Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[mjdream]

Hi, I have been experiencing all the symptoms, hot flushes, no period in over 12mths, brain fog thick fog and mood swings that are quite extreme almost volcanic. so I took myself off to the doctors after a screaming match with my poor partners I couldn't take any more. I talked all this through with a new doctor and only advise was to increase the flouxitine anti depressant I have been taking for years and a number for councilling  ! I felt ignored, I asked about menopause and hrt but doc gave nothing but a divert on the subject. I'm on the edge here need guidance on how I can get a proper diagnosis or reassurance I'm not going bat shit crazy if not for my sake but my poor partner and child. I turn 50 shortly and had my only child at 42 after being told I couldnt have a child ??  It's all confusing and consuming and lots to read

[jaycee]

I am sorry your Dr is  not being more helpful, all i can suggest is to change your Dr,or maybe quicker to see a different Dr at your practice
luckily i have a Dr who understands and being as helpful as possible
I would ring first thing on monday and ask to see any Dr who has a free appointment, ---------
except your Dr,surely someone there will listen and be more understanding and open to what you really need,good luck

[Foxylady]

Hi mjdream, sorry you had such a frustrating & disheartening experience at the GP (you have my sympathy as I went through similar). Alot of the GP surgery websites will have on them beside the GP name their qualifications & if they have a special interest in a certain field ie women's health so there might be a more suitable GP at your surgery. If not you could see if there is anyone else locally who might be recommended by family/friends or a menopause group/clinic you could ask to be referred to. Arm yourself with as much info from here as you possibly can in relation to HRT (whether it's for you or not), lifestyle, diet, supplements etc rarely one thing is the answer. You could also print off a symptom diary (rockmymenopause) which will give you an idea but also any professionals you see about the symptoms you suffer, these can be wide & varied which is why some 'professionals' don't pick up on it - I had 3 yrs of investigations, 'specialists', trails of medications etc before back to GP and diagnosed, very frustrating although huge relief to be told peri as the other options/diagnosis being looked at were very scarey! Hope you find someone that listens to you & provides the support you need. x

[Hurdity]

Hi mjdream

 

Sorry to hear about your unhelpful treatment. Please resists increasing the anti-depressants - this is againist current guidelines which recommended HRT for menopausal symptoms including low mood, if due to hormones, and if you are medically OK to take HRT.

Do you mind my asking about the ADs - were these given also for hormonal mood swings? Again - if so, and if you start HRT and become settled, then you may be able to wean off the Fluoxetine eventually.

Shame on the doctor trying to fob you off and definitely ask to see a different GP. Can you find out which one in the practice specialises in HRT/ menopause?

Ask us any more questions and we can try to help and good luck!

Hurdity x

[CLKD]

So despite apparent efforts by the British Menopause whatever, GPs are still not being taught about menopause B4 they are allowed into the public domain 

If you like this GP and if he is young I would go back and brandish this web-site in his face.  It shouldn't be up to patients to educate GPs and certainly many GPs won't accept information of the web., it somehow devalues their knowledge they feel  .  Have a look-see for menopause clinics in your area, you may have to travel: don't be fobbed off with a Gynaecologist as often they don't know any more than GPs! 

I don't have many options with GPs so I would go back : "I have been talking to friends as well as reading Menopause Matters Forum and my symptoms are probably due to peri-menopause, certainly I know that one can never be too young to begin The Change.  I would like to go to a Menopause Clinic".

Keep on with the ADs for the time being.  They won't do any harm and as suggested, once you get into an HRT routine: should you decide that's what is required: you can scale them back.  Maybe keep a mood/symptom/food diary to chart feelings to take to your GP?  Date of last monthly period, anxiety levels, tiredness: some GPs still believe that ladies have to be suffering from hot flushes in order to be menopausal  .  Not true!