struggling but oestrogen levels ok?

[MarshmallowFondant]

Saw the GP in early November for a blood test as I am fairly sure I am in the menopause/peri menopause and starting to struggle. I had a hysterectomy about 5 years ago which complicates matters as obviously I don't have periods any more. Uterus and cervix removed, retained my ovaries.

All through spring/summer I had hot flushes. Anxiety comes and goes fairly regularly, i'm going through another bad phase of feeling on edge currently. Aching joints. Sleep disturbance - sometimes difficulty dropping off but at the moment it's more a wide awake at 5am sort of thing. 3 UTIs in the last 9 months.

But GP says levels of oestrogen on blood test are fine at 300 (i think). prescribed folic acid as that was a bit low. But the symptoms are still here.

I know it shouldn't matter but GP is a relatively young man, I just don't think he "gets it". Should I be pushing for a trial of HRT to see if it improves my symptoms?

Oh, and I also take thyroxine daily as my thyroid is shot so that's another complicating factor.

I’d push, yes.

Thanks. It's very difficult to access my GP at the moment, they don't do any online anything so it's a case of having to phone and wait.

@MarshmallowFondant You need to educate your GP :)

Blood tests are not accurate and NICE says do not do in women over 45 when trying to diagnose menopause. They are a waste of time.

The other issue he seems unaware of is that medical research says that in most women who have had a hysterectomy, their ovaries fail within 2 years, and they usually have an earlier menopause than other women of the same age.

You should also ask for vaginal estrogen ( cream called Ovestin or pessary called Vagifem) which will help prevent UTIs. Many women use this all the time (for years and years) as well as HRT.

Just ask for what you want !

To be fair to my GP, he did say that they didn't usually do bloods but because I had had a hysterectomy it made things trickier working out what was going on.

I'm 49, 50 in the next 6 months so am definitely in that menopause window. And my gynaecologist did warn about failing ovaries when I had my operation.

I have booked a telephone consult with the other GP in my practice for the 30th, will ask again about a trial 3 months to see how I get on.

I saw a private gynecologist recently, he did a lot of blood tests, said my bloods suggested I was entering menopause gave me hrt, albeit a low dose as my estrogen and progesterone levels are apparently normal, but my periods have stopped and I get other menopause symptoms.

HRT and if you're still not functioning 100% after 3 months and your oestrogen is at optimum levels then ask for testosterone

I doubt they will want to give me testosterone as from what I have read that's to protect your uterus, and I don't have mine any more?

On a side note, I just had a letter today reminding my to book my smear. For a cervix which was whipped away on a surgical swab 5 years ago. DH thinks I should go anyway and let the nurse play hunt the non-existent cervix.

Progesterone protects the uterus.

Ah right. Can you tell I didn't do Biology O-level. I do remember them saying it was one I didn't need anyway.

😀

I’d ask to be referred to a menopause clinic

I'll be drawing my pension before I get an appointment. A friend has waited a year.

I'm very similar to you OP.

Same hysterectomy, same under active thyroid (Hashimoto's). Similar age.

I've just had a virtual appointment with a great consultant (a great distance away) who specialises in endocrinology and menopause.

Got HRT patches straight away and other advice with regards to supplements and stuff.

The heat has gone and for the first time in years I'm having dreams again. Also, much happier with regards to how I treat others. (Mainly because my main symptom was The Rage and I had not one iota of patience with anyone.) 😬

You should complain about the bad, unprofessional and uneducated way they are handling your menopause.

@Oblomov21

You should complain about the bad, unprofessional and uneducated way they are handling your menopause.

Probably, but what difference would it make? We used to have two really good (female) GPs at our practice, one retired and now only does locum work when it suits her, the other died.

The two male GPs are very good but however good a male GP is I really don't think they "get" it. I had the same battling with them to take my issues caused by my fibroid seriously. Too many "it's just one of those things" comments when I was losing so much blood and being wiped out a quarter of the month.

Plus our GP surgery is still very much Covid Covid Covid, trying to actually see someone is really hard. I hope to get on better with the other male GP on Thursday.

My gp is female and the same age as me but still seemed very lacking in knowledge about the menopause. She seemed to me to see hrt and even vagifem as a big risk.

If my oestrogen levels were 300 I’d be in a menopausal rage. Everyone’s different.
Read the NICE guidelines on the menopause then go back to the doctor and be more assertive.

It's amazing how speaking to someone different. First GP just didn't want to know as the bloods were OK and said he wouldn't prescribe anything. And to keep using the Headspace app.

Spoke to the other GP yesterday and he was SO lovely. Said that the bloods don't matter, given that i'm over 45 and having menopause symptoms, it's menopause. Happy to prescribe the lowest dose oestrogen patches on a 3 month trial and review after that, said it might be a case of upping the dose, adding in an oestrogen vaginal cream or whatever.

Totally different approach. (Same doctor was fab when I had a trapped nerve in my neck and was in SO much pain, proactively offered me diazepam which was the only thing that'd touch the pain).

Oh that’s great news!