Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Zara69 on June 15, 2017, 01:09:59 PM
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Been back to the gp again for burning vagina/urethra problems...I'm on hrt so previously been refused any cream etc as I shouldn't need both. Anyway I am still not happy so she did at least say she was not up with meno things and would discuss with another doctor who is and let me know. The answer was still NO...apparently this surgery has never given out both at once!🤔 I quoted NICE guidelines- the response was they are only guidelines! I mentioned Dr Currie and getting advice from her...dr said no! So she said she will write to a gynaecologist for advice and this will take minimum 2 weeks.... surely a good gynae will say it's ok?? I feel I'm being given the run around but I've no real idea why??
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You are being given the run around. I would suggest that you send a personal e-mail to Dr Currie on here with a short query, print off her reply which is bound 2 B positive and take to your GP! It's a poor excuse that they have 'never' given this regime, it means that other ladies are probably suffering :-\. You could also take the reply to a Pharmacist to re-iterate what you require!
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This is outrageous!!!! Fair enough if she writes to a gynaecologist for advice but what if the gynae says no - although I'm sure s/he shouldn't. However they should really have someone who does know what they are talking about in the practice. I think I suggested the £25 consultation with Dr Currie in a previous e-mail but why on earth does doc say no? I mean provided you give all your relevant gynae history - re HRT and menopause - then doc should heed Dr C's recommendation. There really is so little risk from this (ie Vagifem or estriol + systemic)!
Hurdity x
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I would ring the Secretary of the Consultant to which you will be referred: "I don't want to waste Mr ????'s time but need to know whether XYZ is likely to be prescribed for these symptoms? My GP is reluctant to consider XYZ but I am desperate for relief. " Also, if you R able to take a cancellation tell the Secretary that you are available to drop by ASAP.
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Awful isn't it? I was speechless as i assumed the other dr would say ok. I am tempted to buy ovestin or vagifem from one of those online dr/pharmacy places via a private prescription then if the gynaecologist says I can have oestrogen then I will take it and say nothing about what I have bought and if they say no get referred to Chelsea/Westminster clinic which would be a wait but if I've got enough cream etc to last then own up to what I have been doing to them. I feel like side stepping my surgery re anything meno related. I might add 3 of the 4 gps I've seen are women......
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Their time will come :-X
Give the Chelsea and Westminster a ring to see what the protocol is? If you have alternatives, then use them ? and yes, it is AWFUL! I suggested ages ago that we should send Dr Currie a list of all GPs etc. who won't prescribe HRT !!!! she could then have a Conference simply for those outed, preferably in a locked room until they either reach menopausal age or agree to stop being so precious about their funding!
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But, but - NICE guidelines are surely aimed at GPs, who can't be experts in everything! How can the GP justify just ignoring the NICE recommendations?!
I can understand why you're so cross. This is why I decided to see a gynae privately, as I'd already lost faith in my GP's practice over other medical issues.......
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I got told the same by a female GP....I need Vagifem and Ovestin along with Estrogel to be comfortable I put her straight politely! Fortunately she has left and the the male GP's just seem to let my repeats go through without questioning it.
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Did you take my VA piece from the magazine? That had to go through Dr Currie .....so they are above her ?
Outrageous. 😡😡😡
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Yes Maryjane I did....I don't know what their problem is. I don't think they liked me asking and suggesting things. I can buy 2 tubes of ovestin for £35. I'm thinking I will do this - see if it helps and asked to be referred to Chelsea & Westminster then maybe look into changing my surgery...ridiculous really when all this is available on NHS. Is it really down to budgets and prescribing targets??! (My husband says everything comes down to the money) x
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CLKD I like your locked room idea! Yes Hurdity it was me that you suggested the dr currie email to but it seems they might disregard it. Tinkerbell thank goodness you can keep getting what you need! Eviepf ...yes to private gynae but we shouldn't have to but then again.....
