Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Personal Experiences => Topic started by: Rosie63 on September 28, 2019, 09:36:07 AM
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Morning ladies. I've decided, at long last, to ask for a referral to a menopause clinic as I feel so ill now even though I'm taking HRT. I feel that I've lost my way and need some more help than that my GP has been able to offer. I've looked on the BMS website and there are two hospitals with a meno specialist within a reasonable distance from me......one in Southend and the other one, which is of particular interest to me, is Dr Imogen Shaw in Saffron Walden.
I was wondering if anyone had had any experience of either of these clinics? It looks as though they both offer nhs and private consultations and I would be prepared to pay if their nhs wait lists are long. As travel to London isn't too bad from where I am, I guess my other option might be Mr Panay's clinic but would need to look into that to see if I could go under the nhs, waiting list, cost of going private etc.
All I know is that I can't go on like this as my quality of life has been awful for most of the time over the last couple of years and I just want someone to help me so that I can get on with my life.
Sorry if I sound desperate but any help you can offer would be much appreciated.
Thank you.
Rosie63 xx
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Hi Rosie,
I recently went to see a specialist in London in Dr Panay's clinic (Dr T Peers) and can recommend that clinic but it does come at a cost if going private (nearly £300 for an initial consultation). I don't know where NHS would refer you to and waiting times either but it is worth asking GP in any case. Cost is potentially an issue but for me this consultation was worth it. AG
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Hi Rosie63,
If you're near Colchester I can heartily recommend Dr Caroline Marfleet, formerly a consultant in Sexual & Reproductive Health at Lexden County Hospital & now in private practice.
Shes my menopause specialist and I can recommend her (I'm one of those 'challenging' peri reactives and she knew precisely what I needed). I saw her last week and it only took me 2 weeks to get the appointment too!
She charges £100 for an initial appointment & £80 for follow ups if memory serves me right.
Have a look at her website www.drcarolinemarfleet.co.uk (http://www.drcarolinemarfleet.co.uk) Her Med secretary Tracey is very nice too, but an atrocious speller!
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Hi ladies. Thank you so much for taking the time to reply.
PeriPagan - I'm not too far from Colchester at all....just outside Chelmsford actually, so I think Dr Marfleet is just the lady I'm looking for and the cost of her private consultations are reasonably priced too. Thank you very much for recommending her. I will give Tracey a call next week and hopefully I will be able to get an appointment soon. I assume I don't have to be referred through my GP ?
AG - I thought Mr Panay's clinic would be quite costly but glad you found it worthwhile. Thanks again again for your response.
Rosie xx
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Hi Rosie,
Just thought I'd let you know that I too would recommend Caroline Marfleet. I saw her as I wanted some proper advice and to be able to talk to someone who would show a bit more compassion than my doctors had. I didn't need a referral either which took the stress away from it too. She prescribed my HRT for me and even wrote to my doctor so that I wouldn't have any problems with obtaining a regular NHS prescription :) All the best and I hope that you get the help and support that you deserve xx
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Thank you very much Butterfly. I can't tell you how reassuring it is to receive the recommendations from you ladies for Caroline Marfleet. I'm feeling much more positive this morning that I might be able to find the help I feel I need.
Thanks again.
Rosie xx
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Hi again Rosie,
Like Butterfly says you don't need a referral to see Caroline, My Doctors are absolutely clueless (before and after they flung two GP surgeries together and made it one big cluster****!) & don't have the first clue as to how to deal with anything but the simplest of cases, so I cut them out of the equation for anything but med reviews and blood tests.
It can be helpful if you can gather any notes you have as to your treatment. Another good thing is although Marfleet likes to put everyone on the 'gold standard' of Oestrogel/utrogestan she will listen to you if you wish to take another route, just be firm and stand your ground. She wasn't 100% happy with me continuing my cerazette but she understands that I have damn good reasons for doing so!
