Menopause Education

[Robyn]

We often read posts written by someone saying "I never realised that blah blah was a menopause symptom". Why aren't women being educated more about menopause. Why is it that none us seem to know anything about it until it hits us.

For me, all I ever knew about menopause was that you got hot flushes. Other ladies have no idea that suddenly out of the blue they can suffer majority anxiety or numerous other problems. No one ever told me that you could also get insomnia (which I did). When my insomnia hit about two years ago I thought I was going crazy because menopause never crossed my mind. I kept trying to work out what I was doing, or what I was eating, that was different that was causing it. Never in a million years would I have thought it was my hormones.

Why is it that when we are around 10-12 years old we get information given to us telling us what to expect when we get our periods (or hopefully we do, but I know there are a lot of young girls left in the dark about that too), yet no one bothers to give us a book telling us what to expect at the other end of our fertile years.

[jacksfullofaces]

Having read books about menopause from the 19th century through to 2010 I can tell you that they were more informative during the seventies through to the nineties. Then along came a new dawn called " embrace the change" endorsed by feminists, anti hormone doctors and other politically correct cretins.
At this point women began being told that any menopause symptoms apart from flushes and cessation of menstruation were entirely due to their reluctance to accept that they were not embracing the process of ageing.
Point being if they say it is all in our heads - no need to treat menopause apart from sending a few women to the funny farms or drugging them with anti depressants.
Jacks

[susan]

Embrace the Menopause people do my head in. I want to yell F*** the Menopause at them.

I also wish the menopause from hell onto any woman who tells me it can be dealt with by simply 'tweaking' my diet a little bit.

xxxx

[Gelis]

I do so agree! Having been forced, by circumstances, to manage without HRT for the past 5 years I feel that any person who peddles the message that the menopause is a "positive" time of life should be gagged, forcibly, at the very least.

Jacks is right in that the medical "establishment" in the UK want to avoid giving HRT - either for cost reasons or because they want to con us into taking unnecessary antidepressants so that we become docile little creatures to be manipulated. I'm not, of course, saying that it is wrong to take ADs - there are many people (some are here) for whom they are helpful for various symptoms. It is the fact that they are used as the first line of prescription for any woman in the UK complaining of menopausal symptoms to which I object.

The gynae I saw here was swayed by the WHI study (a few years too late, but that's Greece for you) and refused me HRT on the grounds that I had small fibroids which might, of course, get bigger because they are affected by oestrogen levels. I couldn't even get him to let me have progesterone only, which had helped in the past, because of the suspicion that this can lead to an elevated cancer risk. All he would suggest were ADs or supplements. I went for the supplements but gave up, as they didn't do much and cost a fortune.

If I can find a more sympathetic gynae I'd like to go back on HRT now that I'm (hopefully) getting near to actual menopause - periods getting extremely erratic. We'll see. I just wish that I'd known more when I started down the meno road, and certainly want to help others to not be so clueless!

Gxx

[jacksfullofaces]

Susan
Thanks - you made my day and pleased the mammogram went well.
Jacks xx

[jacksfullofaces]

Talking of anti depressants. I did suffer horribly from mood swings from my twenties. The GP I had then decided it was all in my head and gave me anti depressants ( I refused to take them) and referred me to a shrink whom I did not like and ended up at dagger drawn.
This was despite having classic symptoms of a thyroid disturbance , rapid loss of weight down to 6 stone, panic attacks, bulging eyes, frequent sore throats, choking sensations and sweats.
However previous GP decided it was all in my head because I had a difficult childhood which equates to needy female requiring counselling.
I was talking to my GP about it recently and I told him how angry I felt especially as other doctors had suggested thyroid disorder. He was sympathetic but rightly said I would never be able to prove what had been done to me.
There but for my pigheaded attitude I could be on drugs and suffering.
Jacks

[susan]

Yes it's all a bit annoying the way menopause has been marginalised over the last ten or fifteen years. At least you even managed to stand up to them at a young age Jacks which is a difficult thing to do for many as confidence normally comes with the years.

What is the system like in Greece Gelis? Is it dealt with by GP's (do you have GP's?) or do ou have to go straight to a gyneacologist for anything to do with menopause and hormones. Is it covereded by Greeces equivalent of the National Health Service. I really find it interesting how other Country's deal with these issues and the success or lack of its in some cases that women seem to be subjected to.

Are there reports about menopause and or HRT in Greek newspapers and women's magazines or is it one of those things that is talked about behind closed doors? Are the medics over there great believers in AD 's

xxxx

[susan]

Lol at plague of frogs.

I think I really dipped out as I'm sure I entered Peri approx 2001 I would have been 44/45 & that was when all these negative reports were at their height in the medical professions consciousness.

So no chance that I would be offered HRT. I was at the Drs all the time due to the onset of severe joint & muscle pain, pins & needles all the time & what I now realise was severe health anxiety. I was convinced I had MS for ages due the pins and needles.

I was even given a months Citalopram at one point as I called out an emergency Dr at three in the morning because I thought I was dying in the night (was probably my first night sweat lol)

I even took kids to Walt Disney world in Florida three times as I though I would be in a wheelchair by the time I was Fifty !!!! and was totally guilted out about lumbering them up with such an 'ill' Mum.

