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[CLKD]

Look out men .........   

[Lily35]

Hi all and thanks for the replies.

Just had my phone appointment with the GP standing in for mine.  She FLATLY refused to give me more than 2 Vagifem and has now taken the ovestin away too.  She said I am risking breast cancer.   I said was she quite happy for me to buy from Superdrug and she said yes.  Ffs.

I got a bit annoyed and upset and said she didn’t know what she was talking about.  I asked for a referral to a menopause specialist.

I have rung the practice manager to complain and they are calling me back Monday.

I could cry I’m just so sick of fighting for this as I cannot go back to how I was.

 

[Flossieteacake]

I really am so sorry you have had to go through this. You did  so well to stand your ground and I am glad the practice manager is calling you on Monday.

I know how upset and shaken you must feel. I am sending you a virtual hug. 🤗

[Lily35]

I really am so sorry you have had to go through this. You did  so well to stand your ground and I am glad the practice manager is calling you on Monday.

I know how upset and shaken you must feel. I am sending you a virtual hug. 🤗

Thanks Flossie,

I’m just gutted - feel like I’m banging my head on a brick wall.  Wish I could afford a private consultation/prescription. 
I asked what it is she suggests and she said - 2 a week works.  Arghhh how come it’s taken 2 years to get comfy then!

[Tinkerbell]

I am so sorry and I thought my battle to get treatment for VA was bad!
Until you walk in the shoes of someone suffering VA you have no clue what it feels like. Not being able to walk, sit or sleep without being in discomfort is horrendous.

I have never been able to manage on just two Vagifem a week.

I haven't read all the thread, but I guess you have tried to get appointment with another GP?

My GP wanted to stick to the twice week dosage and refused to allow me any for 3 months as I had exceeded my dosage allowance. Fortunately the receptionist took mercy on me and got me appointment with another GP who just asked me what i needed to keep myself comfy. I dread the day he retires!

[Ayesha]

This is totally outrageous what you're going through, your GP is clueless about VA treatment. My own GP is on Vagifem every day, I know because I asked two years ago when the two a week dose was not working she said to use it every day, I said WHAT, are you sure its ok to do that, she said yes it's what I do, its so low dose it doesn't even reach the blood stream.  Now everyone will have their own opinion on this but I am happy to lead a normal life again using VA treatment every day.

You are suffering vile symptoms when you don't have to, that's bordering on negligence by your health provider.



 

[Jenty]

@Lily35 I've been with my surgery for nearly 40 years and I didn't know until the other day that my surgery has a menopause specialist. I searched here;

https://thebms.org.uk/find-a-menopause-specialist/

Make sure you tick the NHS box or it will list private ones.

[Jules]

I've not had such an extreme problem but only ever been prescribed it in blocks and twice a week however a different GP yesterday told me the regulations have changed and its now sold over the counter so tried to reassure me. She didn't tell me to use it every day though but didn't tell me not to either and she did tell me it's for life

[meno-mel]

Hi all and thanks for the replies.

Just had my phone appointment with the GP standing in for mine.  She FLATLY refused to give me more than 2 Vagifem and has now taken the ovestin away too.  She said I am risking breast cancer.   I said was she quite happy for me to buy from Superdrug and she said yes.  Ffs.

I got a bit annoyed and upset and said she didn’t know what she was talking about.  I asked for a referral to a menopause specialist.

I have rung the practice manager to complain and they are calling me back Monday.

I could cry I’m just so sick of fighting for this as I cannot go back to how I was.

 

Ah Lily35, I'm sorry you're having this problem too.

I don't know why they treat HRT like a controlled substance, it maybe has its roots in the idea women always need to be told what to do, so patient involvement is minimal in decision taking. It's a real shame but too many doctors now just are protecting their licenses and refusing to be complicit in giving a patient sufficient meds if it's not the recommended dose! Or in my case the doctor wouldn't prescribe me hrt at all because she didn't think it was safe and it is her decision as a prescriber to be useless if she feels like it! 

I get morphine on prescription and gabapentin too which is also controlled, both those are far easier to order early than any of the three HRT meds I get!
Yes, really! I ordered Estradot, gabapentin and morphine a week early due to the doctors being closed two days when I was meant to order it. I got the morphine and gabapentin, but Estadot was refused. They sent a text saying to talk to the pharmacy if I was running out but under no circumstances could I get it early!
Not a clue how the pharmacy were supposed to help me from that text.
I reordered as soon as they opened but I'm going to run out on Monday, that's before I can get it on Tuesday, even if the first pharmacy I try has it.

P.S. I admire you standing up to them, you shouldn't have to buy the rest of your pills in Boots at £30 a box.

[CLKD]

Your GP needs her head sticking down a loo and the flush pulled.  A LOT 

Do write to the Practice Manager with your experience - copy and paste what you have written to us: as well as writing to the GP to ask her to justify the omments about 'risking cancer'.  She has probably read the very old now discredited research, if so she needs to go on a Course.  I would be letting Dr Currie and the British Menopause Society who she is too. 

We can only wish that Her Time Will Come 

[meno-mel]

Lily35, did the GP make the referral to the menopause specialist?

[Lily35]

Hi guys and thanks for the support with this.

The practice manager rang me Monday and I had a little rant.  She said she actually does sympathise and that the practice are struggling to replace the menopause nurse who left.  She agreed that menopause nurse was more up to date with treatments but that she cannot overrule the gp’s if they won’t prescribe.

A referral has gone into a menopause clinic - she wasn’t sure if that was for the gp to get some email advice or if I’d have to wait (probably months) to be seen.
They have prescribed 24 in the meantime with the next date to order in 12 weeks.
I do have some put to one side so not needing any urgently but obviously this issue needs to be resolved.  They have also prescribed 45g of ovestin for external which is 3 tubes so I guess I could try using 2 x Vagifem then 1 x internal ovestin.
I’m really shocked how out of date they are x

[CLKD]

Nothing shocks me.  I would be sending an e-mail to Dr Curry who runs the Forum asking the question as well as reporting this practice and to the British Menopause Society.  Unless GPs are named and shamed, this situation won't be improving any time soon.   

If all else fails, mayB looking at BOOTS for 'gina' VA treatment might help?

[Lily35]

Further update….
My docs just rang saying they have had a response to the gynaecology referral.
They don’t need to see me and advised the docs that as long as the GP explains the risks then they are happy for me to use more than 2 Vagifem a week.  They have made a phone apt next week to discuss the ‘risks’ before they update my prescription but at least it’s a step forward!

Symptoms wise things are so much better.  I feel like I have finally got on top of this awful VA.

[Flossieteacake]

Finally! What a relief this is. I am so happy to hear your symptoms are improving too.