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[Gemhum]

Hi CazzaC,

I’m sorry to hear about your situation with your GP not prescribing off license. I’m new to the forum and just wanted to reach out and say I’m in a similar position, because I found your posts really helpful.
I’m on 100mcg Evorel patches but my blood test with Newson Health showed my oestrodiol levels were low and they recommended increasing the dose to 150mcg. However my GP won’t. I’m experiencing some symptoms and am terrified of returning to the crippling morning anxiety and suicidal ideation I experienced last year so have paid for
a private prescription to stop a downward spiral. However, I admire you for fighting it with your GP and feel I should go back to my GP in future. Good luck and keep us updated.

[CazzaC]

Hi
It is worth going back to your GP.  Some guidelines do say that they should be treating the symptoms.  Could you see a different doctor in your surgery?  The best GP in my surgery is female and going through the menopause herself.  I’ve found that some male GP’s just don’t understand. 
Good luck

[CazzaC]

I have just had a call from my GP. The doctors in the surgery have had a meeting and decided that they will not prescribe more than 100mcg. She was very apologetic and offered to help me gradually reduce my dose. I am on 2 x 100mcg patches and 2 pumps of gel. I have tried several times over the last year to reduce my dose. I just cannot. The anxiety and sobbing for no reason returns. Urgency to wee and not always making it to the toilet. My reflux got much worse  I do not want to live like that so the only option is to buy more HRT privately. I can just about afford to do that but there will be a lot of women who can’t afford it and will have to suffer. This can’t be right or fair

[bombsh3ll]

You're right, it's not fair and it stinks.

If it was a condition men suffered from they would be able to get adequate treatment without any unscientific rationing.

I am glad you're able to access the care you need privately, but you shouldn't have to.

I do think you are making the right choice though prioritising your health. We only get one body and one life.

I have a friend who fought for a hip replacement for 10 years on the NHS, and she could have afforded to pay for it, but she stuck to her principles and hobbled round in agony with a crutch on high dose morphine, pupils like pinpricks, writing letters to MPs, the health board etc. When she finally got it she felt like it was a victory that she'd saved the money, but in my opinion she's paid a much higher price as she's lost a decade of her life.

It was the same when I had IVF, I would see so many women delay starting treatment for years hoping to get it on the NHS, and by the time they either got it or were definitively told no, it was too late, at least with their own eggs.

So if you can afford the care you need, I would always say it's better to pay for it than go without.