Morag has an appointment with her healthcare provider to discuss her symptoms, identify if they are due to menopause, and learn what could be done to help manage these symptoms.
Please click through the slides below to see the conversation between Morag and her healthcare provider.
Conversation:
HCP: ”Hi Morag, great to see you. Looks like you’re here to discuss menopause. Can you please tell me more about this – are you experiencing any menopausal symptoms? And if yes, what those symptoms are?
Morag: ”Yes, that’s correct. I watched a TV documentary about menopause, and it helped me recognise what the signs and symptoms are. I now realise that the things I have been experiencing for the last 5 years are because I’m menopausal. The main reason I think I’m menopausal is because I haven’t had a period in over a year. One of the symptoms I’m struggling with is sleeping. I wake up throughout the night and when I do, I’m so sweaty. This is really disrupting both my sleep and my husband’s. I’m also feeling irritable, and I get upset over little things. My husband and I have arguments over things that didn’t use to bother us.’’
HCP: ”I see, I’m sorry that you’re having difficulty with these things. Changes to your period, difficulty sleeping, night sweats, and mood changes are common symptoms associated with menopause and there are treatment options to help manage them. We will need to gather a bit more information before we can diagnose you with menopause and go through available treatment options. Are you experiencing any other symptoms?’’
Morag: ‘’ Yes, I randomly feel really hot on my face, neck and chest. My knees are sore, and this impacts my work as a cleaner part-time. I find it difficult being on my feet for long periods of time and that if I drop the mop it takes me a lot longer to bend down and pick it up again. I have been taking Ibuprofen and paracetamol regularly to help manage the pain okay. My skin has also become quite dry, and I have to put moisturiser on twice a day, but I feel like it’s never enough. And I’m a bit embarrassed to talk about this, but I am finding sex to be uncomfortable now. My vagina is dry, and I don’t feel like having sex. I’m worried about how this is affecting the intimacy between my husband and me. To be honest, I’m worried and frustrated about all these symptoms. I just feel so old!”
Morag: ‘’ Yes, I randomly feel really hot on my face, neck and chest. My knees are sore, and this impacts my work as a cleaner part-time. I find it difficult being on my feet for long periods of time and that if I drop the mop it takes me a lot longer to bend down and pick it up again. I have been taking Ibuprofen and paracetamol regularly to help manage the pain okay. My skin has also become quite dry, and I have to put moisturiser on twice a day, but I feel like it’s never enough. And I’m a bit embarrassed to talk about this, but I am finding sex to be uncomfortable now. My vagina is dry, and I don’t feel like having sex. I’m worried about how this is affecting the intimacy between my husband and me. To be honest, I’m worried and frustrated about all these symptoms. I just feel so old!”
HCP: ‘Thank you for sharing this with me. I understand that you may feel embarrassed to talk about some of your symptoms and that you’re frustrated by some as well. But I want to reassure you these are also common symptoms that happen during menopause. Menopause and the symptoms experienced can be part of the aging process, however, there are treatment options that can help address the symptoms and make them more manageable.’’
Morag: ‘’ I appreciate you saying that. It does feel better to talk about how I’ve been feeling. For treatment options, I heard about something called HRT in the documentary I watched. Would this be something I could try?’’
HCP: ‘’HRT is short for Hormone replacement therapy, and it is a treatment option offered to help manage menopause symptoms. There are other medical treatments available as well as lifestyle changes that can help. I also see from your medical history that you have high cholesterol and high blood pressure. We will need to take these into consideration because menopause can affect these conditions and these conditions will also influence suitable treatment options. I will ask you a few more questions about your medical history, carry out some investigatory tests, and then we can go from there about a menopause diagnosis and suitable treatment options for you.’’
Morag: ‘’Thank you, that sounds good to me.’’