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Yep. Also many GPs still don't want to be challenged by patients reading the internet to see what is available 'out there'. This is quite common throughout the Specialities. Mental health is low down on the list of priorities as is Geriatric care. Has been for years.
A GP should not go against what a Consultant suggests, however .......
Send that e-mail to Dr Currie ?
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CLKD...I should request help from Dr Currie...I will be known as "that bloody woman"! At my surgery won't I?! Seriously tho, they must have never had bladder/vaginal irritation to say keep waiting....
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What have you decided to do, change Surgeries?
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I have ordered some ovestin, I will see what the gynaecologist says ...if it's no I will ask to be referred to a meno clinic. If I change surgeries there is only one other I can go to... my friend goes there and doesn't rate it much. So I might face the same or equal problems there plus having to start all over again. In the long run I will probably be better off going to a specialist place with no odd agendas and outdated opinions x Thanks again ladies for the support on this forum x
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That's just awful Zara- many women need both topical and systematic oestrogen. Is there are practice manager you can complain to?
This is outrageous- go back to your GP and insist on it. Complain in writing. This is just so wrong and I'm sorry you're having to fight for this. X
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Or have a chat with a Pharmacist in your area to see which GPs support menopause?
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I would personally go private due to the stress this will be causing.
I would then report the GP to whatever body is appropriate ( starring with the practice manager ).
OR I no of a lady and others , if there GP turns down medication/ tests that are deemed to be necessary and if they refuse , a letter is written to the surgery outlining that the GP has refused medication etc , and any consequences from having the medication withdrawn will basically be on the GPs head , this is delivered and HAS to go on the patients notes , and the GP HAS to reply and GPs do not like paper trails , these are ladies in early menopause.
I would also take your husband with you , I would go with all the facts saying what NICE recommends and do they also IGNORE cancer treatments/ diabetes / thyroid suggestions via NICE also ? if so I would suggest they should not be practicing and part of there oath " to do no harm " is NOT being adhered too.
ALSO ask them where they get there information from , and perhaps they consider themselves above the likes of Dr Currie / Prof Studd / Mr Panay / Professor Lansdowne and maybe they should take over there jobs.
If you lived close to me I would come with you , as this makes me EXTREMELY cross. Total arrogance.
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I'm still tamping about this :cuss:
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Thanks ladies I'd be so lost without your advice x I will let you know when I've heard back from the gynae...if no luck they I will do as you all suggest ...complain, report and go somewhere else! X
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I must belong to the worst surgery ever...I have seen both practice nurses and all 5 yes 5 GPs. I just said to the fifth Dr today "well I don't think anyone here is willing to prescribe systemic HRT along with topical oestrogen no matter what I say" She said "there are RISKS!" I said tiny ones ....topical equal to 1 extra tablet etc etc. She said I can have vagifem if I give up the patches!🙄 (Why do I have to choose?!) I've taken in maryjanes article, quoted Nice guidelines offered an email consult from Dr Currie - no one is interested. They have written to a gynae for advice but no reply yet. Today she said she will chase the response but it still might be no! I will give them one more week and then asked to be referred but that will prob be months. I'm considering paying- does anyone have any idea of costs?
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Appalling , to think they consider themselves above the likes of Mr Panay etc is quite frankly can't think of the word but anyway it is.
About £300.00 , then the prescription will be via NHS as they will be written to and put in there place.
I have also written another article which is on GP ( NHS/Private GP) website about VA.
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Thanks Maryjane I think this is the way to go. I've sat and cried in front of these people...so uncaring I can't believe it.
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Zara69 -that is just so bad.
Complain to the practice manager.
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https://menopausedoctor.co.uk/
You can see this lady. My VA piece is on her page .
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Hi Zara. I'm so sorry that you're still having to deal with this.
It really does sound like your best bet might be to go private. You shouldn't need to, of course, but as Maryjane says, this must be stressing you out beyond belief. I see Anne Henderson in Harley Street (she also has a clinic in Kent) and her charges were 300 pounds for the first consultation and 200 for subsequent consultations - prescriptions via my GP, on the NHS.
