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[Freckles]

I'm not that well versed in the joys of the NHS and GP's- Kate50, are you sure she can't refuse if I am going for a private consultation?
I can see her telling me if I am going privately I can pay for a private blood test!
It seems bizarre to me they did all the other hormone tests but neglected oestrogen.
Sorry, I get a bit anxious around medics! They are so subjective and often so arrogant.

[Kate50]

Yeah I know how you feel.  Maybe play to her feeling side? ? My docs are always mortified if you have had to go private.  Go for the sob story route. Words like suffering help!  Makes no difference if you pay for consultation they still are required to follow it that's why they are GPs that need the specialist advice.  If she had referred you she would be following it then it makes no difference.  I know it's scary but we shouldn't be afraid to ask for what we want.  If you really wasn't happy with her you could tell her in a nice way and say you are going to have to put in a complaint.  It's not what you say but how you say it. Have a Google of your rights when dealing with this sort of thing.

[Dancinggirl]

Professor Studd should write to your GP and will hopefully give instructions to them about what to prescribe.
Kate50 is right - if you go and see your GP and explain that you were getting desperate so feel you need to find the money to seek advice from a top specialist, this basically puts the GP into a corner as they really should have referred you if you were feeling that bad. If you explain that to save money you would like to have bloods done, in advance of the visit to Studd, then this is quite a reasonable request. I would really stress that it is going to be difficult for you to afford treatment with Studd.   
My private gynae, wrote and insisted my GP do blood tests etc. - however I am seeing a lovely lady GP who was actually relieved I was prepared to pay to see someone privately for advice as I was already 59 so she was unsure whether HRT was the right thing for me to use at this age, if I had seen any of the other male GPs in the practise I think it would have been a different story.
Sadly GPs do not have to be fully clued up about everything and every referral costs money so they are under pressure to avoid referrals where possible.  Many GPs still deem the menopause as simply a natural process that has to be gone through with minimal medication and they rarely understand the true negative impact for some women. By paying for a private consultation you are saving the NHS money, so don't forget that.
 DG x

[Mary G]

Freckles, a lot of doctors get off on the power it gives them i.e. sitting behind a desk telling people how it is.  When my GP refused to prescribe HRT I simply said "oh well, I will buy it myself without a prescription" thus transferring the power away from her and back to me. 

If all else fails, you could always refuse to leave the her office until you get some decent service.  They will then have to call in the Practice Manager and that will cause a stir!

Remember, be assertive.

[Freckles]

Thanks DG, Kate50 and Mary G for the advice.
Going back tomorrow to enquire about getting my oestrogen being checked, especially as they did all the other hormone tests except that one, which is illogical.
I still find it amazing in this day and age that GP's have such a negative attitude to the adverse affects of the menopause on women and just dismiss it as being 'natural' and therefore inconsequential.

Will let you know how I get on!

[Freckles]

Yay! I've been 'allowed' to have my blood test done tomorrow for my oestrogen levels.
Minor victory with my GP surgery
Hopefully I will get the results back in a few days.
Can anyone point in the direction where I can check the results against what is 'normal' for someone on Femoston 1/10 and post menopausal?
I can't tell you how pleased I am to have found this forum and such helpful, supportive replies.
Thanks all - really appreciated.

[Kate50]

Nice one Freckles!
I was really surprised when my results came they Were really explanatory and showed comparisons of levels and told you if you were in menopause. I had been on oestrogen for 5 months and the levels of oestrogen I thought were high but the guide range it gave you showed they were in the middle.  When Studd saw them he said they should be higher having been on oestrogen for 5 months? ? I haven't got a copy at moment but gonna go in and get one as I see a lot of ladies ask this. 

