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[VanillaLover]

Really quite upset and disappointed. I’ve been waiting two months already, on my referral letter it gave a number to ring if I hadn’t been contacted yet. I rang up this morning all hopeful I was getting somewhere and they just said I was on the waiting list. Which was currently a year.

I’m already on HRT (low dose) but really struggling at certain times of the month. The GP is not in this week but I may ring next week to discuss trying a change of AntiD in the mean time. There must be something I can do to help myself here!

Just wanted to vent. Sigh.

[CLKD]

Tell us which regime you are using?  Someone might be able to suggest a hike in dosage.

The more media about menopause, the more waiting lists will form 

[VanillaLover]

I am on Everol 50 and Utrogestan. It suits me fine and to be honest there HAVE  been quite a few improvements since I started it five months ago.

But I’m still struggling with symptoms - anxiety every day especially morning. From before period-just before ovulation terrible low mood, no energy, aching. Hot flushes all the time really. Migraines at ovulation and every other day from 10 days before period starts. Night sweats.

GP won’t prescribe higher patches as I have migraine hence referral.

Thanks for your reply. Feeling down in the dumps! I had been counting off the days before I could ring the clinic!

[Flossieteacake]

How frustrating! I can totally understand your frustration to have to wait a whole year. I wonder if you ask for a phone appointment if you could be seen any quicker? Just a thought.

[CLKD]

MayB get some anti-anxiety medication as well?  Hormones can cause symptoms so treating those rather than causation can help. 

[VanillaLover]

The wait time sadly includes a phone call or even just a reply with advice to the GP (they might feel they don’t need to see me as it’s only advice on whether I should be allowed to try higher patches).

I will discuss a change in medication when I get through to the GP. I have been taking Prozac for 15 years but I suspect they are not working very well any more over the past few years despite increasing the dose (I didnt realise that SSRIs in particular can just stop working sometimes) - so a change of antiD class might be a sensible thing to try maybe.
I doubt they will prescribe beta blockers as a first line as I am asthmatic.

I’m starting to think that I’ll be through peri before I blooming well manage to see anyone about this!

[VanillaLover]

I think all waiting lists are huge at the moment! Still I am just about functioning although a bit miserable sometimes - so could be worse. Not a good time to have something wrong with you in general!

[CLKD]

If there is no medical reason not to increase thd dose then your GP should be able to deal with that.  You could of course send an e-mail to Dr Currie for which there is a charge. 

Prozac made me wild   

[CrispyChick]

If you just need advice on whether you can increase dose or not, given your migraines, surely your GP can seek this advice themselves.

I know, my GP has consulted the memo clinic for advice... And other clinics. I assummed that was the norm???

Norm or not, ask your Gp to enquire if it is safe... Its their job to find out. Good luck. X

[VanillaLover]

Yeah that is the wait for any help at all, even to give the GP advice directly. I am just in a queue. I will check when I phone next week whether she can expedite it somehow though. Maybe if lay it on heavy that things are getting worse again and I am struggling then she can do something about it. I would prefer to try a higher patch than change antiD! But a year is a long time to wait for that.

[VanillaLover]

The GP is specialist in womens health at the drs too. In fact she said she had just referred someone a week before to the clinic for the exact same question I have. I expect they are still waiting too ! At the end of the day she has to prescribe it and take responsibility, and if she’s not happy then of course she should take advice. Maybe there is another way she can get advice without waiting for a referral though as you say. I will ask.

[CLKD]

She could send an e-mail or pick up the 'phone?

[VanillaLover]

I don’t know how these things work ….that didn’t occur to me! Maybe she could. I’ll mention it when I talk to her.

[CrispyChick]

Yes. I'm pretty sure mine makes contact via email. Might take about 10 days for a reply...

I don't think a GP asking a prescribing question is at all the same as a patient waiting for a consult. After all, if they can answer your GPs question, they can remove you from the waiting list...

If not could you pay £30 and ask Dr currie, who could respond via you to your GP?

[ATB]

Are you on any testosterone? I use Androfemme and I started estrogen and Utrogestan first, noticed a big change after a few months of adding testosterone. I don’t understand how it works and why your GP can’t change dose? You may need more estrogen but if some weeks are worse than others sometimes they suggest pumping one dose extra or something of estrogen gel for some weeks of your cycle only.