Menopause Insomnia and Arthritis

[Oliversmumsarmy]

For the last few years my insomnia has been getting worse. Looking back I think it started around the time I was going through the menopause. Used to sleep for between 8-10 hours per night. Felt great in the morning. Now I wake at 4am-6am feel tired all day then crawl into bed around midnight -2am usually get around 4 hours sleep then it all starts again. Feel like a zombie most of the time.

Borrowed dc's fit bit which moniters sleep and that is saying I am getting nearer 3 hours as I am awake for times during the night. I am getting 14 minutes of deep sleep, 17 minutes of dream/REM sleep and the rest light sleep. Has anyone gone or is going through this.
Also just been diagnosed with arthritis. Is there a link between menopause and arthritis.

Really feel my body is falling apart

I suggested HRT

She said "We don't pursue that route"

What a patronisng reply!

you sat there in silence and accepted this?

She meant SHE didn't want to offer you it! FFS don't take crap like that from a dr.
You ought to have said 'why not, I want to try it'.

I am so angry you have been treated like this.

You do know she is completely ignoring the NICE guidelines which say it is a joint discussion between dr and woman?

Find another GP. Or go back and have a discussion where you aren't treated like an idiot with no mind of your own.

You may also want to write to the practice manager and complain.

Does your practice have a 'no HRT' policy?

This is a disgrace.

this is crazy!

there's no response there whatsoever

ask about practice policy, if this isn't practice policy, then ask to see someone else.

there is a terrible doctor at my GP who is avoided by everyone because he doesn't believe in medicating anything, sounds like one of those. The others are fine though.

Also, if you get an appointment at the same place, could you take a friend with you? I have noticed GPs tend to act differently if someone is with you.

I had a battle getting anything to sleep - not menopausal related but I have anxiety and depression. It was a battle but I got there in the end.

this really is a disgrace. I hope you get solutions soon.

Unfortunately this is the norm at this practice.

The practice have all the surrounding neighbourhoods under this practice so going elsewhere you just get the same doctors.

This is the same practice that failed to diagnose dp with bowel cancer and mistook a cyst attached to his spleen that was about to burst. (It had grown to the size of a big balloon) for a hernia and tried to wrestle it in to place

Ok so you need to go back and be assertive. You've not said how old you are, but apart from the insomnia you maybe have other meno symptoms you can mention?

Unless you challenge this dr, nothing will change.

It's your right to have treatment (for anything) unless she can say why it's not medically safe. So read all about HRT so you can have an educated discussion. Do't be bullied.

Failing that, you are going to have to go outside the system, find a private gynae and take it from there. But you need to challenge this practice first because their attitude seems to say that they never prescribe HRT for anyone, which is a nonsense.

I think I am so used to going and coming out no better off.

Same doctor who when I asked for allergy testing told me that there was no such thing.

I tried to argue with her but she was not having any of it.

Seemed to think I should not be going on google and coming up with things that don't exist.

We have been here 20 years and my ds summed it up.

He said why do you waste your time going they have never diagnosed anything. You go, you come back and nothing changes and you are still living with any problems. You still have eczema, you still cant sleep. The only reason you are walking around is because you went private.

I tried to argue with her but she was not having any of it.

what did you say ?

I think you need a script...

'I understand HRT might help my symptoms. Unless you can give me a medical reason why it is not right for me, I'd like to try it.'

Your other option is to make a formal complaint which you are fully entitled to do.

your practice sounds awful generally.

have you complained to the Practice Manager? Do you know anyone else who uses it? Also ask for their policy on HRT and sleeping pills.

if you can afford it, for temporary relief, you can try one of those pushdoctor services to get a prescription for sleeping pills. I've just had a full 8 hours sleep on a sleeping pill. I have had a battle with my GP to get use of 2 a week but after showing them studies of the effects of chronic lack of sleep, they gave in.

it shouldn't take this level of persistence, I know. It sounds like your DC are adults - could you go with one of them?

if you get a prescription for sleeping pills - obvs use with care - that will help build some energy to tackle the HRT.

I don't know many people who use the doctors surgery. Most go private now.
Or are registered near where they have family.
They have all had problems with them.

They have a text service which you give them a rating.

Overall there rating is Poor

I have complained to the Practice Manager before. Nothing gets done. I have asked him about things before but he just looks at you blankly.

Dp wrote a letter to his doctor.

He dropped it off at reception.
Realised he had forgotten to pick up his prescription and quickly returned to the reception desk only to find the receptionists had opened the letter and were reading it and discussing its content.

They even called the police on dp. Dp has a very common name. It was bizarre but apparently there are 2 men in the general area with the same name and DOB. Instead of realising this they called the police to find the imposter.
Dp had to show his passport, driving licence etc and presumably the other man did.
Only problem is if the other man uses his doctor then dp is deregistered and his file is sent to the other guys doctor and vice versa.

Write to your MP and the Minister for health.