Cannot get HRT until after hysterectomy: waiting list currently now 3 years.

[Goldfsh]

Does anyone have any advice for me?

I'm 51 and experiencing HRT symptoms (low libido, exhaustion, brain fog etc) but also have fibroids, which are now at 16-week pregnancy size.

I've been on the waiting list for a hysterectomy for some time and I've been told that the current list wait for surgery is around 3 years in my area.

The problem is that the GP will not prescribe HRT because of the risk of aggravating the fibroids. It's a stalemate!

Is anyone in a similar position, or have suggestions or advice?

Could you get a private opinion at a menopause clinic?

No advice but bumping, and sending sympathy. I hope you find a resolution.

Sometimes other hospitals have shorter waiting lists - the one near me does surgery at weekends for a handful of issues so the waiting lists for those specific ones are quite short. Might be worth asking the GP?

Does the consultant / surgeon know the symptoms are affecting you badly? Can you ring their secretary and ask for an appointment - they might even be able to say as a specialist that you can have the HRT. Ime consultants secretaries can be absolute miracle workers.

I haven't yet been assigned a consultant - I was discharged after a first surgery, and then 'fell off' the list. So I'm now a few months into the waiting list for the first pre-surgery consultant appointment, which are currently booking 12 months after referral. (Surgery is then two years after at the current wait times.)

I've spoken to the same GP that runs the private menopause clinic, I think. But I could try again. Just feels like throwing money away as I cannot afford the op privately.

I’d pay for a private consultation with a menopause specialist, who will likely prescribe a suitable HRT combination for you. Your GP will be more likely to take over your prescriptions if it’s come from a specialist.

Be careful, many menopause ‘specialists’ are actually GPs or even nurses, and although they undoubtedly know their stuff, it won’t hold the same weight with your GP unfortunately.

I don’t know if it’s the same where you live, but in my area you can only have a gynae referral OR a meno referral. They won’t put you on the two lists at once.

You can do anything from fill in a form on Superdrug to go to see a private GP to get a prescription for HRT. Most of the treatments are not that expensive just to pay for.

Say you want something that will help with the symptoms while not making the fibroids any worse. There are things you can have.

https://www.mymenopausecentre.com/gp-resources/understanding-fibroids/

Your story sounds very similar to mine, fibroids, falling off lists etc. I’ve finally had my hysterectomy (age 48) after 8 years of trying x,y and z. Hopefully the waiting lists will decrease and you won’t have to wait that long.

Have the injections that shut down your ovaries been mentioned (eg prostap)? This causes a temporary menopause for 6 months and stops the fibroid growing - I had oestrogen HRT at the same time to relieve menopause symptoms and it was the best I’ve felt in the last 8 years. Maybe that could tide you over a little whilst waiting? anything you can do to stunt growth will be good, as I can tell you, a 22 week-sized fibroid was not fun.