HRT appointment what questions to ask?

[Goingtroppo]

I have my first menopause appointment tomorrow.
Am 48 and have a few perimemopause symptoms.
I'm not sure what to expect or what to accept. I now live in Asia and worried in a culture where menopause is not talked about and medication is given for everything (plus it's on private insurance) I'm going to end up being prescribed everything.
My question I suppose what do I not accept?

I also don’t live in the UK, but I think having freer access to HRT is a good thing! For me, It has been like a light switch going on, after a slow and at first imperceptible decline over the past few years.

In terms of questions - a good HRT doc will ask YOU lots of questions - peri is diagnosed through symptoms reporting, as it’s hard to measure women’s hormones as they fluctuate during the day. There are good online resources and if it is a country where it’s not so talked about please read up and educate yourself so you can advocate for your own health. A few years ago I was fobbed off by a doctor and because I knew almost nothing, I couldn’t debate her (wrong!) diagnosis that I wasn’t in peri.

A standard start might be a conservative dose of Estrogen (a gel) and cycling progesterone. I started on this and OH MY GOD - I don’t know what took me so long. The brain fog is lifting, my irritability is gone and I love being around people again. I don’t ache in my joints any more at all, and I’m sleeping better. It has been a little miracle for me. I wish the same for you!

I’d suggest not taking any medication until you know you need it. I sailed through with no problems apart from a bit of irritability and three hot flushes 😂

Heart and bone health is a huge part of HRT benefits.

Don't accept them telling you need a blood test before they can diagnose, these can be inaccurate because your hormones can be up one day and down the next during peri. The diagnosis should be symptom led. Also you need to have progesterone as well as oestrogen to protect the womb lining. Good luck.

Thanks all for your advice. I went in much more comfident. To the point I asked to change doctors as first one didn't ask me questions and was just telling me how I felt. I met the other doctor but going back next Sunday for a proper appointment.

The second Dr was brilliant. She asked me lots and was open to answering questions and different options. Turns out the second was a menopause Dr the first was more general (prestige wellness, what even is that?!). Thanks for making me use my spidey senses!

Imperceptible decline is the most accurate way of describing what has happenend, due to blaming every external factor (work/kids) before actually looking after self. Thanks all