EVERY WOMAN WILL GO THROUGH MENOPAUSE - BUT IT CAN BE VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND MENOPAUSE HELP AND ADVICE IN LINCOLNSHIRE
Content written by Greg Pritchard, RAPID NeuroFascial Reset Specialist, BTEC L5 Soft Tissue Therapy (CSSM), MFHT
If there was a new illness that affected half of the UK's population from their 40s onwards, you'd be shocked if people could become GPs without having to know anything about it.
You'd be outraged if children weren't taught about it in schools, if health services barely mentioned it, and if there was almost no straightforward sources of advice and help that weren't actually trying to sell you stuff.
But...this is what has happened with menopause. GPs in Lincolnshire aren't mandated to have any training in menopause, if you attend hospital frightened by strange symptoms, they're unlikely to consider menopause as the cause, and many sources of information are actually trying to sell supplements or have not-so-hidden agendas.
Welcome to Menopause Support in Lincolnshire.
WE UNDERSTAND BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN THERE.
As soft tissue therapists, we see a lot of women who start to develop aches and pains in their forties and fifties, that just seem to come out of nowhere.
And they talk to us about how they're feeling more emotional, more depressed, more anxious. They tell us how they've been to the doctor and simply been told they're depressed, or stressed, and that they should lose weight, but nothing they seem to do works.
They might tell us about how they're frightened by their inability to remember things like they used to, and how they can't sleep through the night.
All these things are symptoms of peri-menopause and menopause, but sadly, it's not taught in schools, and those women who do approach their GP often find themselves being given poor advice or even told completely the wrong thing (our favourite - you can't be peri-menopausal if you have periods, from a long serving male GP in Spalding).
Vic had a horrendous time trying to get help for when she was going through the peri-menopause - unhelpful, patronising GPs, unhelpful nurses, doctors who failed to consider that the 48 year old woman presenting with classic menopause symptoms might be - well - peri-menopausal...and we decided we never wanted anyone else to go through what she went through.
HOW CAN A SOFT TISSUE THERAPIST HELP WITH MENOPAUSE ADVICE?
Because local GPs were so poor, we had to learn everything ourselves, and seek private help.
We know that's not an option for everyone.
So we've completed the Newson Health "Confidence In Menopause" training; this is specialist medical training about peri-menopause, menopause, symptoms and treatments. It's aimed at GPs and nurses - but it's open to any health professional. So we did it.
And we read and we studied and we researched. Because we lived it.
Sadly, most women end up having to advocate for themselves when it comes to the menopause - and we're here to help you do just that.
We obviously can't prescribe any medication - but we can talk to you about the different types, and the positives and negatives. And just as importantly - we known the NICE guidelines around menopause treatment. So when your GP goes "eh, you'll need to have lots of blood tests", but you're over 45, we'll tell you exactly what to say. When they tell you that it'll all just go away if you have some anti-depressants, that you don't want, we'll tell you what to print out and show them how they're going against NHS clinical guidance. And we'll advise you about what to take to that ten minute appointment so they don't just tell you it's stress.
WE DON'T CHARGE FOR MENOPAUSE ADVICE
There's a whole little industry building up around menopause - and the newest one are people who will chat to you for an hour about your options, and then charge you for that time.
They aren't GPs, and can't prescribe medication - but they'll make it sound like they can right up until you've paid and realise that they can't.
We think that's wrong. Some women sail through the menopause without any issues - but many don't, and it can be terrifying.
If you'd like to talk to us about menopause, you can simply request extra time when you book your appointment, free of charge.
WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY:
REAL REVIEWS FROM PEOPLE LIKE YOU!
Liz says:
My first visit today and o.m.g. it's like magic. Greg was amazing. he was so nice, he chatted and made me feel at ease and then he went to work. Within about 40 minutes my knee felt so much better after being in pain for quite a long time. I will certainly be recommending him to everyone I have ever met. Thank you State 11.
Linda says:
I went with a shoulder problem and had difficulty moving my arm. After what felt like being beaten up I could move my arm much more freely. The next day I felt very sore and tender around the shoulder but could still move my arm much better. Two days on and doing the exercises I'd been given, I'm in less pain and the tenderness is going. Hurrah, although it does mean I now have to clean the windows without complaining about my shoulder. All worth the discomfort to feel this much better. Thoroughly recommend going if you have soft tissue problems
Crissy says:
After visiting Greg yesterday, yes on a Sunday, I had no pain in my shoulder last night or today! I’m all taped up! I even did Legs Bums and Tums class this morning but did as Greg suggested and treated it like a rehabilitation exercise! All good, full arm movement!