Our Collective Voice: “It took so much perseverance to get help…it shouldn’t be this hard”

I first went to see my GP last April. I wasn’t able to sleep and I was feeling terrible. I had an inclination it was the menopause but the GP that I saw didn’t agree. He sent me for blood tests to find the source of my sleeping troubles. I went into the surgery to get my results and saw a different doctor. My results were normal so I had to go through my symptoms again from scratch. I was sent for more tests.

It was September by the time all other possibilities had been ruled out and I was written a prescription for HRT. I understand that doctors want to keep us safe but it took so much perseverance to get help – 5 months and 3 GPs – despite me being fit and healthy with no obvious risks. It shouldn’t be this hard!