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[flossie fiddler]

Had my telephone consultation with a GP this morning. What a battle it was to get her to agree to me going back on Evorel Conti.

First she said that she wouldn’t recommend it as I’d already been on it for 6 years from 2014-2020 and it’s not recommended for more than 5 years. Then she said I can’t use pessaries and patches at the same time. When I pointed out NICE guidelines and the fact that Vagifem is low dose and topical, she snapped at me “no HRT is low dose, there are cancer risks, and please let me finish.”

Then told me my blood pressure was too high. I had it checked yesterday and the asthma nurse said it was fine. The doc said “yes it’s fine for an 80 year old”. Later on she realised that she’d looked at the wrong reading and then said it’s fine.

Finally she has agreed to give me 1 month’s worth of Evorel Conti patches and told me I must not use them with Vagifem.

I’m screaming inside and want to cry. I got a result of sorts but is it going to be like this every time?

Any advice for when I have to do all this again in a month’s time? I’m so angry right now.

[Dotty]

Sorry to hear that and your GP is wrong in everything she's said !!!

Could you speak to another GP ? x

[Flossieteacake]

What a horrible GP! Even if that was your blood pressure, the comment was so rude. You can take vagifem with HRT. The GP shows a total lack of understanding.

I agree with Dotty about speaking to another GP. I really am sorry this has happened to you.

[Ayesha]

Can’t believe how mis-informed your doctor is regarding HRT. Unless there is a medical reason that makes your access to it in doubt, I would get all the latest information and be prepared for when you ask for a repeat prescription. Your body, your decision but somehow, I don’t think you will have a problem!

[flossie fiddler]

Thank you for your responses. I have been fizzing all afternoon and finally rang the practice about 30 minutes ago. Spoke to the receptionist first and explained about the unsatisfactory consultation. She asked if I’d like to elaborate, so I told her everything and she was lovely.

She put me through to the practice manager who was equally lovely and apologised for the doctor, who is a locum. The PM offered to get me an appointment with a nurse practitioner who works out of another local surgery and is in the process of setting up a collaboration with several surgeries for women’s health, specifically menopause and HRT. The PM said she’s one of the most clued up people about the subject that she knows.

So I’m to pick up the 1 month supply and get started straight away and the PM is goi g to ring me tomorrow once she’s set up an appointment. I will be able to have the NP look after all my meno and HRT needs.

I feel so much happier now and feel I am getting the support I need. That phone call was well worth making.

[Flossieteacake]

Well done! I am so pleased the manger was helpful.

[flossie fiddler]

And breathe! I have a patch on my bum and a Vagifem in my vag! (not stopping the pessaries for now).

And hopefully an appointment very soon with someone who knows what they’re talking about.

Thank you once again for your advice and support everyone. It shouldn’t have to be a battle, should it?

[Flossieteacake]

No, it should not have to be a battle. It is so unfair. Menopause is stressful enough without having to fight for HRT. I am glad you have the patches now.

[CLKD]

It should not be a battle. 

One can take treatment for vaginal atrophy for Life as well as general HRT for as long as necessary.  One cannot over dose using VA treatment  as it's such a small amount.

How old was that GP?  Young out of College or waiting to retire?

Well done on going back to ask the question    Hopefully the Nurse Practitioner will have success !!! The PM offered to get me an appointment with a nurse practitioner who works out of another local surgery and is in the process of setting up a collaboration with several surgeries for women’s health, specifically menopause and HRT. The PM said she’s one of the most clued up people about the subject that she knows.

[flossie fiddler]

It should not be a battle. 

One can take treatment for vaginal atrophy for Life as well as general HRT for as long as necessary.  One cannot over dose using VA treatment  as it's such a small amount.

How old was that GP?  Young out of College or waiting to retire?

Well done on going back to ask the question    Hopefully the Nurse Practitioner will have success !!! The PM offered to get me an appointment with a nurse practitioner who works out of another local surgery and is in the process of setting up a collaboration with several surgeries for women’s health, specifically menopause and HRT. The PM said she’s one of the most clued up people about the subject that she knows.

I’ve no idea how old she was. It was a phone consultation. She was a locum. The manager did say that she’d be gone by the end of the week and wouldn’t be coming back!

[CLKD]

 . that's good to know.  I can never age someone over the 'phone 

[Cocobra]

I am so sorry this is happening ... How is it possible that GPs can still behave like this despite the revised guidelines?! However, I am also baffled by the English health system as an Italian who lives in the UK. In Italy, one has to go to a gynaecologist to have HRT prescribed: this is to ensure that there is expertise on the matter and the patient won't have to go through such frustrating experiences - at least that's my understanding.
How about seeking a specialist's appointment, through which HRT can be prescribed? I take it one has to go private to have this done fairly quickly and not everyone can afford this ... All the more reasons to insist with the GP Surgery!

Best of luck!

[CLKD]

It certainly mayB quicker to source info privately, but menopause clinics are available without paying.  There are waiting lists which ever route 

[flossie fiddler]

I am so sorry this is happening ... How is it possible that GPs can still behave like this despite the revised guidelines?! However, I am also baffled by the English health system as an Italian who lives in the UK. In Italy, one has to go to a gynaecologist to have HRT prescribed: this is to ensure that there is expertise on the matter and the patient won't have to go through such frustrating experiences - at least that's my understanding.
How about seeking a specialist's appointment, through which HRT can be prescribed? I take it one has to go private to have this done fairly quickly and not everyone can afford this ... All the more reasons to insist with the GP Surgery!

Best of luck!

I am now on the HRT, dramatic improvements already - my hips have loosened up for the first time in 2 years, after having the patch on for 5 hours.  An appointment is being made in the next few days with a nurse practitioner who specialises in women’s health. There are menopause clinics nationally (my nearest is Hull) so that would have been my next step.

The fact that they are GPs says it all. General practice doesn’t have a particular specialism. My niece is a GP, and although she has a special interest in paediatrics, she’s not a paediatrician.

Until things change, we’ll have to continue fighting for HRT.

[Cocobra]

Dear Flossie,

that's fantastic news. Yes, there are menopausal clinic: I had gone to one when I first started (quite early) skipping periods. But they are seriously underfunded: there was a single doctor and it only ran 1 morning a week! And this was the Royal Free in London, a so-called good hospital.
But as always, underfunding health in the UK has become standard practice. Such a poor situation compared to where I come from.

Perhaps they're handling all this power to GPs simply for lack of enough gynaecologists in the profession, who knows ... I've always wondered. I have kept my gynaecologist in Italy and go to see her on a regular basis (though not since Covid!). Once I was seen by a gynaecologist at another London hospital and he said we, Italians, are his worst patients as we sit there telling him that our Italian gynaecologist knows better, ah ah ah ah ... An amusing story to lift some spirits up! ;0)