Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[coolatlast]

First of all, I am SO pleased to have found this site and am looking forward to receiving (and hopefully at times also offering) advice from all he lovely people on here.

I have to say though, that after a couple of days of trawling through various topics and posts, it dismays  (and alarms) me! to see how many women meekly 'accept' it when their GP:-  Tells them they '' Can't have HRT''   
Also:-  I have read lots of posts where women recount how their GP has ''Told me I musn't take it any longer.......''
What the heck''?   


Why are we, as women, so accepting of what is told us?   Why is nobody challenging their GP, when they are told this utter tosh?
When did we become such pushovers?

Is it because we think that GPs 'know it all''?    They don't!!!   We are probably better informed than they are when it comes to the Menopause!

NEW Guidelines suggest that: -  If the woman is otherwise healthy and she is prepared to take the 'risk', and if her quality of life is VASTLY improved by taking HRT, then the GP has NO RIGHT to refuse it!
Also, there is no reason why she can't take it for as long as she wants (once again, HER choice).
The GP should give guidance, but at the end of the day, it should be up to the woman to make an informed choice.

It shouldn't be about them:  'TELLING US WHAT TO DO'

Come on:-  Ladies who want (and want to stay on) HRT, Lets stand up for ourselves a bit more!!!  I know its not easy - some of these GP's are downright bossy and pig-ignorant, (although I have a good one at the moment - they do exist but are few and far between) when it comes to women's health -As far as they are concerned, we are getting old and should just 'accept it as being natural'
Well I say B....IT

We have to try a bit harder!
Already, a whole generation of women have had to suffer a poor quality of life because of mis-guided Scaremongering -when it comes to HRT.

If we don't start being a bit more pushy about what we do and do not want, then even more women will suffer.

I have friends in the States (and some in Australia), and when they want HRT -  they GET HRT! 
They don't have to jump through burning hoops like we do, to get it (and stay on it for a decent length of time)!   
In fact,  the one lady in the States is on HRT, is in her 70's and as fit as a fiddle.

It makes me mad that the care that middle-age women in this country is receiving is on a par with a third world country.!

(hope GP'S come on these boards, to see what the current thinking is - but I wouldn't hold my breath)

Sorry for the rant, but it makes me so mad that medication has been invented to help us through the misery of menopause, and many times it is being withheld!   -  It's downright Wicked - not to mention Cruel.


Rant over.
Thanks for listening.

Thought I'd bump it.  (forgotten what we were talking about  ) lol

[Ju Ju]

Yes, you need regular blood tests to check testosterone levels, as too much is harmful. I shall be starting testosterone therapy this week and have prescribed what you are using every other day. You cannot get Testagel on the NHS as it not licensed for women. I have got mine through seeing a private gynaecologist, with the support of my GP. I had to sign a disclaimer.

I wonder why testosterone isn't a part of hrt (even if they only included a tiny amount I'm sure it would improve things for  many of us).....it's obviously an important hormone, for women as well as men.

Sometimes I feel as if we're living in the dark ages

There is Tibolone, but didn't help much apart from better sleep and has left me with red sore acne like marks on my face, which from earlier experience will take months to clear.

[Taz2]

and Tibolone is not available for women over 60 due to the fact it is said to double the risk of stroke. Sorry that it didn't work for you Ju Ju.

Sixty is also mentioned in the literature for NSAIDs such as Nurofen. To be used with caution in those over 60. The other one is Canesten - not to be used unless you have consulted your doctor if you are 60 or over. Hmm - maybe it's because at this age something more sinister may be masked by using an over the counter medication?

Taz

[Sarah2]

Something's wrong with the world when they have to put warnings on ibuprofen for the over 60s, when 95 year olds are allowed to drive round the M25 ( endangering not only their own lives but others'.)

All these 'warnings' are there to protect the drug companies from being sued.

I think the warnings are there because as you suggest some people over 60 will have undiagnosed serious illnesses for which they think Iburprofen is a cure, and it could aggravate existing undiagnosed problems. And with older women, they could be misdiagnosing thrush when they have VA.


There only has to be one episode of a side effect during trials for it to be listed as a side effect on the packaging.

Personally I think all these age guidelines need further research because as well all know 60 is the new 40, isn't it?

Seriously, there is a huge variation in people's fitness and health in middle age which is why a '1 size fits all' approach is silly.

[coolatlast]

Something's wrong with the world when they have to put warnings on ibuprofen for the over 60s, when 95 year olds are allowed to drive round the M25.

All these 'warnings' are there to protect the drug companies from being sued.

I think the warnings are there because as you suggest some people over 60 will have undiagnosed serious illnesses for which they think Iburprofen is a cure, and it could aggravate existing undiagnosed problems. And with older women, they could be misdiagnosing thrush when they have VA.


There only has to be one episode of a side effect during trials for it to be listed as a side effect on the packaging.

Personally I think all these age guidelines need further research because as well all know 60 is the new 40, isn't it?

Seriously, there is a huge variation in people's fitness and health in middle age which is why a '1 size fits all' approach is silly.

I think you've hit the nail on the head with your comment:-

These warnings are there to stop the drugs companies being sued.

