Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Ellie2 on May 14, 2021, 06:10:19 AM
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Dear ladies
I think both Scandinavia and the UK have more or less the same system with national healthcare and prescription medication being covered partial or in full by the system.
Here we pay in full for anything that is not labeled as chronic diseases. For chronic we get a partial refund and we get to pick up for 3 months use depending on dosage.
Funnily enough menopause is chronic, but it is not labelled a disease so no refund. Induced menopause would however be refunded. But that means that I can play with the dosage and pick up as much or as little as needed. It's not very expensive either.
We don´t have menopause clinics so finding a doctor that knows her stuff is an equal struggle.
Within your NHS I understand that some types of HRT is not available country wide?
I also seem to pick up that HRT is on your refund program and that you can only pick up as much as the dosage indicates?
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Morning. How's the weather up there, it's foul in the Midlands >:(
In the UK for those on regular prescriptions, it is often cheaper to buy a yearly 'ticket'. Prescriptions are issued monthly, in that extra medication can't be given [clear as mud]. If I am going to be away from home [prior to 2020] at the time I could pick up my script, I would ask for it 2B brought forwards rather than going to a pharmacy whilst on holiday, a phaff 2 find 1 and a phaff to make time to visit and explain what I needed.
Some carry their prescriptions with them when travelling abroad in case of emergencies. As well as their Surgery phone/fax numbers.
We don't have a refund system. If drugs don't suit a person, they go into an incinerator - such a waste :-\. I believe some forms of HRT are scarce across parts of the UK.
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Prescriptions cost £9.35 per each item, different now in Scotland I believe. After 60 years of age prescriptions are free, as they are for children.
Oh, forget to say. If you see a private doctor the prescription would be the full price of the medication, which can be very expensive. I have no idea how much HRT would be at full cost.
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Thank you :)
So, this means that if you use i.e Lenzetto and the dr. prescribes one dose but you take two, you cannot pick up another when you run out?
The cost for HRT isn't too bad. Lenzetto; about 14 pounds and around 45 for 90xUtrogestan 100 mg
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The weather is picking up! But it's been an awful spring with snow, rain and cold temperatures. Paired with lockdown... What a time to be alive ::)
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I don't know if this is up to date, but there's a lot of info on costs here if you click on the drop-down menu:
https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/treatment.php
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The weather is picking up! But it's been an awful spring with snow, rain and cold temperatures. Paired with lockdown... What a time to be alive ::)
But at least we are alive. Rather rotten weather here than sun and covid death rates in India.
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But at least we are alive. Rather rotten weather here than sun and covid death rates in India.
So, so, so true!
We are lucky compared to other parts of the world.
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Do U need a Doctor's letter to be seen by a Specialist in Sweden or are you able to self refer?
Did U get the chance to see the programme by Davina McCall - U may B able to access it via catchup?
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I´m in Norway and we can choose to either use "our" NHS or go private.
For a consultation with a specialist I need a referral from my GP, but I can also choose to go private without a referral and pay full price. If I go by referral I only pay a small percentage.
I follow Louise Newson on instagram/website and listen to her podcasts, so I've picked up on that documentary. I'd love to see it and will try to find out if I can stream it somewhere.
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WHOOPS - can U tell who didn't do well in Geography :lol:
That's Grieg country of course ;) and fjords . Do U get to see the Lights often?
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"Sex, Myth and Menopause" is the programme you'll be looking for.
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I grew up with the aurora and the midnight sun, but moved south many years ago.
While the aurora is beautiful you can keep the midnight sun. It keeps you awake all night and you pay by months of darkness during winter :P
My grandmother was afraid of the northern light. She had learned that it could swipe down and take you if you weren't careful.
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Soory to say this but the natural menopause, although problematic for most of us, is not a disease and is part of ageing. I only wish that it happened in later life and not while we are still working. I was hoping that I would reach the menopause aged 60 but this didn't happen. I had my last perion in January 2020 and I was still 49 at the time. I turned 50 in October 2020. I often wonder if men go through a hormonal decline and if they are affected by it like we are.
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Soory to say this but the natural menopause, although problematic for most of us, is not a disease and is part of ageing. I only wish that it happened in later life and not while we are still working. I was hoping that I would reach the menopause aged 60 but this didn't happen. I had my last perion in January 2020 and I was still 49 at the time. I turned 50 in October 2020. I often wonder if men go through a hormonal decline and if they are affected by it like we are.
I agree 👍. A disease to me is something that can be avoided. Unfortunately you can't avoid the menopause. Also it has such widely different effects on women. What is needed is better knowledge for both women and their doctors.
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I agree 👍. A disease to me is something that can be avoided. Unfortunately you can't avoid the menopause. Also it has such widely different effects on women. What is needed is better knowledge for both women and their doctors.
