How many of your menopause symptoms do you go to the GP about?

[fuuuuckthis]

After many years of changing methods, dosage etc, I'm not on a high dose of oral hrt, use vaginal hrt too, and have a mirena. Compared to a few years ago, things are relatively under control! But holy shit all the other crap...I'm itchy, exhausted, have developed food intolerances and my digestive system is in bits. Occasional tinnitus, frozen shoulder.
It's a long and miserable list.
I'm sure i have "moaner" or "health anxiety" on my records as I feel like I'm always in there for something.
I do all the other "correct" things re lifestyle etc which basically seems to just involve removing all pleasure.
Right now my stomach is giving me terrible trouble, but I'm avoiding going because it's "just hormonal".
Is it worth trying to seek help for each and every symptom?

Oops "now on a", not "not on a"

Love your user name OP, so appropriate!

I am in such a similar boat. HRT - patches, cream and coil with oestrogen at the maximum dose I can tolerate. I tried testosterone to see if that would improve things but it just gave me wild palpitations. And lifestyle-wise I'm exercising, eating pretty well, meditating, doing yoga, trying to work/stress less... and yet I was literally wondering this morning if I should go to the GP just because I still generally feel crap and joyless and don't know which weird and wonderful symptom is going to take charge from day to day.

I don't think she could help, but at least I could have a moan about it to someone. OR I'm hoping for a miracle - she'll tell me there's a wonder drug that's just become available that will magically transform me from decrepit, irritable hag to a flourishing, energetic woman overnight.

Those are the only two reasons to go under my circumstances I think.

However, I do think if you have symptoms which are interfering with your day to day life, impacting your quality of life, it's worth seeking some additional help - the GP might be able to offer a solution and it's tempting to blame peri for everything, but it's possible symptoms are linked to something else that they can treat.

Thank you, and sorry to hear you're in the same boat.
I was offered anti depressants alongside hrt but I just couldn't face the possibility of more physical side effects.
I do have the odd panic as well that all the physical symptoms I'm dismissing as menopause might be something more sinister!

Im not even on HRT yet the appintmnet wont be long enough to go over everything but much the same as you I have tinnitus, headaches, dizziness, sicky, tired, achy, crying all the time, overwhelmed, panicky, numb fingers and toes, painful eyes, cant focus, cant remember, completley vacant in my head, couldnt tell you anything thats in it. Depressed.

I think the appintment is 6 minutes long.

My digestion has also changed alot since I turned 44 (I’ve had a couple of random periods, my hair has become very greasy, my anxiety is through the roof so I think I’m on the way to Peri if not in the middle of it). do you mind me asking what your troubles are? I did go to my doctors about it and I didn’t find it super helpful. She definitely wasn’t up for talking about HRT. She didn’t even entertain it.

Have you thought about your gut health?

I'd really recommend the Zoe website, where they have ideas on menopause and diet. Physical and emotional symptoms. zoe.com/learn/menoscale-zoe-study-on-menopause

A lot of what you describe could be linked to a less- than-optimal gut microbiome.

It's really worth following the advice on the site for 6 weeks and seeing if it makes you feel any different.

You don't need spend any money on the tests just follow the diet advice and read the stuff about how diet can help menopause.

This is a link but there is also a lot of info on the Library link in the site.

@ICSH1i originally went on hrt for the mood side of things, was anxious and panicked to an awful level. It's helped a bit with that, and also with the hot flushes. But I would say everything else is still ongoing! Terrible digestive issues, fatigue, frozen shoulder, memory issues, brain fog, itching...
I'm sorry your GP has been rubbish...I'd try a different one. Or print out the NICE guidelines and list your symptoms!

@JinglingSpringbellsi actually take the Zoe daily supplement..i do feel it used to help, but not any more

I don't think, personally, that the supplement on its own is the answer.

If you have developed gut issues, it probably means your microbiome is out of sorts . Could you try the 30 plants a week with real food (not just a supplement) and also cut out ultra processed food?

The website has some good recipes.

If you could afford it, having your gut bacteria analysed might be worth it. (I had mine done using a special offer a few years ago.)