Anyway, fingers crossed you can get an appointment soon x ;)
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Thanks again PeriPagan. She'll probably throw her hands up in despair when she sees my history over the last 2 years. I have tried Oestrogel and Utrogestan and found the Utrogestan a bit much and also a lost a lot of hair so won't be keen to go back to that. My main concern now is trying to identify what are symptoms and what are side effects as I'm feeling as bad on HRT as I do off. It seems at the moment that I can't live with it but can't live without it 😏 Anyway, I'm hoping she will be able to help me and just having someone that will listen and not try to push me out the door because my 10 minutes appointment is up, will be a good start 😉
I wish you well and thanks again.
Rosie xx
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Hi all,
I'm on Oestrogel and cerazette at the moment. I went to see her as I've had a return of my symptoms like before I was on HRT. I had already guessed that my dose needs to increase, I just needed to double check and get a medical professionals backing for the increase because If I 'd walked into my GP surgery and said my dose needs to go up they would have tried to screw with my anti-D's rather than give me the oestrogen my young peri reactive body needs.
As I'm now on 3 pumps (increasing to 4) I need extra progesterone so Shes added utro to be taken vaginally but i'm not doing that until next month!
I have discussed other options with Marfleet at my first appointment, but she wanted me to try the gel first and so far it seems to work well for me. But she did say to me that if it didn't work then i was more than welcome to try other options.
The £100 buys you an hour (though I usually find i'm done in 30) & she will run over on an appointment if you need it: I've never gone in on time ;)
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Morning ladies. I just wanted to let you know that I've got an appointment with Dr Marfleet on the 15th October. I could have had one next week but I'm away, so no long wait to see her thank goodness. I phoned my GP to let her know and she said she knew Dr Marfleet - she trained her in fitting the coil.
I like the sound of having an hour appointment, PeriPagan. I should be able to cover everything during that time 😉
Rosie xx
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Sounds good rosie. Please let us know how you get on.
I'm in Essex. I've got an NHS first appt with Chelsea and Westminster Panay on 17th.
. I've been waiting months for it sounds like you've got a good waiting time the way you've done it.
I will be watching with interest to see how you get on.
Just to say, did they mention blood tests. On Previous threads I've read here about private appts ladies have said maybe an idea to get GPs to do them before if you can, in terms of cost.. That's if you need them.
Although I'm not paying I decided to get my go to do bloodsc so I will be able to take them with me, I'm just hoping it will speed things up. I'm wanting to get the implant which they won't do without bloods so I'm realy hoping by having them ready I wont have to wait for a 2nd appt for results. Not sure if it works like that in practice but I figured it cant hurt. Also if you've had any scans get copies to take.
My surgery charges £30.00 for copies of scan results. Ridiculous when you consider I watched the receptionist print out one sheet of paper in 30 seconds flat!!! But if it's for an upcoming hospital visit as with mine they do it free.
I wish you good luck. Xx
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Hi Tc. Yes, I think I've been quite lucky getting an appointment so quickly but I would expect to wait a lot longer to see someone from Mr Panay's team as I would imagine they cover a lot wider area. It's good you haven't got too much longer to wait for your appointment and I really hope you get that implant done shortly after.
I did mention blood tests when I spoke to my doctor and she is arranging copies to be done for me. I have had many done over the last few months and also have had a scan. All have come back clear, apart from I have a small cyst and fibroid but nothing to be concerned about. She did say something about oestrogen level tests being a waste of time because I'm 65 and so very post meno. £30 for a copy of your scan seems a bit excessive but I guess we can't argue with it can we 😏
I will let you know how I get on and definitely update us after your appointment Tc. I hope it goes well for you.
Rosie x
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Hi All,
So pleased that you got a quick appointment Rosie. The last thing you need when you're in meno hell is to wait months! (And for anyone who is you have my sympathies and you really shouldn't have to >:( ) She can't do blood tests (its a physiotherapy site she works out of) but will write to your GP & request them on your behalf.
