Out and About June 2022 -issue198
Welcome to the June 2022 edition Out and About Magazine Costa Blanca the weather is now in the 30's and summer is here! Enjoy reading our articles and finding out more about what is going on in Costa Blanca. You can find the handy A5 printed version of Out and About magazine, at local bars, cafes, shops, and restaurants which you can keep with you when you out for a walk or sitting on the beach.
Welcome to the June 2022 edition Out and About Magazine Costa Blanca the weather is now in the 30's and summer is here! Enjoy reading our articles and finding out more about what is going on in Costa Blanca. You can find the handy A5 printed version of Out and About magazine, at local bars, cafes, shops, and restaurants which you can keep with you when you out for a walk or sitting on the beach.
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DAWN BLYTHE<br />
JUNE <strong>2022</strong> | 49<br />
If you are suffering symptoms such<br />
as hot flushes, night sweats, poor sleep,<br />
anxiety, irritability, loss of libido, loss of<br />
memory (to name just a few) do not suffer<br />
in silence. The first thing to do is to speak<br />
with an experienced, sympathetic health<br />
care professional. Here at the Family<br />
Medical Centre we offer menopausal<br />
assessments. Appointments are not<br />
rushed (some take over an hour). You<br />
will be given a sympathetic ear <strong>and</strong> there<br />
is always a box of tissues to h<strong>and</strong>! In my<br />
experience, many women just want to be<br />
heard. They want somebody who is not<br />
judgemental to listen to them. Sometimes<br />
after a really good ‘heart to heart’ (<strong>and</strong><br />
often a good cry) women decide not to go<br />
the HRT route but to try other things to<br />
help.<br />
Unfortunately there is not one form of<br />
HRT that will help all symptoms. During<br />
a menopause assessment, we try to to get<br />
a clear picture (from lots of questions!) of<br />
what symptoms are most troublesome to<br />
a woman <strong>and</strong> to ascertain what symptoms<br />
they can or can’t put up with! All women<br />
are different. The other task is to assess the<br />
risks for that particular patient by taking<br />
a careful personal medical history <strong>and</strong><br />
family medical history. In certain cases we<br />
could not be able to consider giving HRT.<br />
If following the menopause assessment<br />
it was felt that the benefits of HRT would<br />
outweigh the risks (having explained them<br />
to the patient) our G.P. would make the<br />
final decision about prescribing HRT.<br />
We always point out to patients that this<br />
is not a ‘quick fix’. The normal procedure<br />
is for the patient to come back in 3 months<br />
for a review. If there is an improvement<br />
in symptoms (<strong>and</strong> quality of life) <strong>and</strong> the<br />
woman wants to continue, the doctor<br />
would then prescribe for a further 6<br />
months. After a 6 month review, if all is<br />
well the patient can then just have an<br />
annual review.<br />
During the month of July, the Family<br />
Medical Centre, Albir have a limited<br />
special offer – they are offering<br />
Menopausal Assessments for 40€ (20% off<br />
the normal price of 50€) Appointments<br />
are essential. If you feel that you may<br />
benefit from an appointment call us on<br />
966 865 072<br />
· Article by Dawn Blythe S.R.N. R.M.<br />
· The Family Medical Centre, Albir. 966 865 072<br />
· www.albirfamilymedicalcentre.com