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[Blot]

Im am very low at the moment. Anxiety has floored me. I'm crying all the time and just feel so alone.

I feel a bit let down by my gp, who I'm not seeing again, been referred to her colleague and I'm not looking forward to that as I'm not that keen on her as well. If you haven't read my posts, I tried vagifem for 7 days and thought it might have made things worse, so asked gp about it. She told me to stop because I was anxious about it  and gave me Canestan hydrocortisone cream and palmed me off onto one of her colleagues. I haven't used the cream as I don't think it's appropriate.

Now I'm in limbo, waiting and feeling sore and uncomfortable until I see the new gp on Wednesday. I was advised on the VA Facebook page to go to the GUM clinic to get checked first and this is what I'm planning on doing tomorrow but I'm doubting everything.

Should I go to GUM clinic? Will it upset new gp if she knows I've been? Should I even tell her? Why didn't I just stick with the vagifem and give it time? Around and around it goes in my head.

Meanwhile, I have zero appetite, cry at the drop of a hat, have trouble sleeping etc etc and I want a massive glass of wine to calm me down.

I have had anxiety for a long time off and on. I don't think it can be hormonal as I had it well before the menopause but the last 4 or 5 years it's been generally worse. Teenage kids didn't help mind!  I tried bring up the subject of anxiety with the gp but she didn't want to discuss it. Her answer was stop the vag, take this cream and see my colleague. Never mind I'm crying in her office and obviously struggling with anxiety!  I even think I shouldn't be posting on here because I'm not on hrt and haven't suffered much on the whole until now.

Hubby isn't much help. Well he is and he isn't. He listens and fully understands about stress and anxiety and I talk to him, cry at him and just want a hug and be told it will all be ok. But he doesn't do that. I don't want to see my mum as I will get upset and don't want to upset her. I know she's worried about me already but she doesn't know how bad I am.

So it's the pits and I'm so depressed about the future. I know it's not the end of the world and some folk have things a lot worse or their symptoms are a lot worse, and that makes me feel even more pants by being a wuss.

[Droopeydrawers]

So sorry to hear your feeling like this.gps are on the whole complete planks when it comes to dealing with emotions.
You can go to the gum clinic and you can be as anonymous as you want to you can specify this when your there.
Why not give the vagifem another try or you could try some estriol cream it may agree with you more ,forget the canestan  it stings like hell and is not what she should have given you anyway.make a sitz bath or bucket with water and a bit of bicarb in it to soothe the area and see what the gum clinic recommend.dont stress as this tightens the muscles and will make you sorer.say stuff you planks I'll do my own research then and I'll get the help I need via forums like this and from people who care.read as much as you can from here and learn to relax use mindfulness free on you tube or apps on your phone.find other methods of helping yourself and trust me you'll get there.good luck and keep posting xx D.D

[Blot]

Thanks DD.

I do think I should give the vagifem a proper try. I don't feel any better not using it so I'll see what this new doc thinks.

If I wasn't so anxious and fixated on this all the time things would be a lot better. It may be time to think about taking antidepressants 

[Droopeydrawers]

You see now blot your already being pro active and positive in making the decision to retry the vagifem don't wait do it now and get the full benefits asap.
Go to your gum appointment tomorrow and just get checked out for reassurance and you haven't said if your on hrt etc so weigh up your options and discuss with gp before you jump on the antidepressant route you may not need to go there I don't know your full history sorry but hrt is first line treatment,as recommended in the Nice guidelines,before any anti depressants so read up on the forum for info on all these things.if you can't find things type it in the search box at the top of the page and that'll help you.good luck and you'll crack it xx D.D

[Blot]

I'm not in any hrt. 8years post meno and I've never been offered any hrt or has it been suggested that I need any. Probably because I haven't been in complaining about flushes etc until now with this atrophy and I'm the one who suggested i had atrophy.

I haven't got gum clinic appointment as such, I'm going to the walk in session and Im “shall I, shan't I go” constantly.  My head never stops buzzing.

That's interesting about hrt being the first line treatment. I've just always been anxious so thought it was just me. I shall mention it.

