Perimenopause at 41

[Ktkatuk]

Ive been suffering from perimenopause for last 18mths... brain fog, Exhaustion in last 2 weeks of every cycle, insomnia again last 2 weeks of cycle, weight gain round my middle ( im a pear shaped girl normally!) Dry skin, dry hair, dry vagina, and horrific low moods to the point where im crying solidly for last 2 weeks of my cycle. Ive been docs 12 times in the last 6 months for blood tests then consultations and they just keep fobbing me off! Last time I went my doc said she just wanted the ultrasound results explaining from April and then she would prescribe me some. She did prescribe me antidepressants which i have not taken. I had an appointment yesterday and the guidelines are unless my fsh is over 30 they will not prescribe hrt. How can you keep someone hanging on for so long? Its an absolute joke! So I said to the doc whst am I sposed to do now, she advised I could see a private gynacologist and get them to prescribe and write you them and then they can prescribe!! Has the world gone mad? Has anyone else had this / struggled to get hrt for menopause? Im on a good womens health vitamin, ive tried different supplements black cohosh etc which made my stomach soo poorly I nearly went to hospital, nothing seems to work. If anyone can think of anything else I'd appreciate hearing from you. I feel like going to see a gynacologist at a private hospital could end up with me paying out hundreds for what my GP should be doing.

Can you see a different doctor? I was prescribed hrt at 41 with no scans or blood tests or anything.

If you’re willing to go private, you don’t need a gynaecologist and costs etc will be clear.

If you google your area and menopause clinic one will come up. Alternatively the Bristol one offers online appointments so can be done from anywhere.

Once you have a fixed prescription (usually they’ll prescribe for a short time at the first appointment and then you’ll have a couple of renewals soon afterwards to decide on dosage etc) then you can ask for your gp to continue prescribing based on their recommendation.

It is absolutely ridiculous that this is so hard to get on the nhs, but it is very common unfortunately.

I’m 42 and in exactly the same predicament. Have been going backwards and forwards - I was taking antidepressants for two weeks of the month to help with chronic PMS but now have the
mirena coil for v heavy periods and so I don’t know where I am in my cycle to take the ADs and feel awful. Back to the GP I go, they order yet more bloods and tell me to take the a to depressants full time. It’s so frustrating and I feel like I’m going mad. Think I’ll have to go private too but it’s £££

Sorry to hear you're struggling. I'm 41 and on hrt. I just had a couple of symptoms - insomnia, ovulation pain and a massive spike in sex drive - and was prescribed it easily, after a blood test (which didn't show anything anyway). I wanted to get on it early for the benefits to bone density, skin and hair, mainly.
Are you insisting, when at the doctors? You do have to go in quite strong and really advocate for yourself unfortunately.

I did see a different doc on Monday who explained they wouldn't give me hrt. She explained a letter from a gynacologist would be sufficient for them to re issue any hrt prescription. It seems like a postcode lottery for anything nhs related nowadays! Im just fed of feeling this way and the docs have just got me even more frustrated! Everytime I have been in I have said I would like to be put on hrt, its affecting my quality of life, you have a duty of care to me blah blah blah it just falls on deaf ears and now broken promises. Ive done a bit of research and booked in with a gynacologist at Spire. The menopause clinic locally doesn't have availability for a couple of weeks and tbf the gynacologist is actually cheaper for the consultation. We ll see how we get on. I can't believe how many of us are going through it and can't get help!

So sorry you've had a rubbish experience with your own GP surgery, it really is a postcode lottery you're right.

Maybe have a look at https://myviahealth.co.uk/menopause it's not as pricey as some of the clinics, and they encourage you to then go back to your NHS GP to get your ongoing prescription.

Hope you get something sorted soon and start to feel a bit better x

Well I've been to see a private gynacologist today who has now given me a prescription for HRT. Ill see him again in 3 months and if all is well I cant get it thru nhs. He did say given my family history of ovarian cancer, that is probably why the doctors wouldn't prescribe so it would've been nice for someone to tell me that. But fingers crossed I get on OK and I start to see improvements this cycle.

Oh do let us know how you get on with it @KtkatukI hope it’s a game changer for you! I too spoke to a private nurse yesterday and may well go down the same route, though I have to wait for more bloods first. Good luck!

@Definitelysometime I will do when I can source the HRT!! Apparently Estradot is nationally unavailable so im waiting to see if my chemist will give me an alternative... its like having a bottle of wine without a corkscrew this is!! Oh dear if I don't laugh I'd be crying! Fingers crossed for your blood tests x

Nearly 2 weeks in on the evorel patches...starting my progesterone tablets on Saturday. The only difference I've noticed is the dryness is definitely improved! Hopefully next few weeks / months my exhaustion will go as I struggle past midday to actually keep awake ( not good when you have a preschooler and work!) Also my sleep tends to be terrible at the end of my cycle so fingers crossed for an improvement in the next couple weeks