URGENT - Itchy bits Update!

[ItchDrivingMeInsane]

So further to my thread of a few days ago, complaining that my GP put a menopausal woman already on HRT with clear symptoms of vagina atrophy on skin thinning extra strong hydrocortisone cream rather than topical oestrogen cream which causes less harm and would probably have resolved my discomfort, I just had a telephone appointment with an ‘advanced nurse practitioner’ who stated that I must have a further intimate examination before anything else will be prescribed and if I do not wish to have one, they can only refer me to a gynaecologist!

She stated that they need to see if the hydrocortisone has thinned the skin any further and made it any worse!

Also that me being in unnecessary discomfort for 12+ months waiting for a gynaecologist appointment was ‘out of their hands’.

So I am basically being forced into an unnecessary vaginal examination despite me clearly stating to the nurse that I had experienced trauma from CSA and topical oestrogen cream does not need an examination to be prescribed.

She also asked sarcastically if I was a medical person myself obviously not happy that I have done a bit of research on my symptoms.

I could not get Ovestin online as it was only coming up with estradiol cream for £55 which I can’t really afford as a can’t work due to being a carer to 2 disabled DC. DH works so we get little in the way of benefits to replace my wage and he just needed some work on his car as failed MOT.

I do actually get free prescriptions anyway as I have hypothyroidism (does not affect HRT) so thought I’d wait for the telephone consultation this AM and would get it that way!

Appointment is at 12.30. What shall I say? I am so angry! Down below is quite sore at the moment as itching got worse as well.

First thread below.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5059260-to-be-absolutely-furious-at-bloody-incompetent-gp?page=6&reply=134750026

Just get the examination and start treatment. Absolutely no need to start a separate thread about this ffs.

You are not a Doctor your "research" is googling.

It’s fair enough that they want to examine you before you have another prescription. If you wait for a gynaecologist you’ll also need to be examined - no one finds it pleasant but needs must.

I can understand why they need to examine you as steroid cream can be quite damaging. You might need something else instead of, or with, your hrt cream.

Sorry OP, but I really do think they need to check, however... they should offer you their best, most patient, female nurse/doctor who will spend time with you rather than rushing it.

What do you say?
Tk fk i got an apt. Thats all.
Let them do what they need to do what with it being their job and get off google.

If you get a gynae referral, they to will want to examine you too.

You're not going to get this prescription without an examination, and it does sound necessary due to the potential damage from the hydrocortisone cream. You may need something else as well.

It makes sense to agree to the examination with the GPs surgery, as that will result in you getting the cream asap.

I really don't understand what you're so angry about - and yes, I also have issues from CSA - they're trying to help you, and you're refusing to let them, whilst complaining that they're not helping.

I get you don't want to have an examination, but you need one, so you need to decide if you'd rather have the examination or continue with the symptoms and have no treatment, because being realistic, those are your choices.

Come on op, just get the examination done then you can get yourself on the correct medication. Honestly, it will take 30 seconds.

Good luck, you can do it.

Why the additional thread 🙄

As somebody has already said, if you see a gynaecologist they will examine you anyway so you might as well do that with your doctor. Also, it’s not a vaginal examination, just a quick look at your bits to see if the skin is thinning and what is the most appropriate treatment. With respect, no amount of googling can tell you this, someone needs to look .Get yourself to the doctor, it’ll be quick, and let them do their job.

It seems rather like you're cutting off your nose to spite your face, as the saying goes.

You'll need another examination whatever happens. That's the reality. Why not accept it and get the cream asap?

I know you have trauma, but fighting them over this will achieve nothing but stress and worsening symptoms.

Also as an aside , my local advanced nurse practitioner is helping me with something at the moment, she’s bloody marvellous! They are very well qualified, and take the pressure off GP’s , meaning more appointments available for us .

I feel you're being difficult. Just imagine if a nurse or doctor just gave anyone what they asked for after being told
"No need to examine me again or do what you think is best, I've been on google and I know my stuff"
"Ok, thanks for doing my job for me, here you go"
🙄

You're being absolutely ridiculous. Of course they need to examine you before prescribing. Why do you think being able to type things into Dr Google qualifies you to know otherwise? And did this really need a separate thread?

Ask them just to look rather than actually examine you physically as surely this is something they can easily see ?

An examination will be much quicker and way less uncomfortable than a smear or giving birth. You must have had the former at least?

Topical oestrogen is not going to be harmful though is it?
It’s not like prescribing antibiotics.
And describing the victim of csa as difficult is pretty low imo.

Ive just been to docs for a similar thing. Had the examination and was happy to be prescribesld estradiol cream. However i cant the get the bloody cream anywhere. No chemist has it anywhere locally so im back on pessaries that dont do much. Docs just said if i can find a chemist who stocks it or can order it they will send a prescription to that chemist but they arent bothering and i dont have the time to ring around!!

@MonsieurSpade are you a medical professional ?

I was before I retired.

I am so sorry that you have been victimised and traumatised by CSA. The consequences of those experiences run far and deep 💐

Absolutely, perhaps there wasn’t a need for a second thread but the op has a quite frankly unarguable reason to want to avoid further intimate examinations. Especially when it’s apparent that the op’s own research is valid - half the times GPs google things themselves anyway! And then there’s the whole ‘doctors don’t take female health issues seriously/have little to no medical knowledge unless specialists in the field’ which is a huge problem for any girl/woman in general.

The OP is talking about vaginal oestrodial cream, not HRT gel.

Op, I do think you should have got it on your first visit, however you didn't so just do the internal now.

She’s angry because she already was examined for this, the atrophy was verbally noted, but that doctor did not write this in the notes, so she is having to be examined again. If the prev doctor had written down what they observed, she likely wouldn’t need to have to be reexamined.

OP you are totally justified in being angry but I think another examination is the only way to move forward now, as they stupidly didn’t make notes last time.

I’d be angry too.

No one examined me before prescribing it. They accepted my symptoms.

Rather than get as stressed about this as you are and waiting for your GP for as long as you have -why do you just not go into a chemist/ pharmacy, speak to the pharmacist and buy the OTC vaginal atrophy treatment Gina?
You would then be able to start immediately.