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[Dancinggirl]

Thank you for your thoughts ladies - all very interesting.
Well Women Clinics in every region would be so sensible - or at least extend the Family Planning Clinics to include the management of the Menopause.
Peegeetip - I really liked your comment about saving the NHS money. How much money is wasted simply because GPs go around the houses trying to treat symptoms that could be sorted with some HRT.  Of course some tests have to be done to rule out anything ominous but there must be so many unnecessary procedures and tests done because of meno symptoms.
silverlady - How I wish your Well Women Clinic had been near me back in the 90s. I know there are books and magazine articles out there about the menopause but most of the ones I have read seem to stress the 'natural way' i.e. telling us to get more exercise, change our diet, try phytoestrogen and herbs etc. which are great if you have the time, money and energy to put these into practise but the reality is often very different. Unfortunately the use of hormones is still seen by many as a 'cop out' or something that is the last resort.  It reminds me of the baby books I read when I had my babies.  I read the Penelope Leach books that advocated 'demand feeding' and 'never letting your baby cry' - it basically made one feel sooo guilty and inadequate.  I think my mother hit the nail of the head when she commented "The problem with that book is that the baby hasn't read it"!!!!  I later discovered that when Penelope Leach finally had her own baby she had a 24hour nurse for the early weeks!!!!
A really good book would be a compilation of menopause experiences from ladies who post on this site.  The amount of us who comment that it is a relief to discover we are not alone with our meno challenges when we discover the MM site. If there is an author out there who wants to put this together I would be happy to contribute my experiences if it would help others?
Interestingly, when I had my private consultation with a gynae last week, he was very surprised that I hadn't been treated with local oestrogen earlier.  I have attended various meno clinics both private and NHS in London in the past, due to my premature meno and the need for HRT, and though I have mentioned to all of them about my problems with burning and discomfort in my vaginal area none of them suggested local oestrogen alongside the systemic HRT.  I do wonder if things might not be so bad now if I had been given the right treatment earlier??!!
DG xxx

[CLKD]

I think we've had the suggestion of adding views to a book here before  …….

[Rowan]

Just one more thing back in the eighties and nineties HRT was mainstream and  natural ways of dealing with menopause not so popular.

HRT is not new at all. It was only after the million women's study back in about 2002 that it went into decline and women started to abandon their HRT.

[Dancinggirl]

Yes Stellajane - As silverlady rightly pointed out the really negative view of HRT emerged due to the findings of the 2002 trial which may have left many women with unnecessary long term problems.  I have to say that even in the 90s, when I first went on HRT, I still felt I shouldn't mention that I was using HRT as I encountered many negative opinions about it.
My comment about local oestrogen really relates to the still widely held opinion that if you are on systemic HRT you don't need local oestrogen. The gynae I have just seen knew the doctors and clinics I had been attending over the last 20 years or so and was surprised they hadn't recommended some extra local oestrogen as he felt they should have known systemic HRT doesn't always help with VA. Up until my late 40s I was on only one pump of Oestrogel per day which is a very low dose so it is no wonder I developed vaginal problems.

Of course this boils down to doctors getting the right training to be able to tailor menopause treatment to each woman's needs.

I could be wrong about this but my understanding from the recent evidence is that if a women uses HRT for 5 years through her 50s then there is some benefit over the long term in terms of bone health and possibly VA/bladder issues. So basically there could be a preventative element to HRT - maybe if the right balance of hormones were found for each women this protective side could be extended which would ultimately save the NHS a lot of money??? I think this point was put forward by peegeetips regarding earlier treatment in the peri stage?
Going back to my original question, the down side of HRT is that it does bring side effects which many women find unacceptable -  mostly because of the progesterone. Before I went on the Pill I had awful trouble with PMT and painful periods so wasn't surprised that I got some of these symptoms with HRT.  I supposed many women go through their productive years with few problems with their periods, the meno symptoms come as a shock and the side effects of the HRT seem intolerable.  Again, because doctors are unwilling or don't have the time or knowledge to help women find the appropriate HRT preparation how many women are draining the NHS funds with menopausal symptoms that could and should be treated with hormones?  SSRIs do have their place but they will certainly not help VA and libido!
That's another point - how many marriages/relationships suffer because women are given SSRIs instead of HRT because GPs won't prescribe hormones?
Sorry for all the ramblings - I just long for us women to get a better deal all round.  So much is expected of us at this time in our lives  - caring for elderly relatives,  working for longer etc. and then we have the 'Change' to deal with.
'Oh Boy' the menopause certainly brings some 'Changes'!!!
DG x

[Ju Ju]

DG, this post is thought provoking. I was very ignorant. I was offered HRT a few years ago, but refused on account of my sister having beast cancer. I assumed that I couldn't and this was not challenged. Both doctors and us women need to do our homework. Maybe the last few years would have been easier and I would have been able to work. Being forced to reduce then give up work had financial implications then and now with my pension. I see friends struggling with responsibilities both for children and elderly parents, and worry about coping when my parents need more help from me. It's enough to look after myself at times, not a lack of willingness.

