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Finally.....NICE is developing Menopause Guidelines for GP. Too little, Too late???

Posted , 8 users are following.

shaznay96184
shaznay96184

Hi All

Blimey, we are a popular bunch!  See we made the news all day in the UK yesterday.

We've actually got those lovely people in NICE finally acknowledging that our GPs really need to be singing from the same songsheet - or actually having a copy of the 'sheet' in the case of some GPs, clearly! - with regards to helping us ol' birds during Peri/Menopause!!  And about time too!

But is it a case of too little, too late for a lot of us?  I'm not actually taking conventional HRT at the moment.  I don't rule it out for the future (never say never and all that), but do hope that by the time I go back to my GP (not the dosey Nurse 'Mrs Happy Pills' Practitioner next time!!) I'll be treated like a rational, mature woman, and given proper options of treatments to help me.

Emmmm, it will be interesting to see how long it takes the average GP to get their head around the ever-increasing list of symptoms of Peri-and Menopausal symptoms. I think that list off 66 symptoms is growing weekly!

It will also be nice to see how often younger ladies (those outside the 'committed in stone' age brackets of 45-55!!) continue to be fobbed off still when they describe obvious Peri symptoms to be told they're 'too young' to be Peri!!!  

We shall all wait with baited breath no doubt to see if NICE's guidelines actually work.  Hopefully there will lots more help for those enterring Peri, if not for ourselves. 

Anyone else read/hear anything specific about this issue yesterday?

Sx

2 likes, 32 replies

32 Replies

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  • joanne_67793
    joanne_67793 shaznay96184

    Posted

    Hi I'm 42 from the UK and am in early menapause due to my ovaries being taken and not sure what you mean when you talk about peri?
    • shaznay96184
      shaznay96184 joanne_67793

      Posted

      Ewww, Joanne, you are in the right place Kiddo! 

      Peri = Perimenopause/Pre-Menopause.

      You are technically Menopausal when you have not had a Period for 12mths (and a day!).  However, there are many ladies on this wonderful forum who will testify that this isn't quite the case!  That Bloody Red Devil has a right laugh sneaking back into our lives, uninvited, when we least expect it!!

      However.......I'm not sure if you will have been 'technically' Perimenopausal.  You may have skipped these symptoms and gone into full blown Menopause, being that you have been 'Medically' taken into Menopause???(Help!  I'm out of my depth here!  Anyone out there who's had a hyste and/or ovaries removed who can clarify this for Joanne.....and me??!!!redface)

      Come on ladies:  someone post the list of Perimenopausal Symptoms for young Joanne.

      Blimey, I just can't stop myself.....I start these threads and can't answer any questions they open up!!lol

      Hopefully Joanne, loads of lovely ladies will come back with some good info for you.  I'm knackered after all that:  I'm off for a lie down!!!!

      Sxx

    • pinkcatfairy
      pinkcatfairy joanne_67793

      Posted

      Dear Joanne,

      I am 51 and in peri, i haven't been officially told that but i know that I am. The first sign for me were the change i n pattern of my periods, at first it seemed like i had endless periods stopping and starting and then the endless spotting that didn't seem to stop. My periods then suddenly became less painful and alot lighter. Then came the migraine auras but without the migraine and the endless eye twitching. I remember going through a craving for carbs too!! Then the odd feelings of nausea in the mornings or just before or during a period. I am now going through some nights of waking up, oh and not to forget aching muscles. This has been my peri so far, i haven't really had the hot flushes, perhaps the odd feeling of feeling hot but nothing major. My experience with peri is that the symptoms come for a while and then move on xx

  • bobbysgirl
    bobbysgirl shaznay96184

    Posted

    I'm signed up to the Patient and Client Council in NI. I get newsletters about the work they are doing in the NHS in Northern Ireland. Yesterday, in response to the NICE guideline story, I emailed them to ask if there was a menopause clinic in NI and if not, why not?

    I got the answer 'no' but did I mind if they forwarded my question to their 'Comments Database' as 'intelligence for future pieces of work'?

    Come on girls, let's keep chipping away at our health 'services' until they take notice of 50% of the population! We have SO much to offer. But we can't do it if we feel like Sxxx all the time!cheesygrin

    • shaznay96184
      shaznay96184 bobbysgirl

      Posted

      Yep, just as I thought: it'll take an age for the guidelines to filter through.  I feel for you. 

      Love being fobbed off myself - not!  They may as well have told you "Thanks for calling, wasting your mobile minutes.  You can say what you want but it won't go any further than me!!".  No wonder we feel like we're bashing our heads against a wall most of the time.

      Keep the Faith Kiddo.  The more women who 'badger' their GPs about their Peri/Meno needs, the better.

      Sx

  • katrina62272
    katrina62272 shaznay96184

    Posted

    http://cks.nice.org.uk/menopause

    You might find this interesting. I am 41, just had a TAH nearly three weeks ago and due to see the doc this week about HRT. Menopausal since 38.  I want to go, and be informed properly before I see the doctor as my faith in the medical profession is weak.  Anyway, no point moaning, just thought I'd share. X

    • joanne_67793
      joanne_67793 katrina62272

      Posted

      I'm on estrogen patches until I'm 50 katrina for my bones but had no symptoms other wise. If I did I'm sure the Gp will prescribe some HRT as well as the patches.
    • shaznay96184
      shaznay96184 katrina62272

      Posted

      Hope you're feeling a bit stronger after your surgery.  38....what a bummer. 

