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[Tc]

After my visit gynae consultant yesterday I've got more and more angry about the vagifem and her attitude to VA.

Shes given me 12 applicators to  last 3 months and put on the prescription use once a week.

I've phoned the secretary and left a message. I am going to complain I'm a absolutely livid.

1. She said I have "moderate to mild VA. (She didn't examine me) Is she waiting for it to get worse  before she treats it properly she is wrong. She needs to read up on it and see that its progressive if it goes untreated.

2.she said you shouldn't need topical treatments if on systemic HRT. She is wrong. The guidelines on it say it can be prescribed alongside systemic.

3. She said it would be wrong to prescribe estriol cream for the outside and if I'm going to use vagifem I have to switch to Yes product (because it doesn't cause cancer. Omg  I despair.

4. She said I need to do pelvic floor exercises. She said the bladder issue is nothing to do with eastrogen. She said its weak pelvic floor caused by lack of collagen. Crikey I didn't go through medical school but even I know lack of eastrogen causes collagen to weaken.

I argued all these poin ts with her
.
Either she doesn't know how to take vagifem which makes her incompetent  pr she deliberately gave me not enough to work cos she obviously has issues with the supposed  risks of  it which if she did is unethical.

I'm effing furious.

Sorry for the rant. It's so frustrating when I know ladies on here find it helps and have been prescribed cream for outside alongside it which also helps and l I'm being denied it.
 Is she waiting for my VA to become chronic? Causing me unnecessary pain. I actually feel like crying with anger

[CLKD]

You rant.  Maybe send her a copy of Mary Janes "Me and My Menopausal Vagina".  I would 'phone the Surgery, speak to the Practice Manager and ask for hard copy of where the GP gets her information from.  One cannot over-dose on oestrogen vaginally as any excess will drain out.  I too was muttering about this particular attitude as I dropped off to sleep  .

I have Ovestin but no other HRT.  Other ladies use both as well as 'yes' and 'sylc' products.  Which Planet might she be on ? 

I'll hold her, you pour cold water over her? 

[Tc]

Don't tempt me CLKD.
It's not GP its consultant gynacologist!!

[Jenna]

What about contacting Dr Currie (costs £30) to see what she advises.

The details are on here under the magazine details:

https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/index.php

[CLKD]

That crossed my mind too Jenna.  Sorry TC, not keeping up am I 

[suzysunday]

I'm getting livid with you. Why no examination? You need more than one a week and a fortnight daily application is always given to start with. Can you talk to your gp? You shouldn't have to pay 30 £ on here to get some sense.

[sheila99]

I don't have VA but I share your anger. My GP is just as ignorant but will at least listen if I make a suggestion. If it was me I would certainly complain, you shouldn't have to put up with it. Plenty of help on google, possibly https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/how-to-complain-if-youre-unhappy-with-your-gp-or-gp-surgery.
Incidentally I have had to do pelvic floor exercises ever since I had my daughter at 42. Still had to do them on oestrogen but since being on testosterone I haven't had to. It's possible it's actually oestrogen that sorted it but just took a long time to work but the timing seems to point to T. Just a suggestion if E doesn't work for you.

[dahliagirl]

Shes given me 12 applicators to  last 3 months

Half a packet 

[Tc]

Yes. Half a packet. Once a week from the outset with no loading dose

The lead consultant examined me 3 months ago and diagnosed it. She didn't say it was mild. I have found the letter. She particularly said the outside area showed atrophy and made a point in the letter that I should also rub the estriol cream on the outside area. The gynae doc I saw yesterday said once a week vagifem will treat the inside and out. She also said you shouldn't  actually need it if you are on systemic HRT

I think she didn't want to prescribe it but couldn't refuse and so fobbed me off with a dose which will be ineffectual. I think that's unethical.

I asked to change to vagifem  because it's more convenient  and I find the large amount of estriol you have to insert internally very messy.

She seems to have ignored the fact that her boss initially prescribed the equivalent dose to vagifem 2 weeks loading and twice a week after of estriol. So SHE  didn't think that was too  much.

[Tc]

Birdy. I'm waiting for them to call me back.
I think she has issues with hrt. 
It was as if her attitude was "you're 53 what do you expect?". My mum was with me and she agrees. Although she scared the life out of my mum when she kept talking about cancer.

[CLKD]

Send her a letter - you remember snail mail?  Recorded delivery.  Ask her for up to date information about cancer risks as well as a copy of NICE guidelines ;-). Though she will probably say 'they are guidelines, not written in Stone' 

Do ask Dr Currie's advice if you get no where fast!  Explain why too.  Naming and shaming can't come quickly enough for me.   

[Shelly65]

Awful. It makes me so angry. Can't your own doctor prescribed it for you? I cannot imagine my life on one of two vagifem a week.

[CLKD]

I would be asking to see a different GP.  Maybe speak to a local Pharmacist for advice?  Or ring the company directly ......... each box has a leaflet inside, that should be enough for any GP 

[Tinkerbell]

I thought I had come across numpty consultants and GP's but yours is by the far worse 
I use Vagifem every day plus I am on systemic HRT and I use Ovestin a few times a week on the outer bits to control my VA.

[CLKD]

'numpty' doesn't cover this one 

Some hate being challenged.  Some simply won't learn