Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Eviealice on October 26, 2017, 03:37:43 PM
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Hello ladies.
I was just wondering if anybody could kindly give me some advice.
Iv recieved a letter from my local hospital today confirming that they had received my gps referal for me to be seen at their gynacology dept.
My gp said i should be seen this side of Christmas, however the letter states that there is a 26 week waiting list.
I have informed the hospital that i would also accept an appointment at short notice.
My gp wont prescribe any hrt for me until iv been to this appointment.
But i feel so worn out with it all and im so dry down below.
If i was to ask at my pharmacist about anything to use so i wont be so afraid to get close to my husband again is there much on offer?
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Welcome.
Why is your GP provaactaing? [sp]
For the vaginal dryness, go to the Practice Nurse or GP and ask for appropriate treatment. This is different from generalised HRT. Make sure that your GP is aware of the over-extended waiting list!
The idea is to use either Vagifem or Ovestin every night for 2 weeks. Then as necessary or every 3rd and 5/6th night.
As oestrogen levels drop the body may become dry: nostrils, deep in the ears, skin, vagina (we have threads here ::)), so either of those products will plump up the vaginal tissues. VA can present as repeated urine infection-type symptoms but treatment should ease symptoms. Some ladies find that they need Sylc or Yes products for the outer lips ....... and the treatment is for Life.
Have a browse, using the search box for the products as well as reading the 'treatments' in the green banner above.
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Thank you ckld.
I originally went to my gp 2 weeks ago as on the last two occasions that i had intercourse i was so dry that i bled..
Im not due my next smear until april/may 2018.
She wanted to make sure everything was fine firstly.
My husband and i are at the point where its uncomfortable for us both and im scared incase i bleed again.
He is very understanding over it, its me its put me down .
I am even struggling to have my grandchildren visit as my anxiety just goes through the roof ..
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Eviealice - Your GP is being very over cautious. First, if you bled after intercourse it is highly likely to simply be atrophy and this is easily treated with the local oestrogen suggested by CKLD - Vagifem is the favourite. It is also essential to use extra lubrication when having sex once meno hits. I use big amounts of the super lubricating Durex gel and this really helps both me and my husband. I also use vaignal moisturiser daily - I like SYLK but many like the YES products.
I would definitely get back to you GP, say the wait could be up to 24 weeks and you will go to get checked out but, in the mean time, could you have some Vagifem to reduce the vaginal atrophy. Teh amount of oestrogen is very small but can make a big diffference.
BTW -you haven't told us how old you are or where you are in your meno journey? DG x
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Thank you dancing girl.
Im going to be 46 in a few months time.
I started to notice a difference in how i was feeling around the age of 40.
My periods over the past year have either been early or late , but the last 3 periods they have been on time and lasted around 6 days.
Im not sleeping very well and have a lot of joint and muscle pain.
I have horrid anxiety to the point where its a struggle to go out doors.
Next month is a year that my father passed away and im just feeling so overwhelmed with everything going on x
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That seems really unacceptable to me. I would definitely keep going back to your GP. You can't keep going on like that without any help. Isn't there anyone else you could see at the practice who is more understanding, maybe a female doctor?
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As oestrogen levels drop off muscles may become lax = aches and pains which can be eased by over-the-counter pain relief, do ask your local Pharmacist for advice.
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Hi paisley.
It was my usual female that i saw just over 2 weeks ago.
Iv since been back monday just gone to ask her if she could have a look at my cervix as 3 years ago i had an erosion on my cervix and had some cryotherapy treatment and it all cleared up.
I had my last smear around a year after that treatment and all was normal.
The gp said my cervix looked fine .
But i was looking rather red on the outside.
She took some swabs to.
Im going to phone tomorrow morning and see if i can maybe see another female gp ? X
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Thank you clkd.
I will see how i get on tomorrow if i can get an appointment as they are like gold dust at my surgery.
