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Author Topic: I got Referred - I could Cry!  (Read 3591 times)

heavenlyblue

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I got Referred - I could Cry!
« on: September 13, 2019, 11:02:29 AM »

After 3 years of awful symptoms and Evoril Conti not helping at all, I bit the bullet and asked to be referred. I was convinced they would say No.    I have seen all the GPs at my surgery, had no continuity at all, and they had little knowledge re menopause, so I just picked the most sympathetic one.  He said he had no issue referring me as I had been feeling so awful for that length of time. 

Re my 36 hour migraines, he agreed with me, see if sorting out my HRT sorts out my migraines first, before referring me to Neuro.

I have been telling them all this for the past 2 years that I was sure they were linked, but no-one took any notice, just kept giving me different tables for migraines, which didn't work.  ::)

I have been referred to the Gynae Dept at my Hospital, there is about a 4-6 week waiting list.  I know you guys say a Meno Clinic is better but that was the only option and to be honest, knowing I can see someone who will see me for longer than 10 mins and actually have knowledge on what I am going through..............and it's free....I'm going to bite their hand off.  :)

If they are no help, I will then go Private.  But at least I feel I am actually getting somewhere now!   :)
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Salad

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Re: I got Referred - I could Cry!
« Reply #1 on: September 13, 2019, 11:15:29 AM »

Well done and what relief for you  :)

Hope you get some answers and a plan in place to suit you.
If it doesn't work out as you'd hope though, then a referral to a Menopause Specialist Clinic really can be amazingly helpful. These are also available on the NHS, but you might have to travel a bit further.

Good luck  :foryou:

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CLKD

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Re: I got Referred - I could Cry!
« Reply #2 on: September 13, 2019, 11:44:55 AM »

Why didn't your GP refer you to a Menopause Clinic?   :-\. I would ring the Gynae secretary to make sure that the consultant is au fait with menopause!! or you will be wasting time, energy and getting no where.  Make a list of your symptoms, ring the secretary [we don't bite ;-) ] and ask the questions.  I would also ask the Practice Nurse at your Surgery if she knows how good this particularly Gynae is regarding menopause.

In the mean time, look up where your local menopause clinic is? 

Why would a consultant give you more than 10 mins  :-\ - another thing to check, how long the appt. might be.  It shouldn't be such hard work but sadly  :-\

Let us know how you get on!
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Tinkerbell

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Re: I got Referred - I could Cry!
« Reply #3 on: September 13, 2019, 12:15:49 PM »

I do hope you get the help that you need, but I got referred to a Consultant gynaecologist with an interest in the menopause and he was useless, he believed that Vagifem could give you endometrial cancer and wanted me to have biopsies and a Mirena fitted even though I had only been using it for seven months.
I ended up going private as GP wouldn't prescribe any more HRT until I had done what consultant suggested.
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heavenlyblue

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Re: I got Referred - I could Cry!
« Reply #4 on: September 13, 2019, 03:51:11 PM »

Thanks for the replies, feeling a bit deflated now! But I know you ladies have been through this process and know more than me. It is appreciated.

No idea why I wasn't referred to a Meno Clinic, I asked him who I would be referred to and he said the Gynae Dept, must be their protocol. There isn't an NHS clinic one anywhere near me. They are all private.  When I get the letter through, I will get in touch with the Consultant's Secretary to get more info.

I have been in touch with a private clinic about 20 miles away, first appointment is Jan! Obviously a lot of us ladies out there not getting the help they need with the NHS. I think I should book an appointment anyway as they get booked up so far in advance, so I have it there if I need it.
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Salad

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Re: I got Referred - I could Cry!
« Reply #5 on: September 13, 2019, 04:11:29 PM »

Thanks for the replies, feeling a bit deflated now! But I know you ladies have been through this process and know more than me. It is appreciated.

No idea why I wasn't referred to a Meno Clinic, I asked him who I would be referred to and he said the Gynae Dept, must be their protocol. There isn't an NHS clinic one anywhere near me. They are all private.  When I get the letter through, I will get in touch with the Consultant's Secretary to get more info.

I have been in touch with a private clinic about 20 miles away, first appointment is Jan! Obviously a lot of us ladies out there not getting the help they need with the NHS. I think I should book an appointment anyway as they get booked up so far in advance, so I have it there if I need it.

