I got it !!!! Oestrogel I really got it !!!

[MabelsMam]

After my previous thread on the last 10 years of my existence, I can't say life because it hasn't been a life, and seeing Davina Mccalls programme on Menopause, I finally realised that I didn't infact have persistent depressive disorder, severe anxiety, agraphobia, or even Fibromyalgia... i was bloody menopausal!!!
Today I saw a menopause specialist, my anxiety was so bad I nearly cancelled twice... ' what if I get brushed off a hypochondriac?
or a mad women with massive mental health issues ? She refused me hrt due to my history of blood clots ? Or burst into tears and couldn't speak?
But I went and I'm so glad I did ... I'm not crazy, depressed or lost cause .... I'm bloody menopausal and have been since a full hysterectomy 10 years ago.
I shouldn't have been given 9 different anti depressants because each one didn't help, I didn't need 3 psychiatrists sending me to at least 6 therapists ... I needed HRT !!!
TODAY is the first day of the rest of my life ... I cried, and laughed and came out armed with prescriptions foe Oestrogel, Vagifem and a follow up appt in 3 months for testosterone... finally I found someone who was on the ball with menopause and who in fact was horrified I'd been in surgical menopause for 10 years without any help at all...
Surgical menopause is horrific, surgical menopause without hrt is criminal... 22nd Sept 2022 I restart my life, my hormones and my happiness..... never give up !!
Thank you all for your kind words on my previous thread I wanted to update you all on my appt and ill add to my journey with HRT as it goes along 🙏

Congratulations OP!

Onwards and upwards!

Thank you I feel like a massive black cloud has lifted and I can see blue sky for the first time in forever 💙

I'm so pleased for you, what a brilliant and positive post.
Best of luck!

Menopause is tough, it's turned my life upside down and I'm not the confident, active, capable woman I used to be. However now I too have HRT I'm hoping to try and lose the anxiety, the depression and the fatigue and become a fully functioning woman and mother again.

Fingers crossed for us both x
I will follow your updates with interest.

I only had emotional/sleep/anxiety menopausal symptoms ( sweats snd flushes more of a minor problem) and oestrogel transformed my life. I hope it all goes well for you too.

Ohhh I hope we can take that journey together, I feel so much lighter, I'm no longer carrying the guilt I was about being miserable and not nice to be around... no we are menopause warriors armed with hormones ... World watch out ❤️❤️❤️❤️

We are women on a mission ... hrt Queens spreading the word so noone else has to suffer how we have ... here's to new beginnings 🥂 for us all ❤️

Hallelujah, so glad you were listened to! In your situation I would strongly push for a DEXA scan to find out how your bone density has been affected by the years without estrogen as if your bone density is low there may be other things beyond estrogen that you need to take/do to slow or reverse it and the sooner you start the more you can do.

Did you have to go privately to a menopause clinic?

Yes the specialist is arranging that too, she was horrified I had been without estrogen for 10 years 😬

One day menopause clinics will be the norm and freely available.

Excellent, so pleased for you!

Your post has mirrored mine exactly! I had a full hysterectomy on January 6th, and was pushed into a medical menopause straight away. Within days the symptoms came, and they hit me like a train! Today I saw my wonderful GP who was appauled that I was sent home with no HRT or support from the hospital. I broke down in floods of tears when I heard her say that no amount of herbal treatment will cut it! My body hasn't had the chance to prep for the Big M and so it needs HRT - end of! I was given Oestrogel and like you came out of the GP skipping and smiling, whereas I went in sobbing and shaking. I can't wait to get the old me back. I'm starting on 2 pumps, but knowing me I'll need more...but for now I'm just a happy bunny, here's to us!!

Today I saw my wonderful GP who was appauled that I was sent home with no HRT or support from the hospital.

I'm appalled too - from what I understand of all this now, this is horrific treatment.

I'm so sorry for you all.

Could you consider contacting PALS? I'd also suggest writing to both menopause matters and the menopause support charity - the latter is run by a campaigner Diane Danzebrink. They may be able to advise how to get local guidelines/ practises changed.

Old thread I know, but did the HRT change your life as much as you'd hoped @MabelsMam? 9 years post surgical menopause myself, wondering whether to go back on HRT, attending Dr. Potter's clinic next week.

Great news OP. Keep us updated

It's made a massive difference to my life !
Mentally and physically I'm a different person !!
I'm never coming off this stuff

@MabelsMam Oh that's brilliant news! I'm so, so pleased for you after your horrendous experience.I am really struggling here - another 10 days to wait for my appointment and I'm a wreck. Can I ask how many pumps you're on and if you use it just once per day?

That is great OP, sorry it took so long, women's healthcare is really rubbish. Can I ask did you get testosterone in the end and if so did it help? I am wondering about trying it as HRT had made a lot of things better for me but not everything.

Thank you so much - I'm on maximum dose 4 pumps a day I take them at night time 2 pumps on each arm before i go to bed.
Plus 1 pump of Testosterone every other day
Good luck I hope you get sorted i wouldn't wish this journey on anyone xx

Yes I'm on 4 pumps of estrogel a day and 1 pump of testosterone every other day.
Just been re prescribed testosterone as my doctor wouldn't issue it on repeat so I had to get another private appt to ask the specialist to write to my doctor to add it to my list of medication- a total pain but it's done now!!

I really hope life has improved for you - I'm sorry I'm only replying now for some reason I wasn't notified of comments on this post when they were posted

Did you have any bleeding @MabelsMam

I'm glad you are getting the help you need, but please don't imply this is normal for a surgical menopause, as you will frighten people unnecessarily. I had a surgical menopause with no issues what so ever. I have never needed any medication, and I have never felt better.

That is shocking. I’m glad you’ve got what you needed now OP.

Why don’t G.P’s want to give women the treatment? Expensive and citralopram is cheaper, is my guess.

Can just imagine if this was men! 😡

Wow ! You were lucky !! Sadly the experience I had is far more common than people think and I'm not trying to scare people as you put it ... as you said you had no issues but what about the people who do ' and suffer the way I did - they need to know that this can and does happen and that they are not mentally ill or neurotic or thrown antidepressants - so while I'm glad you didn't have the issues I and many others did ... please do not tell me that I'm scaring people with my experience when the same could be said for your blasé comment about sailing through surgical menopause - because that isn't the 'norm" either !!
So personally I'd rather let those struggling as badly as I did that there is help and not whitewash or gaslight the people who are suffering by saying there's nothing to a surgical menopause !