[CLKD]

Well said Sarah!

I had no idea about Ibuprofen, my GP/Practice Nurse/Pharamcist have never mentioned this! perhaps because I am generally healthy, I also attend the Surgery regularly and I am known to self medicate sensibly.  As for people mid-diagnosing themselves, why would 59 be OK but at age 60  ………. 

Also, drug companies are well known for only producing literature that is positive  ………. they often don't release all the results of the various trials 

[coolatlast]

Earlier on this topic I wrote how I wished that somebody (like Janet Street-Porter) would write something Pro-HRT.

Well she has written something in the past!  (love the way she writes):

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/columnists/janet-street-porter/editoratlarge-a-womans-right-to-choose-hrt-7791330.html

[Dandelion]

Yes, you need regular blood tests to check testosterone levels, as too much is harmful. I shall be starting testosterone therapy this week and have prescribed what you are using every other day. You cannot get Testagel on the NHS as it not licensed for women. I have got mine through seeing a private gynaecologist, with the support of my GP. I had to sign a disclaimer.

I wonder why testosterone isn't a part of hrt (even if they only included a tiny amount I'm sure it would improve things for  many of us).....it's obviously an important hormone, for women as well as men.

Sometimes I feel as if we're living in the dark ages

I've heard on here a few times of women taking testosterone, but I don't know why it is needed.
Isn't testosterone at risk of making us manly though?
Also, how do you know you need testosterone?

Thanks

[CLKD]

Testosterone supposedly helps libedo.  I asked for it about 10 years ago and my GP told me that my voice would deepen and not recover.  End of.  If I ever really want to know more about a product that might help me I make a double appt., discuss the ins/outs of the drug, come home and if necessary, go back for other discussions.

It's about building up a working relationship with the Practitioner, however, sometimes it is hard to get past the Receptionist!  Its' the 'do you really need to see a GP today?' that makes me say, 'well actually, yep - otherwise I wouldn't be phoning'  ………. and when GPs stopped doing smear tests women weren't informed by our Practice so I made an appt. with my GP, a complete waste of time as he sent me to the Practice Nurse  - so GPs don't help themselves either ………. he did, being fair to him, ask if there was anything else I needed to discuss whilst I was there, I told him to take the opportunity of the 'gap' in his morning to have a cuppa 

[Hurdity]

Dandelion

There is some information on this site about testosterone
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/testosterone.php

The most common symptom is zero/low libido (but there are other reasons for this) also associated with persistent lack of energy/fatigue. There are specialist tests but most GPs won't test for it as it is not recognised nor generally treated on NHS. I would love to know if there is a relationship between testosterone levels and chronic fatigue conditions (in women) - but this is not being investigated.

I asked my GP about testing for this (T levels) when I went to her with tiredness - and her reaction was - that T had nothing to do with it and we can't go testing T in everyone who comes in complaining of tiredness.

Well my view would be why not? It could be the missing link in a lot of conditions that women suffer from but we'll never know if it's not studied....

Hurdity x

[Ju Ju]

I have a therapist who specialises in sexual medicine, who wrote to my GP at the time for me to have blood tests specifying what she wanted. The GP didn't quibble. Unfortunately it has taken a year to get appropriate help privately as I can't get Testagel on the NHS. Whether it helps remains to be seen. It is my low levels of energy that have led me down this route. A boost to my libido would be the icing on the cake.

[Dandelion]

Dandelion

There is some information on this site about testosterone
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/testosterone.php

The most common symptom is zero/low libido (but there are other reasons for this) also associated with persistent lack of energy/fatigue. There are specialist tests but most GPs won't test for it as it is not recognised nor generally treated on NHS. I would love to know if there is a relationship between testosterone levels and chronic fatigue conditions (in women) - but this is not being investigated.

I asked my GP about testing for this (T levels) when I went to her with tiredness - and her reaction was - that T had nothing to do with it and we can't go testing T in everyone who comes in complaining of tiredness.

Well my view would be why not? It could be the missing link in a lot of conditions that women suffer from but we'll never know if it's not studied....

Hurdity x

Hi Hurdity and thanks.

It seems that once again, UK doctors are being obstructive.
It makes me wonder if there is some kind of social engineering going on in the UK.
Deliberately taking measures to keep quality of life and mood down for a big chunk of the population (post meno women) which would have far reaching negative effects on everyone else, besides the poor women.

Testosterone, from what I read on that link (thanks) seems to bring back some spark of life in post meno women.

Who decided to withdraw the testosterone patch and why?

It says that women should discuss testosterone with their doctor.
Doctors just fob people off lately and try to get them out of the door as soon as possible. This puts women off going to see them, and they suffer in silence.
I wonder if Doctors have been told to initially fob patients off when they come in with a new complaint, to save money on treatment?
This would be silly as failing to treat often results in more treatment and more costs, but foresight isn't one of their strong points.

[CLKD]

Most Surgeries have a Patient Forum which you could join? that way you get an insider's view as to how the Practice works …….

[Joyce]

No forum at ours.

[CLKD]

There should be - start one?  - I've never had time to be on the Panel which meets every 2 months …..