Much calmer today phew...
Yes I agree that it is really important to share records as it would be easy for me to tell a private consultant any old nonsense just to get the meds, or forget to tell them something crucial and get an incorrect diagnosis. But the consultations and tests are very thorough resulting in detailed reports copied to the gp, not that they ever seem to have read them!
We are all just stuck between a rock and a hard place basically.
I asked at my gps if there was a practice/local meno clinic and they said no. By that point I'd had about 18 mortifying appointments relating to my symptoms.
My amazing gyno hyst surgeon didn't really know much about hrt only that I'd need oestrogen post hysterectomy as I mentioned I thought I was starting with peri symptoms and he recommended tablets, which is what my discharge letter said?!?
When my symptoms were so bad and I knew they'd get worse post hyst with conking ovaries I had no choice but to go private as my gps were having none of it... just a vague diagnosis of fibromyalgia with a prescription for amytripoline.
I thankfully found this website, then the Menopause Doctor website as I was extremely conscious of only getting reliable and up to date UK based info and research that I could really trust. I was beyond relieved that I could self refer and dragged myself 3 hours to see Dr Newson as I knew she was the best fit for me due to her constantly researching and being so knowledgable.
There was no alternative for me. Im very jealous of ladies whose gps can diagnose, prescribe and support, or refer to a free NHS clinic. The lack of consistency with this nationwide is absolutely staggering to me. I don't see that ending any time soon despite all the amazing work that is going on in the background to rectify it. It saddens me as so many women will suffer.
The straw that broke the camels back for me was the 'risk of breast cancer' and 'risk of thrombosis' gp reasoning for not adjusting my HRT. We all know now research shows Oestrogen only has no increased risk, maybe even a decrease, transdermal route has no clot risk, gel and patch can be combined, local internal and external oestrogen can be combined and has no BC risk at all.
So for me it seems that my HRT won't be altered based on gp lack of training and confidence rather than actual risk to my health which is wrong. We all have a 1in8 risk of BC with or without HRT, and please don't think I'm being flippant about that, I'm definately not. But I need my quality and quantity of life back by cutting my real risk of heart, diabetes and bone problems.
It's going to be a tricky meeting for sure. But I need to get to the bottom of their reasoning behind it and give them the evidence to be more informed. It's the only way things have a hope in hell of changing. I'm cringing already. Sure... I can't get enough of all this extra stress in my life... not!
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