Don't feel deflated  :)
It's definitely worth going ahead to see what the Gynae Clinic can offer, especially as it's a short waiting time.
It just means you've still got another route if you need it. My nearest NHS clinic was in London so it meant a bit of a journey but I felt it was worth it.
See how you get on x
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Countrygirl

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Re: I got Referred - I could Cry!
« Reply #6 on: September 13, 2019, 04:11:59 PM »

I was referred to gynaecologist as the waiting list for the meno clinic was a lot longer as in gynae was 4-6 weeks and meno was well over 6 months and no definate date could be given and I needed to be seen quickly, so it may well be the same where you are too heavenlyblue x
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heavenlyblue

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Re: I got Referred - I could Cry!
« Reply #7 on: September 13, 2019, 04:21:06 PM »

I was referred to gynaecologist as the waiting list for the meno clinic was a lot longer as in gynae was 4-6 weeks and meno was well over 6 months and no definate date could be given and I needed to be seen quickly, so it may well be the same where you are too heavenlyblue x

Did you have a positive experience seeing a Gynaecologist?
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onion relish

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Re: I got Referred - I could Cry!
« Reply #8 on: September 13, 2019, 04:26:08 PM »

I'm happy for you.

I have had similar issues - three GPs and a gynae flat out told me (and quite unpleasantly - I ran my own business for several years and would have had zero customers If I spoke to people as I was spoken to) there was no such option as HRT in gel form. "Tablets or patches, pick one."

I wasn't referred to a menopause clinic as there are none in my LHB area and they won't accept me in the nearest 60 miles away.

I hope services for women improve in the not so distant future. It's shockingly bad how we're treated (unless wealthy or in the media).

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CLKD

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Re: I got Referred - I could Cry!
« Reply #9 on: September 13, 2019, 04:58:16 PM »

What happened to patient choice ? I thought that patients could ask to be seen anywhere these days and the Health Authorities would sort out any charges between counties  :-\

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heavenlyblue

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Re: I got Referred - I could Cry!
« Reply #10 on: September 14, 2019, 06:42:27 AM »

CLKD - I have no idea what happened to patient choice. I used to be a Medical Secretary for a Surgeon, but that was before Patients could decide where they were seen. 

So I have a decision to make - GP from the private clinic only 10 miles away has just had an availability open up on 22 October. My gut feeling is to see her and not the Gynae (NHS) at the Hospital. If I don't take this Private date, I have to wait til Jan & it's not far to travel.

I know there is a chance the NHS Gynae  may be decent but I need my quality of life back and I just get the feeling from everything I've read and the experiences on here, that the Private Meno Clinic will offer me a more personalised service than the Gynae Dept at the Hospital.
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CLKD

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Re: I got Referred - I could Cry!
« Reply #11 on: September 14, 2019, 08:32:54 AM »

Hi Med Sec - it was the same in 'my day' a patient went where they were referred. 

What does your gut tell you?  Make that list ;-)
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onion relish

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Re: I got Referred - I could Cry!
« Reply #12 on: September 14, 2019, 11:54:19 AM »

What happened to patient choice ? I thought that patients could ask to be seen anywhere these days and the Health Authorities would sort out any charges between counties  :-\

I had to go the sneaky way to be referred by speaking to old colleagues of mine in the NHS.

Our LHB has failed to pay what it owes to the larger LHB next door that usually takes patients that don't have access to services inside our authority. As a result, people like me are now no longer seen by the Pain Clinic. Instead we're sent on a course where we're basically told to be mindful enough and our pain and other health problems will disappear.

Not at 3am when I'm suicidal with pain they won't!

Women like me who want to see a gynae are also ignored or given antidepressants because menopause is not considered important enough to spend money on.

My neurologist is also out of my LHB. He actually told me to my face that he's treating me out of the kindness of his heart as he doesn't get paid to see me (but not in a nice way). I'm so glad my partner was with me at the time or I'd have not believed my own ears and put it down to meno brain! I really NEED to go back for treatment but have avoided it for three years as I just can't face being "treated" like that.

If I had a choice I certainly wouldn't see him again.

Sorry - rant over. It's my PMT three-week stint again.
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CLKD

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Re: I got Referred - I could Cry!
« Reply #13 on: September 14, 2019, 05:02:00 PM »

You rant.  Helps a bit?

'goodness of his heart' well no medic works for nowt in the UK!  He'll be paid 1 way or another  ::)
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onion relish

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Re: I got Referred - I could Cry!
« Reply #14 on: September 14, 2019, 05:07:34 PM »

You rant.  Helps a bit?

'goodness of his heart' well no medic works for nowt in the UK!  He'll be paid 1 way or another  ::)

Helps a lot, thanks  :)

That's what I thought. I'm taping all my consults in future as people seem to have the most bizarre reaction to me and say the weirdest things. You honestly could not make it up.
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