[honeybun]

Looking after elderly parents is challenging to say the least especially if you are not feeling great.
It's,a problem faced by so many.

I never had to fight for HRT. I had terrible flushes and insomnia. I turned up at the doctors and asked for patches and was prescribed them immediately with no question.
My anxiety did not start until I had been on HRT for two years so in that respect it has done nothing d for me. Perhaps my dose is too low.
I think I would have developed anxiety whether I was going through the menopause or not so it's unrealistic to expect it to sort every thing.
My life should not be stressful really as I have a good husband and two great kids but with life's challenges it would seem I am just not up to the job of coping very well.
Being feeble worries me as I don't know where I would find the strength to cope with anymore. I guess you find it from somewhere though.

Bit of a ramble really 

HRT does help with a lot but not every thing unfortunately.


Honeyb
x

[Ju Ju]

You are not feeble, HB! Just under great stress! You do the best you can and that is good enough. Stop beating yourself up!

[CLKD]

Who told you that you are 'feeble'?  You work hard to keep your family fed and watered, plus an almost full-time job with your elderly, sometimes awkward, mother! 

[Dancinggirl]

The last few posts I think have really highlighted how the menopause effects us and whilst HRT can improve some things, I believe we can't expect HRT to solve everything.

I've now had a whole year without HRT and I think I started a thread some months ago titled "My warranty has run out" which basically sums up how I have been feeling.  Now I am starting with HRT again it will be interesting to see whether I feel as if the engine has had a good service and running more smoothly.   DG x

[peegeetip]

I think its more the fear of becoming feeble (HB?)

No one is rambling btw Its great to get our thoughts out there.

Here's to DG feeling great soon.

 

[Dancinggirl]

I think many of us end up feeling feeble - I certainly do - constantly complaining and generally feeling under par.  The meno can really knock ones confidence.
Many thanks for your good wishes - I will post about my progress.   DG xxx

[Hattie]

I wish as suggested there had been some sort of MOT at the surgery when i was 50 - some information given out or reading material suggested.

I bought a booklet in Boots about HRT combinations read through it and thought not for me i'll weather through it - i've never liked taking pills unless i had really to - also at the time i think Teresa Gorman MP put me off it rather than for it when she publicly spoke about HRT.

Realise now from posts on this forum that stress around mid fifties didn't do me any good like it hasn't many others on here.

Hattie X

[Dancinggirl]

Hattie - do you think you would have given HRT a go if there had been better information?
HRT doesn't suit everyone so if you get bad side effects from the HRT, that can be an added stress.
I think our 50s can be the most stressful time of our lives - our kids often struggling to find accommodation so possibly still living at home, older relations needing more support, we also have to work into our late 60s - add in sleepless nights, sweats and generally feeling low this must have an awful effect on our mental wellbeing and general health.
If there were MOTs at 50 with specialist doctors or nurses who could advice and guide us through the best options, maybe the NHS could save a lot of time, money and distress. To be able to sit down with someone who was trained to understand all these pressures and possibly come up with some treatment options, would mean the world to many women. Most GPs don't have the time or the expertise.
  DG x

[CLKD]

That's the hub - GPs don't generally have the knowledge regarding menopause and unless there is a good Consultant close by it can be hit and miss.  I have over the years tried to engage with my GP about various treatments that I think will help, we recently discussed how hard it was to find an AD which stabilised me.  It took years ………. partly because of my reluctance to take ADs regularly.  My own worst enemy sometimes 

Also when I was poorly for what ever reason/s I found it difficult to be clear in how I felt and what I might consider taking. 

[Hattie]

Hattie - do you think you would have given HRT a go if there had been better information?
HRT doesn't suit everyone so if you get bad side effects from the HRT, that can be an added stress.
I think our 50s can be the most stressful time of our lives - our kids often struggling to find accommodation so possibly still living at home, older relations needing more support, we also have to work into our late 60s - add in sleepless nights, sweats and generally feeling low this must have an awful effect on our mental wellbeing and general health.
If there were MOTs at 50 with specialist doctors or nurses who could advice and guide us through the best options, maybe the NHS could save a lot of time, money and distress. To be able to sit down with someone who was trained to understand all these pressures and possibly come up with some treatment options, would mean the world to many women. Most GPs don't have the time or the expertise.
  DG x

yes i think if you saw a gp or specialist nurse at 50 and went through your own medical and family history a few options could be pointed out to you at this time in your life. What you might expect to happen during menopause might be better coming from 'someone' rather than a book as well - as you say it might all be a bit preventative in the long run.

If HRT had been suggested as a personal best option for me i might have considered it.

Hattie X