What do I ask the g.p. about menopause?

[CeliaChristmasFete]

I'm 41 and have been having perimenopause symptoms since September. My last period was the end of October. I've got a g.p. appointment but what can she do? What can I ask her?

well why have you made an appt? - you must know what you want to ask!

In a way, there is no need for you to see your GP. peri meno is not an illness.

Sorry to tell you but peri meno can last 10 years. Not in everyone, but the dwindle of hormones can last for along time and TBH if you have just missed 1 period, I don't know what you hope the dr to do or say.

She will tell you to keep a diary of periods, and if they stop altogether before you are 45, then you should consider HRT to protect your bones.
she might also offer you HRT if your peri symptoms become unbearable so that your quality of life suffers- due to flushes, sweats , insomnia etc etc.

But there is a HUGE amount you can do with lifestyle changes to help these peri symptoms.

my gynae has written a meno book - You change Your Choice, which is 50% conventional medicine and the rest complimentary -lifestyle advice- well worth a read.

The reason I made the g.p. appt was to see if they do blood tests to check for menopause or rule out other conditions. I felt a bit of a fraud making the appt. as like you say peri meno is not an illness so I did feel I should just get on with it. The sheer number of symptoms I've got though is overwhelming!
It's the quality of life stuff you mention that's bothering me. I can cope with hot flushes and mood swings (just!) but I can't tolerate incontinence! Not just when I sneeze/cough, but it's a constant dribble (nice!) which is really unbearable.

Your GP can take blood tersts to check hormone levels in your blood. They usually take them around day 21 to see if you have released an egg.

I'm waiting to get this done myself as for around 2 years i've been having hot flushes and since I had radioiodine ablation for thyroid cancer in April I haven't had a proper period, 2 days and it's hardly anything. Endocinologist has told me the hot flushes aren't to do with the cancer as they have continued even when I had no thyroid hormones in my system (Hot flushes can be a sign that your thyroid is overactive) I was told to come of the pill for a few months so they can take a proper test as the hormones in that will give a false reading.

I've had 1 period since coming of the pill which was the same, 2 days and barely anything. And since then nothing for almost 7wks. So things aren't looking good. I am going to have to guess when a day 21 should be to get the test done.

My last period was 52 days ago - they were every 27 days. In two months I seem to have every symptom going, I don't know my body any more and it's really disconcerting.

If you have blood tests you need 2 in a month as your hormone levels fluctuate so much. I think it's round day 3 then after day 14 ish.
You will have 2 options- HRT and or/ lifestyle changes, outlined in detail in the book I mentioned.

If you are leaking then you need an appt with a gynae- not your GP- don't assume this is meno- sounds like your pelvic floor needs some attention such as with a small op- TVT or similar. falling hormones can make this worse but it's really a physical problem that needs surgery or intensive physio on your pelvic floor muscles.