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[suziq99]

Well to cut a long story short....
My last appointment with the (Equivalent to NHS)  gyne was at the beginning of this year, at this time I was still having regular periods, everything was ok with next checkup in 6 months. June I had no bleed, July nothing then at the end of the month Bam, hot flushes, sweats, awful feelings of panic & almost no sleep. So off I toddle to the gp who prescribed some 'natural' product called Malena, first week I got really grumpy, second week was worse with no let up with any of the symptoms third week, Sunday I was sick all day & passed a big blob of mucus yuck. Back to the gp on Monday now he gives me Flavia Nocta. Well first week yes I actually got some sleep, then on it made no difference. So off to the herbalist she gave me some soya based product which actually eased the flushes a bit, so I stuck with this until my 6th month check up was due, nothing, no appointment ( the hospital usually calls the Sunday before the date) So I make enquiries & got the date..14th Dec.   2 more months !  Bugger this, I am fortunate enough to know a private Gyne who I saw many years ago. So I went to see her, she gave me full check over & said everything was ok & that I could take either Climen or Climodien as I hadn't bleed for 7 mths the Climodien would be ok.
Well two weeks on it & the flushes drastically reduced, 3 weeks they had gone along with all the other symptoms. I am now 6 weeks along & just get a bit cold from time to time & feel a bit low.
No worries there.
Well today I had my 'check up' I had to interrupt the doc three times as I needed to tell him what had happened since I saw him last. He really wasn't interested in any symptoms, even after I explained that I had needed to find a solution he was not impressed that I had seen another Gyne. Frowned at the hrt, gave me a check up, said everything was ok, but wouldn't tell me the the thickness of the linning, just it's ok. Ordered a mammogram as I hadn't had one in a while. I asked about taking the hrt & he said take it after the mammogram.
Well I sure ain't going to stop taking it as who knows how long the mammogram appointment is going to take.
So good job I went private, chances are I would still be suffering.
Ok I know it's still early days on the hrt but at least I know who to go to.
 By the way I live in Spain & my doc won't prescribe hrt. Although some do.

[Mary G]

Suzi, I wouldn't have any confidence in that gynaecologist HRT wise.  It's pretty poor not to tell you what the lining measurement was, they should give you a printout.  I would stick with your current regime and go back to the private gynaecologist when you need to.

At least you can easily buy HRT in Spain!

[Emerald2017]

Well to cut a long story short....
My last appointment with the (Equivalent to NHS)  gyne was at the beginning of this year, at this time I was still having regular periods, everything was ok with next checkup in 6 months. June I had no bleed, July nothing then at the end of the month Bam, hot flushes, sweats, awful feelings of panic & almost no sleep. So off I toddle to the gp who prescribed some 'natural' product called Malena, first week I got really grumpy, second week was worse with no let up with any of the symptoms third week, Sunday I was sick all day & passed a big blob of mucus yuck. Back to the gp on Monday now he gives me Flavia Nocta. Well first week yes I actually got some sleep, then on it made no difference. So off to the herbalist she gave me some soya based product which actually eased the flushes a bit, so I stuck with this until my 6th month check up was due, nothing, no appointment ( the hospital usually calls the Sunday before the date) So I make enquiries & got the date..14th Dec.   2 more months !  Bugger this, I am fortunate enough to know a private Gyne who I saw many years ago. So I went to see her, she gave me full check over & said everything was ok & that I could take either Climen or Climodien as I hadn't bleed for 7 mths the Climodien would be ok.
Well two weeks on it & the flushes drastically reduced, 3 weeks they had gone along with all the other symptoms. I am now 6 weeks along & just get a bit cold from time to time & feel a bit low.
No worries there.
Well today I had my 'check up' I had to interrupt the doc three times as I needed to tell him what had happened since I saw him last. He really wasn't interested in any symptoms, even after I explained that I had needed to find a solution he was not impressed that I had seen another Gyne. Frowned at the hrt, gave me a check up, said everything was ok, but wouldn't tell me the the thickness of the linning, just it's ok. Ordered a mammogram as I hadn't had one in a while. I asked about taking the hrt & he said take it after the mammogram.
Well I sure ain't going to stop taking it as who knows how long the mammogram appointment is going to take.
So good job I went private, chances are I would still be suffering.
Ok I know it's still early days on the hrt but at least I know who to go to.
 By the way I live in Spain & my doc won't prescribe hrt. Although some do.

Iwouldn't feel any confidence in your gyn too! Quality of life is so important to have! You can insist to have the health services you reserve! 🌷

[lifeatfifty]

Suzi that is such a shame!

I had seen a private gyn who I felt just wanted to do a procedure to see if I had an internal polyp in my uterus. I asked for a scan instead, and felt he was a little annoyed at that. He wasn't willing to discuss any HRT so I contacted a specialist in this field on my own.
My GP is very keen I stay within the usual route and requested an appointment with our NHS menopause clinic which I have received for 4 months time!

I think it is such a shame. The NHS are struggling but there is also a lot of point scoring that goes on between doctors.

I think, if you go private, it is frowned upon, but why shouldn't we take responsibility for our own bodies? I used savings to go down this route, but that's my choice.

[Mary G]

I agree, it shouldn't be frowned upon if someone chooses to take the private route, there is nothing sinful about it - your body, your money, your choice.  At least if some people use private consultants it frees up more space for those who want to use the NHS.  The most important thing is that everyone gets treated properly but despite the new NICE guidelines too many women come on here with horror stories of GPs refusing to prescribe HRT so they have no option other than to seek help privately. 

[suziq99]

Thank you for your replies, I really was ' hanging on' until I saw him, unfortunately we can change GP easy enough but everything else is hospital specialist  by appointment, no choice.
We are self employed here & pay a lot for the health cover A&E is amazingly good, but gp's for both of us have not been so great.
I will stick to,  my lady 😀 from now on.

[CLKD]

Also - it is better to forego a holiday or other luxury to pursue private medical care should it be necessary.  One can't enjoy stuff if one has health problems so getting it sorted may be the best way to go. 

[Mary G]

Suzi, I'm not 100% positive about this but I think you can opt out of the Spanish NHS and take out private health insurance instead, they are two entirely different systems and you don't need to be referred by a GP as you do in the UK, they have separate clinics and hospitals.   You would no longer have to pay for the health care part of your social security which would reduce the payments so it might not be that much more expensive overall.   I do know that private Spanish health is excellent with top notch health screening.

Might be worth checking this out.

[suziq99]

Thanks Mary not heard of the opt out option, will ask our hestor.