Perimenopause and riding …

[JenJ]

Too late I was quickly fobbed off….

I'm not surprised sadly.

Do have a look at that facebook group. They have templates of letters to GPs etc that you can use and adapt to send to your practice, to make sure that a. you get the treatment you are asking for (literally and metaphorically!) and b. also hopefully raise awareness of the issue of people being fobbed off by GPs.

There's a scary amount of GPs out there (women as well as men) who still think that HRT causes cancer (it doesn't; it may raise the risk by a fraction of a percent if you have specific genetic characteristics AND take oral oestrogen - transdermal oestrogen does NOT increase the risk regardless of genetics), that you can't enter menopause until you're over 50(!), that HRT is a short term 'pick-you-up' while you adjust to being old(!!) and that unless your blood test shows that you've got practically no oestrogen, then you're not peri or menopausal, despite the fact that individual women have varying oestrogen levels as a base, and that levels fluctuate so much over the course of a day, let alone a whole month(!!!).

 

[Fieldlife]

I have mentioned my concerns to doctors, especially when I had some gynae issues , I felt were related . They said I didn’t have a menopausal vag doesn’t stop the bloody night sweats and weird waking up in a panic over nothing at all.

Didn’t have a what??? How’s that a diagnosis on perimenopause?

 

[Exasperated]

Thanks all for advice.

Firstly I would never sell him, he is part of the family and I love him to bits. He is a sensitive soul but I do enjoy him. I think his fear of livestock has transferred to me he’s solid 95% of the time but the 5% he’s not he’s very flighty and can run in fear so jumping off kind of stops that awful out of control feeling I get when he tenses up. We both love hacking most of the time but like yesterday eg about 18 deer appeared beside me and then took off, I got off as if I’m on the ground he’s fine , if I stayed on he’d likely run, forwards or spin and run the opposite way.

No issues in school, weirdly I can walk him in hand past livestock , if I’m in front but that fear seems to stay if I’m on board. Sheep are fine cows, pigs and donkeys are a flat no or anything running.

I’ve had a few comments about selling etc but I would never consider this.

I had radiation therapy in my 20s and a disclaimer was possible early menopause. I’ll book to see docs , had a migraine for a week now too …. Yay , bloody hormones.

Some are, we’ve an entire very confident about huge vehicles, livestock, etc but can see ghosts.
Not often, but goes catatonic, eyes on stalks, can reverse at speed maybe 20 yards, would leap straight into traffic to escape whatever he’s convinced is there. And on a public route, with other users stacking up, can be more risky talking him down - that’s where getting off would be the ideal option, because you could lead this coward through hell itself.
Someone at his head, he tucks behind and ducks down - typical bloke, danger threatens, so it’s women and children FIRST - after you!
Tbh, showing a horse that he can feel safe following you past all the dragons, removing the tension - you could teach him a lot worse, and is far less stressful than sitting it out, believe me.

 

[Red-1]

Can you get testosterone on the NHS? And is it based on a blood test?

My Dr was not a lot of help so I, on the advice of a HHO member, went online to The Menopause Centre. I had a GP, who was doing the meeting on Teams from what looked like a spare bedroom, and she actually listened. I was sent for a blood test (to Superdrug) and was given HRT in a spray and tablet from that.

I then went back to my own GP, once stabilised and re-blood tested, and bluntly told them that this is what I am on and I would like them to continue it as it had worked. They did.

For the testosterone, that was a couple of years later. I was told that I could only ask for it for libido, not for any of the other benefits. I went to Superdrug and got a prescription via a blood test. I did a few months on it and again went to my GP and told them how much it had improved my life. They have kept me on it, although that is apparently against their policy for women. My GP now says she will prescribe for a max of 5 years as, "It isn't safe for longer." All that means, for me is that after 5 years I will revert to Superdrug!

The HRT is on a cheap annual HRT NHS certificate; for the Testosterone I have to pay for each prescription, but that is given at around 5 months at a time, so not prohibitive.

I also take large quantities of Vitamin D, along with co-factors, and self-inject B12, and take the co-factors.

I am 58 years old and feel as good as I did in my 30's.

 

[Fransurrey]

My Dr was not a lot of help so I, on the advice of a HHO member, went online to The Menopause Centre. I had a GP, who was doing the meeting on Teams from what looked like a spare bedroom, and she actually listened. I was sent for a blood test (to Superdrug) and was given HRT in a spray and tablet from that.

I then went back to my own GP, once stabilised and re-blood tested, and bluntly told them that this is what I am on and I would like them to continue it as it had worked. They did.

For the testosterone, that was a couple of years later. I was told that I could only ask for it for libido, not for any of the other benefits. I went to Superdrug and got a prescription via a blood test. I did a few months on it and again went to my GP and told them how much it had improved my life. They have kept me on it, although that is apparently against their policy for women. My GP now says she will prescribe for a max of 5 years as, "It isn't safe for longer." All that means, for me is that after 5 years I will revert to Superdrug!

The HRT is on a cheap annual HRT NHS certificate; for the Testosterone I have to pay for each prescription, but that is given at around 5 months at a time, so not prohibitive.

I also take large quantities of Vitamin D, along with co-factors, and self-inject B12, and take the co-factors.

I am 58 years old and feel as good as I did in my 30's.

Can I ask if you tested low for the testosterone? I did the Superdrug test, too and it came back 'normal'. They do offer a trial of it anyway, but I didn't follow up.

 

[Red-1]

Can I ask if you tested low for the testosterone? I did the Superdrug test, too and it came back 'normal'. They do offer a trial of it anyway, but I didn't follow up.

I think it was "normal for age" which is lower than it would have been when I was younger. Their Dr had no issues prescribing.

 

[Fransurrey]

I think it was "normal for age" which is lower than it would have been when I was younger. Their Dr had no issues prescribing.

Yes, that's exactly what it says for mine. I didn't consider that they might move the range!! I'll go back and check the ranges for youngsters! Thanks.

 

[sbloom]

Forgive me for not reading the whole thread. From my saddle fitter point of view:

Saddle that fits YOU, that stabilises you from your pelvis - this will help with your confidence (it's not about deep seats and big blocks holding you in) a bit, but will help going forward as skinn gets more tender. I would say the vast majority of riders might have a saddle that ticks the boxes for bum, thighs and knees "fitting in" the saddle but it's not actually the right shape in the seat etc.

Working on connection. Quiet time with your horse, helping both of you regulate your emotions. I LOVE seeing people doing this sort of work, especiallly for the first time when it shifts the rider's entire attitude. Have a look at the Slow Walk Work group on FB. No online programme will give everyone what they need, nor are any of them perfect, but this group is free, it's lovely and supportive and will help you find a new way to relate to your horse, and your time with him, and help him find more confidence in his body. Diana Waters who runs it has, I'm sure, done a bit specifically on menopause and confidence either on her website or FB page.

 

[Time for Tea]

Nothing wrong at all with getting off thus giving both of you some confidence. Ignore those who mock or criticize.

I agree with this. People seem to think it is some sort of giving in, but it is not.