Absolutely. As women we menstruate, some have pregnancies and give birth, all that live long enough go through menopause. All these natural occurrences can nevertheless be so problematic for some that it diminishes quality of life, can physical damage the body and mental health. We're supposed to just carry on and not complain. We're not sick after all...
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A disease may be cancer .......... everything that we suffer from is natural.
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Menopause or loss of oestrogen is the cause of, or contributor to, several diseases and conditions, eg, osteoporosis, UTIs, candidiasis, BV, heart disease, bowel cancer, dementia, to name a few. It is not a disease in itself but a deficiency leading to avoidable illnesses.
JP x
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Menopause or loss of oestrogen is the cause of, or contributor to, several diseases and conditions, eg, osteoporosis, UTIs, candidiasis, BV, heart disease, bowel cancer, dementia, to name a few. It is not a disease in itself but a deficiency leading to avoidable illnesses.
JP x
True, but men suffer from many of those, as they age, as well.
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Menopause or loss of oestrogen is the cause of, or contributor to, several diseases and conditions, eg, osteoporosis, UTIs, candidiasis, BV, heart disease, bowel cancer, dementia, to name a few. It is not a disease in itself but a deficiency leading to avoidable illnesses.
JP x
True, but men suffer from many of those, as they age, as well.
Indeed they do! And no doubt some of it is due to hormone decline in them too, both testosterone and oestrogen, as both sexes are dependent on these hormones. But men's decline seems more gradual, less like dropping off a cliff edge 🙂.
JP x
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Also, if they complain issues get sorted !
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Low levels of oestrogen don't necessarily lead to heart disease, osteoroposis or a mental illness. I know a lot of postmemonepausal ladies who are doing fine and they've never been on HRT. When some of you mention avoidable diseases, Do you mean osteoporosis and heart disease? Do you think HRT will prevent you from getting them? Low oestrogen or not, we could get any disease because our body changes as we grow old and that cannot be avoided. I still don't think that women who are not on HRT have a higher risk of getting these 'avoidable' diseases. I believe it's the luck of the draw. Some people, men and women, go on to live a long life and never develop an illness.
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Mum [94] - until the last 11 months - was healthy other than falls. Until aged 91 she was walking 2-3 miles a week, shopping 4 herself, gardening in a huge plot. When she went into care she wasn't taking any medication at all.
HRT can protect heart and bones. Particularly as humans have become more sedentary in the last 20 years. A good diet, good exercise regime and hobbies can also help.
Being aware is important.
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Must admit that there is no history of osteoporosis or heart disease, in the women in my family. That is except one who smoked from the age of 17 but still lived until 90.
Diet, alcohol and smoking also play a big part in the illnesses of old age.
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There is no heart disease or osteoporosis in my family either. Also can I say low levels of oestrogen cannot cause bowel cancer. Any cancer is caused by our cells and it happens when one cell's DNA gets damaged. It has nothing to do with oestrogen and it's not always an avoidable disease unless it's linked to lifestyle.
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Ellie - re your original question, the standard prescrption charge is for whatever the doc puts on your prescription so if you need double the amount then the prescription should state that - it is not charged per packet or not even the actual costs as per this website. It used to be that you got 3 months HRT on one prescription ( which would be approx £9 as stated or free if over 60 or other health issues). Unfortunately this is very variable so some practices only give one month!! If you use double without consulting your doc then you would run out and questions might be asked as to why you are requesting more. In my online system I can't actually order it before a certain time as the frequency it is issued is set for each item and each patient. You can alwasys make custom requests though and then the doc will phone you (post-covid there are fewer actual consultations!).
Hurdity x
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Ellie - re your original question, the standard prescrption charge is for whatever the doc puts on your prescription so if you need double the amount then the prescription should state that - it is not charged per packet or not even the actual costs as per this website. It used to be that you got 3 months HRT on one prescription ( which would be approx £9 as stated or free if over 60 or other health issues). Unfortunately this is very variable so some practices only give one month!! If you use double without consulting your doc then you would run out and questions might be asked as to why you are requesting more. In my online system I can't actually order it before a certain time as the frequency it is issued is set for each item and each patient. You can alwasys make custom requests though and then the doc will phone you (post-covid there are fewer actual consultations!).
Hurdity x
I've also discovered that each element of the NHS prescription can be charged. For eg, I paid two prescription charges for one three-month prescription of Evorel Sequi, even though it came in one box, a charge for the Evorel 50 and a charge for the Evorel Conti. With my next prescription, I switched to a three-month supply of Evorel 50 and Utrogestan (which is clearly two separate prescriptions) and paid the same two prescription charges. I'm very grateful I'm not paying the same amount for a one-month supply, that seems very unfair!