Menopause Clinic

[BlackInk]

Has anyone here been referred to a Menopause Clinic? My GP referred me months ago, appointment has now come through and I have no idea what to expect.

I'm not even sure whether I will be wasting everyone's time by going. I think my GP just referred me as they didn't know what else to do with me. I've got a bewildering array of symptoms (of something), but my last period was 2 and a half years ago. I've been on HRT patches for a year or so and don't feel any better.

I'm in Gloucestershire if that helps.

Thank you
BI

I think it very much depends on the people at the clinic. I have read on forums that they are often staffed by GPs with an interest in meno but who are not necessarily experts.

If you have been using HRT all that time but with no improvement, has your GP not suggested you change? I never really 'get' this!

There are so many ways of using HRT and so many different sorts. Sometimes all that is needed is a type with more estrogen or a different type of progestogen, or using the sequential sort instead of continuous.

If you have never tried a different brand, that would be the 1st step regardless of who you see.

what are you on now?

I'm on Everol Conti patches and have also tried Fem7. I don't think my symptoms are typical of menopause and they didn't really start until my periods stopped - out of the blue aged 43, no irregular cycles or anything in the lead-up.

what are your symptoms?

They may suggest a couple of things and if not, ask!

First, is sometimes younger women (which you are) are being offered the Pill as a form of HRT as it is a stronger estrogen- Qlaira tend to be the one given.

The other option is while you are so young, to try a sequential type which will give you a monthly bleed (withdrawal bleed) because many of us find taking progestogen daily causes all kinds of side effects we'd rather not have. I am still on sequential 10 years post meno.

My periods had completely stopped well before I started HRT so a monthly bleed is a distant memory. This is my looooong list of boring symptoms now...

Nausea
Stomach aches
Acid reflux
Weight loss
Twitching muscles
Sore, burning patches of skin
Stiff, weak hands
Swollen finger and foot joints
Clumsiness
Blurred vision
Angular chelitis
Receding gums
Lower back pain
Pins and needles
Tingling head
Poor memory and concentration
Dizziness
Exhaustion
Anxiety
Zero libido
Ovary pain
Bleeding after sex
Dry, itchy skin – raised rash on back and under eyes

To be fair I've had loads of tests through the GP and these things have been flagged, although they don't think any of these are likely to be causing the symptoms.

Low B12
Positive ANA
Borderline low iron
Borderline low haematocrits
Borderline low platelets
Hiatus hernia
Infertility
Multiple miscarriages

I'm not a raging hypochondriac by the way. I had to type up a full list for the doctor the other week :) Before the past couple of years I literally never went near a GP.