To be absolutely furious at bloody incompetent GP?

Please excuse if this has been suggested already -

That "doctor" might not be a real doctor.

There is a grade of pseudo-medic being stealth introduced into NHS, within GP and hospital settings. They are called physician assistants/physician associates. PA for short.

Emily Chesterton died last year because a PA did not realise the significance of her problem. She had a clot on the lung.

There is a government scheme called ARRS (lovely acronym🤣) that pays for PA, physiotherapist, paramedic and nurses to work in GP setting. This is basically free money in the eyes of the managing partners - it's separate from their budget. Real doctors are exempt from this funding.

Be warned. Unless you know 100% what is wrong with you, do not settle for second class service. Out of solidarity to real doctors, I'd encourage you to refuse the PA - it's like Smart Motorways and Post Office Horizon rolled into one!

I was the same and then had the opportunity to trial Gina which you can buy over the counter at Boots and it made a lot of difference!
https://www.mygina.co.uk/real-experiences/alexs-story/ that is my story

I'm not a medical person, but it doesn't sound like it - LS is a vulval/anal condition. Always worth getting it checked out though if it's persistent (and if you can get an appointment😣!)

I'm not ignoring anything you have said OP but I have a suggestion.

Itching in this area can be a symptom or type 2 diabetes.

IMHO it is worth having a blood test.

You can buy ovestin online, that's how I get mine as my GP will only prescribe vagifem pessaries, not the cream even though a private GP recommended using both, the pessaries inside & the cream outside. It's about £25 online.

Ignore Alcoholswab the doctor is there to prescribe medications and she is in agony for months and doctor did not write up her notes right. You are the only one moaning and being unreasonable so you are not offering any advise at all.

You poor woman is shocking from doctor. Had the same with my doctor wanted to send me to gynae before he would give me hrt which he refused when I was 48 & 52. In the end got it from well woman clinic/Family planning. I was itching for weeks at one stage like you and so hard not to scratch which makes it worse. I started using utrogestron vaginally and seemed to help and changed to a different brand of pads also. Hope you get sorted, if I were you would just buy online as others have done on here as seems shocking you cannot get a doc appointment. Well done for saying not getting examined again by male doctor, as seems incompetent that she the first doc did not write up notes properly.

My GP prescribed me Ovestin. No need to see a gynae.

Hi

yes I think you should see your gp. It’s causing you issues and even if it’s something simple and easily treated the things you have tried on your own haven’t worked and you shouldn’t have to live like that.

good luck @Teenagehorrorbag

She went to her GP.. ??

What exactly do you think they are there for?

Should we say thank you for being fobbed off and for our time to be wasted, our health compromised by inadequate treatment??

Clearly we just want to moan!

I'm glad someone is complaining!

Hope you don't get rubbish treatment one day, but if you do, make sure you don't moan or complain.

Never heard of lichen sclerosis but now you have me worried.

I've had a line of hard, rough skin inside my left buttock for months now, thought it was a sort of 'nappy rash' (sweat etc) but no cream seems to fix it. It's really itchy too. Should I see my GP?

May I send you a direct message, please? Only problem is, I can’t see how to do it if you are willing.

£25 is a lot of money for some people. And that's not really the point is it, the GP is supposed to deal with all medical issues, not just the ones they fancy treating.

The GP I spoke to had literally never heard of topical/local oestrogen and was under the impression that women could only start any form of HRT once they had been through the menopause and been without periods for 2 years

Appalling, but not surprising.

The OP could get the cream online but just wants to moan.

Some GPs understanding of HRT and menopause is shocking.
Slightly different, but I asked about vaginal oestrogen due to persistent UTIs ( I'm 48 and peri). NICE guidelines state this is a gold standard treatment which should be made available to all women affected.
The GP I spoke to had literally never heard of topical/local oestrogen and was under the impression that women could only start any form of HRT once they had been through the menopause and been without periods for 2 years🤷‍♀️.
To say I was not happy was an understatement. He asked me how to find out about NICE guidelines and said he'd look into it. Cue a strong written complaint about his evident knowledge gap.
I got the oestrogen in pessary form with an email of apology (its also possible to buy over the counter under the brand name Gina I've since found out), big help all round, definitely much more soothed as well as less infection issues. The point is you do have to push as some doctors just don't seem to have the knowledge.

