Bit controversial but sometimes I lose patience

[susan]

Just been aimlessly reading the net and read that some poor woman went to see her GP with what must be some of the most classic menopause systems known to man and woman.

Slapped straight on Prozac and sent for cognitive behavioral therapy.

Prozac the worlds biggest libido killer, given to someone whose symptoms include lack of libido. Months later still feeling like carp

A woman I worked with who was in a new relationship at 50 so the physical side of things was very important to her and her new partner had the exact same thing happen to her. She was having the Change from hell from what I remember. Fortunately she had the nouse to work it out sharpish and got off of it , she went back to her doctor and had a right go at him. LOL.

I really do despair and mainly blame the medics but sometimes women are fobbed all too easily I feel.

xxxx

[Robyn]

Yes, I totally agree with you. I've been really happy with my GP up until now, but I really think she's either starting to get fed up with me not responding to the normal meds, or she's just run out of ideas. I still really like her, but I feel it's time for me to get more specialised opinions. Sometimes I think if you are a tough case you really need to talk to someone who is dealing with menopause all the time, rather than a GP who only deals with the "easy" cases.

[susan]

Yes it's so hard to strike that happy balance Robyn.

I also have a GP that I am pretty happy with, but I have a kind of limited health insurance, that my OH pays into that pays for optical, dental, physio etc up to a certain amount a year.

It will pay up to £220 pounds towards a visit to a private specialist of any discipline as a one off.

I keep thinking I would like to go and see one of the London specialists like Studd or Panay to get their expert views.

But I am worried that I am going to lose all the good will that I have built up with my GP.

Its ridiculous really, but I feel that I want to talk to someone who really knows about menopause and has dealt with that alone for 20 or 30 years.

I have questions I need to ask and I want to check that I am doint the best I can for my long term health with my HRT.

As I am willing to take it, i want to know that what I am actually taking is of the optimum benefit as I will be on it for at least another four years.

It's such a dilemma and I feel for you in your situation. At least I have managed to find an 'off the shelf' HRT that works for me.

But I keep having a nagging feeling that there might be something better out there.

xxxx

[jacksfullofaces]

Susan
I hear good things about John Stevenson - he charges £250 first consultation. My Gp has now been sorted out and I get the hormones I want at the dose I need. Anyhow he doesn't approve of anti depressants and although he freely admits ignorance about hormones he is open minded enough to ask me what I want.But if I were going to go privately again I would pick John Stevenson
Jacks

[susan]

Thanks Jacks. I will put him in my little back book of options.

I am still in two minds about this, as I am a long way off 60 and am wondering if to keep going with my GP for as long as she is amenable. No doubt at some point she will have an 'attack of NHS guidelines' or just leave the practice.

That might actually be the opportune moment for me, to take a consult with a menopause specialist.

xxxx

[susan]

I think I might benefit from a bit of testosterone and I am sure they are happier giving it to you a) the younger you are and b)the private menopause specialists are more clued up on it's use.

Although my GP is good in many ways and is in favor of HRT and has been happy to swap me about a few times to get a good reduction of menopause symptoms, I really don't think she would prescribe.

When she prescribed the utrogestan to go with the oestrogel that I wanted for my holiday, due to exposure to info on forums & knowing how it is used on the continent I forgot myself and actually said to her, 'do I insert this vaginally?'

Her eyes nearly popped out of her head and she just said no you take it like any other tablet.

It was quite comical really. She obviously thought I had run mad.

xxxx

[susan]

Yes I saw your other post from before I joined MSI, I have tried Livial (only for about 14 days) but it was too weak for me in terms of controlling my other symptoms, so by the end of the fortnight I could feel underlying flushes coming back.

Might have worked for those with lesser vasomotor symptoms maybe.

It's all fun and games. I started to wonder if I should have kept my patch on and took the livial.

xxxx

[jacksfullofaces]

We have testosterone naturally as women so I'm afraid I don't understand the controversy. John Stevenson has an NHS practice in London.
Jacks

[jacksfullofaces]

It can be difficult to get testosterone on the NHS but not impossible. I use it occasionally ( usually as an energy booster during a period) as I naturally run high levels.
Jacks

[jacksfullofaces]

Always good to have back up.My cellar is stuffed. Bet she didn't need much testosrerone lol
Jacks xx

[susan]

I've got a bit if a stash myself, I tend to put my scripts in a few weeks early in case of supply problems. Changed to patches but then decided to finish a lot of femoston Conti tablets off so have at least six months supply of patches plus a bit of a vagifem mountain going on, left over livial, holiday oestrogel & utro. All I need is some testo to complete the collection.

I don't suppose it's as impressive as your oestrogel lake that you mentioned on another thread though Jacks.

I'm glad you didn't have any problems getting it Lainey.

xxxx

[susan]

Hi Lainey

I don't blame you, that's how I feel and in the case of the vagifem 25 my worries that they will stop it have come true, so am grateful to have a back log while I can work out something to replace it. Good job a lot of it has really long use by dates.

xxxx

[jacksfullofaces]

Lainey
You just wait until I have a count up ;D
Jacks xxx

[jacksfullofaces]

Lainey
Reckon I might end up needing a huge pharmacy safe
Jacks

[susan]

I'm terrified of leaving my zopiclone around as I have a fair few of them as I am prescribed two a night but only ever take one or sometimes half of one. If we should go away for a weekend on our own(very rare occurrence) due to Facebook etc I am always worried there will be a Facebook party and some random teen, not only who I don't know, but probably my kids don't even know will take some thinking theyare sonething interesting. So I end up locking them away or even taking them with in the car.

I saw a documentary about the coroners service in West London where someone had managed to kill themselves by taking as few as 10 zopi washed down with a bottle of cheepo spirits of some kind.

xxxx

[susan]

Sept 12, 2012 11:09:27 GMT @honeybunny said:

Susan it's a shame you did'nt persevere, with the Livial, it took a good month for it to kick in.

I know loveydovey I remember you posting that on the other site.

The only trouble was after about 10 days of taking it I got chronic constipation, to an extent where I think I had an impacted bowel (sorry if TMI).

I only knew that as I had it before years ago, my body really doesn't do tablets very well . If I end up an old lady on 15 tablets a day I might as well kill myself as my bowels will never be able to deal with that !

If I had given it proper thought I would have changed my diet from day one of taking Livial to have ensured it wouldn't happen.

I was a bit disappointed really, but wouldn't rule out taking it again as I have nearly three months supply still.

I feel really good on patches though. It's just the libido and response thing I was trying to address with it, not any other aspects of menopause.

xxxx