u/Nobody-Expects

So my Consultant is pretty sure I have endometriosis. While it wasn't found on an MRI, she's happy to make the diagnosis off scans and history.

As I've no further plans for kids, one of the treatment options is to chemically induce menopause and provide me with HRT at the same time.

There's the option of a daily "all-in-one" drug that essentially shuts down my ovaries and provides the replacement hormones all in one. The other option is a drug to shut down the ovaries but to also go through traditional HRT, meaning monthly injections.

The "all-in-one" drug option is licenced by the NHS and is used with great success over there but isn't licenced in Ireland yet so I would have to pay full price for it (no idea how much), while the more traditional injection route is licenced but would mean monthly visits to the GP.

Has anyone here gone through with chemical menopause? Were you given options around it? Have you tried any of the above? What were your experiences with it?

All and any input is appreciated!!

My GP prescribed me, among other painkillers, Ponstan (Mefanamic acid is the generic name) to help deal with some reoccurrent pain. The painkillers I was on previously weren't really doing much for me.

Went to fill the script at a different pharmacist than I've previously gone to (just moved house) and while they filled the first script no bother, the pharmacist told me that "We aren't filling the script for Ponstan under the medical card". I was like... What? Then she repeated, "it's not covered under the medical card". I was still confused because I actually thought she was telling me she wasn't going to give me the painkillers full stop. But then she was like "If you want them you have to pay full price for them, the medical card won't cover it"

At that point I was like, "Oh...okay... I'll just pay for them so?" and before I could ask anything else the pharmacist turned and went back behind the counter.

It was a bit of an odd encounter but I was sore and tired so I just paid and left.

When I got home and sat down I thought, Oh maybe the GP prescribed Ponstan and the brand name Ponstan isn't covered but when I checked, the pharmacist had just given me the generic and charged me for. I then googled and from what I can see the generic of Ponstan should be covered under the Medical card? I'm so confused because I know Ponstan is really really commonly prescribed and I know I've gotten it under the Medical card before. Like I know the what's covered under the Medical card change but surely not a painkiller as commonly prescribed as mefenamic acid/Ponstan?

Has anyone encountered this?

Had a ruptured cyst last year and have had persistent pain ever since. HSE have been more than useless had two ultrasounds and no follow up after either. Ended up asking my GP for a private referral and just had my initial consultation.

Holy hell. I've never felt so validated and infuriated.

Met a lovely Clinical Nurse Specialist who went through my history with me. She asked loads of questions and took the time to understand, then came an ultrasound.

Right away she was able to tell me I have polycystic ovarian syndrome and adenomyosis, and that I'm going to need an MRI to try and get to the bottom of my pain and to explore the possibility of endometriosis, which is what my GP initially suspected and which was flagged as a possibility in my hospital notes back when I had the ruptured cyst (but no HSE employee felt the need to flag to me)

I feel incredibly validated. I grew up being told that I was being overly dramatic about how heavy, painful and irregular my periods were. I was chastised for regularly bleeding on bedsheets etc because "You should know when your period is coming and plan accordingly"

I'm also incredibly infuriated because the nurse told me, the PCOS would have been diagnosed in my previous ultrasounds but very typically the HSE didn't feel the need to tell more, nor did anyone display any professional curiosity of "CT scan flags an endometrioma and patient had enduring pain, maybe endo could be at play?". The sole focus seems to have been "Your cyst is gone that's all we care about"

Mostly I feel relieved that someone was able to say, "You're not crazy. Your experiences weren't "normal". Your periods were pretty awful. We are serious about helping you figuring out what's still going on"

Hey guys,

If you have, or know of anyone who has, a parking space in the city centre and would be interested in renting it out please let me know. Ideally as close to the docks as possible.

I'm looking for a long-term parking arrangement and would be happy to pay monthly, quarterly or whatever suits best.

Leave a comment or send a DM thanks :-)

To the 2010 Toyota Aygo parked outside St Nicholas' Parochial School today (1st May) around 5/5.30pm...

I saw the car that reversed into yours and cracked the back bumper. I have their registration plate if you want it and some dash cam footage that may be helpful. I know they didn't leave a note.

DM me if it's you and you want the deets.