To be so annoyed with bloody paternalistic NHS

[MyKindHiker]

I am a lifetime migraine sufferer and as I'm getting closer to menopause they are getting worse in frequency and severity. At least half of all days I wake up with some form of aura, go through packs of nurofen and sumatriptan. Anyways it's been years since I considered any intervention other than just taking meds when one coming on (not necessary as not that frequent through adulthood), but I gather from talking to others there are some really effective meds available now which can prevent them entirely.

Go to GP who looks at recent bloodwork done to check my hormones and says as I'm still fertile and having periods, he can't prescribe in case I get pregnant while on them. I explain I have 2 kids and don't want more. In fact, can't technically have more anyway due to birth injury with second. And husband has had vasectomy to prevent accidental pregnancy as due to birth injury I could get pregnant but couldn't carry baby to anywhere near term. Which is beside the point as I do not want any more kids anyway.

Anyway doc says I still can't have the meds and the rule is for women of childbearing age the rule is they need to go to a special clinic with a 12 month waiting list and do all the steps first (elimination diet etc... I have TRIED THIS OVER 30 YEARS) and prove I'm not pregnant.

I mean what is with these people? If I was a man, I would have just got the meds to prevent a very debilitating condition. But because I'm a woman I can't have the meds 'in case' I become pregnant as though I'm just a uterus on legs who can't think for myself and decide not to become pregnant? Why is my word not enough that I will not have an affair with a non-vasectomied man and get myself up the spout. Ridiculous.

Ask a private doctor? Get a second opinion. Yes, you can take the pill beyond 37.

But neither can I!

My husband has had a vasectomy.
I cannot carry a pregnancy due to birth injury.

I'm sorry OP I have migraines too and they're a nightmare. 💐 This place, the national migraine centre, does remote appointments and can potentially prescribe the new migraine medications, it could be worth a try but unfortunately you do have to pay. https://www.nationalmigrainecentre.org.uk/
If private isn't an option I would try and find a new GP, maybe a woman would be better?
Treating women as if the only thing that matters is having children, and as if their own health and suffering are irrelevant compared to a non-existent fetus, is dreadful.
They should just offer you the treatment and warn you that it’s not advisable to get pregnant while on it. Anything more is massively overstepping, imo.

Yes, this! Thank you!

And thanks for the links x

Sumatriptan. Usually sold as Imigran. You want the nasal spray, not the tablets. It acts as a preventative if you take it as soon as symptoms appear. You can get it online without prescription but it's expensive so check with your GP first.

Yep.

And knowing a child with foetal valporate syndrome where the Mother insisted she couldn't possibly get pregnant but did and then had a child with severe disabilities might be why the GP doesn't want to take the risk.

I get that it's shit for OP but MN has frequent threads from OPs who were absolutely sure they wouldn't get pregnant and then did.

It is true that having migraine with aura is a risk factor than can prevent you from getting certain kinds of oral contraception. I've been denied the pill in the past and I ended up getting a copper coil to access certain medications. Others require an implant or injection which is usually sanctioned by the treating neurologist in tandem with specific medications.

Not being able to carry a baby doesn't mean you can't get pregnant.

And apparently 'I'm not the brightest spark'? 😳

Exactly

and a GP cant factor in what the husband is doing because the patient must be seen in complete isolation.

This is unfortunately how the NHS works. I'm grateful that I have a son with epilepsy not a daughter, the hoops girls are forced through to get certain meds, it's awful. Not one but two types of contraception with no consideration of their own health, and even then they are demeaned and often aren't trusted to manage their own fertility.
But if you are managing, I wouldn't be looking at topiramate unless you are desperate.

Good luck! 🙂

If you have migraine with aura you can't get the combined pill OP, but you can get the mini pill (unless you have other risk factors you haven't mentioned).

Is this that your GP won't prescribe the combined pill? Because if so, they are right- age and migraine history are against you.

You can have the progesterone only pill and if your migraine is cyclical it can be helpful in eliminating these.

If your GP isn't prescribing any migraine prevention that is very odd as there are so many of them.

Then you aren't trying very hard to understand. It really isn't difficult. OP wants to be appreciated by the medical profession as an intelligent woman who is able to make her own decisions and understand her own circumstances.

Also, you simply cannot just go in and order a hysterectomy. The NHS just doesn't work that way and there are many hoops that you normally have to jump through. Removal of fibroids, ablation, mirena coil, other long term medications too. Hysterectomy is seen as the final resort, and I am not saying that I agree with that because I don't necessarily.

I understand you OP. It is the patriarchy patronising women. They think we are all too stupid to know what is good for us, or what we need, or whether or not we know how to keep safe from getting pregnant (a successful vasectomy is extremely safe).

Ridiculous. Would you get a different answer if you had the means to go private? Do you have access to medical insurance that might cover it? Some doctors will see you privately and once a diagnosis or agreement is reached might then transfer you to their NHS clinics for ongoing prescriptions and check-ups.

Have you considered HRT? If your migraines are getting worse due to menopause, this could help.

So what? If OP or anyone else has an unwanted pregnancy they can just get an abortion, it's not 1950.

If it’s topiramate or sodium valproate then you need to be on a pregnancy prevention programme - your husband having a vasectomy doesn’t count.

www.gov.uk/drug-safety-update/topiramate-topamax-introduction-of-new-safety-measures-including-a-pregnancy-prevention-programme

A lot of people find the mini pill makes their migraine worse even with a good preventative in place. I can't use it due to this reason although it doesn't have the same risk as oral oestrogen.

If it’s topiramate or sodium valproate then you need to be on a pregnancy prevention programme - your husband having a vasectomy doesn’t count.

www.gov.uk/drug-safety-update/topiramate-topamax-introduction-of-new-safety-measures-including-a-pregnancy-prevention-programme

FWIW, topiramate worked incredibly well for my migraines and made all the difference in the world to my life. I know that it is Marmite and patients need to work with a neurologist to get it right. I am sorry it didn’t work for you, but we have no idea what OP’s experience would be.

I started it while on the coil in another country. OP’s situation sounds crazy, whether the concern is topiramate or something else.

I did have a hard time getting a migraine review with a neurologist upon moving to the UK. Finally after a period of degeneration I was under Neurology for a few years. Before then I had Neurology reviews every year or two and any problems were nipped in the bud.

OP, is your GP trying to manage your migraines? Perhaps a neurologist would take a more reasonable attitude? I don’t think asking for a Neurology referral to get around the contraceptive Catch 22 is good tactics, but perhaps you could ask on the grounds that your life is being badly disrupted. I haven’t looked nut I suspect there are online forums for British migraine sufferers that would give you some tips on how to get a referral.

Best wishes

Hi op have you seen a neurologist? I would suggest this as first point of call ask gp to refer you on nhs.

I'm with you here. I have been told not to attempt pregnancy as it would be too dangerous for me but in the next breath I am told I cannot be sterilised because I am too young and may want to have children! It's an absolute joke.

The flip side is if a child is born due to contraception failure with birth defects the parents will be sueing the nhs for prescribing, it happens.

we had to fight for dsds meds similar reasons but hospital consultant could authorise

Although if you can't find a better option OP you could see if the Dr will prescribe the meds along with the mini pill, and then just not take the pill. The Dr has no way of knowing if you don't take it.