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Author Topic: Hello  (Read 2539 times)

Alicea

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Hello
« on: January 15, 2018, 04:12:05 PM »

Hi all - I'm new here.

I'm 42, been having the heat and night sweats for about 3 years now. Doctor did one blood test then and said hormone levels were "ok...enough" whatever that meant. Since then I seem to have developed every damn uncomfortable and depressing symptom in the book. Finally went back to a different doctor today to get my antidepressants increased as I just hate everyone, can't bear to be around people, can't sleep, I feel like I stink all the time and basically I'm going to murder someone if I carry on like this. She went through her checklist of questions, listened to maybe half of what I said and upped my dose. At one point she smirked. I'm not a "precious" person, I don't expect special treatment - told her my daughter was self harming and she said "She's 14, what's she got to be stressed about?"  >:( Quite clear I'm on my own, as she didn't want to know about anything I had to say. At least I got my happy pills eh?

Ah well, I've had a read on here and it looks very helpful indeed! Wishing everyone strength, it's so isolating x
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Dotty

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Re: Hello
« Reply #1 on: January 15, 2018, 04:21:53 PM »

You need HRT not anti depressants . NICE guidelines say that anti depressants are not to be used as first line treatment in menopausal women x
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CLKD

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Re: Hello
« Reply #2 on: January 15, 2018, 04:29:22 PM »

NICE guidelines are that!  GPs are good at quoting them!!   Wonder what the list of questions proves  :-\

Have you required ADs previously or since you realised that you were maybe going into menopause?  HRT should be discussed so that ladies can make informed decisions!  Did you feel rushed during the appt.

 :welcomemm:    Maybe keep a mood/food/symptom diary for 3 months and see if there is a Practice Nurse to discuss with.  We have a thread here 'Oh errr' as I felt for years that I smelt! although Himself never noticed  ::).

Browse round. Make notes. 

As for your daughter, what support is available in her school?  Is there a dedicated person or Nurse on site that she could talk with?  It's a common problem these days .......... your GP should have asked you to return to discuss .  In the meantime, maybe contact MIND Charity - I found them very helpful 15 months ago, I sent an e-mail to see where and when the walk-in was available and I had good 'conversations' which helped.  There is a lot of support for teens so do begin with your local MIND.

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Alicea

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Re: Hello
« Reply #3 on: January 15, 2018, 05:07:31 PM »

Aw thanks ladies for your replies!

Dotty/CLKD - yes, I would have felt even more cheesed off if her first response had been to whack me on ADs. I've been on them for 20 years or so with some short breaks, I see it as a small price to pay for a normal life  :) I think it was going on the pill that triggered my first bout of feeling completely off my head, and that's how I feel now, which suggests it's my hormones playing up. Same thing happened with Mirena coil, which I ended up taking out myself as I was desperate to feel like myself again.  Gaaaah.

I did feel a little rushed, maybe I should have requested a double appointment but not sure how much she would have listened. My daughter has been cutting herself since age 11, she had sessions with the children's mental health team which really helped but she's been to the GP and apparently now their waiting list is ridiculous. Looking into some alternatives, I didn't think of Mind even though I used to volunteer for them. My mind is going - thank you for that idea. School also has some resources which I've asked her to sign up for.

xxx
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CLKD

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Re: Hello
« Reply #4 on: January 15, 2018, 05:33:30 PM »

Make a list?  I've been a great list maker for years  ::) otherwise I forget.

When my brain feels more depressed than usual I up the morning dosage for 3-5 days - it's an organ that often gets forgotten.  My GP knows that I self medicate, I've been on ADs since 198? .......... and have to take them for Life.

It doesn't seem as though that particular GP would have listened had you had all day  >:(.  Is there a GP with an interest in Womens' problems?
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Alicea

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Re: Hello
« Reply #5 on: January 15, 2018, 05:51:57 PM »

Thanks CLKD - if there is a decent GP around here, I'm going to track them down!! Had to move to this one in a panic last year when our practice suddenly closed, beginning to regret the decision. Last one was even worse mind you - "but why are you depressed?" Ummmm...I'm sorry to say I hadn't prepared an answer to that one x
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Mary G

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Re: Hello
« Reply #6 on: January 15, 2018, 07:43:10 PM »

You took the Mirena coil out yourself, wow, that was brave.  I'm sure you need ADs but it sounds like you have menopause symptoms and you need to replace the hormones you have lost, you don't want to make a bad situation worse.  You are very young to be oestrogen deficient and this doctor should know that and prescribe accordingly - many MM members use HRT with ADs very successfully.  By the time I was your age my hormones were taking a serious dip and on reflection, I wish I had started oestrogen replacement then. 

From what you have said, it sounds like you are progesterone intolerant so you need to think carefully about your HRT regime.  Can you try and seek advice from a menopause specialist?  I would not have much confidence in that doctor.

Sorry about your daughter, it must be very worrying for you.  I hope you can get some help soon.  In the meantime, you might want to look at the HRT options listed on this website.
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Alicea

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Re: Hello
« Reply #7 on: January 15, 2018, 07:51:34 PM »

Thanks Mary, yes I'm beginning to think a specialist may be in order! Doc completely ignored everything except the depression/anxiety, I could have done better myself. I've been scared of the idea of HRT but it seems you're damned if you don't, and I am on the young side as you say. xxx
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Debs1974

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Re: Hello
« Reply #8 on: January 15, 2018, 08:02:06 PM »

Your doctor smirked? TBH if mine had done that, with my symptoms I probably would have floored them! I'm so sorry that happened to you and before you take that doctors advice I would go to another practice and start again so to speak. There are good GPs out there that are interested. I'm just a the start of my journey, my doctor seemed very sympathetic at my complete lack of oestrogen. So there are some nice ones. As for your daughter, I really hope you can get her some help soon.
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Alicea

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Re: Hello
« Reply #9 on: January 15, 2018, 10:26:07 PM »

Thank you Debs! Yes a new GP is needed. My cousin was in there just before me (small town joys) and she fobbed her off as well. Grrr.
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Kwebst

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Re: Hello
« Reply #10 on: January 25, 2018, 10:20:52 PM »

Welcome. I read many  posts on this website and get infuriated at the treatment people get from so many time dependant ignorant doctors! I think I may just be lucky in my dr though. She took me through 4 diff types of HRT ( was willing to listen and investigate when I brought her info from here) and has been very supportive in my current issues. (Stress and depression) Immediately signed me off work and gave me high AD ONLY on the condition I see a councillor. I have to see her every 2 weeks and if the appointment take 10 mins great, if it takes 25 mins, no problem. It's how drs should be supporting people. Shame the majority don't have the time.
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Alicea

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Re: Hello
« Reply #11 on: January 27, 2018, 03:05:56 PM »

Thank you Kwebst  :) I'm glad you've been lucky with your GP! She sounds fantastic. I'm carrying on with my increased ADs for the time being and seeing how that goes. Good luck with your counsellor, I saw one about 20 years ago and she was an amazing help. X
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