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Menopause

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Original poster

If not Peri, what is this? GP not engaging

16 replies

Dollyparton3 · 26/04/2022 10:48

Long story very short, called GP last year for an appointment to discuss peri, symptoms were lethargy, vaginal sahara, no libido, permanently exhausted, boob pain all month long, weight gain, insomnia, periods long and heavy and frequency shortened from 28 days to 21 some months, Hormonal rages were constant and I just felt a former shell of myself.

My GP practice unsympathetically put me through a series of 3 FSH tests and told me they were inconclusive. I was 44 at the time.

I hit 45 this year so I went back to the GP asking to be given "something", none of the symptoms had gone away and the lethargy was ruining me. They wouldnt book me in to see a GP for a discussion, the nurse saw me for all of 2 mins and wrote me a prescription for Ovestin and told me to book for a follow up in 3 months.

I'm now on day 14 of Ovestin and it's as if someone has switched the lights back on. All pains have gone, mood has lifted, I'm sleepng like a baby, libido is back with a bang :).

Reading up on Ovestin though it seems to be a bit of a low level solution and I'm a bit frustrated that something as simple as a shot of Oestrogen has fixed all my problems. In the absence of any opportunity to discuss something abit more practical (Gel, tablets) I'm wondering where I go from here. GP Practice seems to not want to give me an audience with someone who even asks me basic questions.

Research this morning suggests that I can go via BUPA and pay £250 for a Menopause MOT (because of COURSE it's not covered under my private healthcare) I just want to know if I am peri or not and get onto something that seems to be considered by a medical professional not prescribed to get me out of the room as fast as possible. I had to insist on the phone that they saw me and got me started on some form of HRT and I'm so glad I did, but when I got there the nurse took my blood pressure, asked me about 3 questions on family histroy and medications and said "take this".

Where do I go from here? The frustrating thing is that a friend of mine saw the GP at the same practice last month and said she was amazing, i can't seem to get past the gatekeeper at the moment. I'm thinking of writing to the practice manager to try and get an appointment but does anyone have any advice?

OP posts:

WhatNoReally · 26/04/2022 10:54

I used that Bupa service and got prescribed exactly what I asked for (utrogestan and Evorel patches) then after the first (paid for) Bupa prescription I took this back to my GP who just kept on with it.

WhatNoReally · 26/04/2022 10:55

I also asked my GP for a referral to my local NHS menopause clinic. Had a virtual appointment with them yesterday and they were fab. They're going to test and possibly prescribe testosterone and suggested I try a topical estrogen cream.

JinglingHellsBells · 26/04/2022 12:30

I'd push to get a GP appt. Surely you can get that without having to be triaged by a nurse? None of their business!

Just tell your dr that you have all the symptoms of peri meno and want to try HRT. And stay there until they agree! Don't be bullied.

JinglingHellsBells · 26/04/2022 12:32

I don't know what system your GP has but can't you just book an appt? If they ask what it's for (reception etc) you say it's personal and will discuss with the GP. No one is under any obligation to tell anyone other than the GP why they want an appt. If they insist, say it's a women's health issue and leave it at that.

RedPanda901 · 26/04/2022 14:42

Sometimes they are reluctant to put you on HRT if you're under 45, I was told. Call back and say that you want to see the women's health specialist GP at your surgery. Receptionists/nurses/GPs might be trying to avoid taking on new patients for HRT as there's a huge shortage of the oestrogen gel at the moment? Worth persisting as it certainly sounds to me like you are peri.

Original poster

Dollyparton3 · 26/04/2022 15:00

Sadly not with my GP. I called a few weeks back, asked to book an appointment and was told that EVERYONE is triaged, then I got the nurse calling. She said she couldnt see any reason to put me on HRT because they'd tested last year and I said I insisted that they do see me because the symptoms haven't gone away. Then when I rocked up I was sent into see the nurse. So frustrating.

A friend of mine went 3 months ago to the same GP, rocked in aged 46, gave her symptoms and they sent her off with a prescription for combined tablets. (which she had to pay two prescription charges for)

I think because I was on their radar aged 44 and 1/2 for the blood tests they've written me off. now aged 45 I said to them on the phone that if I wasn't peri and my thyroid was ok they needed to try and find out what is wrong with me because I was very much not my normal self.

It shouldnt be this hard!

OP posts:

JinglingHellsBells · 26/04/2022 16:07

You are within your rights to refuse to disclose the exact medical reason. It's confidential.

