AIBU to think you shouldn't have to pay for that?

[vapourtrail]

I am in my early forties and after going through all the symptoms I recently went to the doctor for a blood test and was told that I was experiencing early menopause.
I was upset enough at this news as it was, then the Dr said that I would have to go on HRT as I would need the extra oestrogen for healthy bones. She said it wasn't really an option for someone in my position, going through it so early. I have no problems with this, and would actually welcome some hormones in my life. So off I went with my prescription.
At the chemist the pharmacist asked me if I was taking it for contraceptive or HRT and I said HRT. She said, ok if it was for contraceptive it would be free but for HRT I would have to pay for it. Am I BU for thinking that it should be free? I am going to have to be on this for maybe the next 20 years. If I was using it for sex, which, let's face it, is a choice, it would be free. But if I take it to stop my bones crumbling away then it isn't! And to top it all the pharmacist told me that it actually counted as a double prescription so charged my £17 for it!!
If this was a male thing I am sure this wouldn't be the case which makes me all as it feels like another woman tax. Aibu?

YABU- Move to Ireland where you’d have to pay cost instead of a nominal fee.

If a medical exemption card only made you exempt for that specific medication (e.g levothyroxine for hypothyroidism) this would surely defeat the point of making long term conditions exempt - the point being you are likely to develop other conditions for which you may need medication?

YANBU. Prescription charges are U. It's not like people are unwell for the fun of it. Hope you feel better soon.

I have to pay for glasses I need to see but I don't have to pay for hearing aids I need to hear. Go figure.

What other complications that require medication am I likely to get from correctly treated hypothyroidism? The doctor has never told me I'm likely to develop anything linked.

Is hrt really essential treatment for early menopause tbough? I was perimenopausal from about aged 40. Had last period at 45. No one has told me I need HRT
.

Moonandstars Yes it is for women with premature ovarian insufficiency, which is menopause before the age of 40. Although at 45 that doesn’t apply to you, you’re still a few years off usual menopausal age, so there’s no harm in looking at the NICE guidelines for menopause and discussing your options with your GP.

www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng23/chapter/Recommendations#diagnosing-and-managing-premature-ovarian-insufficiency

DGRossetti
I apologise. You are correct that campylobacter is not a virus. It is a bacterial infection that usually needs treatment with antibiotics.
That doesn't change the fact that there are people who for one reason or another cannot afford to treat themselves when they have an infectious condition and this is concerning to me.

Just seems weird that op was told hrt is a must and I wasn't. Guess it depends on doctors view on subject.
My bloods showed menopausal changed way before 45. 45 was when periods Finally stopped.

Thanks crystal

I am now 50 so golden period has now passed.

That doesn't change the fact that there are people who for one reason or another cannot afford to treat themselves when they have an infectious condition and this is concerning to me.

This happened to me once.

I was a student and working, totalled 80 hours working per week between paid job and placement. Which netted me barely minimum wage due to placement being unpaid.

Anyway, one week I got a chest infection on the Monday and went to GP and was told I needed antibiotics and given a prescription but I couldn't afford to buy the item (£7) I was that poor at the time. Every spare pound had to go into my car as I drove for my other job.

I didn't get paid until Friday so I just carried on for the week with a developing chest infection, which is pretty dangerous with asthma, fifteen hour workdays. I also couldn't afford to be off sick so it was pretty awful, I was out of breath constantly doing fairly physically taxing work (delivery driver).

I got paid Friday and got the script and took the meds and quickly got better. But it was an awful week of realising just how impossible it was to find seven quid for essential medication. I just didn't have it.

I wasn't eligible for free items either despite being on the bones of my arse as I was a student and so ineligible for any benefits, working tax credits, nothing. I wish there'd been a system where you can have the medication if you agree to come back and pay within a month or something, though of course I doubt that would ever happen as people would abuse it.

If I'd needed two medications I'd have been up shit creek.

I've never understood the logic behind charging people in England for prescriptions when the rest of the UK receive their medication at no charge.

Just the choice of the NHS board in the areas. Going by my cousin's experiences in Scotland with waiting times I'm not remotely jealous. My DD and hers have the same condition. She gets free prescriptions, but my DD's care is much better than hers. It's got to be paid for somehow and I personally wouldn't swap.

What I object to is that someone who is diabetic for example, gets all their medication free not just the diabetic associated ones.

The cost for someone to work out what on each script was associated and what wasn't would nullify any saving.

for example when my DD is having a bad time with her condition she's particularly prone to picking up other things - chest infections in particular so takes antibiotics far more regularly than other kids her age so would they be free or cost? Where do you draw the line in the 'associated' list?

A client of mine was in a bit of a financial crisis (unexpected big bill for her car, washing machine broke and a long wait for tax credits to be sorted) when she developed a chest infection. The doctor told her she needed ABs and prescribed, together with another item.

She couldn't afford to get them straight away and had to wait until pay day, which was a few days away.

Before she got paid, she developed pneumonia, was admitted to hospital and almost bloody died. She had 2 young kids who had to go into foster care.

If her prescription had been free, it would have saved the NHS a small fortune!