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[Kathleen]

Hello ladies.

I thought you might enjoy hearing my little story about how some professionals can be blissfully ignorant of the actual experiences of their meno patients.

I was talking to a friend the other day and she told me that she was still having flushes at sixty seven and her mother had been the same. I happened to see a female GP today who insisted  that all my hormonal symptoms should now have resolved as I am sixty one and post meno.

This is why we need doctors like Louise Newson to educate members of her profession. They need to recognise that life events are paramount and if these contradict the information given in the text books then the books need to be re written rather than the patient's experiences be dismissed. The map is not the territory and if they disagree you can't tear up the territory so you have to redraw the map!

So ends my rant for the day lol.

Wishing you all well ladies.

K.

[Wilks]

Even the basic info for patients on the NHS website says that symptoms can continue for 14 years!

[Dotty]

I was told that menopause doesn't happen as I was explaining ..... well it did for me!!!!!!

[Kathleen]

Hello Wilks and Dotty.

It beggars belief doesn't it. Do these medics think that we are making it all up?

The GP I saw today suggested improved night hygiene, as if I don't already practice that and how will blackout curtains stop me sweating and needing to wee? She also suggested I try increasing my pumps of gel, or stopping them altogether plus either giving up on my AD or perhaps increase the dose!  I despair at times ladies, why is this so hard to get right? No wonder I worry that I'm going mad!

Take care.

K.

[Wilks]

Sometimes you have to laugh, don't you? As if sleep hygiene can stop your night sweats and needing a wee 
My (young male) GP suggested slapping a wet towel round my neck if I woke at night with a hot flush. It didn't stop me from waking every hour!

[Kathleen]

Hello again Wilks.

It's as if the doctors haven't understood that we are dealing with a unique system here, or separate aetiology, as Louise Newson puts it. I couldn't control my periods with the power of my mind, or stop my labour pains when they came during the night so how am I to control the hormonal flushes and surges that  plague me now?

Plus can anyone in the profession explain how it is possible to have no physical symptoms one day and loads the next when absolutely nothing has changed.

Sorry to go on but the GP today has upset me and made me feel even more unsupported.

Thanks for responding Wilks, I'm so fed up I need an early night.

Take care.

K.

[CLKD]

The message obviously isn't getting through despite what I am told  .

Did you ask that particular GP to prove it Kathleen - I would send an e-mail to her, quoting her sentence and asking for references etc. and where she got her outmoded information !

You really couldn't write it  .    I'm sweating this evening, not due to hormones but it's Summer - are we supposed to turn off the sun too 

[Annie0710]

Very worrying. My new gp thinks taking hrt will shorten my life ! His life was nearly shortened during that convo ! X

[sheila99]

And I have to be post menopausal as everyone is by age 55. Didn't believe I still have periods at 57 (this was before starting HRT). Very tempted to bring the evidence and sling it in his face...

[CLKD]

...... trouble with me is I am so amazed at what comes out of so called 'experts' gobs that I can never fire back a suitable retort!

[Wilks]

Hi Kathleen,
Hope you're feeling less fed up this morning? We have a female GP at our surgery who is fairly good on menopause (though she told me I would just have to “accept” my lost libido, when actually the testosterone recommended by a meno specialist has brought it back!).
It shouldn't have to be such a huge battle. Menopause isn't exactly a rare problem! Louise Newson needs to tour the country educating GPs!

[knorman]

Good one Annie0710! How old is your GP Kathleen?  She may have to change her tune one day! x

[Kathleen]

Hello ladies and thank you all for your replies.

I do find it irritating that the work of Louise Newson and others has yet to trickle down to those working at the coal face.  It's very frustrating to feel so misunderstood, especially on a subject like the menopause, it's hardly a rare condition!  I would say that this GP was in her late thirties/early forties and so probably has no idea what could be in store for her!

Thanks again everyone for taking the time to respond, I'm grateful to you all.

Take care.

K.

[Cazikins]

In my experience it seems that most GP surgeries do not have any or enough doctors specialising in gynae.

Our surgery has just the 1, however there are about 4 other female docs associated with the practice, but if you see one of them about anything to do with gynae that say I need to see the gynae Dr.

I don't blame the doctors individually as the NHS have an awful lot on their plate & it's the docs/nurses who have to try & deliver a service to us with very little financial support. There are cut backs every day in surgeries - not enough doctors or nurses but patients expect the same service as they did 10 years ago.

I worry for the future but I do sympathise with some of our surgeries, it must be a hard thing to get right.

Cazi x

[Kathleen]

Hello Cazikins.

I agree that the service is on it's knees due to many years of underfunding.

We had a letter from our surgery last week informing us that a GP who was retiring would not be replaced but other staff members would be happy to help. It seems the nurse practitioners have now been trained in ' minor illness recognition '. Well that's all right then,  let's hope they can also recognise a serious illness and there's a doctor around to treat it!.

I accept that everyone is doing their best and working hard but I worry about how much papering over the cracks is going on and we won't realise what we have lost until it is all too late. Btw the GP who is leaving and not being replaced is a friend of mine so I have some idea about what is happening in the health service.

Sorry for the depressing rant, I hope I haven't ruined your day!

Wishing you well.

K.