First appointment with gynae consultant. Help me get the most from it, what do I need to mention?

[sunshineandhappy]

I've been going backwards and towards to gp for over a year, and they have offered amiltriptiline for headaches which I haven't taken, and tranexamic acid for flooding which I have. I have a large ovarian cyst, irregular heavy periods with flooding sometimes, awful sleep, always need a wee, irritable, low mood, palpitations currently under investigation and joint pains. No hot flushes I tend to feel warm most of the time but not the sweats other people seem to struggle with.
I have an appointment next week, I want to make the most of it but I don't know really what I want from it. Any suggestions of sensible questions to ask, rather than just going in and saying I feel rubbish because I don't feel myself?
Thanks

Same problem here, watching with interest.

I keep being offered an SSRI - I don't have any symptoms of mood disorder, so I'm not quite sure why my GP thinks I need one. Apart from that I am fat and fifty so must be depressed.

I guess the answer to your question is, what do you want to get out of the appt and is this dr a menopause specialist(not all gynaes are.)

Apart from the cyst, all the symptoms you list are perimenopause and could probably all be helped with HRT.

Even palpitations and joint pain are recognised as peri symptoms.

You might want to read about and consider the Mirena coil to control your heavy bleeding. If you were to have one, and also opt for HRT you would only need estrogen as the Mirena gives the progesterone part of hrt.

Have a good read online- the website of Dr Louise Newson is a good source of info- her website is under My Menopause Dr and just put your questions into the search box eg perimenopause/ palpitations/ Mirena coil. And there is a whole section on HRT . She also has videos and podcasts on her site.

Thank you, I'll have a look. I'm not keen on the mirena, as I've had a coil before which I didn't get on with. I also used to work in a lab where we processed tissue specimens, and was horrified at how many women had hysterectomies due to heavy bleeding and lo and behold there would be a mirena in situ in the newly removed uterus.