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[CLKD]

Also shortie - it is Professor Study ...... would you want to be called by your surname?  He has worked hard to get where he is !

It is Trial and Error to find a Consultant who will prescribe what might help rather than prescribe what they think will help .  Also, paying means we get a longer session so don't feel rushed 

[Mbrown001]

I'm sure he really wouldn't care CLKD if he is getting a recommendation.

My point is that Prof Studd....and the rest prescribe exactly the same. I first started reading this forum about five years ago and I have read the same thing being prescribed for almost every single woman that have been to see these eminent consultants.
It begs the question why.
Ok you can get testosterone but everything else can be had from even a less than clued up GP.

If they were coming up with something new then....


Mrs Brown

[CLKD]

Trouble is, a lot of NHS GPs don't listen to women who are aware of what they may require so they get fobbed off ......... so the women don't get referred to a Consultant who may offer or not, a solution.  Some GPs still believe that women need to be flushing regularly 2 B menopausal and don't discuss or believe the other symptoms that lack of oestrogen throws up. 

Privately one does get the opportunity to discuss pros and cons as well as being able to go back to discuss results ......... sometimes it is easier for a Private Consultant to press for treatment where a GP may not be willing to prescribe.

[Mbrown001]

Very true CLKD.

Sad situation though as all ladies should be able to get good treatment without having to pay.

A good GP is worth their weight in gold.

Mrs Brown

[Tempest]

So true, Mrs. B! There is also a case for counselling women about their expectations of HRT. I read some guidelines from one NHS trust (I can't remember which, but they were very good) about advising women of what CAN be achieved with HRT and how it's not be be expected to be a 'cure all' for everything. I think this is a very valid point.

For instance, in a thread I posted on today I spoke about how Professor Studd on his own website says that anxiety is very difficult to treat with HRT and that he advises women to seek counselling in addition if this is part of their symptoms. I know this will surprise some, but it's there in his own writings. He also stated that depression post menopause is NOT helped by estrogen replacement therapy unless it is due in some way to an improvement in vasomotor symptoms and therefore sleep quality and quality of life (this is repeated in numerous other sources elsewhere). The benefit to mood is seen predominantly in women who are in the menopause transition.

I'm just picking these two examples, but there are others of course.

I think a good question to ask first of all when you see any Consultant is 'what improvements to my symptoms can I expect from hrt' and take a list. That way, the Consultant can advise you if the things that are bothering you CAN be helped by HRT, and how much of an improvement may be possible with the right type/dose.

I've learned all this the hard way myself over the last 2 years - there is no 'magic bullet' that will be able to fix everything, unfortunately . xxxxx

[Tempest]

Oh, and I know Professor Studd's prescription off by heart.....it's the same for everyone!  :)xxxxx

[Tempest]

I think my post about HRT and expectations was valid to Peacegirl's post. It's a good idea to ask outright 'will HRT address these symptoms which are bothering me'. For instance, hair loss can be tricky. It MAY be related to hormone imbalance, it may not.  It can certainly also be CAUSED by some types of HRT too. Joint pain can be improved, but some may be due to 'wear and tear' due to osteoarthritis which would NOT be helped by HRT.

It's tricky for Consultant's to give definitive answers sometimes - it IS very much 'suck it and see'. xxxxx

[Ju Ju]

Menopausal symptoms vary from person to person. When you are able to see someone privately, you are given more time and your issues looked more holistically. ( I don't know about Prof Studd). You don't have to wait months and month for an appointment and if you don't get the service you deserve you can go elsewhere. I am able to contact my gynaecologist if I have problems or further questions. I have also received dietary advice, which I have found invaluable. I do not have a lot of money, but I consider help I have received is invaluable and has given me back quality of life. I did not get this on the NHS. It was being suggested I had CFS and that CBT (in the far distant future by the sounds of things now) was all that was on offer. I was not convinced. HRT can never be the whole answer, I agree. How can it be when we don't know exactly what is lacking. It is trial and error. I still have bad days when even showering seems like a mountain to climb, but other days I can walk for miles.

