Unsympathetic GPs/Various Symptoms/Anxiety

[Daphnesmate]

I am struggling with what I believe to be symptoms of the peri-menopause and it is making my health anxiety flare up and consequently my mood low.

Basically, weeing a lot, itchy below bits - swab taken, not thrush or anything else it seems known to man. Urine samples provided - no blood etc - sent off to the lab. I am slightly constipated which is a new one on me. I am teary and irritable most of the time not just on run up. Periods have pushed out only slightly but appear shorter.

I am awaiting a bladder/pelvis scan scheduled in about three weeks (non-urgent), the GP says this is more for reassurance. GP says if the scan comes back all clear, then we need to put my 'issues' to bed.

She prescribed estriol (vaginal estrogen) on my insistence regarding the itching and I seemed to be getting somewhere until I took a hot bath and the cycle seemed to kick off again. Really anxious about weeing etc, feels like its going to be something sinister or else it's something in my head. Second GP I spoke to said I didn't have all the symptoms for menopause. I am 45 and was told 6 years ago by a fertility consultant after various scans that I was headed for an early menopause (basically had the insides of a 45 year old back then), so I wouldn't be surprised if these symptoms are adding up to that. But really disheartened by how the GPs don't seem to be taking my symptoms seriously - the first GP said I might have to live with the itching and that some women have to put up with it all their lives! GP did mention blood tests which I'm going to request to rule some other things out but I am also going to request a referral to a gynae. I am just so fed up with general lack of information - I have private health insurance so hopefully will access a gynae sooner rather than later. Sigh, so stressed at the moment, scared at what they might find as I have young children (gave birth to a large baby 14 months ago and put bladder issues down to this - 3rd birth). I also had some incontinence following dcs birth but after losing a lot of weight this seems to have mostly cleared up).
Feeling old all of a sudden, my eyesight has deteriorated over this past year too, could have done without all of this weirdness happening to my body and the anxiety that goes with it.

Health anxiety ✅ Perimenopause ✅ constipation ✅ weeing more ✅

I've also got random period type pains (inc back ache) and general mild abdo discomfort/bloating. I've just had a battery of blood tests and scheduled for a pelvic scan within the next couple of weeks or so.

I've been catastrophising horrifically but have calmed myself down by thinking that I have as many symptoms of IBS as I do Ovarian cancer, but, if it is anything awful then hopefully I will have caught it early and all will be well.

It sounds like your GP is taking you seriously but the waiting for tests/results is horrid.

Sorry - just realised you haven't had bloody tests, I would revisit your GP.

I'm so sorry! It's bloody awful isn't it? Women go through so much unnecessary suffering because of unsympathetic doctors. Do please use your insurance and go privately asap. Ask around your friends to find out if they have recommendations for doctors. Also ask at your GP surgery if there is a doctor in the practice who specialises in menopause.

Have a look around online too. The hystersisters website (for women who've had a hysterectomy) is full of useful chat streams about handling menopause and peri menopause.

There is a London hospital (can't remember which one) that has a specialist endocrinology department which helps women to rebalance their hormones.

My own GP, who's been marvellous, says quite openly that women in our position are largely ignored and that it's up to us to get shirty and not take no for an answer. I had to go "off label" for part of my prescription because it's not licensed for women in the UK, which is bloody outrageous.

You are not alone! I have been a complete basket case! Try to keep on top of the anxiety and realise that it's not just you, it's hundreds and thousands of us. You are amazing. We all are.

@Daphnesmate
You posted about this a few days back...yes?

I think I said that for me, the weeing a lot took a good 6 months to improve, by using estriol cream religiously, as prescribed (you need to give it much longer. It won't clear up in days.)

THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO.
TAKE CONTROL. DO NOT WAIT FOR THE GP OR NHS TO COME TO YOUR AID.

YOU DO NOT NEED A GP REFERRAL FOR MOST PRIVATE GYNAES. You just phone their PA and make an appt.

*HOWEVER.... your insurers will not pay for menopause appts. (I know- have been there and now pay for my own appts.)

You WILL be covered for an appt for an undiagnosed issue - eg itchy sore vulva, frequent weeing. But once it is diagnosed as meno, you will then have to pay for your appts in future. (if any.)

Where are you?

1 Look at the websites of your local private hospitals.Go to GYNAECOLOGY on Specialists or Menopause as a search. See who is around and many have their own websites. Choose one you like the sound of. Private medicine is a consumer product! Pick who looks good.

2 Look at the website of the British Menopause Society- top of menu Specialists ( all over the UK.) Do as above.

3 Look at what they specialise in and give them a call. Ask how much an appt is.

Fees for private appts are around £250 then less for follow ups.
You would need an appt roughly 2 x a year to review HRT.
OR your GP may be happy to take over the prescribing.

In all honesty , you should talk to your insurance people and ask if they will cover you for an appt with a gynae and explain your symptoms (they will ask- the insurance co.)

Once and if they agree to pay for the appt, choose who you want to see, and check they are on your ins company list of approved drs.

THEN tell your GP you are seeing that dr on X day and would like a letter outlining your symptoms. They are not likely to refuse as it's not coming out of their budget for referrals.

Thank you for your responses. Yes, I did post recently Jingling, I suppose I'm just a bit wound up about everything and don't have anyone in r.l to talk to unfortunately.
Funnily enough the weeing thing seemed much better today (I am logging it). For one thing I was distracted - out and about so taking less notice but it seemed to calm down. Thanks for the advice on the referral to a private gynae. I thought they may not cover menopause stuff, just initial diagnosis of a collection of symptoms, still that's a start. There is a GP who specialises in the menopause but she works extremely part-time and I could be waiting a few months to see her or perhaps 6 weeks at the very least, still it might be worth it. In the meantime, I'll plough on with having these other tests done, just to rule other things out. I'm on an emotional rollercoaster with all of this but I gave birth only 14 months ago when a battery of tests were carried out, including intense scans on baby due to previous loss, so like the op, I am trying to console myself that anything there, will have been picked up early.

Jingling, could I ask you another question, you seem so knowledgeable about all of this.

Did you use your initial dose of estriol cream for just the two weeks or did you use it daily for a bit longer before using it twice weekly?

It's so long ago I'm not sure. two weeks I think. But in all honesty there is no harm in using it a little more early on.

Have you considered you might be Vitamin D deficient?
It is much overlooked as a cause for various issues and anxiety. Especially after childbirth and at the end of the winter (yes I know it is May but if you don't get out in the sunshine much between 11-3 April - Sept, have darker skin, or wear suncream, there is no way your body can make sufficient quantities without a supplement)

You can buy supplements from most pharmacies. I know all this because I suffered various problems none of which were linked to Vitamin D deficiency by any GP, until I saw a consultant for hypothyrodism. My levels were low (35). I was told they needed to go up to at least 70-100. My son has also found he was low on vitamin D, and again it wasn't picked up for many years.

Government recommends 500iu a day, or better still 1000iu a day if you are concerned you might be deficient/insufficient.

Google this on Mumsnet and you will find various threads.

Interesting Nettle. I did have a vit d. test once which showed I had insufficient vit d. I do try and stay out of the sun so I think I will start taking them again!

I would recommend a 1000iu supplement, that is 25mcg a day. At the least.
Best practice get a vitamin d test from doctor and he could prescribe a much bigger loading dose, like 20,000 a week for 3 weeks perhaps, then test again. The vitamin D in most multivitamins and in cereals for example is not enough if you are insufficient, although it says RDA.