Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[EmmyWemmy]

The doctor was actually older than me, and already been through menopause! She was basically saying it wasn't peri because I haven't had a hot flush or night sweats.  She just suggested that I could take the combined pill to make my periods regular. But I can't take that because I get aura migraines.

[CLKD]

Which she should be aware of ?

May I laugh - why do too many GPs still insist that women have to experience flushes and loss of periods ....... despite the British Menopause Society supposedly eductating health professionals 

As sheila99 suggests ........ lay it on thick.  Your GP wants hot flushes, then give them to her!  Or change your GP as well as letting the Practice Manager be aware of that attitude.  Is there a Nurse Practitioner who might my more sense at your Surgery?

[EmmyWemmy]

I asked to see a women's health specialist when I rang up and the receptionist didn't know what I was on about, even though there's a whole page on menopause on their website where they mention having two docs at their surgery who are women's health specialists! I've never seen this doctor before (she wasn't one of the ones listed). I'll give it a month or so and then I'll lay it on.

edited to add, sorry, they lost half my health records when I moved house. There is no longer even any info about me being diagnosed coeliac on my medical records either. Last I heard was they were trying to find my records. So she wouldn't know about my migraines (even though I've told my other doc, and the physio lady).

[CLKD]

That's really bad!  Do u have copies of appropriate letters that you could add to your lost records? 

[EmmyWemmy]

Yep, I've added my coeliac diagnosis letter because I noticed in my notes my doc had put 'unsure if coeliac' even though I'd told him I was diagnosed coeliac.

I'll just let them know about my migraines when I go again. There is another doctor at the surgery who knows more about HRT according to their website, so I think I'll ask to see her when I go again.

[CLKD]

Make an appt in good time because once she's found as someone who knows a little about peri, she will have long waiting lists   

How were your records stored?  Do keep copies for your own files ;-)

[bombsh3ll]

Emmy I think it would be helpful before your next appointment to consider the available options and go with an idea of what you want, and just ask for it.

For example you said you can't take the combined pill because of migraines, but either the desogestrel mini pill or the mirena IUS are still on the table that can get rid of your periods. Estrogen can be used simultaneously with these although you would in theory need an additional progestogen for endometrial protection with the mini pill.

Or you might just want cyclical combined MHT which relieves low estrogen symptoms and aims to regulate bleeding.

They only have 8-10 minutes so asking outright for what you want can really help. Also print off the relevant section of the NICE guidelines regarding perimenopause treatment if they seem uninformed.

As others have said, if all your doctor understands about menopause is hot flushes, then sometimes you just have to meet them where they are at and say you're having them.

[EmmyWemmy]

Thank you, I will look into all that.

[CLKD]

Make that List