Changes may be occurring in your physical body including aches and pains, your moods could be all over the place and your brain might feel like the Bridgewater Jerry is passing through. So, what’s happening? Why don’t you feel like yourself? Could it be perimenopause?
Maybe the symptoms you are experiencing are bleeding obvious, like hot flushes and night sweats and you are desperate to turn the heat down.
Even if you are or have sailed through perimenopause and menopause unscathed by the ravages of heat, the intermittent aches and pains and the unpredictable mood swings, midlife is still an important time to ask the doctor to run health checks and tests, if for no other reason than to give you a baseline.
Whenever changes or symptoms present themselves, it is always a good idea to check things out with your doctor. Having said that it is important to knowledge it is not always easy to speak with your doctor and get the information you need. So, below are some tips we think might be helpful when discussing your symptoms and needs.
Make a list
- Of your symptoms
- When they started
- What are they and how they feel
- How intense they are
- How often they occur
- How constant they are
- How they are affecting your life etc
- Is there anything you’ve noticed which helps or makes it worse?
- Of solutions you’ve heard of and want to ask about? If so, what are they?
- Of questions for your doctor and leave enough room below each to write down the answers and any additional information.
Take the lists with you to your appointment
Be prepared to record information the doctor provides
- Take a pen and paper with you to take down any notes.
- Or ask the doctor to write things down for you.
- Or even ask if you can voice record the information on your phone.
Take someone with you
- For emotional support, to help you remember what you want to say, and to remember what the doctor says.
- Maybe your support person can write things down for you.
Be honest
- Tell the GP about your symptoms - even the embarrassing ones. The more information you give the doctor the better able they are to diagnose what is going on and offer options which might reduce symptoms.
- Let the doctor know if you are worried about the cost of medications, scans or treatments they have suggested, this will help them to help you.
Ask Questions
- Don’t think ‘if it’s important, someone will tell me’. If it’s on your mind and you’re not sure if it’s relevant, ask.
- If you don’t understand what the GP says or why they suggest something, ask.
- It’s ok to ask your doctor questions like these:
- How did you come to this conclusion?
- Why do you suggest that?
- What might the consequences be of doing what you suggest?
- Ask yourself, does the doctor’s response or suggestion help with your main concern?
- If not, speak up and ask for your main concern to be addressed.
Talking about various treatments to manage symptoms:
If you have done some research about perimenopause, HRT/MHT, anti-anxiety medication, herbal remedies, lifestyle changes.
- What do you still want to know more information about?
- What questions or worries do you have?
- What key things are important to you and why?
- What have you tried before and how did it affect you?
Find a doctor who listens
- If you don’t feel heard, if you’re not sure the GP you have seen gets it, try someone else.
- Ask yourself these questions.
- Am I feeling heard, do they get where I’m coming from?
- Am I getting the answers I need?
- If not, then keep looking for someone who can help you.
Given all you need to discuss, we strongly suggest booking a double appointment with your doctor.
And lastly, this menopause symptom scorecard from the Australasian Menopause Society might be helpful in preparing for your appointment. https://www.menopause.org.au/images/stories/education/docs/AMS_Diagnosing_Menopause_Symptom_Score.pdf