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?

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/

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.

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.

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

£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.

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

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?

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.

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

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

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.

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 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.

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.

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 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

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!