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[bonehouse]

This is a bit of a rant really, but I'd also like to know if anyone else has had inappropriate hormone testing and where I might go from here.

I'm 46 and had over a year of increasingly debilitating symptoms of night sweats, fatigue and worsening mood. Assume perimenopause but wanted to rule out other things too.

Trying to get an appointment with the HRT/women's health specialist in the practice, let's call her Dr A, was a nightmare. I eventually spoke to one male GP first who was very nice but as soon as I mentioned night sweats he didn't want to know, and suggested I speak to DR A.

It took another couple of weeks to get an appointment with her but I thought it made sense to wait. She listened to my concerns and ordered all the blood tests to rule out other things I wanted ruled out - thyroid, B12 etc.

I don't have periods because I'm on the mini pill, so she said she wanted to test my LH, FSH and oestradiol. I know this is not normally done at my age, but she seemed to think it was necessary because of the pill and "all the other medication" I'm on (for inflammatory arthritis).

I now know this is against NICE guidelines. They specifically say not to test over 45 and not if someone is on high dose progresterone. And I know of no reason why my arthritis medication would necessitate hormone testing.

After the results came in it was another two weeks before she contacted me by text to say everything was normal "so no cause found for your sweating" and telling me to make another appointment to discuss further.

I've now tried three times to get a follow-up appointment and each time they just say there are none available and to call back in a couple of days. When I called again on Tuesday they said to call back next week.

I explain each time that the GP has requested a follow-up and last time the receptionist said "Don't worry, it's not urgent". This really pissed me off. My symptoms, including the low moods that I've mentioned to both doctors and didn't seem to register at all, are worsening.

I feel like I'm spiralling out of control and I feel ignored.

I could try to make another appointment with someone else but I might be back in the same situation where some random male doctor phones and isn't interested in women's problems. Also, I don't think it's ridiculous to expect to see the same GP who ordered the tests to get their take on the results???

[CLKD]

Years ago 1 saw a family doctor ....... who knew about our health from Gt Grandparents onwards.   Now people are more mobile so we have GPs that a) are hurried, i.e. 10. mins per patient and b) who know nowt about our medical histories.  Some of which may impact on ourselves, i.e. if there is diabetes or glaucoma in the family.

I too would be Pd off.  I suggest that you search for a dedicated menopause clinic in your area: not a gynaecologist as they often don't know much/any more about hormones than some GPs!  U may/not require referral from the GP.  There are waiting lists for these Cliniics both privately and on the NHS, it may be worth while paying for a couple of appts. to move things on.

It's not up to the receptionist to decide whether a condition is 'urgent'.   . I would be saying would it be urgent if I were to throw myself off a cliff due to not being heard?   

Let us know how you get on.  And RANT away!

[bonehouse]

Thank you - and I'm not sure why I've posted this in the postmenopause section other than me feeling quite stressed. It has really shocked me how neither GP questioned me more on the mood side of things after I volunteered this information.

[CLKD]

Putting another thread up won't garner any quicker responses especially as it is a weekend.  MayB remove most of the other comments plus "I have another thread for replies" otherwise your threads may become lost!

[Mary G]

That is typical of the lousy menopause treatment so many women seem to get with the NHS.

I would do my own thing and buy some Oestrogel online.  Which mini pill are you taking?  If you add in one pump of Oestrogel to begin with and continue with the mini pill that will offer womb protection while you see how you get on with the extra oestrogen.  If you start to see an improvement you can later decide to increase to two or three pumps of Oestrogel and double up on the mini pill.

I definitely wouldn't be hanging around for a doctor who is not a proper menopause specialist and didn't even bother to give you details of the blood tests like you oestrogen levels for example.  Hormone blood tests are vital for post menopause women who need to know if they are absorbing their HRT but during perimenopause your hormones are fluctuating constantly and your oestrogen levels will be very high sometimes and then suddenly drop very low hence the symptoms.

I would order some Oestrogel online immediately, give it a try and if it works, get it prescribed on the NHS.

[sheila99]

Make an appointment with any doctor and make sure you're clued up before you go, NICE guidelines, what hrt and at what dose you want, all the meno symptoms you have. There's something on the Internet I found a while ago where you fill in your symptoms and it tells you if you're peri. Tell him how long you've waited, how you're suffering etc etc and that you want him to prescribe temporarily until you can see her. When out 'expert' wasn't available I got what I wanted from a male gp who realised I knew more about than he did. And/or put in a complaint.

[bonehouse]

Hormone blood tests are vital for post menopause women who need to know if they are absorbing their HRT but during perimenopause your hormones are fluctuating constantly and your oestrogen levels will be very high sometimes and then suddenly drop very low hence the symptoms.

Thank you. I'm taking Cerelle. It's interesting you say that - I didn't really understand anything until after I had the tests and started reading. I'd had two sweat-free nights before I had the blood test - that is not my norm, so although my oestrodial came back within range I don't trust it to be typical. I get drenching sweats most nights.

I will look for the gel, thank you.

[bonehouse]

Make an appointment with any doctor and make sure you're clued up before you go, NICE guidelines, what hrt and at what dose you want, all the meno symptoms you have. There's something on the Internet I found a while ago where you fill in your symptoms and it tells you if you're peri. Tell him how long you've waited, how you're suffering etc etc and that you want him to prescribe temporarily until you can see her. When out 'expert' wasn't available I got what I wanted from a male gp who realised I knew more about than he did. And/or put in a complaint.

Thank you. I have actually requested to register with a different surgery. Not just because of this, but it was kind of the last straw. So when the IT outage is sorted I will just start again with someone new, taking on everything you've said. It can't be worse. The new surgery is smaller with fewer GPs so I'm hopeful that means I'll get more continuity of care. My current place merged with another practice and became a super surgery with 25 GPs plus lots of locums. All personal care has gone out the window.

[CLKD]

The UK is short of GPs.  Due to retirement related to age; also retirement due to time restrictions by the government for each patient; due to new medics not wanting to become GPs.  Locums probably get paid a lot more too.

Do take a note of your symptoms etc..  Let us know how you get on.

[bonehouse]

I have identified the menopause specialist in the new GP practice I just registered with and reviews are good. I have a new patient check-up tomorrow because I'm on multiple medications, and then I will ask to see her and pick up about the night sweats situation.

I went on to the old practice site today and looked at appointments. There was one available with the GP I saw, for that afternoon. The one they had no appointments available with for the next two weeks every time I called. I was absolutely livid. I mean I know why this happens, they release a certain number of day appointments and 2-week appointments. But surely there has to be some flexibility for the sake of continuity of care.

Anyway, I'm already more impressed with my new surgery and their communication.