Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Daisydot on January 30, 2018, 12:54:10 PM
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Hi ladies I went today for the dreaded gp appointment after having seen the private consultant at Nuffield and she had a copy of his report on her system.
She was adamant that she didn't want ladies over 60 on hrt and said that because the consultant had passed me over to her care and hadn't arranged any follow up care then she did not have to follow through with his recommendations.theni had the usual boxing match about why did I feel I had to go private and I told her because a) a previous gp had taken me off hrt because he didn't agree with it and this had exasperated my sysmtoms over the last few years and b) I went to a lady gp and begged her to refer me to a gynie but she refused and said I needed to see a urologist because of the urinary problems so out if desperation I went and had a private consultation because of their lack of help.
I fairness to her she wasn't too impressed by that news but she was still of the mind that the private consultant was wrong not to offer continuity of care and I pointed out that this was probabaly due to my finanacial constraints and he did say he would be more than happy to see me again if I wished.
She gave me a prescription for the vagifem but said no to the estriol I was double dosing even though I said consultant said I could still use on the outer area.I managed to get her to refer me to a gynie on the nhs so she said it'll be choose and book so I'll have to do my research on that one.
I found it a very stressful day again,well night as well actually as I never slept a wink knowing I'd have all this crap again.
Maybe if Dr Currie and other sympathetic people in the know about the nice guidelines could get us to send them details of our uncooperative surgeries and arrange to go into these and do training days for gps and nurses to update them on the nice guidelines that would be a good place to start.
We are ridiculed as mere menopausal females when we try and they just chuck in a few big words like protocol etc to try and bully us,you have to remember that we are old school at our ages and we're brought up not to question our gps to respect them as they knew best so it's very hard to standup to them and try to put our points across in a short timescale.
Overall I git the gynie appointment I wanted all along but I'm so stressed out right now and I feel like I'm right back square one unless I can get a like minded gynie who doesn't think we should be chucked On the knackers yard at 60+.sorry ladies but had to get my rant out I'm fed up.xx
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I am impressed and inspired by your determination :medal: (I know you would prefer your hrt)
Is the private one not on your choose and book (I have only seen private consultants I would have seen on the NHS before). Maybe ask the secretary for a recommendation in your area?
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This is from the NICE guidelines:
8 Starting and stopping HRT
HRT can be commenced for vasomotor symptoms or low mood or anxiety that is menopause related. Since we cannot predict how long symptoms will last, there should be no arbitrary limits for duration of use of HRT and previously held views that HRT should be stopped after 2 to 5 years or at the age of 60 are not backed up.
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I know - I am 54 and the practice nurse wants to take me off next year as I will have been on it for 5 years. I am only just getting the hang of it after a lot of faffing around to get an acceptable one, and I would have preferred a transdermal for my health.
They need the guidelines in front of their faces.
My GPs are useless, but we do now seem to have a really sensible up to date (male) locum at the moment.
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Thank you ladies I'm feeling a bit battered just now I seem to go one forward and two back every time I think I've got this nailed.
On the positive side I got my treasured gynie appointment lol I've been trying so long to get that I want my bits looked at in fine detail I've had no examination down there in 20 years despite the bleeding sores I had experienced previously which with a lot of hard work and research I managed to sort out without their help but I'd feel happier knowing that I was actually “normal†down below.
Let's just hope that things go my way and I get a decent consultant and a good choice under the look and book regime eh?xx
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Daisydot, I was restarted on oestrogen replacement (Oestrogel) at age 68 in an NHS menopause clinic (Chelsea & Westminster Hospital) in September last year. It had previously been stopped by my then GP in 2004 due to so-called government guidelines (ie, the scares resulting from the ghastly millennial studies, which scared the medics more than it did me at the time). I have also got testosterone now from the same clinic. So there is hope when it comes to getting decent NHS treatment for menopause if you can only find it. Many GPs are stuck in a time warp when it comes to HRT. Luckily, although mine isn't really up to date on his own, he has so far complied with the hospital's recommendations. Good luck in your search for a decent gynae.
JP xx
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Hi JP thank you for that I'm hoping that's on the choose and book list as that's the one I'd like to go to or Oxford.I can't believe because the previous consultant didn't put a time scale on things just said he was happy to see me again if necessary she jumped on that,he had his nhs number on the letter so I'm sure she could have contacted him to refer on the nhs or at least have some kind of interaction with him,I felt like I'd been chastised for daring to go private.