One thing I've noticed is that every GP & Nurse I've come across in Essex knows of Marfleet & name dropping her changes attitudes instantly! Puzzlement & confusion lifts from their faces and is replaced by acceptance & understanding that someone in the know has prescribed this strange medication and set the dose.
Anyway, let us know how you got on. Just thought I''d mention 2 things; The centre is round the back of a house & the signage is tiny so keep your eyes open for it. And the staircase isn't great if you're not sure of foot so If you've got mobility problems ring the Chitts Hill Centre and ask them to put Marfleet in downstairs consulting room that day!
Good luck!
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Morning ladies. I just thought I'd give a quick update following my appointment with Caroline Marfleet yesterday.
She listened patiently to my long HRT journey and it was so nice not to be pushed out after my 10 minute allocated appointment ! I'd made notes before I went to take with me so I was able to cover everything I think. Anyway, the upshot is that she's suggested I try Estrogel, Utrogestan and also add in testosterone to try to help with tiredness and low labido. I have tried this combo before without the Testogel but I'm prepared to give it another shot because, quite honestly, I'd prefer to have the dosage flexibility of the gel. She is writing to my GP and I'm hoping to be able to start this new regime next week.
I'd just like to thank you lovely ladies for your recommendations, advice and support and I'll let you know how things go.
Tc - I hope your appointment goes well at the C and W tomorrow. Let us know.
Rosie63 xx
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Hi Rosie63 that combination works for me. Will your GP prescribe the testosterone? X
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Thank you rosie. Good to hear your appointment went well. It makes all the difference to be listened to.
I hope the testogel works well for you.
Xxxx
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Thanks Tc.
Hi Dotty - I hope she will prescribe the testosterone. I have had a conversation about it with her before but she said she would hold off as the side effects can be unpleasant. She mentioned it can cause an enlarged clitorus 😱, the voice to deepen and more hair to grow on body ! Well, this did actually put me off but when I told Dr Marfleet yesterday, she seemed quite horrified at what I'd been told and she put my mind at rest. She did say it can cause a little extra hair to grow around the site where the Testogel is applied and a couple of ladies have said they can feel a bit moody at times. Not sure if you've experienced anything like this have you?
Rosie x
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Rosie. I've been using testogel for about 5 or 6 months now. Everyday. I always apply to inside thigh just above knee. Alternate sides. No hair growth to report as yet. X
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Thanks Tc. That's reassuring. I could do with a bit more hair on my head but nowhere else 😁 xx
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Hi Rosie I haven't had any side effects at all with testosterone x
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That's good to hear Dotty. Thank you x
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Hi Rosie63,
Good to hear back about how your appointment with Marfleet went. I'm always curious to know what other's think of her.
Yes, Its really nice to have all that time to yammer on about just how much the meno has ****** up your life isn't it? And she listens too, which is even better!
Hopefully the gel/utro + testosterone works for you this time around. If it doesn't don't hesitate to go back again (plus its cheaper next appointment!)
Fingers crossed your GP sorts out your prescription, mine has a knack of 'losing' any and all consultant communications so I always ask Tracey or Dr Marfleet to send me a copy of my own so I've got evidence to wave under their bone idle noses when they claim ignorance!
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Hi PeriPagan. Yes, it was nice to be listened to and I definitely will go back if things don't work out this time. I'm going to give GP a call tomorrow to see how I go about getting my new prescription. I'm hoping I don't need to go in to see her and she will just prescribed what's been recommended.
Are you sorted with your HRT now or are you still searching for ‘the one' ?
Rosie x
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Fingers crossed they do just accept it Rosie; Marfleet's name does seem to carry weight in Essex so there's that.
Its still early days with my increased dose (3 weeks now) and it always takes my body at least 8 weeks to settle so I'm still waiting. My last cycle was 12 days long but this one seems to be shaping up to be a longer one so that's a good sign. I just wish I'd sort the anxiety quicker! :(
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Fingers crossed the increase will deal with the anxiety PeriPagan. It's a pain that it all takes so long to take effect 😞
Wishing you well and thanks again for all your help and support.
Rosie xx