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[Frecklescookie]

I wonder can anyone out there give advice about what has worked for them, my doctor said these symptoms can last for up to 4 years before the menopause.  Stabbing pains in my left breast I take GLA for it but still get quiet a lot of pain, every time I get a pain I think I'm having s heart attack which has lead to a panic disorder for over a year, my doctor has prescribed beta blockers to stop my palpitating heart.
My body has become intolerant to a lot of foods lactose, sugar and I don't touch coffee anymore due to my anxiety.
The exhaustion some days I can hardly function due to bad sleeping patterns as well as hormones acting up.  My doctor said nothing can be prescribed until I'm in full menopause so do I have to live in hell for the next few years...any help would be appreciated
Thank you

[sheila99]

Your gp is talking cr*p. It makes me so cross some of them are so ignorant, I was in peri undiagnosed for 2 years because I didn't have hot flushes but had many other symptoms. I'd suggest you read up on it so can argue your case, starting with the Nice guidelines. And welcome to MM. 

[7dwarfs]

Why does your GP say you can't take anything for being perimenopausel? They are talking rubbish  . If I were you I'd be asking to see someone else or changing practices.
My GP suggested HRT to me after I went with my symptoms and I'm now on femoston 1/10 which seems to be helping so far. She even advised me to have a look on the menopause matters website and that's how I joined here and it's been really helpful. It's not fair that there's such a unbalanced attitude across different GPs
So frustrating for you and I hope you manage to get some help!

[Foxylady]

frecklescookie, Your GP is wrong, I'm peri have had 3 years of symptoms with various doctors (GP, Immunology & Endocrinology) all saying my symptoms weren't menopausal. Anyway eventually saw a decent GP who discussed me with menopause specialist & I have been on HRT now for approx 4 months (on my second regime) and I am pleased to report the last 2 weeks for me have been amazing, I'm more or less back to my old self! HRT is not the answer for 100% of the symptoms but taken along with reevaluating your lifestyle hopefully will be the answer you need. Definately read up as much as you can so you can discuss it with the GP from an educated stand point (can you see a different GP, maybe one with interest in women's health/menopause?). x

[Karen max]

Hi
Your GP is full of crap this is what they done with me kept telling me "oh as long as your taking a period even if it is too often or lasting too long nothing we can do " 😡
I went on like this for 7 yrs !!
I'm now post menopause last 5 yrs abd tho they did try a few hrt over last 2 years none helped , I ended up being sent to hrt clinic where they got me onto hrt which has helped
When I told the dictor at hrt what my own GP told me years ago he said how wrong my GP was for telling me such rubbish ..

Good luck I hope you get the treatment you need , go back to GP abd if he can't help you ask to be sent to hrt clinic if there is one in your area

Kaz x

[ClimbingGirl]

Hi Frecklescookie, I went to my GP last week with a list of my peri menopause symptoms and was pretty much dismissed by her.  I get the feeling that she basically sees me as a hypochondriac now as I've been back and forth to the GPs over the last 3 years with different symptoms e.g. palpitations, lumpy breasts, migraines and so on.  None of the GPs were able to link it all together so when I went with my own theory of peri menopause I was hoping to be taken seriously!! Apparently not.  She offered me anti depressants and HRT.  I've declined both for now as I don't feel ready and I've never got on with hormone treatments in the past trying to deal with my horrendous periods.  I'm going to see a nutritionist in a couple of weeks so maybe she can help? I do feel thoroughly unsupported by my GP though, which is a shame.

Frecklescookie I do hope you have better luck getting some sense out of your GP than I have so far! It seems to be a very common problem though.  Good luck! x

[sheila99]

Climbinggirl it doesn't follow that you will have problems with hrt because of your previous experience. If your symptoms are caused by lack of oestrogen the solution is to replace it. It's a personal choice but I feel so much for better for being on it I'd hate to see you struggle unnecessarily. Absolutely lifestyle and nutrition are important but I'm not sure what else your gp could do.

[AgathaC]

Dear Frecklescookie - I can empathise with (and have written many times on here - you can search earlier posts) about stabbing pains in breasts and the worries they have caused me. I take GLA (starflower, in my case) and I think it does help, but I am nonetheless - like you - frequently gripped with health anxiety that I am about to peg it from one of my many perimenopausal ailments! A diary can help. For example, I'm looking at my notes from last summer - where I felt exactly as I do now - and taking some comfort from the fact that I'm still here!
GP's are all different in their approach, as are we patients. I'm not on HRT and am trying to manage all this naturally, as it were, not that HRT is offered by my GP to anyone. If I did decide to go down that route, I would need to do it privately.
Dear Climbinggirl - I've just noticed that you say your GP did offer you HRT, so I think I understand and agree with Sheila99 who is saying that she did therefore take you seriously in that regard. At the same time, I agree that you did not necessarily want to do that straightaway. You are 43 and it feels awfully young, doesn't it? I think what you need/needed was someone who had the time and sense to link your issues together and say “oh, this could be the start of the menopause” with some appropriate reassurances. Like you, I pieced mine together myself and, like you both, have felt dismissed by my GP as an anxious over worrier who just needs to get on with life!
I hope that you both Frecklescookie anc Climbinggirl find and take comfort from this fabulous website resource as you start on this menopause journey xxxx

[Katejo]

Climbinggirl it doesn't follow that you will have problems with hrt because of your previous experience. If your symptoms are caused by lack of oestrogen the solution is to replace it. It's a personal choice but I feel so much for better for being on it I'd hate to see you struggle unnecessarily. Absolutely lifestyle and nutrition are important but I'm not sure what else your gp could do.

Climbing Girl I'm inclined to agree with what Sheila99 has said here. Obviously trying HRT is your choice but I can't see what other alternatives your GP could have offered.

[ClimbingGirl]

Sheila99, AgathaC and Katejo, thank you all for your advice.  I'd not really given any thought to the idea that I might not have a reaction to HRT and that it might be exactly what I need!  I'll probably still look into every other available option first though, just to be on the safe side.  Honestly, previous hormone treatments were truly awful!  !I'll give HRT a bit more consideration though, thank you.