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[ATJ]

Hello fellow members
Looking for some suggestions. 
I will make this at short and to the point

17th Feb 2024 - request a repeat prescription of estrogel and testogel
Only received estrogel, chased up testogel was told a message will go to the doctor.  A week later no testogel. 
Chased up was told, it was passed over to the pharmacist in the surgery to check medication on the 15th March as they don’t work every day.


Chased up a few days after the 15th as I had not been notified.  Was told I can’t have it.  With no explanation.

Jumping forwards today. I had to speak to a dr that explained it was not FDA approved (which I knew) not all doctors are happy to sign it off so she would like to check my bloods first.
Perfectly fine.  Bloods were taken 1st May.  I again was not contacted but my patient access app had all other results but not the one I needed.
Called reception to inform them it was not there and I need to speak to the dr.  A couple of days later it just appeared.  And a note saying bloods are not elevated but not happy to sign off will pass to the original doctor that wrote me the prescription in the first place.  Waited and chased the nothing.
I was given a phone appointment as the doctor wanted to call me. 
I waited on the day and time but the doctor failed to call.
Rang up two days later after looking at patient access app and it stated I had been referred to a menopause clinic.  I called them they stated the waiting list is around 6 months but my gp should issue the prescription to keep me going until I get an appointment. I called Arne doctors to speak to the practice manager.
She was not helpful, did not want to me to speak.  Told me the wait is not 6 months but around 4 weeks and the clinic should not have told me 6 weeks or that the gp has to fill in a prescription until then.
Was also told that the original doctor did not want to give me the first prescription but thought it was on one off.  On the 16th May she said she will bring my situation up again when they have there weekly meeting and come back to me. A week later I had not heard from anyone.  Chased it up then was called that day (28th May) to say I can’t have it everyone said no.  She said she did not call me because on of the doctors was going to put it up on the website that no none FDA approved medications will be given but he was ill.


1. Prescriptions for testogel Oct 22
2. Requested more 17th feb 2024
3. Referred to menopause clinic 16th May.  As routine not urgent. 

I explained that this to me is not only about libido but also it stopped all hot flashing, improved my mood, my numbness, joints and muscles felt close to normal.  I’m a yoga teacher so I need my body to work.

I’m chasing the menopause clinic for an appointment but can’t get through and not really excepting them to push me to the front of the queue.
I have maybe 4 weeks left before I run out.  A question my doctors have never asked. 


My issue at this stage is not that they want sign it off but the whole way it was handled is not correct and other patients should not have to deal with this.  Complaining in house did not work and did ask to be able to attend the meeting when they were discussing my case as the practice manager didn’t want me to have the medication so how would she argue my case when she didn’t even want me to talk.

Suggestions and advice please.
What do I do now.


Apologies this was long.

Thank you
Amanda

[merrygoround]

I feel your frustration, the health service staff are under such extreme pressures that we as patients are often the least of their worries.

If they gave you it once and it worked so well, it is bonkers to deny you testosterone treatment at the second time of asking.
Testosterone drops in menopause as well, it is essential to our wellbeing, but it's jealously guarded as the secret of male supremacy that must not be shared, lol, I'm joking, I have no idea why they refuse us, it is because we are women, but the details are fuzzy at best.

I'm progesterone intolerant with a disbelieving GP who says progesterone intolerance cannot happen with HRT because it's such a low dose compared to contraceptive pills, so she says but it's not true.
She honestly seems to think I'm just being difficult when I say it makes me feel suicidal.

I asked for Tridestra, the GP said No.
Utrogestan? No.
Oestrogel? Not without provera (poison to me).
Testosterone? No.
Oestrogen only with ablation? Maybe, I'll refer you for that and you can ask them for the other things while you're there.

I was referred to the menopause HRT clinic last year in September, so that was eight months ago and I've heard nothing yet at all.

While I wait I'm taking tibolone. I'd recommend it if you're looking for an alternative which contains testosterone.
Tibolone contains no actual hormones, it contains ingredients that our bodies can use directly to make our own natural hormones.
That means your body's brand of natural progesterone in exactly the right amount, natural testosterone in the right amount, natural oestrogen in the right amount.
I get no bad side effects and many more good effects than they tell you about!

Keep a record of everything, as you are doing, the gaslighting when you don't keep proof is awful.

[sheila99]

Complaint seems to be difficult if the practice manager isn't on board, perhaps try Google and see if anything helpful comes up? A 3 month wait to refer you can't be acceptable but the testosterone itself is a bit more debatable. Was it first prescribed by a specialist or a gp? Because there's no product licensed for women the gp is personally liable if they prescribe it and something goes wrong. Hence the extreme reluctance to do so and why many of us have to see a specialist first. My surgery wants me to see a specialist once a year which is a complete waste of resources when the appointment could go to someone who actually needs it. The wait in my area is a year. If I remember correctly (quite possible I haven't!) I think someone posted that they got it from superdrug, or it could have been one of the other online pharmacies.