I am 54 years old (just), and had a total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo oophorectomy (both ovaries) at age 46. I wasn't given HRT at the time as I was told by the consultant that did my surgery that I might not need it.
What ensued over the following years until September 2021 was a long decline in my health both physically and mentally. At first I thought I could just manage with lifestyle changes and I am a pretty positive person, but by a year after my surgery I didn't recognise myself (exhausted, rapid weight gain mainly in tummy, awful joint and muscle pains, vaginal atrophy, anxiety and low mood).
To cut a very long story short I was eventually seen by an NHS menopause clinic and placed on an estrogen only implant in September 2021. Within weeks I felt a miraculous improvement! I then had another implant in March 2022 and was told that I could remain on these as long as I wanted to. I felt hopeful at last as I finally had some semblance of a life again after so long.
But this was not to be. I had a review with the consultant at the clinic before my next implant and mentioned that when I had Covid, I had developed a nasty rash (urticaria) which lasted a few weeks. I only mentioned this as she asked about my general health. As apparently there is also a link to estrogen and urticaria, she suddenly decided that another implant was not going to be offered. I accepted this, but somewhat sadly as I had tried other transdermal HRT's and struggled a bit as I am also a migraineur who is under the care of a consultant neurologist and dips in hormones made this worse. He was fully in support of me having the implants as I had long stretcheds migraine free on the implant when my estrogen was steady. I couldn't really understand why she was so vehement about it though as the rash had resolved and was very clearly related to the covid infection.
I was not offered a review appointment again for when my implant was due to run out, and subsequently hit a total brick wall again in every way in November symptom wise - along with vicious estrogen withdrawal migraines. I tried to manage as best as I could but things got so bad again that I called the consultant's secretary to see if there was any way I could receive any help or advice. I eventually got a call a few weeks later and was told by the consultant that there was nothing she could really do and as I was 'now at the approximate age of natural menopause' that I should persevere without HRT. Her manner was not in the least sympathetic or helpful.
I felt I had to accept this, so tried to struggle on until December and finally broke down to my husband on Christmas Eve. His response was to actually send a complaint email to the health board there and then, even though of course it was Christmas so no one would see it until New Year.
After New Year I had to wait the maximum 8 weeks for a resolution to my husband's complaint and have now been offered a menopause clinic appointment with another gynaecologist, but this has been cancelled twice already. The next one should be at the end of April.
Today I finally felt like I couldn't carry on anymore like this so I phoned my GP surgery and explained everything and a very kind male GP has written a precription for Evorel 50 patches. I haven't used these before, but tried Estradot previously and they just wouldn't stick so I'm hopeful these will be better and that I can also actually get them!
I feel really saddened and exhausted and dare I say let down. I thought we were treating women better than this now especially with the NICE guidelines in place but apparently not. I hope you all don't mind me sharing - I just had to offload really. And if anyone has any positive experiences of Evorel patches, I'd love to hear them too please - I could do with a little hope and encouragement. Thank you.
To think that London, or anywhere else for that matter, does not belong to any one demographic
Son’s girlfriend diagnosed with BPD
