What to say to go

[palindromeam]

I am off to GP this afternoon.

I have heard that there is good and bad care and different gps are more or less clued up about peri menopause than others.

Any thoughts on how to get the most out of my 10 minutes.

I feel like I am depressed and most of my symptoms are presenting as such. But don't want to get sucked into being treated for that when it is a hormone thing.

I'm 47 if that helps.

Sorry title should be GP not go. I am not going to leave my husband.

Depends what outcome you want.

If you see your GP the odds are you are asking for HRT? Or advice? or sympathy? What is it you want from the appt?

If you want HRT then say you have x,y, z symptoms of perimeno, you have read the Nice meno guidelines and you want to try HRT because as far as you know you have no medical history stopping you trying it.

I'd mention some physical symptoms not just mood as many drs won't prescribe just for mood.

Thanks.

This is a useful thought process.

I am asking the GP for what my options are. I want to stop feeling like I can't get out of bed in the morning because I've been awake all night sweating.

I would like to consider what treatment options I have to achieve this.

I would like them to confirm I am peri menopausal and not "just" depressed. I score medium high on online tests for depression and anxiety.

You need to go in with evidence of your symptoms.

eg are your periods irregular yet? Is the flow variable? Do you have worse PMS?

The GP cannot in all honestly offer you much.
It will either be talking therapies like counselling or CBT, anti depressants (but only after a full assessment), or HRT. NICE says that if depression coincides with perimenopause, ADs are not the answer and are ineffective. You would do well to read the Nice guide before you go if you can- all online and easily found.