Diagnosis

[LadyRosie]

Hi everyone. I have been suffering with symptoms for years now but my doctor insists that they are all menopausal. Has anyone else experienced this?

[saluhouse]

Hi LadyRosie. In answer to your question - in general all older ladies visiting a GP with distressing symptoms are told it’s menopausal.

My previous GP I had was even more specific - he said it was because I was old and had no friends. When I disputed that fact - he said I was old, had no friends and was depressed!

I did eventually pay £250 to a Fibromyalgia Specialist in London and he diagnosed it in 15 minutes. Unfortunately I couldn’t afford to keep seeing him - so back I went to the GP.

On the strength of the specialists referral letter I was sent to a NHS Pain Management Clinic. They were nice people - but not really much help.

So - in general - my advice is do not be fobbed off. Keep asking for referral to a Rheumatology Specialist. They are probably your best bet for a diagnosis. Or - even if you can only afford one visit - pay to see a private specialist.

Good luck. Xxx

[LadyRosie in reply to saluhouse]

Thank you . It’s good to know I’m not the only one.

[Makie-Uppie]

I could give you a large book called 'me and the large number of times the doctor got it wrong' but that would bore you silly. An example, a sore foot, doctor said it was just painful arches. Two days later with a blue foot I attended A&E to find out I had broken almost every bone in the darn thing. They are not always right. I know they are bonkers busy but still you need them to get it right and generally if you think they are wrong they are.

[LadyRosie in reply to Makie-Uppie]

Yeah, I’ve been waiting 6 weeks now for results of an ecg due to heart palpitations. (The hospital has backlogs) Once I get the results I can discuss things further with my doctor. She put me on HRT a couple of years ago which made things worse so after 3 months I stopped that, then she gave me Citalopram which just flattens my emotions. I very easily become wiped out which comes on a day or two after and generally lasts a few days. I never wake up feeling better than when I went to bed!

Back to the doctors.

[Kimmydog]

I am in a similar situation to yourself, I’ve had problems for about 8years.My GP is very reluctant to put all of may aches and pains down to fibro and has said several times over the years that it’s down to menopause to which I am only just going through now (several previous blood tests didn’t show any hormonal changes and at the time I was still having regular periods). I’ve been on citalopram for years so asked her about coming off them and she said it would be too difficult to come off them and go onto another one and she prescribed hrt, which i didn’t like so came off and am still in the same situation. I also have chronic pain through various joints and my back due to arthritis. Just awaiting an appt to go for steroid injections into my hips. I was referred to rheumatology a few years back and saw a consultant physio (not a rheumatologist) and she said my pains were due to hyper mobile joints. The GP says it could be fibro, but it’s just a label and she wouldn’t treat me any differently. So I have no idea, especially when I feel so bad, have pain everywhere. I am considering a private consultation with the specialist that has been mentioned on here. I hope you get some answers.

[LadyRosie]

Try asking for a second referral to another rheumatologist. I think we need to be firmer and tell Tyra what we want. We should not have to go private. Good Luck. Hope you get some answers soon.