Misinformed about use oestrogel

[Nanaeli]

Hi I’m 56 and been peri menopausal for at least 10 years and although I’ve had numerous visits to the GP, I still have no idea whether I’m post or peri menopausal as apparently there is no way of knowing?!? But then I seen a trainee dr who told me that she could do a blood test to find out? So confusing with different information. However, I was told that I was definitely peri menopausal but that was around 4 years ago. My GP just keeps saying it’s coming down slowly but surely, but doesn’t explain anything. I’m beside myself with the whole situation and find it very difficult some days just to function. On a more recent GP visit this year I (embarrassingly) explained about vaginal dryness. So he prescribed Oestrogel pump pack, again with NO explanation? I got my prescription and for some reason I felt uncomfortable and silly in the chemist. I have been very embarrassed and reluctant to use the pump pack and I don’t even know why.

So imagine my surprise whilst watching the news this evening and it was about the shortage of HRT (oestrogel pump pack) and this is the first I’ve known that it was actually HRT!!!!!! I thought it was like a pessary to insert to help with vaginal dryness. Imagine if I’d have used this pump pack in the way in which you would treat thrush for instance?

I’m so upset and feel really badly informed about anything to do with the menopause and this has sent me over the edge.

Perhaps if this had been explained thoroughly at my appointment, I would maybe be feeling a little bit more like my old self by now with the use of HRT.

There is nowhere near enough info about the menopause and I feel extremely let down by the system. I have two daughters and two daughters in law and I really want them to be much more aware of all of this as I wouldn’t wish my experiences on anyone.

Has anyone else experienced anything like this.

Thanks for listening and I apologise for being so explicit.

[wobblybee Administrator]

🙂 You might find it helpful to log onto menopausesupport.co.uk

And, you can read previous posts here, by typing Menopause in the searchbox (top right).

🙂 My own periods stopped in 2004, and although I experienced general distressing symptoms, the actual run down was fairly straight forward. There wasn’t much information about menopause at the time, nothing like these days where there’s so much info online.

[lemonbalm]

Hi, the menopause is all confusing, here is another website you can look at online, plus if you download the app to your phone , there is a comunity for everyone to talk to each other about menopause and treatment.-balance-menopause.com . The vaginal pesseries are called vagifem or you can get a cream called ovestin for vaginal dryness, as I have these. Have a look on youtube for the menopause dr, Dr louise newson, lots of info there. If in the uk look on channel 4 for davina mcall menopause it has two programs about menopause. x

[Boldgirl45]

Please watch Sex, Myths and the Menopause with Davina McColl as a first point of call, then look up everything about Louise Newson - lots of interesting interviews etc. I am now attending (virtually) her clinic - a god send. Of course it's private so not cheap - but I figure it's worth it. They don't test you, it's all symptoms based as testing is not accurate. Good luck

[Poppycat999]

I know menopause is a life changing thing. Wont bore you with my troubles.If you go a full 12 months with no periods at all you are said to be post menopause. Until then it's still peri menopause. I take vagifem twice weekly it's a low dose of hrt so low you arent considered to be on HRT as such it's just a bit to keep your tissues younger up there and not so dry. This is what l understand anyway. Hope this helps.

[Daisy1820]

Feeling exactly the same. They do not explain things .. they just issue products etc., I could not even understand as to what level of HRT Evorel patch I am taking, the GP was uncertain when I asked .. I had to ask a Pharmacist…. Not sure on this one size fits all .. would love to be able to look into the bio identical HRT .. my GP didn’t seem to know what that was either .. frustrating .. I hope my daughter is better informed than I have been through this journey.