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[Serena1972]

Hi folks,

I'm so glad I've found this site... the menopause is a bit of a minefield... I feel I've been banging my head against a brick wall when it comes to my GP. I've been suffering from bad menopausal symptoms for the past 5 years. I'm still in the peri menopause, but the symptoms I'm having are really getting me to the end of my tether.


I now got to the stage it's effecting every part of my life and I need help to cope with it. I was hoping to go private and get an HRT prescription from the consultant and then hopefully see them on the NHS afterwards. I think this is the only way that my GP will agree to prescribe HRT If it has already been 'authorised' by a consultant that specialises in the menopuase.

Thank you everyone for your help with this....

Serena x

[Ruby67]

Hi, I dont know of any private GPs but as you're in Glasgow, you could go to the Sandyford Clinic in the city centre, they have a menopause clinic and its NHS run. I phoned and got an appointment in January (I did have to wait a few months for it tho), the female GP I saw was lovely,  gave me a prescription for Estradot patches and I've to go back in August for a follow up. She also sent a letter to my GP informing them of this and now get my prescription from them  x

[Foxylady]

serena1972, I'm in ayrshire but Sandyford clinic Glasgow is where I'd recommend also (although not been myself!). Will your GP not speak/email a menopause specialist to ask their advice, that's what my male GP did, he admitted to me it's not his area of expertise & twice he has email on my behalf to discuss treatment options. I much prefer someone to be honest & say they don't know rather than blag it, but find out, there is no excuse other than laziness for GP not to discuss with a specialist (that is after all why there are specialists!!). Hope you get some relief. I'm peri, been on HRT 4 months now, 3 months on first regime, a month on second & feel like my old self, sleeping & full of energy. x

[Hurdity]

Hi Serena1972

 

You really should not have to see a private consultant to prescribe HRT in this day and age! Especially after all the publicity there has been over the past few years! Any doc that isn't aware of the current thinking aboiut hRT should retire or go away and read or go on a course or just look at a few websites! Heavens above! Can you ask for a GP in your practice that is knowledgeable about menopause and HRT? Otherwise you have some education (of your GP) to do! That being said great suggestions from the others re referral to an NHS menopause clinic. Your first port of call though is your GP, and as Foxylady said - if it is not their area of expertise actually you have a right to be referred for specialist care rather than being refused HRT.

If your GP won't play ball and referral time is too long you could always pay £30 for an e-mail consultation with Dr Currie and take a print-out of her advice to the GP in the meantime while awaiting your referral? Also there is the Women's Health Concern e-mail advisory service.

Just seen your reply Rosie100 while writing this - I don't think Dr Currie sees private patients - not as far as I know anyway.

Hurdity x

[Focus]

Another rec for the Sandyford from me. They're flipping brilliant.

[Gracie65]

Hi Serena,

I live just outside Glasgow and I travel down to the Newson health clinic for my HRT as I couldn't be bothered with going to my GP and them being difficult and I also didn't want the pressure of being asked to come off it after a few years and symptoms coming right back.  I also wanted time for the consultation and not a quick 10 mins with my GP. I couldn't find anything available in Scotland except possibly up in Aberdeen and the Sandyford was a bit of a wait and My cousin and sister in law both went there and unfortunately for them they weren't impressed and no success.  I guess like anything it's just your luck who you see on the day.
I'm sure someone will come on who can be a bit more help, sorry.  It really should be so much easier for us to get the help we need and not feel we are being difficult. Take care, Grace