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[Lalb1]

Hi, I seriously think I'm perimenopausal I have lots of symptoms and am finding it hard to carry on as normal.
My problem is, my doc doesn't seem to think I'm perimenopausal, she thinks a lot of my symptoms are to do with anxiety and depression.
How do i state my case to say I think it's a lot more hormonal. I keep a monthly tracker app, is it worth showing her that for the last year? Just don't know what to try now.

[CLKD]

Ring your surgery this afternoon and ask for a referral to a menopause clinic: not a gyanecologist as they know as little about menopause as most GPs seem to ! Details on the black banner under 'specialists' -  if you can afford to pay you will be seen quicker ;-).  Or you could pay for advice from Dr Currie, details on the pink banner I think.

Your GP needs to go on a Course! 

Dr Louise Newsom [?] near Stratford Upon Avon has a good reputation.   

[jillydoll]

Hi.
Sorry to hear about you struggling.
Is there another doctor at your surgery? If so, book in with them.
If not, either do as CLKD has suggested, OR book back in and yes, show her the app you've got, tell her all about your symptoms and ask for a blood test. My peri faze was confirmed by a blood test. If it all fails again, ask to speak to the practice manager. Explain to them what has happened, and that your not happy with the treatment you've received,  If all that fails,
then change doctors. ( if you can).
Let us know how you get on. It makes my blood boil, it really does.
The first line most doctors give us is, 'I can give you an antidepressant to try.'  When all we really want is our hormones back. 😡
Please don't give up and suffer.
Your quality of life is much more important.
Xx

[CLKD]

It makes my blood boil that we are told on this forum that GPs are being educated about menopause .......... 

Let us know how you get on!

[Sparkler]

Hi there

I hope you can get through to your GP soon. it's not fair when they won't listen.

I think it's worth taking the checklist of menopause symptoms. With my GP she listened when I said that I used to have some of the feelings and symptoms intermittently, as part of PMT, but they had become more or less permanent. She also heard me when I said it was affecting my ability to work and I felt I was going to lose credibility if I didn't get some help soon. When asked about anxiety and depression I was really honest and said I had wondered about those but was sure I was no more sad or anxious than normal, except brought on by crying (about nothing everything) and worrying about staying in control at work or flushing in public.

I agree with the others, you need to see someone else. We are all different, but personally I find a telephone appointment easier when discussing symptoms and personal aspects. I had the face to fac3 appt afterwards and was prescribed after BP checks etc.

I also think it's good to start on the lowest dose and only increase after you have given it a good go and tracking how you feel.

I hope you get some help soon.
Sparkler
X

[sheila99]

Most GPS recognise hot flushes and irregular periods but nothing else. In the face of such ignorance I would stress how bad they are, you're not getting enough sleep because you wake up dripping sweat, you can't do your work properly etc etc. I agree you need to complain about the inappropriate treatment you have been offered. Hopefully it will get you the right treatment as well as every other menopausal woman who comes after you.

[NicolaJ]

One of the GP’s at my practice took me off my first HRT tablets as she said if I was taking them for anxiety then they were bound to make me worse. She didn’t offer an alternative and at the time I just assumed they were all the same. Fast forward 2.5 years I’ve been feeling worse and worse and now know there are other types I can try. I’ve now been waiting over three weeks to get a prescription as they keep trying to prescribe types that are unavailable! It’s so annoying

[Tynkabelle]

For me, it was straightforward in that years ago my Dr at the time listened to my talking about my symptoms then proceeded to run tests over a course of a year which involved blood tests taken every so many months, stopping the pill for a while and testing then came to the conclusion I was in the menopause and started the not so fun part working out which HRT would be ok.
Ok I don’t know how old you are - I was in my early 30s so did stand out ( had cancer of ovaries as a teenager)

So if I were you, note down the symptoms, go back to the Dr and tell them to start running tests to confirm for sure ( not an instant test though, as said above it’s taken over a period of time - assume testing the hormone fluctuations) - I do appreciate my Dr was more accommodating than yours - as others have said, the local GP aren’t experts on everything and menopause seems to stump them - maybe challenge them and ask them if they are trained on menopause! or ask for a 2nd opinion - no doubt will wind them up however will or should make them think!

I wish you all the best on getting clarity on this 👍