[paisley]

Blot
I think your GP sounds horrendous. She is there to help patients not pick & choose what symptoms she wants to treat. It is her job to do that. No wonder you feel so let down. I agree with keeping with the vagifem to help treat the VA. But you also need something for your anxiety. Why not ask your doctor to refer you to a menopause specialist as your GP doesn't  seem capable of helping you with your menopause symptoms. There are other options & other doctors out there to help you. Xx

[Blot]

Thanks. I did stop the vagifem but intend either starting this again or maybe the ovestin depending on what this new doc suggests. Who knows she might be great.

I do need help with my anxiety. That's for sure.

Menopause specialist might be an option, but not sure if we've got anyone good in my part of the country. 

It's crap that we have to fight and push for everything and that we know more about all this than a lot of our gps. Specialist menopause clincs are needed in every town!

[daska86]

Blot you sound exactly like me I've shed buckets since I was diagnosed and I'm still dithering, I've seen 3 GPS and they know less than the ladies on here. I'm persevering with Vagifem ,day 5 today and using ovestin for the sore bits and taking one day at a time. It seems to be a case of not one treatment suits all and we need to find what suits us. I'm due to see the first GP in 3 weeks and this time I'm going armed with information off here 😃

[Blot]

Thanks Daska86.

I feel really pathetic. I'm 54 and shouldn't be going on like this. I thought I was stronger but all I want to do is hide in then house and wallow.

It most definitely helps knowing there are others out there like me and I don't know what I'd do without places like this as well.

We need to support each other because we aren't getting it from our gps.

Stay strong and wish me luck.

[Kathleen]

Hello Blot.

I understand how you feel. The anxiety that has come with the menopause has made me despair at times. I am using HRT and that may be why I don't have many other issues but the jittery sensations and general sense of unease are fairly constant.  I will be seeing my consultant at the end of the month and will pass on any words of wisdom ( I live in hope ).

Wishing you well.

K.

[Blot]

I think I'm having a mini breakdown. Don't feel well enough to go to work tomorrow but what do you say? It's so embarrassing.

[kimmyi]

Hi Blot,

I started to suffer with VA symptoms two years ago, I had never suffered with anxiety before this VA had started, I had a pelvic and abdominal scan as well as internal scan, Gynaecologist felt it was vaginal dryness, I was shocked to be honest, didn't realise such a thing could cause such misery...I have a bladder problems with all this.

Been on vagifem and timeline for 18 months, must say have good and bad days.

On Propranolol for anxiety...I was very unwell with this to be honest lost weight shaking etc:
Didn't want to go down this road but in the end felt a little out of control, and it had helped me.

excersise is also good for our well being, I've started running only little steps and swimming is good.

Go to the Gum clinic you may have some reassurances there and good luck...things will get better 🙂

[kimmyi]

Sorry few typing mistakes there I meant Hrt- Timbelone

Take care Blot

[racjen]

Hi Blot, don't let them tell you it's a mini breakdown or any other psychobabble - it's the f*****g menopause and shame on all these GPs and even specialists, who still don't understand the hell that is anxiety and depression caused by hormones. I'm right in the middle of it and am frequently suicidal, have done the rounds of mental health services and ADs and ended up phoning the Samaritans yesterday because anxiety was making me feel so dreadful. You have a right to see a menopause specialist on the NHS, but you'll have to be proactive to do it, so find out where your nearest one is and then go to your GP with the specific request to be referred to them. And not just a gynaecologist, they can be just as ignorant, a proper menopause clinic. Where do you live? Look at the specialists link at the top of the page and find the nearest one to you. Then go to your GP and just insist - IT IS OUR RIGHT 

[CLKD]

It is known here that some ladies are sensitive to the fillers/packaging of Vagifem.  Also, years ago it was prescribed as 25 and now it's low, at 10 ....... so some require alternate nightly use and some every night.

Ovestin may be a better choice for you. Similar product but delivered slightly differently.

HORMONES! can cause upheaval.  GPs simply don't get it, they don't have empathy.  NICE guidelines don't let anyone know how awful some symptoms can be.  Some GPs still think that unless a lady is having flushes she isn't menopausal