      Think the more info you have, the likely you'll be treated as the competent, intelligent woman you are.  Be good to have a two-way discussion rather than be 'talked at'.  Good Luckbiggrin

      Ta for the link:  I'll read that later as I've just checking my emails quickly before '24 Hours in A&E' comes back on.  Love watching that.....through my fingers:  bit gory sometimes, but helps give me faith in our NHS!!

      Sx

  • kristi63
    kristi63 shaznay96184

    Posted

    i'm in america and i was told my symptoms would start in my mid 30's.  they just never told me how severe some of them could be.  how you could go from one day feeling "normal" to "oh my god, i'm having a heart attack" sh!tty!

    and yes, it's too late for me, as i've gotten the crash course and wading my way through articles, websites and this blessed disscussion site - thank you, ladies!! - but it's not for my niece who is hitting her mid thirties in a couple of years; or my daughter who has about 12 years to go.  i have been hearing about "peri and menopause" for YEARS, but my GP never informed me that i could prepare myself in my thirties for the worst of what could be in my late 40's and early 50's. 

    • shaznay96184
      shaznay96184 kristi63

      Posted

      Mid 30s.  Total crap!!  I would say it's probably good to get it started, and have it out of the way relatively young.....Oh!  if only that was the case. 

      All we have to look forward to is wrinkles,sagging  tits, dried up do-dahs, mood swings, rants, sweats.......or is that just melol!!

      I hope you're able to get some sort of support from your Gynae (we in the UK feel absolutely honoured if we ever get a referral to a Gynae on the NHS, and have all got used to waiting 3mths for the appointments - unless you have Private Healthcare of course).  If you are paying for your healthcare, and your plan covers it, get yourself down to the Gynae and get them to check you from head to toe. 

      Maybe I'm wrong, but when I read the posts from our US 'sistas' they seem to have access to so many more health professionals who are happy to run all sorts of tests for them. 

      I don't know if they're any more well versed about all-things Peri/Meno than our lot, but as you can see, here in the UK they've only just got around to realising that us girls actually need some proper, universally-followed directives for helping us.  Christ!  I really can't believe that its taken this long to get their arses in gear!!  Oh well........

      Keep yourself well Kiddo.  As you say, where would we be without this wonderful site to vent our spleens?!!

      Sx

    • kristi63
      kristi63 shaznay96184

      Posted

      my symptoms started about age 38.  weight gain, some night sweats, depression.  they put me on b/c and it really seemed to help quite a bit.  then it stopped working after 10 years.  i was wondering if being on the pill until i was 48 is the reason why these symptoms were so subtle and then BAM! 

      i am a disabled veteran and i get GREAT health care (contrary to what some others might say) and have had all kinds of tests done.  the reason i had ALL these tests is because no one prepared me for just how bad the symptoms can be.  on that topic, my care was LOUSY!  i get the feeling my gp (i also have a gyn) thinks i'm a mess emotionally, and i WAS because i wasn't prepared.  no need to make me feel like a frightened lunatic - i'm good now that i know, thanks to you kind ladies!  i get a phone conference with my gp tomorrow and i'm going to tell her so.  

       

    • shaznay96184
      shaznay96184 kristi63

      Posted

      Good for you. If the help is there: use it. Great to hear a real positive for once!

      Actually, although I come across as apathetic about health care generally, I have to confess that I rarely visit a Doc. My most recent surgery was minor (nasal) but bloody life-changing for me: brilliant to be able to breath/ smell/taste again.

      Regarding Meno: I'm a bit of a self-medicator. Read a lot and decided that if I have to use traditional HRT, I'd get it when I was really up against it.

      SSRIs/ADs are used a lot in the UK for Peri/Meno symptoms. I see what you mean/ understand your emotional turmoil that was thrust upon you. Me: I've probably been experiencing Peri symptoms for 8-10yrs. Just got camouflaged with work-stress and bereavement s/grieving. Truly sh*tty time (9yrs on I don't think my ol' man will ever get over his losssad).

      Don't want to use something I don't need. Besides my eldest sister has L/T, on-oing psychosis managed by a cocktail of meds. We are polar opposites - totally different personalities or sisters.

      Kristi, you have whatever you and yr physicians feel will benefit you in the longer term. I don't rule out HRT as I have to consider my future one health. I just hope that I can get through this crap and come out the other side relatively well. If I start to lose my sense of humour that'll be the time I go running down to the GP pronto!!

      Good luck with yr phone consultation today:-)

      Sx

    • shaznay96184
      shaznay96184 kristi63

      Posted

      Oops! think I typed the words. 'sh*tty' and 'cr*p', so the Moderator is checking me out.

      Seriously, do they really expect us 'women of age' to be completely offended by such terms?!! Believe me: I have to really rein myself in most days as swearing - like laughing - are my savoirs. I don't drink, smoke, do drugs. But I do swear. I'm 54 for Gawd Sake. Ggrrrrrrr!!!!

      (Took me ages to tap out on my Tablet toosad!

    • Emis_Moderator
      Emis_Moderator shaznay96184

      Posted

      Hi Shaznay,

      While you and others here may not be offended other users in other groups do get offended so we have to have one rule for all groups. Use of asterisks as you did above will stop them going for moderation. 

    • shaznay96184
      shaznay96184 Emis_Moderator

      Posted

      Emm. Yeah. Wrists duly slapped. 

      Do hope this is a rule for all??? However, I believe others have slipped the net.

      Lesson learnt:  I shall be using the Asterisks in abundance, no doubt.

       

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