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[MadCatLady]

Hi, I am a new member.

I have a doctor's appointment next week as I am experiencing perimenopause and hoping to start HRT. I am a bit nervous about whether I will be believed, but hopefully it will go OK. I asked if there were any particular doctors who were knowledgeable about perimenopause and they just said any of the women doctors, so it doesn't sound like any of them have any specific expertise in this area.

It has all started this year. My skin changed overnight and became very sensitive and dry. At first my periods got heavier and closer together. Then since June they have been light and infrequent, and I am getting hot flushes, joint aches, and also very dry downstairs. It all seems to be progressing so quickly and I feel a bit at sea with all this change. I am a bit of a tomboy so my sudden need for moisturiser is new territory. Bonus is I used to get a big embarrassing spot every month, but that's become a rare thing now!

PS. I love cats

[JS79]

Hi, be prepared for them to offer antidepressants. I went either a list of symptoms and a diary which clearly showed my symptoms got worse when my period was due. My period got bugger and only for a couple if days, but still regular. As I was just 45 they thought 6months if ADs would be better. I went private and after 1st month when some symptoms improved they agreed to take over my prescription. I'm now going private to check if testosterone is needed.
Good luck

[Dramy3]

Hi

It never hurts to go armed with the latest NICE guidelines as well. And avoid saying any symptom “appeared overnight” because they might tell you to just wait and see how things go.

Here’s a link to the guidelines:
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng23/chapter/Recommendations

Good luck, from a dog person…

[MadCatLady]

Thank you to both of you. I will avoid saying the skin symptoms appeared overnight, useful to know that won't go down well! It was literally 1st January when I suddenly developed a problem with every shower gel in existence. Very odd.

If necessary I could go private for a short while, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed the GP will be helpful. I have some chronic health problems and it's amazing what doctors will blame on depression. I'm 43 so a little under the typical age for menopause - but then I have not reached actual menopause yet anyway.

(I like dogs too.)

[CLKD]

Take a list of your symptoms with you and mayB add hot flushes to the symptoms because many GPs still don't recognise peri-menopause.  They think it's loss of periods plus flushing 

   broswse round.  Make notes ;-).  Ask away.  let us know how you get on.  My periods waxed and waned for several years B4 leaving ....... I didn't stop. carrying protection for 5 years after!

[MadCatLady]

Thanks CLKD, that sounds like good advice to keep it simple for the appointment and mainly focus on my current symptoms of infrequent periods and hot flushes.

[MadCatLady]

Thank you for your encouragement. I am pleased to say that my doctor's appointment went well this morning. My doctor took me seriously, believed me, and has prescribed me HRT. I will also have a dexa scan. So all in all, it was an unusually validating experience, as they usually just blame everything on anxiety.

[CLKD]

   4 the update.  Let. us know how you get on.  Which regime has been suggested?

[JS79]

Amazing news, well done to the GP also.

[MadCatLady]

I said I would prefer patches and utrogestan, and the GP was happy to prescribe this. I've got Everol 50 patches to change twice weekly, and some non-branded progesterone capsules to take in the evenings on days 1-25 followed by a 3-day break. I know it would be unusual if the first thing I try turns out perfect, but I'm feeling optimistic that this is the start of things improving. I'm to go back in two and a half months and we will decide whether to continue, stop or adjust. Obviously I go back sooner if there are serious problems.

[CLKD]

That's great.  Keep a note etc.. ;-)