"Excellent partnership working with my doctors"

I have posted previously about the struggles I have faced to get appropriate treatment to manage Early Menopause. Patient Opinion proved to be a very quick and effective way to get my message across to those who needed to hear it - far quicker and less complicated than the NHS complaints system.

From my last post you will see that it was very much worth it, as I am now working with a wonderful gynaecologist Dr Perera at Stobhill Hospital. Dr Perera is a delightful man with quite a wicked sense of humour. But most importantly he listens to me. He doesn't always agree with me - and we have had a few good debates over treatment options etc however we so far have made decisions in partnership. I very much respect his medical knowledge and he appears to very much respect my lived experience.

I am extremely fortunate to be supported by a fantastic GP in Carluke St Lukes Medical Practice, Dr Susan Gemmill. Dr Gemmill supports me between appointments to monitor my medication and to tweak when required. I feel that we now have a magic triangle of Dr Perera, myself and Dr Gemmill but I very much feel empowered within this triangle. I guess I feel like it's an equilateral triangle - all sides are equal in their input.

I am so very thankful to have such fabulous continued support from my GP. I am 5 years into learning to manage my Early Menopause and Dr Gemmill has been with me every step of the way. It has been a difficult journey with many bumps in the road but Dr Gemmill has supported me through it. She listens and she offers good advice and guidance when required. I am very pro-active in self-management as this is my life and I'm the one in the driving seat - but self-management doesn't mean going it alone. I need my passengers Dr P and Dr G to keep me right along the way.

I would just like to thank both NHS Lanarkshire and NHS GG for their support in managing my condition. Excellent example of working together for a positive outcome.