Iv noticed the muscle change and also the elasticity of my skin on my face x
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If you can register 4 on-line appt.s you may find that more are available ;)
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1 If you have had bleeding after sex and the cause hasn't been identified, then I think you should be given an immediate referral within a few weeks - rather than a routine referral - I thought this was part of the fast referral protocol? It sounds like it is likely to be due to VA but you need to make sure.
2 And separate to this - there is also no reason for your GP to leave you in this position and not to prescribe vaginal oestrogen in the meantime - this does not need a specialist referral whatever your doc says.
Please go back either to this doc or preferably another better-informed one in the practice and make sure these two points are attended to so that you can be more comfortable....
PROCRASTINATING I think is the word you are looking for CLKD :)
Hurdity x
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Thank you heredity.
I was hoping for a quicker appointment.
Tbh it plays on my mind all the time about cervical cancer.
Iv lost two friends to that disease a few years ago and they were younger than me.
They never went for smears were to embarrased and it devestated me .
Pretty much left me with a health anxiety.
Same as when it took my previous gp a year to diagnose my hypothyroidisn.
It was only after i changed my wording and said i had no energy instead of saying i was tired i was finally sent for a thyroid test.
And iv done my own head in by researching every symptom i have on Google x
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Hurdity ** sorry mispelt x
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So i had an appointment this morning with a different female gp.
I explained that i had recieved a letter from the gynacologist department informing me that there was a 26 week wait to be seen..
I told her all about my symptoms and she said that there was no doubt about it that i was in perimenopause.
She has prescribed me a lubricant called yes.
But no hrt as they want to wait until iv seen the gynacologist.
I mentioned that i had bled twice in the past two weeks after having intercourse but she said that when the referral was made the consultants would also look at it and if there was no urgent signs i would be offered a standard wait.
She said it was because iv had regular smears that are normal, cervix was looking healthy, recent swabs are normal.
So i guess im going to have to wait it through x
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You should have been referred on the two week protocol , does your GP and the consultant who read the letter have x-ray eyes to look into your womb 🤔 never assume anything ever.
The GS letter can't have been worded well enough to the consultant ? A smear is for the cervix only not in the womb.
My GP would have sent me to the scan department ASAP , and so should yours.
Sorry to be blunt , but they are the “ rules†for abnormal bleeding. 😏
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Thanks Mary Jane.
Yes you are a bit blunt and im really stressed out about it.
My previous post i mentioned that i had lost friends to cervical cancer and that is already weighing on my mind.
In the past 10 days iv seen my regular gp twice and the other female gp once and im not making any headway.
I had a scan three years to check my ovaries and lining of my womb and all was fine.
Iv also had a procedure to check my bladder and that was fine.
I know it was three years ago and things change, just wanted to add that.
I cannot afford to go private ...
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'yes' is a lubricant, it won't plump up the vaginal tissues but if used on the inner and outer lips and just inside the vagina, you may feel more comfortable down there.
You could ring the hospital dept. next week and ask if there really is that long a wait? If that's how it is, what's a Girl to do, :-\ : the Consultants work a set number of hours regardless of what the Government suggests as 'waiting' times. Hospital machinery is available during working hours and if there are lots of people needing investations, sadly it is what it is. Guidelines etc. can't alter how well staffed our NHS happens to be.
Your GP could of course refer you to a different Hospital but the waiting times may be worse .......... you could of course ring round to see then if there is less of a list get your GP to send a letter. Go to the appt. which turns up first but do remember to cancel the other one!
[prevaricating - different meaning to procrastinating]
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Thank you ckld 😊.
Iv booked a smear test privately for next week .
I went and had a look at private coloscopys and the price is just to much.
Tbh it didnt even cross my mind to think of trying a different hospital..
I will give a few ring arounds on monday.
Xx
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Keep a list of who you ring, I did that a few years ago and thought I would remember ::) - by the end of a morning I didn't know which Dept I had spoken to or where : putty brain ::)
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I will ckld and thank you again its very much appreciated x