Amazing to think that was all probably to do with huge hormone fluctuations during Peri.

xxxx

[Gelis]

What is the system like in Greece Gelis? Is it dealt with by GP's (do you have GP's?) or do ou have to go straight to a gyneacologist for anything to do with menopause and hormones. Is it covereded by Greeces equivalent of the National Health Service

The system here is a little complicated, Susan. If you are in the State medical system - ie if you are working and paying the equivalent of NI contributions then you see a "GP" and, as far as I know, get referred to a specialist (for whatever ails you). If you are self funding or in a private insurance scheme (as we are) then you can go straight to the specialist. However, as far as I'm aware, once you've seen the specialist you can self refer, whichever scheme you are in. The main criterion is whether (or how) you can pay - you may have seen something on the news about Greek doctors & pharmacists going on strike. This is all to do with patients on the "state" scheme, as the doctors & pharmacists haven't been paid.

Whichever way you go, it is still pot luck, to a certain extent. The gynae I saw was recommended by other expats as "caring" and he had good English. I found him extremely thorough - in terms of tests/scans etc - but patronising & dismissive. I'm obviously much more bolshie than the women who recommended him! I also really, really prefer to see a female gynae, so am on the hunt for one.

As far as discussion in the media goes - I don't know, as my Greek isn't good enough. However, talking to a younger Greek lady (I think she's about 40) I get the impression that "womens" conditions are talked about just as much or as little between women as in the UK - ie dependent on the person. She told me that she has had panic attacks for some time, and has medication for them (not sure what) and that she suffers badly from PMS - I've seen that for myself! She also told me that her daughter was prescribed testosterone to deal with teenage acne (by the same gynae I saw) but stopped taking it because it made her hairy (!) - she then started taking my friend's hormone pills instead and the acne diminished. I presume my friend meant she took a contraceptive pill, and this is what her daughter now took as well. Contraceptives can be bought over the counter from the pharmacy. My friend also agreed with my impression of this particular gynae - she's looking for a better one as well, so I stand a chance of finding someone with a Greek friend on the lookout, I think.

This is still a very male dominated society, so you need to get fairly close to Greek women to find out how they are thinking, in general. It would be easy, looking at the media, to get a pretty skewed view of what is going on here.

[susan]

Hi Gelis

Thanks for taking the time the reply in such detail. I suppose most systems have some similarities.

It's a shame that you didn't have a good experience with the first Gynea as that kind of puts you off from persuing things. Hopefully you will have some luck and your Greek friend will find a better one and pass his or her name on to you. I quite like seeing my GP as she is female so I know where you are coming from although I guess if I was recommended a male as being good in his field then I would of course give him a chance. I think the main thing is to find someone who you feel is competent and sympathetic (probably a bit of a challenge all over the world to do this).

I guess so long as society comprises of groups of women in their own friendship circles they will talk about women's issues as it is something that affects our lives so much and people learn and gain support by sharing.

Can you just buy things like HRT directly in the chemists? We have had two sets of friends who have lived in Greece (Athens) for 3 years and I am sure the ones that went years ago said you could just buy what you needed but that was about 20 or so years back & of course you need to know what to buy.

The second family had health insurance as he was with a major UK company out there so they didn't seem to have any problems with getting what treatments and meds they needed, except when they moved back they had to get here get sons orthodontist work redone as it was messed up a bit.

The similar thing to that which you mention had happened in Spain while I was there in the Summer, loads of the Pharmacists were on strike as the Government hadn't paid them for all the NHS (well there equivalent ) prescriptions they had filled for the last year or more.

xxxx

[jacksfullofaces]

Hi Gelis
In your position I would look for a better doctor - not necessarily a gynaecologist but one who will prescribe what you need. Have you thought of seeing an endocrinologist. I think gynaecologists are too keen on hysterectomies and other invasive procedures and often display a huge amount of ignorance about hormones.
I recall telling the moron at our local practice that you didn't use estriol cream for only three months.
This fool woman tried to tell me that was the maximum time allowed.
I think that menopause being a taboo topic gives the medical establishment the upper hand in dictating to women how they should live.
Years ago I attended a family planning clinic and didn't get on with the pill - my language was something to hear when the female doctor told me to put up with the side effects to be "available" for my husband.Ofcourse I refused to take the wretched thing.
Jacks

[Gelis]

Thanks Jacks - I hadn't thought of trying other than a gynae. Will have to investigate!

Susan, you can certainly buy the Pill (and many other things like antibiotics which are prescription only in the UK) at the pharmacy, but think HRT needs to be prescribed though that is another avenue to follow, I guess. Greek pharmacists are great, generally - very well trained indeed, and will help with all straightforward ailments.

Medical treatment here is, generally, good. The state hospitals are pretty basic and you are expected to provide your own nursing care (either your family or someone paid for). If you are rich, or in a private insurance scheme then you go to a private clinic - again, you need to sort out nursing for yourself, but you can have a private room!

Gxx