[Hurdity]

Hi Freckles - the reference range is here:

http://www.gpnotebook.co.uk/simplepage.cfm?ID=570818627

pmol/L

50-200 males
70-510 females: early fol. phase (day 5)
390-1480 females: preovulatory peak
70-600 females: luteal phase
< 130 post-menopausal

If you are post-menopausal and on HRT you want it to be at least 200 pmol/l - mine is probably something not much more than that - and for me that's fine as I have no symptoms of flushes and sweats. Some women earlier in menopause or who are used to a high level  - need to continue at a high level otherwise they experience symptoms. Personally I am pleased that my levels are not extremely high because it means I can have a long cycle HRT and only take progesterone every two months and don't have a huge bleed - quite a consideration at 62! It's all a compromise between the dose of oestrogen that you would like to feel at your best, or one that minimises symptoms - and one that means you don't have to have too much progesterone!

Hurdity x

[Freckles]

Thanks Hurdity, that is really helpful.
Had my blood test today so hoping I get the test results back next week.
Freckles x

[Freckles]

Got my oestrogen results back today - 72 pmol/L AND I'm on Femoston 1/10!
I am relieved as at least I know my symptoms aren't in my imagination but result from barely there oestrogen levels!

Also can I say a huge thanks for those of you who replied to this post and your advice- really appreciated!
I didn't even notice my oestrogen blood test had been omitted last time I have my hormones blood tests done.
I am so pleased to have found this forum- thanks so much again.

[Kate50]

 

[Dancinggirl]

Freckles - I have a learned so much from this site - there should be a big poster in every GP surgery about MM - I think every GP should study the forum on MM to see how women suffer.
You are now armed with good info when you see Studd - good luck.  Dg x

[Mary G]

Freckles, that is extremely low and that is about what mine was when I found out I was post menopause.  No wonder you have been having problems.  I knew that oral HRT was not as good as the transdermal varieties but even I am surprised at how little oestrogen it is delivering.

Good luck with your appointment and let us know how you get on.

[Freckles]

I agree DG,  It's shocking how little my GP knows or cares about HRT and the menopause.
Her "suck it up" attitude and going on anti-depressants for the rest of your life is appalling when some simple blood tests and discussion of the options and risks would have been more helpful.
Thanks too Mary G.  At least I know now my instincts were right about lacking any oestrogen and my symptoms were related.
Seems most men have about a similar level of oestrogen!! 
I am so pleased I found MM and all the advice and knowledge you clever lot offer!
Now looking forward to seeing John Studd  and waving my test results at him! 
Hopefully on his regime I will able to stop shaving my face, losing my hair, and more importantly, stop feeling so low and anxious. 
Thanks again - you are stars x
 

[Freckles]

Hello All,

I promised to update every one after my original post as a Newbie here and have been to see Prof. Studd today.
Had a bone scan done and found I had osteopenia (i.e. lower than normal bone density in my left hip bone, but not so low for a diagnosis of osteoporosis) in my left hip, which may account for the joint pain I get there sometimes.  And which my **** junior GP said was 'normal' at my age and told me to find a private osteopath, with no other further investigations by her.
Anyway, I have been prescribed and collected the following 3 months supply today on a private prescription:
Estrogel gel - 3 pumps daily;
Testim 1% (testosterone) gel, single (pea size) small amount daily;
Utrogestan (progesterone) 100mg capsules for 7 days at the beginning of each month and
Vitamin D 1000 iu.
Prof Studd is writing to my GP to advise her to prescribe my HRT on the NHS.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed the regime works.

A couple of quick questions for the knowledgeable women on this forum:
1. Do I stop taking my other hormones (Estrogel and Testim gels) when I take the Utrogestan caps for 7 days or continue as usual? (I forgot to ask today, as I get anxious around medics)
2. If my GP gets arsey about prescribing the above meds in the NHS, is there any recourse I take or are they allowed to  do that?

Finally, can I say how pleased I am to have found this forum and for all the helpful advice offered to me- I wouldn't have known my oestrogen levels had been omitted in my blood tests, that they were incredibly low, to get my hormones checked on the NHS (which saved me £250.00 for the private consultation today) and for all the advice and support- SO appreciated.  xx