Never mind I'll battle on and if need be I will go private again but this time make sure they know about her silly rules,I've no idea how long waiting lists are and I like feeling a reasonable sense of normality again on my present hrt regime so she's not screwing that up for me.ty jp xx
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I see from the specialists lists we have on here that the hospital waiting list at cw doesn't seem to have been updated since 2012 for nhs patients so I'm going to give them a ring and ask how long the waiting list actually is for new referrals.xx
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io just think this whole standard of care wfor older women with gynae problems thing is outrageous. My GP won't refer me to an NHS menopause specialist because she says there aren't any in our area - no mention of out of area referral. the private specialist I'm now forking out for told me that since being diagnosed with Lichen Sclerosis 6 years ago I should be getting yearly check ups because of teh increased risk of vulval cancer. Has this ever been mentioned on the NHS - of course not....It seems we're still invisible :(
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We seem to have to fight tooth and nail for every small bit of progress we make and that's shocking in your case racjen it's no wonder we feel defeated at every turn.I have My off days like everyone else but on my good days I pursue every channel that I find open to me,do you not have a gum clinic near you for a bit of support as I hear they're usually very good,mines was crap but all we can do is keep trying but I do have to say women medics are the worst in my case they are bloody draconian in their attitudes so all we can hope is it comes back and bites them on the arse because we are certainly not going to change them.
I called the hospital earlier and it's april for nhs new patients.
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This is from the NICE guidelines:
8 Starting and stopping HRT
HRT can be commenced for vasomotor symptoms or low mood or anxiety that is menopause related. Since we cannot predict how long symptoms will last, there should be no arbitrary limits for duration of use of HRT and previously held views that HRT should be stopped after 2 to 5 years or at the age of 60 are not backed up.
This, there is also the law of informed consent which was tightened up in 2017. In 2015 there was a montgomery lanarkshire case in maternity due to medical neglligence, it used to be that doctors would consultt with other doctors but now the patient is in charge of what they are prescribed and can refuse treatment or even refuse refusal of treatment. If you google consent law hopefullly you should find something, here is a link to start you off. http://www.medicalprotection.org/uk/resources/factsheets/england/england-factsheets/uk-eng-safe-prescribing
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PS you can always pay Dr Currie to provide you with an email to say its ok for over 60's to have hrt.
As doctors have fragile egos I found it better to say "I have in my bag, an email from an NHS Gyn consultant...." some doctors may not look but one of mine did. I will have been on hrt for five years this year, I hope none of my doctors try to take me off it, due to their outdated attitudes. I will be emailing dr currie if they do.
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Thank you dandelion I had a really nice email from Dr currie outlining her recommendations for my treatment and also a letter from the consultant menopause expert and gp couldn't have been more disinterested.The fact that I paid for a private consultation seemed to tick her off and I had to start from scratch basically about why I thought I had menopausal symptoms and to try and justify why I should be on hrt at my age despite having had these consultations with two eminent people.
She then gave in and referred me to a nhs gynie costing the nhs needless money when all she had to do was email the consultant and arrange a continuation and monitoring of my treatment plan if she was so concerned but she wouldn't listen.niw it looks like I'll have to continue to pay for Oestrogel privately until I can get that gynie appointment and get them to convince her to continue with the advised treatment.the maddening thing is I'm feeling better.I could just say stuff you all and go completely private but why should I and that wouldn't help anyone else in the same situation as me.
I am pretty fed up with it all right now as I have other things I'm trying hard to cope with and this stress is not helping,I'm def not a gp fan right now.
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Today I've woken up feeling fighting fit lol and really ticked off about this.Ive emailed the meno consultant and explained what happened at gp follow up appointment and said how annoyed I am that even after paying privately to see him and him sending his report with recommendations she won't follow it and insisted on sending me for another gynie appointment elsewhere, it makes no sense to be costing the nhs money like this and meantime I've got none of the medication he put me on and it'll be at least April before I get to see the nhs gynie.my only option is to buy it via private prescription it's not right.itll be interesting to see what the consultants response is.xx
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Well done Daisydot xx
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Thanks so much dotty I'm not lying down to this while I feel well I'll battle away.xx
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just hope my GP will prescribe it for me once private doctor writes to her.
