Hi all,
I'm 50 (just last week) and am in what I think is classed as late-reproductive stage.
That is, I still have regular, unproblematic periods but they are getting closer together (25 days rather than 28). No hot flushes yet.
My main difficulty has been an increase in PMS symptoms, especially disturbed sleep which how lasts for about 7 days prior to my period and is affecting my work.
My GP initially prescribed sleeping tablets but they gave me terrible nightmares and left me feeling worse the next day than if I'd just had a bad night's sleep.
I'd read about Qlaira on this forum and was keen to try this. My GP was very hesitant saying my age was a risk factor (no other problems: I'm normal weight, don't smoke, exercise and have a good diet etc).
In the course of the appointment she asked about my previous pill use. In my 20s I was briefly on Microgynon, which didn't agree with me (pushed my blood pressure up), but got on reasonably well with Marvelon.
I reiterated that I'd really like to try Qlaira and she finally said that it was too new a pill for me given the "risk factor" of my age, so prescribed Rigevidon saying it's, "just the same thing but a more well established brand".
So I get home and google Rigevidon and I see it's just another name for Microgynon, the pill which I know I have problems with!
I'm very annoyed and confused now. First, that she told me Rigevidon was 'the same' as Qlaira, when it isn't. Second, that she prescribed a pill which I specifically told her has disagreed with me in the past.
I don't really know what to do now. Should I just take the Rigevidon for three months, see if it helps at all, and if not go back again and make another push for Qlaira?
I'm tempted to just go private straight away with one of the specialists mentioned here. I know individual doctors try their best under difficult conditions, but I don't like being bs'd by someone who probably doesn't really know what she's on about.
Any advice gratefully received.
Thanks,
Sally