Struggling to get GP appointment and HRT - advice please!!!

[rubyblue]

Hi, I'm in my early 50s and struggling get HRT. I've been experiencing perimenopause symptoms (racing heart, terrible mood/tearfulness, fatigue) for a couple of years but it's far worse recently. GP ran blood tests 2 years ago and said I was normal so it wasn't menopause, which I've since learned isn't necessarily true. I had a phone call in March and went through the whole explanation again with a different GP who again took more blood tests (don't know the results yet) and then I had to go for an ECG (normal). She said she wanted to see me in person to discuss HRT options but I've been told that will will June at the earliest for an appointment in advance so the receptionist said the only option is to ring for an emergency appointment and wait by the phone all day (which is a nightmare with my job). I'm at my wit's end. I burst into tears after this call as honestly, it just feels like it's a huge struggle to see a GP and then a battle to get HRT. Please, can anyone advise me on what I should say when I finally speak to her as I suspect I'll get fobbed off.

A lot of them are GPs. Personally I don't have a problem with that as they don't need to know the whole of Gynaecology. They need to be up to date on menopause.

I had a video call with a GP who specialised in women's health and menopause. She was brilliant - I purposely chose someone local as I am in Scotland and the system can be very different, no point in speaking to someone in England/Wales/N Ireland who wasn't aware of how it all works. I think I paid £90 and for that I got a 45 minute consultation, before the appointment she sent me a full health questionnaire and asked me to write bulletpoints about what was bothering me the most so she could address that and not waste time going over less relevant things. After the appointment she wrote to my own GP, detailing what we'd discussed and recommending a switch from the patches I was allergic to, to gel. My GP was happy to prescribe on her recommendation and she did not give me the hard sell on private prescriptions or follow-up appointments.

Would definitely recommend it to anyone who is finding their own GP just won't listen.

I'm sorry to hear you're having such a difficult time to get an appointment, it seems now within the health service we only get what we demand not what we deserve. In the interim I would look at your blood results online through the NHS app if you can't see them go to your surgery and get them to make sure you're signed up for this , I would absolutely ring on the day for an on the day appointment, this is affecting your daily life so waiting until June isn't an option , all the other posters have given you some good advice and some good websites to check out. Be prepared and tell them exactly what you want at the appointment.
Good luck

Oh my goodness thank you!! I feel vindicated that I'm not mad or being unreasonable and it's not all in my head. It was as if the GP had an agenda to stop me taking HRT. I will go in with a plan! Thank you so much.