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OMG! Daisydot, I cant believe how you have been treated. I also have an appointment at Nuffied in 2 weeks time, I was hoping afterwards the prescription would go back so my GP could prescribe as financially I cant afford private continually....im now a little concerned...... I hope you get sorted. what a nightmare...
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If you just make sure that your consultant writes on your gp report a schedule of care ie he'll see you again in 3 or 6 or 12 months then that should cover you ,that's what mines didn't do and she lept on it even though he said he would be happy to see me again if necessary he didn't use the sentence she wanted ,she was just looking for fault though.good luck and when I hear back from consultant I'll update.it will be very interesting to see how much clout he does actually have.xx
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Update ladies.
My lovely consultant replied to me very promptly..He said he was deeply disappointed to hear of my experience with gp.he could provide me with private prescriptions but why should I have to pay for a treatment I am entitled to on the nhs.
He could write a more detailed letter explainng his thinking and referring to the National Guidlines which she is ignoring.he will also offer to monitor my progress.
I'm so pleased with him he's obviously a truly kind caring man so I don't care who it rattles in the practice there's bound to be other ladies over 60 that need this kind of help and who the hell do these gps think they are to write us off at this age.keep battling ladies it's bloody draining me if I'm honest I hate confrontation and stress but I also hate feeling crap and my consultants treatment regime is making me feel alive again so I'm fighting my corner here for the treatment and support we all deserve.xx
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Hi Daisydot
I'm going through a similar thing to you with my GP. I have just moved to Dorset and I signed on with a new GP and I went to get a prescription for my patches and he said to stop HRT and take venlafaxine. I have already written a post a few weeks ago regarding this. I have found this experience upsetting as I have been doing fine for the past two years on the HRT. He said I have to stop the patches soon. I have tried to stop using the patches for a couple of weeks and was waking up drenched in sweat all over and my mood has changed and anxiety has come back very bad, especially in the mornings.
Hope you get things sorted soon.
vickypk xx
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Makes me so angry vickypk.i know what you mean it's all very well quoting guidelines etc but if they are of a certain mindset then at the end of the day they sign the scripts or not in our cases.all I can suggest is go down the private route or ask to be referred to a meno clinic but be prepared to travel.I wish I could help you more but I'm at a loss other than the above suggestions.coukd you maybe change practices'so sorry I hope you can find the strength to do battle with him bloody swine.xx
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Thanks for your reply Daisydot.
Like a lot of ladies on this site we go through a lot before we even start taking HRT. When you have a male doctor in his 40s sitting there telling you to come off the HRT, he doesn't even have a clue how it feels to be menopausal. At least in London I had a lovely lady doctor who was very kind.
I will go private and probably to Harley St in London.
Hope you get on okay with it all, it isn't easy we shouldn't be fighting to get this!!
Speak soon
Vicky xx
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Yes your right Vicky it's so stressful isn't it.good luck with Harley street it's quite close to me but I went in the other direction to Coventry lol.each of them are an hour away from me but in opposite directions lol.my obstacle is a youngish female maybe early forties or younger I'm not very good with ages,probabaly because I lie about mines all the time lol.I hope the menopause bites her soundly in the arse.good luck xx
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You made me laugh about the age thing. Yep the menopause will be upon her one day. I would see someone closer to me, but haven't really found any menopause doctors around here. Keep in touch and let me know how you get on
xx
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Will do Vicky hope your successful xx
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I put in a request online for a prescription for Oestrogel and it has been authorised to be sent to the chemist,why couldn't I get it when I asked at go consultation.wonder if the main gp has said yes.
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I'd order a few bottles and get stocked up 😄
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Good idea Dotty but they wouldn't authorise but if I get one then they have to explain why no more if they go down that route don't they.
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Daisydot - do they give you a months supply at a time or 3 months?
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They give you one can dotty with 64 squirts in a can so it's depends how many squirts your on.
I'm in two daily so 32 days worth if your on 3 daily it would be approx 21days worth.xx
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But shouldn't you get 3 months worth on one prescription?
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I've only had 2 private prescriptions so far dotty this will be my first nhs prescription so it will be a nice surprise if I get three months worth lol I'll let you know next week.
