Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Turkish delight on May 03, 2019, 11:17:15 AM
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Hi all!
Just in from my Docs walk-in surgery.
I asked for the 1st available slot & any Doc and had to wait only 2 hours to be seen....hm!
The doctor was a senior partner, nice enough chap but refused point blank to add Vagifem to my repeat prescription list.
Even though I've been on them with some improvement for 3 weeks. He said I have to come back and see my own GP, and that my GP will decide whether he wants me to have anymore.
Now that is easier said than done, as my own GP is like a celebrity in my surgery. Everyone and their mother wants to see him bcz he's good. I'm not even exaggerating when I say that there are never any apmnts to see him left available even if you scroll forward by 3 months looking at the online bookable apmnts. I seriously have more chance of getting an apmnt with Mother Teresa than my own GP at this point...oh you've gotta laugh.
The Doc I saw today relented after he saw the look of despair on my face he agreed to give me a measly 24 and said that's 3 months worth...er! And said again that I need to see my own GP. I didn't kick off and was very polite, mainly bcz he wouldn't have surrendered my 24 Vagi's if I did. He was also of the opinion that there is no way one could have more than the recommended dose of twice weekly.
I fear we are fighting a losing battle girls, one to save our Vagina's from the pit of doom!
TD
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How frustrating for you. Could you get it on a repeat prescription so you don't need to see doctors?
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Give your surgery a ring and ask the GP or Nurse Practitioner to phone you at home. Also report this GP to Dr Currie on here, it's about time we named and shamed. "Dear Dr, this GP is way behind his knowledge regarding the treatment of VA!" copy to the British Menopause Society. I'm fed up with the message not getting through!!!
Dinousaurs :bang: :bang: :bang: aslo, how does he think that 24 is 3 months' worth, which issue of MIMMS is he reading from!?!
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I have to say that my GP has been on the ball right the way through. He supported me during my years of depression and anxiety followed by noting my urine symptoms were vaginal atrophy and never hesitated in prescribing appropriate treatment. I never feel rushed at appts. and if necessary make a double appt. .......
But I spit feathers every time a lady posts here, makes me wonder how many scuttle home that aren't aware of the Forum and support as well as what is appropriate!
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You shouldn't have to but consider buying from a private online pharmacy. You may only need to do this once as they'll ask your permission for your gp to be informed (which I did) and then it was on my repeats x
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TD are you in my VA FB group?
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TG. I'm boiling mad about it for you.
The ignorance around how to prescribec vagifem is staggering. even if he was sticking to the current guidelines he hasnt even given you enough to do that over 3 months idiot!!
It's an utter disgrace that we have to beg for our prescriptions like this. I had a similar experience on Monday. My doc acted as if I'm some sort of "hormone junkie"
Having to go into battle everytime we need to discuss or receive treatments which we are entitled to...its shamefull. Aaaaarghhh!!
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Hi girls,
You are all right of course.
I need to think of a plan B, C, and possibly D, let's hope I don't have to go as far as the letter F bcz then by the letter F I might be Flipping mad :boobs:
The ironic thing is that it wasn't my own GP who prescribed me the Vagifem to begin with 3 wks ago(by now you all know I never get to see my own GP). It was a new female Doc, who kinda just gave me it bcz I asked for some. She wasn't there today which I wouldn't know until showing up first. I went online and booked an apmnt to see her in 2 weeks so that will be my plan B, trying to schmooze a junior doctor... :) I hope my Vagina is taking note and appreciating how far I'll go to get her some attention.
MJ hi, I have never had a facebook account, something I just decided when it first became a thing, that it wasn't for me. If you want to copy paste my post to fbk that'll be cool with me, if it helps others or helps the cause I'm all about that.
PS Thank you MJ for being the poster child for our Vagina's, nothing but love for you for that :tulips:
TD
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Letter to your MP coming up then? Especially now the local Councils are up in the air ;-)
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I just imagined a march on parliament each holding aloft a giant inflatable vag!!!
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I just imagined a march on parliament each holding aloft a giant inflatable vag!!!
Ha ha! I really feel for you but it does seem to be easier to make appts at your surgery even if it isn't with your chosen doctor. I can rarely get an appt. online. most days none are offered. I did see one on the website this week but not until May 30th. I have just been to the surgery to try and get a urine test done to check for infection before i go on holiday next week but it is solidly booked all through next week.
A pack of 24 Vagifem won't last 3 months but I only get one for every 2 months in my repeat. I will try to request another one but don't know if I will get it or not (despite letters from the consultant).
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Usually I get two boxes of Ovestin when I order it.
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Oh dear Katejo yours does sound pants!
I can't get a booked apmnt on the day I need it no way, just walk in, in the mornings which is pick & mix Docs and patients,
first come first served. You have to actually go in, no phone in and make an apmnt, then go home and come back bcz most times it's over a 2-hour wait. Today I waited and it was 2 hours.
I can generally get an online bookable apmnt with a new Doc that no ones ever heard of or a trainee Doc within say 5 days of being sick lol!
Thinking I'm going to have to see all the Doc's at my surgery one by one until I get what I need.
TD
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I usually have to wait 2 weeks. This time it's over 2 weeks. Otherwise its phone up 8.30 to check for cancellations, nothing in between!! And theres never any cancellations. They say to people with a cold and such "it's a 2 week wait. ,if you realy need to see someone today, go to A & E." Which I think is disgraceful , no wonder my local A &E is over stretched with people going there for a sore throat or other minor ailments. I've sat in there and seen it time and again.
