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.

The same circumstances re migraine; not pregnancy, obviously.

If the pregnancy is terminated anyway, the danger from the drug is irrelevant.

Vasectomy is considered a long acting contraception.

As you know, a few minutes can be vital.

I don’t think that fulfills the criteria required for the safe prescription of the medication she requires.
It’s a medico legal issue- the prescriber is taking responsibility for making sure the patient doesn’t accidentally get pregnant so people get twitchy when guidance isn’t followed. I wonder if they would accept a signed disclaimer from OP…

Yeah… if necessary we can check fsh/lh to see if you’re post menopausal…

I know you’ve said you’ve tried everything @MyKindHiker but have you tried a ketogenic lifestyle? That completely resolved my migraines and I was dependent upon triptans to just get through.
I do agree that the whole healthcare set up is almost anti women, we endure pain at every turn that men would not tolerate.

@Paganpentacle But the pill is definitely not failsafe - I've fallen pregnant on it with 100% correct use.

Really? What about the mirena coil? Lots of us have it in our 40s and even 50s for menopause.

To the people defending this paternalistic attitude, do you seriously think that various medication doesn't also impact sperm and cause problems for a potential baby?

@Chinsupmeloves It makes far more sense for a husband to have a vasectomy (and far more effective) than his wife remaining on hormonal contraceptives until menopause. I am glad my husband didn't expect that of me.

Not read the full thread but I was put onto oral contraception in my early 40s and was offered all the hormonal contraceptive options after my newborn’s birth 8 weeks ago. Who on earth told you that you couldn’t have the pill?

Nothing to not get. Men can't get pregnant, men and women are different. End of story.

There have been issues, and still can be, for women that are real. This isn't one of them. Using the real ones to try and legitimise nonsense should rightly be ridiculed.

Is it topirimate? You don’t have to be on contraception to get topirimate, based on my experience. I think last time I was asked I might have said my migraines were effective contraception. You can’t take certain oral contraceptives with it if you’re planning to rely on them for contraception as it can impair the efficacy so you have to use something else.
Maybe just try another doctor?

Unfortunately I would just get sterilised.

Men can get women pregnant and their sperm can be impacted by medication, so why is it different?

YANBU I totally understand and it's infuriating and frustrating.

I recently had a phone appointment with a male pharmacist to renew my HRT prescription. Despite the mansplaining, it was clear that he had no idea how combined HRT patches actually worked and he asked me several times whether I still wanted to be using it. Well of course I bloody do otherwise why bother with the consultation 🙄.
The outcome was that I had to be referred back to the surgery and they would contact me to arrange an appointment. So, no prescription yet and surgery appointments like hens teeth, what a waste of everyone's time 🙄.

Double post

This doesn't make much sense. Female hormones make fibroids grow.

But the risk is not to the patient, but to a hypothetical, future foetus that cannot be carried to term anyway. So the serious risk is to a being that cannot exist.

No because she can't carry a pregnancy.
Even if she could, the risks to a human not yet existing shouldn't be placed above the health of a person who already exists.

I don’t think that’s true. I was on the pill up until I went on HRT and I was 50 then.

I completely agree 👍 For me the coil is more to help with period pains. Xx

My migraines stopped completely when I had my hysterectomy. They were hormone related.

OP I don’t know if you’re still checking this thread but I wanted to chip in with my experience. I’m prescribed something called Candesartan for my migraine (and Sumatriptan for when it doesn’t quite work!). I was 35 when it was prescribed by my GP on recommendation from a neurologist. For years I had put up with GPs insisting I take the pill for my migraine despite me telling them it made my migraine worse and made me think about ending my own life. I mean, come on! Fucking pill.

Anyway I digress. The neurologist told me he always advises against ‘hormonal preparations’ as ‘9 out of ten times it makes things worse’. I asked, can you tell GPs that, because they’re obsessed.

This drug can cause birth defects. I played ball and went to the sexual health clinic at the insistence of my GP, to talk about getting the coil. I talked things through with the doctor there who saw sense and said that she wasn’t happy to fit me with a coil and I had a very sensible approach to contraception. So I got the Candesartan and it has been life changing. I think sometimes it’s a matter of standing your ground but more to do with the Dr you get, unfortunately. I should say all the docs I saw bar the neuro were women! It’s infuriating. The line I used was ‘I’ve had zero accidental pregnancies in the last 35 years, why would I suddenly start having them now.’

This is very long way of saying, try to fight on and ask to another doctor. I wish you the very best of luck 💪