It’s tricky. Really she only sees the anxiety (which I’ve had before) and whilst that’s my biggest symptom by far it doesn’t feel like the anxiety I’ve had before plus I’ve got very sore joints, poor sleep , greasy hair, much drier skin…I don’t know. I process supplements and medication very badly (I’m always the person who gets the side effects they put on leaflets 😂) so I’m not sure really what I want her to give me. I’m just offen bouncing between being sad and being really strung out)

Hrt has pretty much knocked most of my symptoms on the head started everol sequi aged 44 but then I had terrible hormonal acne and took the Dr 2 years to change me to conti even thou I still have regular periods nearly 50 years old !
This has cleared acne and have very light bleeds and no symptoms until I started sneezing and runny nose every morning and patch site has become very itchy so I am debating to go to the gp about these but I think of the benefits and I talk myself outta going because I feel like they gaslight me lol 😁! Peri/menopause the gift that just keeps giving 😂😂😂

@Londontown12doesn't it just! Awful

I'm like this too with meds @ICSH1which is why I didn't fancy anti depressants, but hrt has only improved things! I'm no expert but your list does sound quite textbook...they seem obsessed with hot flashes, as if they're the only indicator, but honestly that's been the thing that's troubled me least

@JinglingSpringbellsi would say i already eat like this...but i could probably do with tracking it just to make sure!

I found it easy enough to get to 25 ish but 30 took some effort!

What they completely missed in my case was hypothyroidism which can
overlap with timings and symptoms with menopause. I was sent to a mental hospital for 8 weeks and now am on proper meds and hrt and am slowly getting better. ADVOCATE for yourself and good luck.

I eat more or less no UPFs (since finishing off the xmas treats), how do you track your 30 veg, its 30 different veg/herbs/spices isnt it?

I think I more or less eat like that but as with the other poster would be interested in checking.

And thats a complete lie anyway as Ive just remembered I had some Mcdonalds cheese and chilli bites yesterday!!!

I didnt realise they were in batter.

I kept a daily list.

Yes it has to be DIFFERENT plants.

You can count tea and coffee and dark chocolate.

Herbs and spices count as 1/4 or half a point each.

So if you made a curry and put in 6 teaspoons of different spices- well, do the maths! 1 teaspoon of curry powder already mixed would probably just be 1/2 point as the quantities are tiny.

I think there are some apps, Im going to look into that. I wont remember where Ive put the list, whether Ive added to the list, what Ive eaten, the whole thing would be a nightmare with pen and paper

I'm on HRT which has helped the hot flushes and night sweats. I use Phenergan OTC tablets for the insomnia and have been prescribed some medical c@nnabis therapy to try for low mood, no focus, low energy and anxiety, I'm looking forward to trying that next week when it arrives.
I'm at the "give me all the drugs" stage, I'm not soldiering on miserably, if I can spend the next 10yrs low level stoned legitimately then so be it...

The symptoms you list could perhaps be helped by HRT if you tweak the estrogen dose (if you've not already.)
Ideally you shouldn't need to take other things that HRT is known to help.

My worst symptoms were vaginal dryness causing endless UTI's and more recently tiredness.

I've been using vagifem x 2 weekly plus Estriol cream for years but the UTI's were still regular.
Having seen a urogynaecologist I was prescribed Hiprex which, I whisper, seems to be helping.

I've also been advised to up the vagifem to 3 times weekly and the cream every other day, a starting reload was also suggested twice yearly.
Occasionally I get a flare up where symptoms are soreness so I use the cream daily.

For tiredness/itchy skin I use a gel, 2 pumps daily.

Interested in you mentioning frozen shoulder, I have over the last few months constant pain in my right shoulder but never connected it to menopause. Thought is was laptop usage maybe.

pain was so bad this week I was going to make a GP appointment. What would they likely do for it?

You should see your doctor if you're feeling that rotten. But a general review of your lifestyle atm is also worthwhile. Just because you are menopausal, that doesn't mean that these things are being caused by menopause. They could be caused by something else entirely (stress, overwork, poor sleep health, bad diet) but menopause is just making you feel worse.

I agree with the PP that the just taking the Zoe supplement will not sort out your diet, you need to look at your diet as a whole and try to pin point the foods that might be triggering.