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[bev43]

Hi there. I've been told by my gynae I've been peri menopausal now for a year and half since I was 41. My periods pretty much stopped for about a year and then came back with a vengeance. I get all the signs of peri, Hot flushes, night sweats foggy brain aching joints internal shaking and sometimes I get a cold feeling with it. My gp refuses to accept I'm peri (even though all reports and scans from gynae point towards it), and everytime I go and see him he avoids giving me HRT. I am now 43 and have been dealing with all these symptoms for a while and am ready to tear my hair out. Today I cannot get the energy together to do anything. I just want to cry. My head feels like it's in a vice and my body feels like it's being shaken internally. Has anyone else my age had trouble being prescribed HRT. I'm guessing my gp is concerned about starting me on it as I'm quite young.

[Rosie77]

Hi Bev43, welcome!  I will be 42 next month  and I started HRT patch in March.  Prior to then, I had missed 3 periods in a row.  My FSH was sky high. (170) and I had nightly sweats 2 straight months.  I have been having bad peri issues and erratic periods since stopping long term birth control pill at 40.  Which leads me to believe I was already in peri and the pill masked the symptoms.

 I am in the US and switched to a female obgyn in her 50s.  It was only when I mentioned the night sweats is when I was offered HRT.  I am in relatively good health on paper, overall low risk.  I get migraines, hence the patch. I went for it because is more beneficial for our bones, heart.  Not good to lose our estrogen so young.  If your dr won't listen, find one who will.  Will your gyno not prescribe it?  You should at least be given the option to try it.  I am certainly not cured, still having symptoms, but I am still hopeful.  Best of luck to you! 

[Foxylady]

Hi bev43, I'm 41yrs and have had symptoms of peri for 3 years, original GP didn't believe it was menopause related so I ended up with referrals to Endocrinology (I have underactive thyroid) and Immunology (had a positive methylhistamine urine which started more investigations, trials of meds etc). Following discharge from Immunology I got appointment with a GP trainee who listened to me and discussed my case with her senior, he felt my symptoms were all menopausal and discussed it with local menopause consultant to recommended HRT (initially on 3 months of Everol sequi), now on Everol 75 and Provera (2 weeks on it). I think the more information you have regarding treatment options etc the better and you can put your viewpoint across. I take a note book with points to discuss to GP appointments (as I know I will forget some if not all of what I want to say), I had HRT patches written at top of page on first consultation!!! Why don't you ask for a referral to a menopause specialist if your GP wont even give you a '3 month trial' of HRT? There might be another GP or nurse practitioner in the practice that has a particular interest in menopause. I hope you get some relief from your symptoms, I feel for you as it is so frustrating & you start thinking you are losing your mind.

[pants46]

Bev43, I'm 46 and went into sudden peri at the beginning of this year, after losing an ovary.  With hindsight, I had probably been peri for at least a couple of years, just didnt know it- vaginal atrophy... what the hell.
Anyway, if your gynae believes you are peri at your age, then HRT is almost a must. There are no additional risks to taking it before age 50, and it will help protect your heart and bones. Can you see another GP at your practice? Ask to see soneone who has an interest in women's health. And then turn on the water works. Seriously.

[bev43]

Hi and thank you for you're responses. I've made another appointment with gp for Monday to re argue my case. My gynae is very busy and there is currently a six month waiting list for appointment. I'm currently waiting for a day surgery appointment for investigative surgery as I have adenomyosis too. I've been waiting since March. I'll try again with gp and will try a female gp if he doesn't agree again. It's so frustrating. I've been dealing with my symptoms for so long now.

[Foxylady]

All the best bev43, keep us updated with how you get on. Rockmymenopause have a symptom diary you can print off, might be worth completing that for a while and take it with you to see professionals so you can show them how bad things are and what you are dealing with. Also might help see if there is a pattern and note if you make any changes ie lifestyle/diet/exercise.

[CLKD]

Make sure it's a menopause clinic though 'cos often Gynaes aren't clued up either 

Some really live in a Cave and don't believe that women don't have to suffer flushes in order to be in menopause