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Menopause

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Off to GP tomorrow

4 replies

siftingflour · 11/06/2018 20:18

Hello,

I was hoping you could give me some guidance for my visit to the GP tomorrow...

I am 52 and haven't had a period for two years. I'm doing OK - the hot flushes aren't terrible, although I've been having some recently- but I have very poor sleep as with menopause has come sleep apnea. Also terribly achy limbs, crashing fatigue, anxiety which keeps me awake for hours, and a general sense of being off. I am not myself in that I have no energy whatsoever. Sometimes I go to be bed at 6pm. I shuffle along like an old person. Generally heading towards husk.

So: I want to try out HRT. I went last year to my GP and she was quite offhand, didn't ask me anything at all other than risk of heart disease and just wrote a prescription for a load of pills. I didn't take them as it all felt a.bit rushed and I wanted to try without. A relative, who is a gynacologist, told me not to bother with the pills and that I needed a gel. She said it was safer and better.

My questions are this:

  • are my symptoms the kind of symptoms that relieved by HRT?
  • Is asking for a gel a good idea. What kid of reasons should I give?
  • Do I need to have mostly withdrawal bleeding? And if not, what kind of progesterone should I ask for if I am to have a break every two months or three months.

Plus any other advice please would be SO gratefully received.

Thanks

OP posts:
BrownTurkey · 11/06/2018 20:23

Hope it goes ok. Transdermal methods (gels and patches) are generally recommended and safer for people who are overweight (i use evorel patches - but i don’t need the progesterone bit as i don’t have a womb, so i have oestrogen only).

Have a read of this www.mims.co.uk/menopause-diagnosis-management-nice-guideline/womens-health/article/1379329

Good luck

ErrolTheDragon · 11/06/2018 20:35

Some of those symptoms sound like they could be due to under active thyroid, which is quite common in women from this sort of age. If this hasn't already been ruled out it would be sensible to get it tested for. The treatment is simple and without significant side effects (and levothyroxin one of the 'free prescriptions for life' drugs.

siftingflour · 11/06/2018 20:45

BrownTurkey: very useful - thanks

Errolthedragon: Thanks! I am hypothyroid and am already on 125 mg of LT. I don't think it's that (I had crashing fatigue in late perimenopause even with a TSH of less than2)

OP posts:
Tiredmum100 · 11/06/2018 20:49

I was actually talking to my friend today about this. She was experiencing the same symptoms you say you're having. She said a few days after commencing HRT her joint pain was gone. She had to fight to get it though. Maybe make a list of all your symptoms before you go in so at least your mind wont go blank and forget to say things.

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