucky with my gynae specialist GP in my local practice

Will the nurse be able to prescribe something of your choice? If so yes go to her but if not as already said find another doc in the practice.

Hurdity x