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Thank you so much, London is close to me, I'm going to look into private...I'm tired of it all x
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A GP doesn't have to prescribe on the NHS is a patient visits a private consultant, particularly if they don't ask for a referral. The thought is that if a patient can afford to have a private consult then they can continue to pay for prescriptions etc..
Do let us know how you get on!
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I ended up seeing private gynae as I was having difficulty getting the treatment I needed for my VA. I paid £180, that was about 18 months ago and she sent a letter to GP with suggested treatment....best money I have spent in a look time!
We shouldn't have to pay privately but I was like you getting told a load of outdated nonsense.
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All my prescriptions have been on the NHS apart from the first one she gave me.
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EviePF. I see Miss Henderson also she is lovely and very on the ball.
She also had my article all printed off to chat with me about it , which I found impressive that she took the time interest to do so , wether private or not.
Everyone I no who goes private and then gets there prescription on the NHS, it's not about wether you can afford to go , for many it's down to desperation because they have been let down so , and they have to scrape the money together.
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Yes it can be bought online as can all HRT , which is so bizarre as we go to the GP for help guidance and end up potentially being pushed to do it ourselves via the web. Absolutely mad.
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Hello Maryjane and shortie, I have bought ovestin cream online...I use it tentatively but it was £30 for two tubes...gonna be expensive if I need it for life so I am trying to get it prescribed also I'm stubborn and it's become a matter of principle...none of us should have to resort to these means to get things and pay over the odds for this essential stuff! Young female dinosaurs in my practice shortie! The 3 ladies are no older than mid thirties, both men GPS are thirties also and push anti depressants first (which is crap) the two nurses are older prob late fifties, I asked one how she manages and she said "very badly - terrible menopause"! I begged her for a prescription...she said "I just can't " which made me feel it's some odd, outdated surgery rules or something.
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Shortie...you've made me laugh out loud! Sweating, brain-fog ridden! 😂
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Shortie 🤣
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Zara - this is just absolute nonsense. Do I understand that all you want is a bit estriol cream? Don't bother paying for a private consultant, you can easily buy it online. This product is incredibly weak. Women put in on their faces! If you need help buying it, pm me. You REALLY shouldn't be suffering needlessly. Your practice is full of dinosaurs!
Sx
I have yet to find where I can 'easily' buy it online, I've only found on prescription availability?
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Hi Ljp....it is prescription only but some online pharmacies have the option to pay for a private prescription...hence the higher cost. You have to answer quite a few questions...a doctor apparently reviews it and either sanctions it or not. It took a couple of days for men to be approved.
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No-one should have to go privately nor buy any HRT online! This is so wrong!
If you can get a private prescription online through a proper consultation then that sounds like the way to go in the short term - but I wonder how expensive that is? Can you get the prescription thus generated sent to your practice?
You mean they ignored Dr Currie's recommendation? Can they refer you to a menopause clinic? I would have thought they were bound to if the practice refuses to prescribe and you request this?
There really needs to be some consistency countrywide doesn't there? It is so unfair that some women are able to access the right treatment whereas others are not.
Hurdity x
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Hallelujah!!! After 3 months of asking and 6 weeks of waiting for an answer from a gynaecologist (she said yes) - I have my vagifem prescribed along with my patches!....good god, what a palaver! 🙄
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Excellent result Zara69 :)
Now let's hope it does the trick!
Hurdity x
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Well done! But, good grief as well.
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Hi Zara69
So pleased to hear you have finally got a prescription for vagifem but a four and a half month wait is totally unacceptable.
Hope you will soon be feeling much better.
Lanzalover x
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I hope it works...I will let you know. I was so relieved when I heard the answer was yes but now I'm really annoyed, I could have started using this months ago and be hopefully much better by now! Still, I've got it now and maybe my persistence will have helped other women at my surgery.