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[Bananacarnival]

Hi all
Can any please recommend a highly competent, intelligent, clued up menopause specialist based in the UK? Preferably London but zoom is available these days so it should be OK.
Really confused with the current regime I'm on despite gp who's a gynae specialist explaining it.

I'm on Utrogestan 100 continuously and sandrena 1 gel nightly (three day break) and estring.
Sometimes I feel magical, normal and no more bladder urethra pain despite the ever expanding bloated belly

Other times I feel back to square one with the bladder and urethra hell.

I'm 50 and recently told I'm post meno according to mri scan...

Thank you

[CLKD]

Morning.

When was your last period, do you still get bleeds at all?

Menopause is exactly 'the last monthly period'.  However, because periods may wax and wane during The Change, we have to wait 12-18 months B4 really knowing if 'that' was the last!  So that is known as 'perimenopause', the time when oestrogen levels drop off and syptoms may become difficult.  Skin drying, vaginal issues, lack of concentration, aches and pains.

If you have bladder issues your GP should have discussed vaginal atrophy with you.  Do read the 'bladder issues' and 'vaginal atrophy' threads on the Forum.  make notes ;-). 

An MRI scan is unlikely to tell you 'where' you are in menopause.  Was it to check bone density?  A scan of pelvis and hips is the best place. 

Most menopause clinics have a waiting list.  Dr Louise Newsom's website is quite accessible.  Her appts. are private at the moment.

MayBe keep a mood/food/symptom diary to chart progress.  How long have you been on your current regime?

[Dotty]

Hi look up the Newson clinic . Dr Louise Newson. Might be a long waiting list though x

[Tinkerbell]

I have seen Dr Tina Peers, that was Surrey though. She is excellant, i want to see her again and am on her waiting list but been told it will be a long wait, probably March!

[CLKD]

Could U get ZOOM or e-mail help? 

[Bananacarnival]

Hi thanks for your replies and recs everyone.
Clkd I am still bleeding haphazardly since being on hrt. Before hrt I hadn't had a bleed for almost 9 months but the scan which was for my bladder and urethra, found my ovaries were suggestive of post menopause. Some months earlier I'd had a TV ultrasound which flagged up the same.

Estrogen very low in bloods and my consultant who was an endo urologist advised me to go onto systemic HRT as Ovestin and vagifem just made things worse.

I was red and raw, in constant pain for years. None of the hospital docs mentioned VA and I recognised all of my symptoms after reading the  Jane lewis book on VA.
Estring and above mentioned hrt helped a lot, had days of feeling as if I never had a problem before.

Been keeping a diary for years, really hard to find any real correlation other than hormonal changes.

Part of me is scared about estring causing ovarian or uterine cancer after something I read on the pfizer site where women had posted their experiences.

Thank you

[Elizabethlovejoy]

Another recommendation for the Newson clinic. They do face to face,video or telephone consultations. I had similar prob;ems with bladder and urethra irritation and they have helped me so much.

[Bananacarnival]

Thanks Elizabethlovejoy, in the end what regime worked for your bladder urethra?

[sheila99]

You can find menopause specialists on the BMS website https://thebms.org.uk/
Is the 3 day break really from sandrena? You can use utro that way but oestrogen is taken continuously. Many gynaes are clueless about menopause.

[Bananacarnival]

Thanks Sheila99! Argh, I'm definitely confused.

[CLKD]

Ovaries beginning to shrivel? 

Vaginal atrophy treatment is for Life.  As oestrogen levels drop off the body may become dry, inside and out: skin, vaginal area, scalp, between the toes  .  Either 'vagifem' or 'ovestin' regularly inserted into the vagina really does help plump up the tissues and can ease the need to pee feelings.  When that happens, I take 2 'nurofen' 3 times a day. It's that nip as the sphincter shuts off that makes me 'ouch'! 

Gynaes don't often know much more about menopause than GPs seem to.  Which is why a menopause clinic may be helpful, is there 1 at your local Hospital? 

[Bananacarnival]

Nurofen doesn't work on me seems to flare more... I think stress makes everything worse and yes the ovaries had shrunk.
Good point re meno clinic versus gynaecologist..

[Elizabethlovejoy]

Thanks Elizabethlovejoy, in the end what regime worked for your bladder urethra?

I was prescribed 3 pumps oestrogel, 100 utrogestan everyday [post menopausal conti regime] Plus vagifem 4 times a week,plus a pea size dab of ovenstin [which I mix with a moisturiser ] every night directly on  the area outside the urethra. In addition i use V magic moisturiser every morning.
I also use activ balanc moisturising vaginal  pessaries 3 times a week.
I now only shower and never enjoy a long soak in the bath-too drying!
It’s an ongoing battle but seems to work.
Newson health were very helpful. My GP now prescribes on NHS-but freely admits he is not a menopause specialist and is happy to follow Newson Health’s advice.

[Bananacarnival]

Elizabethlovejoy thank you for sharing, so interesting to see your regime