To be absolutely furious at bloody incompetent GP?

[ItchDrivingMeInsane]

I am menopausal and have had itchy bits for about 6 months now. Tried absolutely everything and despite being on HRT thought I probably need a topical oestrogen gel.

It is driving me insane, I am sore and often bleed down there!

Went to see female GP, was examined and told atrophy present but she wanted me to try a hydrocortisone cream first as it may be dermatitis. I tried to argue a bit and say can you just give me the oestrogen cream to try but she said I’d need a referral to a gynaecologist. I tried to talk about NICE guidelines but she wasn’t having it. She made an appointment for two weeks later to see how steroid cream had worked.

That appointment was rescheduled as I was told she was going to be off sick so I had an appointment with a locum male doctor. I told him the steroid cream had slightly reduced the itching but it was still continuing. Again asked for oestrogen gel but he wanted to examine me again. I refused as said lady doctor had said atrophy was present (really didn’t want to get my bits out again!) at last appointment so surely that should be enough but he said she hadn’t put this in my notes.

He said he’d send a task for another appointment to be booked with her when she came back after sick leave.

That was 2 months ago. I was told that another appointment was not booked and I need to call in to get an appointment on the day on the two days a week that she works. Been trying that for a few weeks but all appointments are gone by the time I get through!

I honestly am fit to lose my shit tomorrow.

AIBU that I should have just been prescribed what my symptoms matched and according to NICE guidelines?

And yes you can get some HRT things like the creams online. But why should women have to go to that additional expense - a tube of Ovestin is going to cost you £20 to £25 online, plus the private prescription fee. Is it really too much to expect that a family GP knows the basics of menopause and how to treat it?

Women don’t have to go to any additional expense. They just need to let the GP do their job.

You have a choice to pay privately if you don’t want a medically qualified professional examining you.

It’s quite insulting to doctors to label a medical examination as ‘peering’ at genitalia. This type of thinking is why OP left without her prescription.

She'd already had an examination, she shouldn't have to have an unnecessary second one just because the first doctor was too slack to update her notes properly.
That's also a spurious comparison re. the benylin as it's an OTC product. The point is that she can get her prescription as desired from Superdrug without getting her bits out.

But @StormingNorman that is the whole point of the thread - the GP has not been doing her job. Because she diagnosed vaginal atrophy, didn't record that on OP's notes, prescribed steroids which unsurprisingly had zero effect, and said that to get oestrogen cream the OP would need to see a hospital gynaecologist!!

If that's "doing your job properly" i'd hate to see your definition of being a bit clueless.

I buy my own ovestin cream and don't bother the doctor with it because I just can't be bothered to go through the rigmarole you describe

It's pricey at £25 a pop but you need such a small amount and a tube lasts me a couple of months. I buy via Superdrug online doctor usually and it's very straightforward

So yeah in an ideal world we'd all be listened to and cared for properly. But we are not in an ideal world these days especially so gen yourself up and purchase it online

It's a micro dose and. Nothing to be concerned about

@Misthios there is no consulting fee btw, just so you're clear. You'll pay £25 just for the cream and it's very simple

Oh OP - just seen you've posted in AIBU! That was a bit silly.

Ask MN to move this to the women's health board where you'll get nuanced responses

The second exam is necessary because the first doctor didn’t put the diagnosis in the notes. You cannot expect a doctor to provide a script for a prescription only medication without satisfying themselves it’s needed.

Your conflating points and doctors to your own ends. Re-read what I wrote. I was talking about the second doctor and doctors in general. I haven’t spoke. About the first doctor because whatever she did or didn’t do is bye the bye now. The diagnosis isn’t in the medical notes so the second doctor needs to start from scratch and do his job properly.

Assume you want to report the first GP not the second?

You cannot expect a doctor to provide a script for a prescription only medication without satisfying themselves it’s needed.

So why don't the doctors at Superdrug carry out an examination of the genitals before prescribing the identical prescription-only medication?

I had very similar symptoms, drove me crazy, went to gp who gave me a fungal cream, steroid cream fucidin and clairithromycin. Itching stopped almost immediately. It was a Staphylococcus infection. Any orifice that's burning/itching which is relentless think of the possibility of Staphylococcus.

Not to burst your bubble but the gynae waiting lists is over 18 months long in my area. Shocking.

@PrimalLass I'm in the UK at my GP practice I consented to view my medical notes and now I can see every single consultation, vaccination , results, prescriptions etc since the day I was born, this is all available on the NHS app, it's very useful and I always check after I've had a medical appointment.

Probably because there are GPs wasting time by referring people who need oestrogen cream for vaginal atrophy.

We don't have this in Scotland, we don't have any sort of app and online anything is on a practice by practice basis. All I can do online at my practice is request repeat prescriptions (limited, my HRT is not on that list) and cancel an appointment which I've already made. We definitely can't see test results, make appointments, see notes or anything else.

https://onlinedoctor.superdrug.com/estriol-cream.html

can you afford to buy this? Shouldn’t have to. My GP chucks oestrogen cream at menopausal woman.

Ah thank you. As @Maltybiscuit says we don't have this in Scotland.

Mine only goes back to 2016?

@Nonewclothes2024 mine go back to the 70s , I like looking through as you forget over the years what you've been for or been tested for etc

I'm sorry to hear you don't have this access in Scotland , I think it's your absolute right to be able to access your own Information.

Could be Lichen Sclerosis. Has this ever been suggested?

Can’t you buy this? I tortured myself over the G.P’s refusal to prescribe HRT. I had no idea you could get it from Boots.

If it were men it would be free and easily available.

I had similar op. I thought it was thrush that wouldn't go away. There is a reason pharmacists query thrush medication in over 60s and that is because of the possibility of vaginal atrophy. I knew nothing of this. My GP prefers phone appointments and kept prescribing me courses of canesten pessaries.

I saw a young GP locum who was terrible. He examined me and complained I had not covered myself up with my coat. I was given nothing to cover myself with. He made me feel ashamed. He said he did not know what on earth it was but it was not thrush. I suggested VA and he seemed baffled. He sent off some tests but when I rang for results would not speak to me and said I had to wait 3 weeks for a telephone appointment - during which he helpfully told me he was baffled. I again suggested VA. He replied he thought it was and prescribed estradiol. I could not get on with this, it is very messy so be warned here op.

I went to see a pharmacist who went through a questionnaire and I got Gina. This took some time to work but I feel a whole lot better. I just get it offline now from a reputable pharmacy company. I did make an appointment for a 12 month checkup with a female GP. Waited four weeks, then they cancelled, and no other appointments for 4.5 weeks. Told me they had rung me but no message on my phone.

I do hope you get sorted op.

I had v.atrophy diagnosed by a nurse at a smear test. I was prescribed estriol cream with a follow up appointment with her to see how I was getting on. I had 3 weeks to use it every day and now use it twice a week. It has made a huge difference to my life, honestly. The nurse at the surgery has put it onto a repeat prescription. I don’t know why you would have to wait for a gynaecology appointment. It seems like they are making this unnecessarily difficult for you.