Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[abbyH]

Hello wonderful ladies

I'm posting this on behalf of my sister whose been struggling with her menopausal symptoms for ages. Her doctor initially said she couldn't have HRT then relented but insisted she have a smear test before hand..

I told my sister that didn't sound right! And at she should ask for oestrogel and uterogrstan

The doctor refused and said they dint prescribe those and that the only HRT available to her was Premique... she told my sister she could get the gel/utetigrstan but only if referred to a menopause clinic. My sister said yes she'd like that  the doc said she couldn't have both. My sister wanted to try the premique as her symptoms so bad... but also be referred ...

Is is even legal? I'm sure the NICE guidelines say women should have ice over which form of HRT they can take?

She's in London in Haringey...

Any advice on how she can get the HRT she'd like..?

Thanks
Abby

[Tinkerbell]

That's shocking that they railroaded her into a smear test, you do not need one or a mammogram before the commencement of HRT, she should complain about that.

The Estrogel is down to each individual practice, i got told our practice wouldn't do a script for it but i reacted to the adhesives in the patches so the GP agreed after i was insistent.

[Tinkerbell]

I have had no problems with my HRT only benefits, can sleep now and VA is under control.

[CLKD]

    why is this GP even licensed to Practice 

Ask your sister to note down her last monthly period and other symptoms.  Some find that keeping a mood/symptom/food diary of use.  Hot foot it to a GUM Clinic or see the Practice Nurse who should B more informed! 

Bugga .......... I am FUMING - we shouldn't have to jump through hoops to get treatment.  Imagine if the ethnic communities had such responses to their requests - sorry I meander.

Get an appt. to a menopause clinic but beware, sometimes they aren't any more informed than GPs and certainly not as informed as we are on here ;-)

[abbyH]

  why is this GP even licensed to Practice 

Ask your sister to note down her last monthly period and other symptoms.  Some find that keeping a mood/symptom/food diary of use.  Hot foot it to a GUM Clinic or see the Practice Nurse who should B more informed! 

Bugga .......... I am FUMING - we shouldn't have to jump through hoops to get treatment.  Imagine if the ethnic communities had such responses to their requests - sorry I meander.

Get an appt. to a menopause clinic but beware, sometimes they aren't any more informed than GPs and certainly not as informed as we are on here ;-)

Thanks CLKD! the problem is that the GP said she could have a referral OR the prescription for Premique but not BOTH!
Can she self refer to somewhere like the Chelsea and WestminsteR?

Abby x

[CLKD]

I suggest that your sister rings the C&W Hospital to ask the question.  Also find out how long she will have to wait for the appt. that her GP suggests.  Covering as many options is the way to go ;-) in the mean time, deciding what she would actually like to take.

[abbyH]

Thanks CKLD, I will relay that info to her!

It doesn't sound like her GP has read the NICE guidelines or guidance from the menopause society either!

 

[CLKD]

I do wonder how many actually know about NICE guidelines and many of course say 'they are only guidelines' .......

[Joaniepat]

abbyH, the Chelsea & Westminster menopause clinic is NHS, so as far as I know she will need a referral letter from her GP. She would be in good hands there, it's where I go. You get the initial prescription from the hospital pharmacy. Then they write to your GP saying what you should have, and further prescriptions have to be issued by the GP. Can your sister not see a different GP at the surgery? It is surely not right to leave her with nothing before a referral comes through.

JP x

[JillC1970]

I'm having a similar issue. My GP won't give me the prescription without seeing a consultant at the menopause clinic and it's currently a 4 month wait. I'm on Elleste Duet 2mg which seems to have stopped working and I feel like I'm losing my mind all over again. I'm angry/weepy over the littlest things and it's affecting my work not to mention my home life. The thought of waiting 4 months like this is just a nightmare. I'm also having a lot of vaginal symptoms: burning, frequent thrush, tearing during sex, burning for days afterwards to the point of really not wanting any because the aftermath isn't worth it. I've done loads of research but it's not enough. My GP actually said he's out of his depth. It's such an uphill battle 😔

[CLKD]

Go back to your GP Jill and ask for appropriate vaginal atrophy treatment which is delivered differently to over-all HRT!  You shouldn't have to suffer and if he wants you to see the menopause clinic then either he rings for an emergency appt. or continues to prescribe until you have been seen!

If he's out of his depth point him in this direction and buy him a copy of Mary's book 'me and my menopausal vagina'  . You may find that the practice nurse is more up-2-date on menopause than the GP!  You may also find that the person you see in the 'clinic' isn't au fait either, you might like to ask your GP how confident he is about the referral 

[Cassie]

In my humble opinion, Oestrogel and Utrogestan is the absolute best combo of HRT, I have been on it for 15 yrs and dont intend to give it up any time soon. She must do whatever she can to avoid Premique, it is awful and one of the older HRT's, the transdermal newer bio identical ones are definitely winners.

[CLKD]

 

[JillC1970]

Thank you! I've been to the menopause clinic before and I'm not that confident tbh. I've mentioned the gel before and the specialist said your GP won't like that as it's too expensive.
I just want my life back and when I feel like this it's much harder to fight for it.
They keep pushing for a Mirena coil but having had a horrific uterine biopsy after a 3-day hospital stay for uncontrollable bleeding (the start of my peri menopausal symptoms), there's no way I want anything or anyone up there unless it's a smear. The HRT has totally stopped the horrific bleeds which has been amazing. And stabilised my raging/weeping moods so for it to stop working properly is a nightmare 😱 The vaginal symptoms are grim too. I'm just so aware it's there all the time with the constant burning. I long for the day when I can forget I have one! 😂

[CLKD]

Specialist even mentioned costs  .... that should never become the problem of the patient/s