Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[SarahMy]

I have had horrendous symptoms for the last 8 years- hot flushes, poor memory, sore joints, dryness, anxiety, extreme irriability and insomnia. Initially I went to the doctor when I was in the perimenopause and was told I would have to wait for any support until I was through the menopause. I have used herbs and Serenty cream to help reduce the symptoms but they have only helped a bit. Over the last three years I have seen three GPs who seemed to know very little about the different HRT available and what is suitable for someone with blood clotting issues. The last GP told me to look on the Menopausematters website and to choose my own medication! It was the GP nurse who referred me to a specialist and only after I asked her to. I am exhausted  and struggling to work and I just want to check out of life. I have had enough. I am not meaning to be dramatic but I just don't my life to be like this any more. I don't recognise myself anymore. I have to wait another two months for a telephone consultation on the NHS and I don't think I can wait. If I paid to go privately would I have to keep on paying? Or could I ask my GP to prescribe what has been suggested? I can only afford to pay so much.

[joziel]

If you go privately, you don't need to stay private and you can decide whether or not you even want the private GP to tell your regular GP that you are seeing them.

What some women do, is go private to get settled on a treatment that works for them and then have the private GP write to their NHS GP to inform them of the meds you are on. Then your NHS GP just needs to continue what you've been started on. So no - you don't need to stay private if you start private.

As for what you've been told...

Peri-menopause should be treated on symptoms alone and you have loads of symptoms there and should be receiving treatment.

If you have blood-clotting issues you can have any type of transdermal HRT (patch, gel or spray). You want to avoid oral HRT.

Many private menopause clinics offer online consults and will then post you the HRT. Don't suffer for any longer than you need to...

[Sazzle42115]

Dear Sarah it's so hard for some women isn't it. Yes you can go back to NHS scripts once you know what regime works for you

[CLKD]

Check with your GP first? 

Browse round.  Make notes.  Have you had recent blood tests to include VitD levels and thyroid function?  That gives a base line to work with.  Tiredness can be caused by either condition.

This too will pass.  Is the 2 months a telephone consult with a GP or Specialist?   Not good enough, Covid restrictions were lifted nearly 2 years ago so Surgeries should be seeing patients face2face.

[SarahMy]

Thank you all for your advice. I will find a private doctor. I asked the nurse to refer me to a specialist and I have been told that I am waiting for a telephone consultation with a specialist nurse. I am not sure if the GP will give me another blood test for thyroid levels.  I have had one to check my hormone levels. Thank you again.