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Hi Daisydot
So pleased to hear that you have got your oestrogel, that is great news. I'm gonna try next week to get my patches, will let you know.
xx
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Thank you Vicky fingers crossed eh?? Lol xx
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Hi Daisydot
Just put in a prescription request for the patches, I'll let you know if I get them xx
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Hi vickypk that's great hope your lucky.I went to collect my oesrtrogel from the chemist yesterday and as expected it was oestrodose so I explained to the lovely man I'd been prescribed Oestrogel and I hadn't gotten on as well with the other as it was thicker and my skin didn't absorb so well and I took the box with the correct stuff on it so long story short he said he'd call round the suppliers and try and get it for me,which he very kindly did,so I collected today.
I also put in a request for the estriol cream last night but so far that has not been processed so I may have to continue getting that privately I tried cutting down the vagifem and the estriol cream and it's too soon I felt a bit “nervy†downstairs when I did and uncomfortable again so I'm not going through all that VA again just to prove a point.
Good luck xx
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Hi Daisydot
Glad you are getting things sorted out. It's never easy for us getting HRT and the correct type. I will be surprised if I get the patches. We shouldn't have to go through this. Just hope ladies in the future have it a lot easier than us. I'll try in the chemist tomorrow lol.
xx
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I still can't believe the new GP/Practice I am under, on my first visit in December he said to stop the HRT and to go on venlafaxin and clonodine. I will print off the Nice Guidelines and give them to him on my next visit. Don't think the menopause message is getting through to most GPs.
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Oh and they gave me one can not three months.I knew they'd do that x
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I know they can't make it easy for us! Be in touch soon. Sure it can't be that simple for me x
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Can you not contact your previous lady gp in London Vicky and explain the situation maybe she'd drop an email to your new gp to support you.its the mental stress he's putting you under that's unforgivable.I hope you find the strength to stand up to him I know it's easier said that done my legs just go to jelly along with my thinking capacity,have you got someone who could go in with you as back up lol it's ridiculous what we have to try and plan out b4 these appointments isn't it.xx
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Thanks Daisydot.
I have thought of getting in touch with my previous GP in London, and I may still do that, I got on with her really well. I did say to her before I moved if I would still get the patches okay at the new surgery, she assured me all would be fine.
That's right the past couple of months have been quite bad for me. I became really depressed and the anxiety came back, as I stopped the HRT for a couple of weeks. With all this I just wanted to move back to London, it made me feel so bad.
My husband will come with me to the next appointment. I'm not good with doctors and just feel weak with them, especially when I'm told I could have a stroke because of the HRT. I came out of that appointment a shaking wreck! xx
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Hi Daisydot
Just went into the chemist and there are 2 months of patches there for me. I couldn't believe that my new GP signed the prescription for HRT. Maybe there is hope for me!
xx
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It's scandalous how we are being treated ! All the battling, having to travel round the country, pushed around from pilar to post and having to go private for something which is so obviously needed. Anyone would think we were asking for the moon on a plate ! Grrrrr! Sorry ... just needed to get that off my chest ...
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Well done Vicky I'm so pleased for you what a weight off you eh? I'd just relax now for a month then prepare yourself ahead for when your repeat is due so your not so stressed about it,it gives you time now to maybe ask your previous gp to support you in your request to stay on hrt.
Funnily enough I've just had a reply from my lovely consultant at Nuffield Coventry and he's sent a letter,copy to me,to my gp re her reluctance to comply with his recommendations,he was a member of the committee which drew up the research based info for the nice guidlines.
He's also arranged my referral for dexa scan and will continue to monitor me as requested so I'm full of admiration for him and so pleased he's backed me up.keep plodding away Vicky there's good caring people out there it's just tracking them down that's the hard part.Ive been yuk the last 2 days with the trots and it seems to have activated my bladder pain again so I'm being a lady of leisure typing this In bed lol.take care well done again xx
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You are right Tiddles. No one should be made to feel like this because of the menopause, it was if I was trying to get something illegal!!
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Hi Daisydot
Thanks for your reply. I can relax a bit for a while. Glad your consultant is taking control now of your situation. He sounds very good. That is good news for you too. Hope you feel better soon xx
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Thank you Vicky you too.xx
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Well done vickypk although you should never have been put in a situation like that, it's not as if you were trying to get hold of an illegal substance. Something very definitely needs to change.
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Thank you Mary G. You are right ladies shouldn't be made to feel like this and yes something definitely has to change!
xx