I'm sorry you are having this issue but bluntly, I'd not play their game. A nurse is a nurse and not in a position to prescribe or not. Insist you see a dr.

bellac11 · 26/04/2022 16:13

At my GP I was told they dont even do tests to see if your menopausal/peri menopausal, its just a given that if you are having symptoms then you are

I havent asked for any HRT or anything but was offered contraception for much heavier periods now as one of my symptoms which I dont want to take.

Im worried about not taking HRT in case Im doing long term damage but equally one of the benefits of my peri menopause is that my migraines have got a lot better, a LOT better and I dont want HRT to bring them back

And the effort of trying to push for what might suit me rather than being just shoved on something (anything) puts me off investigating it all. You cant get an appointment anyway, the amount of drugs Ive been prescribed without even speaking to the GP over the last 2 years is incredible, Ive simply told the receptionist (as ordered) whats wrong with me and recieved a text message later the same day saying there is a prescription for me at the chemist. Not even spoken to a doctor about the symptoms.

Original poster

Dollyparton3 · 26/04/2022 16:28

JinglingHellsBells · 26/04/2022 16:07

You are within your rights to refuse to disclose the exact medical reason. It's confidential.

I'm sorry you are having this issue but bluntly, I'd not play their game. A nurse is a nurse and not in a position to prescribe or not. Insist you see a dr.

you're right, when they prescribed Ovestin one of my friends who has been through the loop and out the other side said "That's not even HRT, they've massively fobbed you off", watching Dr Newson this morning suggests that Oestrogen on its own isnt ideal or safe.

OP posts:

JinglingHellsBells · 26/04/2022 17:07

I'm confused by your last post @Dollyparton3

Ovestin is topical estrogen cream for vaginal use. It's not classed as hrt.It's perfectly safe to use it on its onw.

what you can't do is use estrogen (systemic- pills, patches, gels) as HRT without adding in progestin if you still have a womb.

Ovestin isn't HRT.

is this what you meant?

Original poster

Dollyparton3 · 26/04/2022 17:28

I'm confused too, I asked for HRT, the nurse gave me Ovestin. Then I was told by a friend that I'd been fobbed off. She told me I'd just paid a prescription charge for not very much at all.

In the absence of a discussion with the GP is it safe to say that I'm not even on HRT? I was very clear in telling them over the phone what I wanted and what my symptoms were

OP posts:

JinglingHellsBells · 26/04/2022 18:48

Dollyparton3 · 26/04/2022 17:28

I'm confused too, I asked for HRT, the nurse gave me Ovestin. Then I was told by a friend that I'd been fobbed off. She told me I'd just paid a prescription charge for not very much at all.

In the absence of a discussion with the GP is it safe to say that I'm not even on HRT? I was very clear in telling them over the phone what I wanted and what my symptoms were

Ovestin is for vaginal use. It's given to women for vaginal dryness (used to be called vaginal atrophy but now given a different name - genito-urinary symdrome - I think!)

It is only absorbed into the vaginal tissues and does not work on any other part of your body. Although the leaflet in the pack covers HRT, it's not actually HRT!

There is an ongoing campaign by gynaecologists to get the leaflet removed/ changed.

Soon, there is the possibility that women can buy it (another brand name) over the counter with no prescription.

If you discussed vaginal symptoms then that's what you have been given Ovestin for. It's not HRT though.

Mamajunebugjones · 26/04/2022 19:39

So, you asked for HRT and was given something for topical vaginal dryness? This has helped how you feel- so not acting just locally?

But posters have also mentioned concerns about unopposed oestrogen (not sure how relevant if topical only).

I would ring the surgery and say that you are concerned about risks of taking unopposed oestrogen and want a GP to talk to you about the risks and benefits.
www.guidelines.co.uk/supplements/the-importance-of-the-progestogenic-component-of-hormone-replacement-therapy-in-women-with-a-uterus/454874.article

JinglingHellsBells · 26/04/2022 20:07

@Mamajunebugjones Ovestin is not HRT, the risks of unopposed estrogen only apply to systemic HRT. If you want to know more on this, look a the very informative website of Dr Louise Newson- called Balance.

You will also see it is not absorbed and cannot make women feel better other than where it is put 🙂

dane8 · 26/04/2022 20:23

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Mamajunebugjones · 26/04/2022 22:03

@JinglingHellsBells
I was responding to what the OP said which appeared to suggest more systemic effects:

I'm now on day 14 of Ovestin and it's as if someone has switched the lights back on. All pains have gone, mood has lifted, I'm sleepng like a baby, libido is back with a bang :).

I didn’t say she had been prescribed it as HRT- but acknowledged that another poster said that it’s used for vaginal dryness. I am not an expert but if I was in OP’s shoes, I would still be asking a GP for more information.

i was thinking OP could

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