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[Camper71]

Hello

I'm 50 peri-menopausal and struggling with terrible mood swings, depression that comes and goes and symptoms of very low mood and anxiety before my period as well as insomnia, joint pains, inflammation, memory and cognition problems and the list goes on. Periods have been very irregular for over a year now and my hormones were tested in 2015 and I was told I had a menopausal profile.

I have an appointment at the London menopause clinic to see Jane Woyka to talk about if it would be beneficial to consider HRT. I have seen a GP but they really just referred me to this website. I just wondered if anyone had an tips for seeing a specialist. I am going to write out my list of symptoms. I don't currently have hot flashes but think this is probably related to a medication I currently take.

My GP has prescribed an antidepressant to help me sleep but back in 2013 when my hormones were beginning to change a GP at my previous practice suggested that trying some estrogen might help. I've had really severe insomnia for over 4 years. I've tried everything natural I can good sleep hygiene, diet, exercise, CBT for insomnia, meditation. I hadn't thought the mood swings were necessarily hormone related but experienced some really severe swings in lead up to periods recently and they're really hard to cope with I've been left in tears and unable to cope recently.

Not expecting a magic bullet but a second opinion from going to the clinic.

Thank you😊

[Hurdity]

Hi Camper71 (is this a van or a tent?!)

 

You really don't need to go to a private clinic (if you are going privately) to get HRT and if you have recently been prescribed an anti-depressant when you are peri-menopausal and experiencing hormonally related symptoms - then the GP is quite wrong to do this!! I do understand the sleep problem but HRT is the first line of treatment for menopausal symptoms provided there is no medical reason why not.

You can get it all from your GP. Great that they referred you to this website to find out about menopause and treatments - there is a wealth of information on the menus - this forum is the chat/peer support part of the site. However they should also be suggesting HRT.

I see Jane Woyka is on the council of the British Menopause Society and is not expensive so if you can afford it then why not go as it looks like you will get good treatment - but provided that your GP agrees to continue to prescribe whatever she recommends. Maybe s/he has referred you on NHS? If not I would check beforehand whether your own practice will continue the treatment beacuse the last thing you want is to be lumbered with continuing to pay for private treatment when you are entitled to NHS prescriptions.

In the meantime have you read this article about peri-menopause?
https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/magazine/pdf/Article%20-%20Perils%20of%20the%20Perimenopause.pdf

Good luck and do let us know what you decide and how you get on

Hurdity x