Help with GP appt

[SeptaUnellasBell]

Hello!

I am hoping someone could help me out with firstly symptoms and whether I am just being dramatic and if I’m not being dramatic then what should I say/ask from a GP/Nurse Practitioner appointment!

I am almost 42! Periods have usually been bang on time, every 28 days since I was 11! Until about this time last year. They now come when they like and are either very light or very very very heavy! They’ve usually always been very heavy and last for approximately 5 days. However, I came on my first period today since the 26th of May (a period which lasted two weeks!) - so periods are clearly a-changing! This doesn’t particularly bother me. Alas, these are the ailments which do bother me:

1. I have developed the most terrible restless legs, they are hot and jump around as soon as I get settled in bed.
2. I cannot, for the life of me, drop off to sleep. I have always been someone who can just ‘fall asleep’ as soon as my head hits the pillow. Not anymore. It’s taking me hours to fall asleep which is leaving me knackered the next day but again, unable to fall asleep. Magnesium does not help.
3. I have a lovely, happy life which I adore - however, I often times feel just so bleu. Down, fractious, miserable even at times.
4. my skin itches - well it’s more of skin creeps as though something is tickling me. Particularly at night.
5. Headaches.
6. My eyes seem to be getting worse (eyesight as always been shit but a very definite decline)
7. I’m forgetting words for things and it takes a few seconds for me to remember them. I seem to sometimes be in a daze though this could relate to number 2 ailment.
8. I just generally feel like a pile of shit.

now, Synptoms 3-8 are not pleasant but 1-2 are making my life hell.

I have a useless GP surgery, where you never see the same person twice and it’s like trying to speak to god when you’re after an appointment so when I do get one I want to be taken seriously and I want them to help me. Particularly with my sleep.

So, how do I go about it? How do I get them to listen? Key words and also WHAT WILL HELP?! Do I need to ask for something specifically? Will I be given the brush off?

TIA.

Emphasis on how it is stopping you from living life normally, affecting your mental health and interrupting your enjoyment of life are always helpful points. For some surgeries those will act like a trigger that may get you offered an appointment though of course it’s never a guarantee.

Watching with interest. I’m 43 and got fobbed off. The symptoms are making my life hell. Considering going to a private specialist but I can’t really afford it.

Thank you so much. The thing is the lack of sleep is affecting everything. I’m so tired.

This is what worries me. I see so many tales of women being fobbed off. I don’t want to waste an appointment by not being assertive enough or not saying ‘the right thing’.

Even if you aren't getting them OP, I personally found that as soon I mentioned hot flushes, blood test done, HRT provided. Ironically I wasn't getting hot flushes at all. I was age 45.

It's a classic perimenopause symptom, those hot flushes 🔥

Incidentally, I'd been having irregular periods for ages and been to the Dr's many times. Been fobbed off. Too young blah blah...

For sleep try CBD gummies, pills or the drops - they often help a lot. But yes definitely emphasise the impact on your life (perhaps ask reception whether there's a GP with a menopause or women's health interest). I'd also ask about sleeping pills even temporarily and perhaps low dose topical oestrogen (as you go more into menopause it can help)

Call the receptionist and ask who they recommend you see. At my surgery one of the nurses is the menopause specialist, she’s very understanding.

Thank you all for your suggestions, I’m going to ring in the morning!

@TheLivelyViperDo you have any recommendations for the gummies? I would do anything just to fall asleep like I used to do just once!

I'm new here too, to board and peri. Brain fog and weight gain have been sneaking up on me over the past 6-12 months but it's the hot flushes and night sweats in the past month, when it hasn't been a heatwave, that have really sealed it for me. OP, I too am so tired. How did you get on with the doctor's? Mine has a menopause specialist - am going to make an appointment soon I think. When I remember!

On the positive side, I am having to refresh my wardrobe and embracing a style I have always liked but felt I was too young for (am now 47). So I have lovely new comfy clothes and if they're not right for me, I find I don't particularly care!

ah you have my absolute sympathies especially with the sleep - last night was a killer. I was still tossing and turning at 3.50 then up at 6 for work, it’s just not sustainable is it?

I managed to get a telephone triage appointment with a female doctor although to be honest, I dont think she was really paying much attention, I am off for a blood test tomorrow. Then I have to ring next week to see how they are.

in truth I am absolutely balled off. I am so so tired. And I want to chop my legs off. To top my day off my crowns fallen out and I’ve got tooth ache and can’t get in the dentist! 🤣 such is life!

Definitely ask for the menopause specialist for your surgery, I got fobbed off for years seeing a different doc each time and getting nowhere. Rang up one morning at the end of my tether with hot flushes waking me every half hour through the night and the receptionist took pity on me and got me in with the specialist doctor who was amazing.

I didn't even know our surgery had a specialist and no one had ever mentioned it despite me stating my appointments were for menopause related issues every time I rang. And yes, mentioning hot flushes, interrupted sleep affecting work etc should help if you can get in to see the right person. Good luck, we shouldn't need it but it really is a lottery so will keep my fingers crossed for you!

@SeptaUnellasBell I’m in a similar position at 43. I have an appt booked for September but not expecting much. Bad sleep is a killer, isn’t it. I’m all over the place in general.