[Tempest]

My NHS menopause consultant does support truly 'extreme cases'.......I chose to go private purely as I wanted to try Testosterone simultaneously with my ERT to see if this might help rather than wait as the guidelines suggest. The NHS does generally have to operate within some guidelines but I agree a bit of flexibility is good. But cost and demand on limited services does prohibit a truly flexible approach also.

To illustrate the 'extreme cases'seen at the clinic I attended, we are talking about young ladies as young as 16 who have premature ovarian failure and are in menopause. Ladies who are BRCA positive and having to undergo oopherectomy, often many years before the age of natural menopause. Women with estrogen receptive cancers who cannot take HRT and have severe symptoms which are difficult to manage.

Whilst I understand that a woman's natural menopause can be extremely difficult, I think it's important to realise that the really 'difficult cases' should receive good support and that strapped resources can't cover everyone to the degree of attention and follow up that many women in natural menopause would like.

Where things ARE falling down is that GP's are not up to speed with the prescribing of HRT. This is a travesty. No woman unless she has a complex case history should need to be referred to a menopause consultant if all GP's were competent and confident in prescribing.

[Peacegirl]

I see a gynaecologist privately and I am able to get my prescriptions via my surgery. She always sends my GP a follow up letter expressing her recommendations and I go for a follow up appointment with the GP to ensure my repeat prescription list is kept up to date. If you live in the south of England, I can recommend my gynaecologist who is lovely, kind and sees the whole picture.

Hi ju ju, thanks that's really helpful, could you possibly pm her name?

Thanks 😀

[Peacegirl]

Very interesting discussion. I'm agree with most if what's been said and can see there are a lot of shared experiences but also a lot of very specific o es too. I was reluctant to go the specialist route because my gp is so lovely (having had at least 3 very negative experiences before that) but at that stage, he'd run out of knowledge of what to prescribe and, as I said I'm not quite confident to know what to ask for myself yet. I agree too that the so-called soeciakusts aren't gods either- Tory seem yo vary and I had one awful exoerience with a gynae who to,d me my receptors were worn out, something which clearly is t true. (Yet).

I hear what's been said about super-experts, we can have too high expectations and I'm not a wealthy person. I might yet investigate other causes of hair loss again but I have had regular checks for this and I may consider a wig. If I continue with the utrogestan though I'll take it my way- my body, my life, my choice but if anyone knows and good wig people (south area) thst would be great. 🙄 Thanks again all xx

[Otes73]

Hi Peacegirl,

I'm really sorry but not on here all time so don't know your full history. Have you had/got endometriosis?

I do have it and now cannot take oestrogel without continuous Utrogeston or no HRT for me! If you do have it the unopposed oestrogen feeds the tiny spots of endo very quickly!

Hope you find a regime that suits you.
X

[paisley]

As we all know we are all so different & so what works for one won't work for another be that NHS or Private. In my opinion hair loss & hormones are definitely related. I used to have lovely thick hair & now it is much thinner. Also I think stress because of the menopause has made my hair thinner as well. Have you researched into natural therapies which might help with this?

[Peacegirl]

Hi Peacegirl,

I'm really sorry but not on here all time so don't know your full history. Have you had/got endometriosis?

I do have it and now cannot take oestrogel without continuous Utrogeston or no HRT for me! If you do have it the unopposed oestrogen feeds the tiny spots of endo very quickly!

Hope you find a regime that suits you.
X

Thanks for your post. I haven't got endometriosis no but due to nasty side-effects I'm taking utrogestan in a way thst is deemed safe in some countries but not by some here therefore it could be perceived thst im putting myself so risk so some advocate regular womb measurements as a way of monitoring is useful (although my specialist doesn't)

[Salad]

Hi Peacegirl - just read this page and replying to your request for wig makers in South area.

Not sure where you are but a friend who had recent chemo treatment was recommended two - one in Blackwater (GU17 0DS) and the other in Sandhurst (GU47 8EE) both easily accessed from J4 of M3. Or from M4 but no idea of junction.

My other thought to your comment is have you considered asking who your GP would recommend you seeing?

Hope you feel better soon