Perimenopausal

[Juleswill1]

I was recently diagnosed as perimenopausal after going to gp for hrt for mood swings fatigue and brain fog. I was sent for blood tests to confirm. I was told to try black cohosh which I did with no effect for about 4 months I returned for hrt again sent for more blood tests which showed estradiol OK vit d low so went back for these results and I've been given vit d and sertraline. Ive been told that hrt is for hot flushes and if I get them to return sertraline will help with mood swings and vit d with fatigue does this sound right?

Just bumping this thread for you, @Juleswill1

Hopefully there'll be some MNers along soon with some advice and support. Am in the same boat, so will be watching with interest.

I think you need to change your gp , hrt is not for hot flushes it's for any of the varied symptoms of peri and menopause. You may like to suggest to your gp that they read the nice guidelines which states that treatment should be hrt definitely not anti depressants as you are not depressed. I can't believe that in this day and age that this is still happening so no this is totally not right at all . If you have no joy with your doctor insist on a referral to a meno specialist you do not have to put up debilitating symptoms.

Also meant to add blood tests in peri are pointless as hormones fluctuate so wildly your doctor should know this, hope you get some joy soon.

As above!

I don't know if you are Twitter OP but the specialist gynaes and menopause experts who use the media to help inform women are TEARING THEIR HAIR OUT at GPs like yours who are so behind the times.

There are TV progs, radio progs, courses for drs, magazine features, ALL telling women NOT to accept this crap and incorrect treatment.

Here is one such article.

www.menopausedoctor.co.uk/menopause/women-need-hrt-not-antidepressants

Find another GP or challenge the one you see.

It sounds as if your dr for whatever reason does not 'offer' HRT.

You either need to challenge this outright- saying you now know ADs are not recommended by NICE- and stand firm to get what you want, OR change GPs.

ADs are for the small minority of women with hot flushes who cannot use HRT for a small number of reasons ( previous cancer and blood clots/ heart attacks.)

For most women it is safe, effective and first line treatment.

The NICE guidelines which came out in 2015 tried to set a new standard for menopause treatment, but sadly too many GPs seem not to have read them or want to work within them. it really is a disgrace.

Would any other branch of medicine, which affects 50% patients at some time, be left as a lottery where some GPs are way out of touch? No.

I am quite shocked.

I have never heard of a GP prescribing antidepressants rather than appropriate HRT.

Another vote for change GP, or at the very least print out the official NICE guidelines on menopause.

NICE say treatment should be on the basis of symptoms alone, not blood tests (because blood hormone levels fluctuate wildly in peri, and you can easily get false negatives), and that the first line of treatment is HRT (unless contraindicated for medical reasons eg high blood pressure or family history of breast/gynae cancers). Setraline should not be prescribed.

Seriously, HRT is a game changer, and very low risk if you don't have any contraindications. It also has positive benefits for bone density and continued musculoskeletal health (I have a family history of osteo arthritis so I intend to keep popping the pills as long as I can).

Thank you all for your comments I will look at the nice guidelines myself to get genned up on it

I am HORRIFIED that your gp gave you AD's for perimenopause. You need a different doctor immediately.

I have been prescribed ADs for what I believe are peri-menopausal issues, the female GP of about my age that I have consulted, seems quite unfamiliar with menopause/peri-menopause issues. This doesn't surprise me in the least.

Yes out of the ones I've seen( I realise I've been 4 times not 3) 2 male more supportive than the 2 female ones

I'm ping ponging back and forth to the GP as well, trying to rule other things out, I don't think much of the GP that I've been consulting - had high hopes originally but she also misdiagnosed my dh (minor ailment). I thought I would have more understanding discussing it with a female GP. If my other tests come back clear, I'm definitely going to wait and make an appointment with the very part-time GP who apparently specialises in the menopause.

I was prescribed ADs also - but of course looked up others' experiences on mumsnet ! And was so put off by possible side effects, especially sleeplessness !! So I went back to GP and asked for hrt instead and just started on the patches. Which seems like the much better solution to me so feeling more hopeful and positive.
Fingers crossed. Good luck to everyone experiencing same