Hi. Just wondering how my experience compares with others as I don't feel I've had any kind of help.
My GP surgery (in line with others in my area) has a policy that you have to see a practice nurse with any new problems. She/he will then refer you to a GP if they think you need it. I am only mid 40s but have not had a period for over a year (and for a few years before that they were infrequent) and have had a number of other symptoms.
I finally summoned the courage to go to the doctors to talk about this and the nurse that I saw (who I had been advised was the best person on these issues) basically just asked if I thought I could live with my symptoms or if I wanted HRT.
There was no discussion/test etc to see if what I have is actually menopause or something else (when I asked she said it sounded like it and at my age no need to look at other things). I said I was concerned about the risks of HRT and would also like some advice on whether there are other health risks related to menopause and anything I should be doing about this (thinking osteoperosis etc). She basically told me to exercise and drink milk and sent me off with a page she'd photocopied from a book (aimed at medical professionals so not simple to understand) about risks and benefits of HRT. Then told me to come back if things got worse.
I'm not sure exactly what I was expecting, but had hoped for at least a discussion about possible symptoms, types of HRT, risks associated with treatment/not having treatment etc. I just fee like I've been left to look it up on the internet and tell them what I want them to prescribe.