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[Jasmine20]

Hi Kathleen

I can really understand your disappointment with NH. It's one of the things that's made me reluctant to go private as I'm also a complex case and I don't necessarily feel you get a wider range of options than at an NHS menopause clinic - and I expect you've been to one of those already.

I totally agree with Postmeno3's comments about clinics having to expand at the cost of the patient experience. Add to that all the extra publicity in the media about HRT and it's no wonder some feel very short-changed.

I do think how we process hormones can vary hugely and in that sense - just to play devil's advocate - looking at alternative testing from Lifecode GX et al might help but I realise you feel tapped out financially and emotionally already.

For me it's estrogen dominance that's the issue. I'm back on taking Utrogestan orally on a conti regime now and I can feel a low mood and fatigue creeping up on me again. All any of us want to feel is 'normal' and it's hard to remember what that was these days!

Keep us updated and best of luck.

[VictoryV]

Hi Kathleen,
I really feel for you. Thankfully you don’t have to make a decision today and can research other options.

Will your regular GP prescribe the same products and doses so that you don’t feel ‘stuck’ with NH for medication?

I think I’d let the clinic know that you’re not happy and feel the consultant wasn’t prepared for you as surely reading a client file is necessary before the consultation. Hopefully you’ll get a free consultation, get your blood results looked at and can decide whether to stay with the clinic or not. The next doctor might be fabulous!

Keep strong Kathleen. Sending hugs. X

[Gnatty]

Just to add, I have been very happy with my Dr at NH. Jill Crowfoot. I feel properly listened to and when I have had queries in between consultations she has always written me detailed emails within a day or two.

[pepperminty]

Hi,

just to add that I had a zoom appointment with NH, and my partner sat in with me. He was disappointed with it all - as was I. We were told " at NH we only do this here". They were not open to any ideas or suggestions . It was very conveyor belt and also the specialist could not answer any complex questions - I do not think she knew - it seemed a bit scripted.

But I am sure that they do help those who have no access to HRT and when they were a small concern they were great for complex cases.

 You may want to look at magnesium for anxiety, but not mag' oxide. 400mg a day spaced out in 100mg is apparently  a good dose started slowly and built up. But always check with the GP that is is ok etc.

And counselling of CBT helps - so does meditation.


PMxx

[Dawnp]

It’s strange isn’t it that NH won’t offer any advice on a bit more of a holistic level; given that menopause usually needs addressing from all angles. Their clinicians are mostly GPs so they should have the knowledge about other medications if hrt isn’t working for certain symptoms. And Louise N was on tv this morning talking about mental health and menopause!

[Kathleen]

Hello again ladies.

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to respond.

I am still trying to decide what to do for the future. The regime I am on currently is Sandrena gel, Androfeme and Cyclogest. Of those I believe only Sandrena gel is available on the NHS so if I returned to my GP I would have to change at least two products. There is now a menopause clinic at my local hospital so I could try approaching them.

Back  in January my NH doctor had said that there were still many options to try but on Tuesday she said that she was out of suggestions. I wonder if she just didn't want to start me on a new plan which might upset the doctor that I was being assigned to. If that is the case I am extra disappointed because I don't think my treatment should be compromised just because of a change in personnel.

Thoughout my fifteen months as a patient at NH I have been thinking about the advice I was given by an NHS gynae consultant who said that for some women on HRT, less is more and he advised me to gradually titrate down my dose of Oestrogen. This is a tricky one because when I came off all Oestrogen various symptoms returned, including night sweats, flushing and some VA. The worst by far was that  the mood changes and crying became more frequent and that is why I eventually threw in the towel and decided to contact NH and try HRT again. NH by contrast seemed to favour ever increasing doses of Oestrogen as well as minimum progesterone.

Sorry to go on ladies but as you can tell I am still trying to process all this.  NH  have now contacted me and arranged a follow up appointment with another doctor in June and I will decline nearer the time if I want to attend that appointment.

Thanks again everyone. Your comments and suggestions have been extremely helpful during a confusing time  and I am very grateful to you all.

Take care ladies.

K.

[Dawnp]

That’s an interesting comment from the gynae Kathleen. I can only speak for myself but I certainly haven’t got any better with increasing doses of patches. And in fact couldn’t tolerate the dose that NH wanted me to take. I’m currently reducing, but was on a high dose. I hope you find the right answer for you soon. x

[Marchlove]

Hi Kathleen

All I can say is that my specialist favours low doses of estrogen and progesterone. I’ve only been with her a few months but certainly am having a better result from this than the previous Studd regime, which almost took me out.

So, I’m sticking with low, slow and consistent. x

[Dawnp]

Hi Marchlove. I’m not sure if this is the place to ask but can I ask about your previous regime compared to your current one? Were you on higher doses that affected you badly? The reason I ask this is that I’m currently in a pretty bad way and struggling. X

[Marchlove]

Hi Dawnp

Yes, his normal one that to be honest is not any different to what you can get from your Gp, but it wasn’t continuous.
3 pumps of oestrogel and 200mg progesterone, reduced to 100mg, but still awful.

What are you taking at the moment? x

[Dawnp]

I was up to 200 patches and 100mg Utrogestan but now trying to find a progesterone I can tolerate. About to start Provera. And have just reduced to 175 patches, and will continue reducing.
Was it the Utrogestan that made you feel awful?
Can I ask what regime you are on now? x

[Marchlove]

Any Utrogestan to be honest! It’s good that your trying an alternative, that’s the only way you’ll find out what can suit.

I’m in the fortunate position of being on compounded progesterone so I’m taking low dosage, which is suiting me better, but still early days. xx

[Dawnp]

I’ve tried three different progesterones now but I’m intolerant so I’m struggling. I would like to try compounded but I don’t think I’ve got any way to access it. Would it need to be through a specialist private clinic?xx

[Marchlove]

Yes, unfortunately, although I did spot something, which I’m afraid I didn’t keep, mentioned on a Panay article, which suggested that compounded could be a possibility in rare situations of intolerance.

How rare??
I don’t know if other members have ever known compounded  being prescribed under the nhs? x