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[Tc]

So... I thought I'd let those of you who have followed and replied to my posts about my ongoing issue with my gp practice.know how I got on today.

I had an appointment  with the one doc in the practice I've never seen and...what a difference.
She told me she attends menopause conferences. She took time with me and realy seemed to know what she was talking about.
She has no problem with me using the estriol every other day.
She said I should try taking the utrogestan for a full 25 days but if I don't get on with that I can then try 12 days 2 x tablets

She also said she has no problem with giving me testosterone although the requests for it has to come from consultant.
I've got appt with consultant in couple weeks and she said get them to write up everything you neex or  feel you want to try..
She asked me to come back 2 weeks after that as it will give a bit more time to see how I'm going with the eadtrogel.as my levels should start to build and she will do blood test.
She also said that at that time she would be happy to refer me to Chelsea and Westminster meno clinic.
I .cane away feeling so relieved.

Amazing how attitudes and knowledge varies in one practice.

It's a shame that when a doc in a large practice doesn't know about a certain condition or medication that they don't tell you there is another doc in the practice who is part of a forum on the matter and has a special interest and pass the patient over to them.

Anyway. To anyone who is experiencing the same problems with GP as I have. My experience shows It's always worth checking if anyone else in the practice is better informed and failing that change GP. Which is exactly what I was about to do before my appointment today.

Hope you are well as can be ladies.x

[Ladybt28]

That is beyond wonderful Tc    but why do we need to go through all that heartache and trauma to find them! 

See the other GP's maybe they should spend their time finding a cure for their own stupidity!  They are no flaming use to us!

I am so pleased for you, I'm dancing too! 

Now you need to have patience and let the stuff do it's work!

[Tc]

Thanks lady. You're a very good dancer😀

Patience now as you say.
Xxx 

[CLKD]

Oh Lucky U!!

Maybe have a word with the Practice Manager to explain your problems and how there is a lack of joined up thinking between GPs ?

Let us know how you get on.


Of course the GP 'in the know' should be having regular meetings with her Colleagues ? 

[Conolly]

Hello Tc,

Fab news, long may it continue!

Conolly X

[Lanzalover]

Hi Tc
That's really good news hope things improve for you now.

Lanzalover x

[Salad]

 

[jaypo]

Brilliant tc,just gives you a little hope doesn't it?rather than coming away feeling ignored

[Hurdity]

Hey Tc that's brilliant news - and in fact you're absolutley right - that is just what we suggest frequently on here - to try to find a different doc in a practice that understand menopause and is sympathetic to HRT (before considering changing practices). Sometimes it can be so frustrating to keep on trying although the medical secretaries/receptionists at the practice should know, to save fruitless visits to the wrong GP!

I can't remember whether you are peri or post-menopausal? The almost continuous Utrogestan (25 days per 28) is generally for post-menopausal women although sometimes prescribed for women who have problems with hormonal fluctuations and periods that are few and far between. If your periods are frequent still then you could get some breakthrough bleeding but see how you get on. Great that she has also given you the flexibility of trying both ways too

Are you going to take it orally or vaginally?

Good luck anyway and let us know how you get on.

Hurdity x

[Tc]

Thanks hurdity

. I'm in surgical meno since 5 months ago. So she said  ultimately we would not be looking for a bleed post meno but as my most severe symptom by far since my op  has been mood and anxiety related if I'm finding it hard to tolerate  then we can look at the larger dose shorter time but obviously that's not the ideal post meno. Continuous is the ideal.

You mention taking it vaginally which I know a lot of ladies here find the best way and im  thinking i will go down that route if I have issues with it I will take it vaginally and see how i get on before trying to change dose/days.
.
. It's been nearly a week on my new regime and . I am feeling a bit more levelled out mood wise in the last couple dayst but  that might be because I've changed from patch I wasn't absorbing to easteogel 3 pumps.  Bit early to say.

Thanks for your reply and the information and wish you all the best.

[Tc]

Thanks for all your replies ladies x

[Hurdity]

Hi there sorry I forgot re your surgical meno - I can't keep everyone's stories in my head! You have a uterus but no ovaries right? If you find the utrogestan too depressing or sedating when taking it orally, then do try it vaginally yes - there can be more side effects from oral use due to metabolic  breakdown into more other compounds ( from oral intake). However it can irritate the bladder vaginally ( hence I use it cyclically - amongst other reasons), more nocturnal weeing and can give rise to vivid dreams!

Hurdity x

[Tc]

Hurdity. Yes the bladder might prove to be an issue. I've had sleep problems for years now  so its something to watch out for. TBH i wouldnt mind a sedating effect at night but if that spills over into the day it wouldnt be good.

Although the doc said about continuous P being optimal post meno and having bleed not the ideal I think she's going by guidelines not symptoms. And i have seen ladies on here say they take it for 12 days but not sure if that's post meno.
Do you take it for 12 days?

I am still not totally clear in my head  about the lining build up though post meno. If you dont bleed does that mean the lining isnt thick enough to shed because of not enough eastrogen or that not enough progesterone is allowing it to just build and build.

[Hurdity]

Re the lining.

If you are post-menopausal  and taking cyclical HRT, the womb lining builds up from the oestrogen  and then the progestogen part of the HRT changes this built-up lining structurally.  When you then stop the progestogen - the lining breaks away as an artificial period - sometimes called a withdrawal bleed as it's not a true period. If the dosages are right then all the lining comes away and it never gets over thick. Sometimes women don't bleed on this regime and this means usually that the progestogen dose is plenty high enough for the lowish oestrgoen dose.

If you take continuous combined HRT which is both hormones together all the time, then after the initial settling in period of time when you might get some bleeding and spotting, eventually the progestogen intereferes with the ability of the womb lining to grow so it stays thin. Again if the balance is wrong it does continue to grow and then break away sporadically - after 6 months of a regime like this if bleeding continues then it should be investigated.

Yes as you said - if there is not enough progestogen compared to oestrogen on a continuous combined hRT the lining will build and eventually break away by itself.

Dies this clarify? Hopefully not too confusing?

Hurdity x

[Tc]

Very clear hurdity. Thank you very much.