Does your doctor have reference in your notes to CSA and to be sensitive to this?

If they have failed to maintain proper notes this is an issue. I think increasingly we have to try to advocate for ourselves and push- if they aren't accurate it reflective if what you have been told you should complain, it means so much doctor time is wasted where information is missing If you can make an appointment with another GP I would do this but explain everything in the e consult thing if you have it in advance.

Absolutely agree! How frustrating OP! And how ridiculous also.. this is one of the reasons why I really don't trust GP's. It seems like very few of them actually want to help people.

And those apologists who defend not listening to a female patient, are one of the reasons we get treated like this!!

It's absolutely ridiculous in this day and age..
I do hope our daughters actually are listened to and get heard.

Those defending the GP's decision to prescribe a steroid cream ... ?? and 'rules' which they know nothing about are certainly not going to help in this...

Most GPs just seem to follow a flow chart without any intelligent input themselves sadly.

OP — you can buy it online from pharmacies including SuperDrug and Pharmacy Online. You fill out a health questionnaire for a doctor to review and approve, and they send it — it’s about £20.

https://www.pharmacyonline.co.uk/online-doctor/vaginal-dryness/

The GP may have said it looks like it may be VA, rather than it is VA. That would explain her prescribing an alternative treatment in the first instance.

Given OP had already self-diagnosed, she'll have latched onto any mention of VA as being the actual diagnosis rather than it being an actual diagnosis. That supports a VA diagnosis not having been recorded.

That's my theory anyway.

My GP prescribed me Ovestin without any exams.

I'd go to a different GP surgery tbh

Never ever disagree with the GP then? Know your place, middle aged woman, put up with your sore and shrivelled vag which could be easily cured with cream, because the doctor knows best. 🙄

there are some very good, clued up GPs. There are others who might be experts on diabetes or asthma but haven’t the first idea about menopause. When confronted with one of those doctors, the ideal solution would be for the gp to admit their ignorance and refer to a colleague or nurse specialist but that never happens, does it?

a good friend is currently being given the choice of lumpectomy or mastectomy for dcancer. She is being trusted to make the decision. But the op’s GP won’t even work with her to prescribe a very low risk treatment like oestrogen cream???

it’s a bloody disgrace.

Hmmn. You've seen two independent GPs - neither of whom agree with you.

There's a possibility their combined 14 years training and career experience makes them a little more knowledgeable on your condition than you deciding what you want or think and matching it to NICE guidance.

It makes no difference to the GPs whether you're prescribed oestrogen or hydrocortisone treatment - unless of course one is not suitable for your condition.

But without any medical training you've decided exactly the treatment you need - despite two GP's not agreeing with you. And refusing to be examined a second time.

Since you didn't even like the advice of the first female GP, why not call every day to try to get an appointment with any female GP and start the consultation from the beginning.

If they want you to try one thing for 2 weeks - try it - but ask to have a follow up appointment put in your consultation notes.

But you know you're not doing yourself any favours by being rude and stroppy and not willing to listen to any medical advice that is given.

An issue with one GP could be an issue with that GP. An issue with two GPs - maybe it's you who are the problem.

https://www.theindependentpharmacy.co.uk/menopause-hrt

I use this website quite alot, really quick service and lots of medication available. Might be worth a look, more expensive than NHS prescription but the convenience outweighs that IMO.

Yep! I was prescribed topical oestrogen purely by symptom description

I had the same with my female GP about 4 years ago. I was in so much pain and like you bleeding. In the end I paid privately to see a gynaecologist who prescribed vagifem, diprobase to wash with and a steroid cream for flare ups. I now get the prescription on the NHS as the gynae wrote to my GP. If you can afford a private appt would be worth it (sorry if you’ve already mentioned this I’ve not RTFT). Otherwise just try and see someone else at your surgery.

But this does seem to be yet another example of NHS saying a silly little woman not knowing her own body. Can GPs please just listen to us? And comply with the NICE guidelines.

Now wouldn't that be lovely.

Every menopausal woman has a horror story about what a GP said to her, or refused to prescribe to her, or having to be ridiculously assertive about it, or go armed with information downloaded online, or how someone like Davina McColl or Mariella Frostrup gave better advice than supposedly trained medical professionals.

As the wonderful Jo Brand said: "Did you hear the joke about HRT? Nobody gets it first time".