To think it's useless going to the GP about women's problems

[Mamabear04]

I've been having terrible PMS since having my second child and it's getting progressively worse to the point of when I have a heavy bleed all I want to do is climb back into bed and dissappear (I don't because I'm too busy so can't). I don't have any other MH problems, it's only when I have my period. I went to the GP today which was a huge step for me because I HATE going for women's problems. I'd read up on it and expected she would change me to the pill from the copper coil to sort out my hormones (I had the copper coil after my first child and the heavy periods settled after about 6 months and I felt really good with it). Instead she basically said she can give me antidepressants and if I wanted to change contraception I would have to make another 2 appointments with the advance nurse practitioner. The GP didn't even discuss the pill options which seemed so odd to me. I also had some blood tests done a few weeks ago but didn't hear anything back, she said my iron was low (under 50 whatever that means) but didn't want to prescribe me iron tablets? Oh and she let slip that the receptionist said my appointment was to do with the menopause even though I said over the phone while making the appointment that it was about menstrual problems(I am only in my mid 30s). AIBU to think going to the GP is actually pointless? I've had so many instances like this and I just feel so disheartened.

I'm too tired to discuss all the horrendous ways I've been dismissed over the decades and the resulting consequences to my health but it's shit. OP. Monumentally SHIT.

I wish someone had told me in my late teens to start putting a savings pot aside for my future health needs. The misogyny within the healthcare system is institutionalised. It's across all fields. Women needs are dismissed, too many times a woman has to go playing GP Blind Date to find one who will take her issues seriously.

Older women are feeling forced into taking their husbands or children with them to appointments, like they have no agency in order to be taken seriously.

Young women are giving each other advice on Social Media about removing their make-up and dressing down before entering the GP office or risk being told 'they look well'

You can ask your gp to refer you to haematologist.

My GP was dreadful. She gave me a potent antipsychotic off label for severe anxiety and insomnia and told me not to look up the side effects. I was subsequently injured by it and now have a permanent neurological involuntary movement disorder. It's shitty. I always do my own research now and don't trust doctors much at all. Most have gaslit me.

I've been having quite heavy and long break through bleeding (for me - 1 week+, much longer then usual) on the minipill all of a sudden. Been feeling increasingly exhausted as the week has gone on and hardly able to do anythinge coupled with some other symptoms (heart palpitations, feeling weak/tired a lot, breathless at times). I'm concerned I might be anemic but when I rang up at 8am on the dot this morning for an appointment I was told that my symptoms weren't of great concern and the soonest I could be seen was next week due to "capacity issues".

I didn't know quite what to say to that really and just begrudgingly accepted that appointment...didn't really feel like I could argue with the receptionist.

My experience is that nurse practitioners are way better at this sort of thing.

Even though I had a massive family history of autoimmune disease, my gp refused to listen and told me I had PND. Even though my hair fell out, I had palpitations and eventually ended up in hospital. At which point I was diagnosed immediately with Hashimotos and was in a massive thyroid storm.

17 years later I eventually got signed off from hospital endocrinology. With a medication that took that long to fine tune, with experts and a LOT of fighting.

Then, I hit menopause. My medication needs adjustment. The crap local endocrinologist tella me its because my levels are out of whack. They are not. I'm menopausal. You need to listen. He doesn't listen.

Luckily, my new GP listens to the complaint I made and I am now allowed to co tinue with my medication PLUS hrt.

If I had not been a stubborn asshole my whole life I would literally have died from thyroid collapse.

Now i'm dealing with my senile mum and honestly, it's horrifying how she gets treated.

Gps need to LISTEN to women.

I tracked my cycle for 12 months and researched myself to discover I have pmdd. I went to the gp and was referred for scans to show adenomyosis. I was given sertraline for the pmdd and eventually the mirena coil.

I have never been able to take contraception before as always had a bad reaction but I feel like I must need it now to thin my womb lining so it's working well.

The sertraline helps to stop me being so anxious and short tempered - I'm on the lowest dose so it's not really therapeutic but I feel like it really does help.

I feel these days we need to figure out what's wrong with us and take it to the gp as otherwise you just get fobbed off.

I just wanted to respond to a pp - I’m not arguing with your experience at all of course, but a lovely locum literally saved my life about ten years ago when the GPs all ignored and insulted me. Just like with any of the staff the locums can really vary in attitude too.

I'd ask for a different doctor next time. If the one you saw wasn't the lead doctor then ask for them. My mum had a bad experience with a young male GP who was so embarrassed and awkward that he didn't examine her properly when she had severe rectal and vaginal pain. He basically sent her away saying he couldn't see anything? He didn't even feel or look to any meaningful degree. And looked like he was about to cry with embarrassment.
Luckily the next one she got was much more thorough and professional.
If you are really not confident with any of them then switch practices. Look at reviews and ask around locally for feedback.

@BobbyBiscuits that GP is a disgrace and shouldn't be in medicine if he's not prepared to deal with people's bits!

I remember years ago a GP acquaintance of mine saying that about a quarter of their appts were for mental health, a quarter for "downstairs issues" (male and female) and all the rest combined was the other half! Fingers up bums before 10am was the norm!

@Tumblingjungleofchaos yeah, he was crap. That anecdote from your GP friend sounds about right! 😂

Go to a sexual health clinic instead. You're luckily that your periods settled on the copper coil- mine were horrible!

Not my experience at all. My GP was very sympathetic when I went to discuss horrendous PMT symptoms despite being on the implant. I thought she'd fob me off and send me away with antidepressants but she was really nice and discussed all my options with me.