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[julieh]

I live in Fife. There is no menopause clinic in the county.   My GP practise will only prescribe what is on the Fife NHS Formulary list, and I have lost trust in their advice. wanted to change from evorel sequi as experiencing anxiety and low mood....but current options in Fife are pills only, as femseven are out of commission for months. I fear their advice is driven by cost, rather than clinical need.  I feel its time to 'go private', but not sure whether to visit local private GP (about whom I can find out little), or go to a specialist.....looks like that will involve travel to Aberdeen or Edinburgh.  Does anyone have any tips for whether I need an expert?

[CLKD]

Make sure the GP isn't the same as you have seen already ;-)

What does your local pharmacist suggest?

[Foxylady]

Hi Julieh, you might find this useful https://thebms.org.uk/find-a-menopause-specialist/ it gives a list of specialists locally there is a service in Dundee & Perth according to the BMS. We had a consultant talk to us the other night Anya Guttenberg (not sure of spelling I googled but couldn't find her) works in Glasgow & Ayrshire, very knowldegeable.

[julieh]

i had not thought of asking the pharmacist for advice....about the meds, or the doctor?

[julieh]

Thanks foxy lady for the BMS link...but I've already looked. The services in both Perth and Dundee are part of NHS Tayside, I live in a different NHS board area and can't access those services (both are less than 15 miles away!).

[Foxylady]

That is crazy!! Why don't you email Dr H Currie through the website (it will cost you £30 but that will be a lot cheaper than travel expenses etc for going private) as her advice on what the options are, keep us updated with what she suggests.

[MicheleMaBelle]

Sorry to hear you're suffering Julie. Don't know about your neck of the woods but I saw Dr Mahesh Perera at the Nuffield in Glasgow ( I'm now on his meno clinic at Stobhill in Glasgow)
He prescribed Oestrogel and Utrogestan initially. I'm now on patches and Utrogestan ( apparently the latter is licensed for HRT in Scotland but I get it via my GP with no issues )

Looks like you may have to travel to see a specialist. Have to tried looking at the websites for private hospitals in Aberdeen or Edinburgh and typing in gynaecologist? They should come up with some names and the areas they specialise in so you can try and get the best fit. I'm not sure that Dr Currie would recommend anyone. She didn't for me a few years ago but she was very helpful.

[julieh]

Thanks, I've decided to try a private clinic in Edinburgh, where the consultant is a BMS member.  It will be interesting to see how what happens there will compare with the very limited help my local GP practise can offer.  Why were you moved off oestrogen and onto patches, convenience, or side-effects?  And was your GP willing/able to take the results of a private consultation and offer your prescription on the NHS (I don't know how that works!)?

[Foxylady]

Hi julieh, let us know how you get on at Edinburgh clinic. GP's generally will be happy to prescribe what has been recommended by a private specialist - I looked into this when I was under Immunology in Glasgow as was going to go private until was reassessed by GP & diagnosed as peri (3yrs down the rd).

[CLKD]

Your Phramacist may know of Surgeries that are more flexible in what they prescribe ;-)

Let us know how you get on.

[MicheleMaBelle]

Hi Julieh- moved onto patches as the Oestrogel didn't suit. Got terrible rashes with it.

GP has happily prescribed the Oestrogel/ patches and Utrogestan all on the NHS.

Good luck with your appointment in Edinburgh x

[Sandie71]

Hi I live in Glasgow can you advise how to enrol at Menopause clinic at Stobhill please? The doctor referred me to the Sandyford but only got a telephone call due to Covid and the woman I spoke to had zero interest and not helpful at all. Just felt like she was ticking a box! TIA

[Shona1980]

Hi I live in fife too and just came across this post. Just wondered what the outcome was, did you find a menopause specialist up in Scotland as in now on the search too thanks ☺️

[Smallscot]

I'm in Scotland too, I've just started femoston which appears to be going well at the moment, however brother is a pharmacist and I always speak to him before commencing any meds. Pharmacists have a great knowledge of meds and they can also check online to see which meds are available...

[Smallscot]

I now live in Fife and have estrogen patches with utrogestan. I moved from Edinburgh where my GP had already prescribed this. Weirdly enough my new GPs have asked me when I called a couple of times why I'm on this specific treatment.