When I have my consultation with Diane she goes through a list of symptoms and asks me which ones I have experienced and how severe they are. It turns out I have experienced them all at some point, however some have been more severe than others. She recommends a treatment plan but as she isn’t a nurse practitioner I now have to convince the menopause specialist that her recommendation should be prescribed. Diane is shocked but not too surprised that I have given up work. I am very lucky that I am in a financial positon to do do. How on earth do other women manage?
By this point I have my impending appointment with the menopause specialist and a consultation with a gynaecologist. This is because after one of many examinations the cervix of my womb has thickened which is a cancer risk. As you can imagine, I have gone into a meltdown! Turns out I had a polyp which was removed successfully and the gynaecologist offers me the mirena coil. Apparently this is quite successful for peri-menopausal women! I politely leave saying I will give it some thought. I am a woman on a mission. I have researched the menopause within an inch of its life and I know what I want and need. Diane says ‘your treatment plan is your choice’. I have never viewed NHS or private treatment in this way before. The professionals know more than we do, right? WRONG. GP’s (unless they choose to do their own research) have little or no training on the menopause. GP’s advise that unless you haven’t had a period for more than 12 months continuously you are not suitable for HRT. The first port of call for many GP’s is to prescribe anti-depressants. Many women report that their GP have dismissed them and told them to ‘get on with it, its a natural stage in a woman’s life!
1-4 women in Wales are currently in the age bracket to experience menopausal symptoms. If those women suffer as I have, they leave work etc what do you think that would do to our economy. How many women are carers, mothers, have jobs and families to care for? With more than 50% of the welsh population being female that’s a huge loss to many industries and sectors that rely on us. Yet we put close to nothing into educating the health boards and its practitioners.
So, its onwards and upwards. I go to my appointment like a raging banshee. I am armed with knowledge and knowledge it power! As soon as I sit in the chair and I am faced with the menopause nurse I make my apology. I am laughing out loud as I am writing this because I am thinking of this poor woman with me ready to start a battle.
I tell her all about my experience with the GP and how unhelpful they have been, I tell her all about Diane Danzebrink and how disappointed I am that I have been suffering for 3 years before I start a recovery. I should never have been suffering in the first place, I shouldn’t even be writing about a recovery as the menopause shouldn’t be about recovery!
Are you noticing the exclamation marks increasing!
I tell her that very morning that my GP has point blank refused to give me a repeat prescription. I am so anxious I feel my chest is about to burst. I am so worried she is not going to give me what Diane has recommended. I simply cannot go on. My thoughts have wandered and I am feeling suicidal because I know that if things do not improve I don’t want to live anymore. I am crying and she just listens. When I look back that was the first NHS professional that gave me any time and I am very grateful for that.
She then tells me that she is happy to give me the prescription that Diane has recommended and all of a sudden the relief I feel is amazing. I feel like I have just won a high court appeal case. The feeling of Euphoria and overwhelming urge to hug her is consuming me. I do however refrain, the poor woman doesn’t even know me but at that point she is literally holding the rest of my life in her hands.
The list above was helpful to me when going to any appointments. Please feel free to google it if you have been suffering and you think its the peri-menopause or menopause. Again, knowledge is power. You DO NOT need a blood test if you are over 45 and experiencing any of these symptoms. GP’s however do not know this, you have to tell them and be very assertive that you want/need hormone replacement treatment. Take the list with you!
Next time the update is a fast forward to how Oestrogen, Progesterone and Testosterone has reincarnated Lisa. ‘The’ Lisa, the person that I had nearly lost as a result of the menopause nearly breaking me.
How the Menopause nearly beat me 