I think when I go GPs week after next I will just book a further appointment anyway, the way I've been going lately I'm more likely to need it as not!°
X
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Oh dear Katejo yours does sound pants!
I can't get a booked apmnt on the day I need it no way, just walk in, in the mornings which is pick & mix Docs and patients,
first come first served. You have to actually go in, no phone in and make an apmnt, then go home and come back bcz most times it's over a 2-hour wait. Today I waited and it was 2 hours.
I can generally get an online bookable apmnt with a new Doc that no ones ever heard of or a trainee Doc within say 5 days of being sick lol!
Thinking I'm going to have to see all the Doc's at my surgery one by one until I get what I need.
TD
In most cases I don't want same day. At my practice you can but only by queueing outside well before the surgery opens. They then send you home to return later in the day. No good if you work some distance away in Central London. You can ring but only between 8 and 9am when i am en route to work in the tube!
The on line appointment system has very few appointments. I tried earlier this week and it offered 1 apppointment at the end of May. Often it has none. For a few months it worked well and then fell apart.
In my ideal surgery, there would be a selection of appointments available during the next 10 days. I could look to see convenient times and see which doctor is on.
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I usually have to wait 2 weeks. This time it's over 2 weeks. Otherwise its phone up 8.30 to check for cancellations, nothing in between!! And theres never any cancellations. They say to people with a cold and such "it's a 2 week wait. ,if you realy need to see someone today, go to A & E." Which I think is disgraceful , no wonder my local A &E is over stretched with people going there for a sore throat or other minor ailments. I've sat in there and seen it time and again.
I think when I go GPs week after next I will just book a further appointment anyway, the way I've been going lately I'm more likely to need it as not!°
X
I would never go to the doctor with a cold or sore throat as they are caused by a virus and the doctor can't do anything. I'd only go if the condition dragged on for weeks in case of any underlying problem.
I once had a sleepless night and checked the GP app in the early hours of the morning. There were several appointments listed. I think I need to try that out. ;D I do want to book a routine appt. for after my holiday.
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Yes Kate we dont always need emergency appt but 2 weeks or more is too long . Most times you just want an appointment within a week.
As for A&E I despair.unfortunately I spent a lot of time there when my wife was terminally ill and the things people go there with astound me. You cant help but overhear and lots of them are not actually registered with a GP. They bring in babies and children and they dont have a gp!!!!
They use A&E like a doctors surgery.
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My surgery has started having better access hours for the late worker, I have copy/pasted under here what the website says.
"Improved Access (open for pre-booked appointments only)
We offer a range of pre-bookable doctor, practice nurse, HCA and appointments during Improved Access hours. Improved Access hours held at the surgery are most weekdays from 6.30pm to 8.00pm and some Saturday mornings."
Never been told about it but was searching for something on the Doctors website and noticed it in small print hidden on a page somewhere. So maybe check your GP's webpage and see if they do it.
My surgery is starting to look good in comparison lol!
Something I've heard about but not tried yet re online pre-bookable apmnt is that they sometimes release some extra apmnts just after 12 or 1am in the morning, so if your up till then it's worth checking.
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Interesting TD. X
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GPs should be referring those with colds etc. to a Pharmacist!
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My surgery has started having better access hours for the late worker, I have copy/pasted under here what the website says.
"Improved Access (open for pre-booked appointments only)
We offer a range of pre-bookable doctor, practice nurse, HCA and appointments during Improved Access hours. Improved Access hours held at the surgery are most weekdays from 6.30pm to 8.00pm and some Saturday mornings."
Never been told about it but was searching for something on the Doctors website and noticed it in small print hidden on a page somewhere. So maybe check your GP's webpage and see if they do it.
My surgery is starting to look good in comparison lol!
Something I've heard about but not tried yet re online pre-bookable apmnt is that they sometimes release some extra apmnts just after 12 or 1am in the morning, so if your up till then it's worth checking.
Yes we do have access to Sat appointments but not at my practice. Did go up there once. Yes I am aware of appts being added in the early hours. Discovered it by accident once.
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Does your Practice not have a News Letter? Ours has had earlier hours for people going to work for a few years. Sometimes I get offered one ;D but I don't see daylight until 10.30 ;). Have you tried ringing the afternoon B4 and suggesting that you will sit in the Waiting Room until seen 'tomorrow'?
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Does your Practice not have a News Letter? Ours has had earlier hours for people going to work for a few years. Sometimes I get offered one ;D but I don't see daylight until 10.30 ;). Have you tried ringing the afternoon B4 and suggesting that you will sit in the Waiting Room until seen 'tomorrow'?
. My friend could not get an appointment for a very bad hip and back she was told three weeks. She knew that in the call back system we have that you are often told to go in later the same day so the next day her husband took her to the surgery. She was told there were no appointments available and she should go home and phone the surgery. She said to them I am going to sit here until you get me in with someone and my husband will bring my lunch if necessary. She was seen an hour later and it turns out she needs an operation. She actually got a lot of the waiting patients saying well done to her.
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I often did that when depressed, I felt safe in the Waiting Room and the GP always popped me in between patients. A little word of support helped a lot. Sometimes I was offered a cuppa but felt too ill to drink it :-\. The way I got round appts. was to ask for a house call, one day the receptionist told me "But I saw you walking the dog earlier so you can't be too bad". So I wandered down, she took one look at me and I went straight in. I felt numb. Deeply unable to function.
Sometimes showing a face can impact on that we actually need an appt. and we need it today. I don't mind waiting but need to have that support.