Seeing a menopause specialist - how much medical history will they need

[KatyMac]

Everything?
Highlights?
Just hormonal stuff?

Thinking about typing and emailing before the appt but wondering if that's too controlling

I bloody hate anxiety

Put it into categories:

Current symptoms and how they are affecting you. What you’ve tried and the effects of that.

Menstrual history - when periods started, what they were like, any pregnancies and outcomes. Up to date with smears/mammograms etc or not.

Past medical history - any ongoing diagnoses. Or significant illnesses or hospital stays. Any previous surgeries. Anything you take medication for.

Current medications and any allergies.

Family medical history - strokes, heart disease, diabetes, cancers etc.

Family menstrual history - do you know anything about your mothers or sisters menopause etc,

It’s Ok if you don’t know, many people don’t.

That should cover most of it. But they’ll know what they need to know and won’t mind if you need a bit of prompting!

Thanks I know I'm over thinking it but my gp has been worse than useless and blames every symptom on another condition

So of o go in for CfS/Me they will.blame menopause for that and if I go I for meno it's CFS/ME

TBH they will probably ask about your symptoms, periods (I think you've had a hysterectomy?) and what HRT you have already used.

They might ask if you have any preference for transdermal or tablets.

I had a phone apt. They just asked how I was feeling generally, what other medication I was taking, then some specific menopause questions. Nothing too exciting or intrusive.

I dont think my hrt is right (or maybe not the right amount)
I have my uterus but no ovaries so no periods
I love my patches - I'd like to use them more frequently as the day I use them and the day they are due I have trouble sleeping, my brain fog and anxiety is unreal and as for my sex drive? What's one of those

I will get flustered and give her loads of unimportant info with long stories attached or I'll say nothing useful at all

Then write a list of what’s important for you, tick off each thing as you mention it.

Makes sense - cos it's on the phone I can type it as big as I need and put bits in bold

I am such a wuss - everything seems so much bigger atm

When I went to my appointment
I had a typed out list of all / any medications I was on and any medical conditions

I also listed all my symptoms

I handed it to her - she was most grateful and we talked around my list.
If you have anxiety then I really recommend doing this - then you can literally hand it over and it starts the conversation

Well it's by phone but I guess I could email it

Thanks

I survived

I had it all up on the laptop screen while I spoke to her and it gave me prompts to say stuff

Great news, hope it went well and that things can move forward for you now. Well done