082: Could It Be MENOPAUSE? How to Advocate for Yourself with Your Doctor

If you’ve ever left a GP appointment feeling overlooked or unsure how to get the support you need, this episode is for you.

In this honest and empowering conversation, Carly shares exactly how she helps her clients prepare for menopause-related appointments with their GP including how to identify and communicate symptoms, feel more confident, and ensure your concerns are taken seriously.

Download your FREE Guide: Could It Be Menopause

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Transcript

Carly: 0:37

Hello, welcome back to the Strong Bones Coach Podcast. I'm your host, Carly Killen, and today's episode is one I know Will strike a chord with so many of you. If you've ever felt nervous, overlooked, or unsure at how to approach your GP when it comes to your menopause care, you are absolutely not alone. Today we're going to talk about how to prepare yourself mentally, emotionally, and practically to get the support you deserve. I'll be sharing a free resource you can grab to make this even easier. So stay tuned right to the end. So let's start with why preparation even matters. Before we even book the GP appointments, it's so important to build a clear understanding of where you're at in the work I do with my clients, I do exactly that. I meet them where they're at, and we always start by slowing things down. Many women you might relate, and they're so busy looking after everyone else that they lose touch with themselves and with how they're really feeling. And what is even normal for them. And without that baseline, it's hard to recognize changes and even harder to advocate for what you need. When you know exactly what's happening in your body, your mind, you can approach your appointment with confidence and clarity instead of fear and frustration. So where do we start? So one practical thing we always do is complete the green Clima scale or GCS for short. And this is a simple symptom checklist that not only helps you tune into your experience, but it gives you something objective to take into your appointment. Essentially bringing what's going on on the inside. Through to the outside. It also sets you up for later success. So if you do start things like HRT or other support strategies, you'll be able to track your progress clearly rather than guessing whether anything is even working. In addition to this, I work with my clients within my three pillars of whole life health. We have move, connect, and nourish. You may have heard me speak about these before, so I'll keep it short today. So within move we look at are you moving your body regularly in ways that support it. This could be strength training, walking mobility, any movement that, you know, feel supportive and nourishing. It helps you build physical strength, but also support you emotionally as well. Next we have connect. Are you connected to yourself and others? Are you able to express your needs and your boundaries? And next we have Nourish. Are you supporting your body with food that supports you physically, that also the practices that bring you joy and replenishment to your soul. These three things form the foundations. So before we even consider additional complimentary therapies, we want to make sure we have a good solid foundation to support your whole body and mind health. This whole person picture gives you a very powerful insights into where you are right now. Next, we manage expectations and build emotional readiness. So here's the reality. Not every GP is highly trained in menopause care. Sometimes you might feel dismissed, rushed, or misunderstood, and it's important not to take this too personally. Many gps are under a lot of pressure. They have gaps in their training when it comes to menopause. So this is not a reflection of your worth. But of course it is disappointing and I speak to ladies every day that have had similar experiences. Many of the women that come to work with me have already been to their GP many times without successful support. I. So that's why I work with my clients on feeling mentally and emotionally prepared. So I educate them on the options that they have available to them so they can understand what options they would like to explore. It might be hormone replacement therapy, might be lifestyle interventions, complimentary therapies. This is where we may bring in breath work or other methods of relaxation and support. We do all this before they step into that appointment, but when we look at practically preparing for the appointments, we also talk about what those tools might look like. So that's bringing their symptom tracker or notes to their appointment so they can share them with their gp, perhaps preparing two to three key points. We want it across. Writing down any questions you have ahead of time. Bringing a supportive friend or family member if this feels appropriate to you. And of course. Those of you that are in the UK working within our NHS system, GP appointments are very short. So I often recommend that you request a double appointment where possible. And of course, you can also let the receptionist know that you would like this appointment to be about menopause. It can help your GP prepare as well, giving you enough time to be heard and to make a plan that you can be happy with. This preparation shifts the appointment from being reactive and overwhelming to feeling collaborative and empowering, and my support doesn't stop there. I continue to support you after that GP appointment too, and sometimes the appointment doesn't go exactly how you hoped. You might need time to regroup, reflect, realign, make a second appointment, and that's absolutely okay. I always make sure my clients have the space for that debrief afterwards, so some of that might be journaling their own reflections, but also follow up coaching sessions with me. This is not a one and done thing. I follow you through your whole journey for as long as you need me. In some cases where needed, I will draft GP letters to further advocate for their needs so they can go to the next appointment with confidence and clarity. The most important thing here is to not give up. Your wellbeing matters. Your voice matters, and there is more than one way for you to access the support you deserve. So finally, if you are wondering about how to get started with any of this, I've created something just for you. I have a free guide called Could It Be Menopause, and that's available right now for you to download for Free. Inside, you'll find the green primary react scale, a simple tracker to record your symptoms, some key questions that you can take to a GP appointment, and some tips for understanding your experience in in a whole body health way. So you can grab your free copy at carlykillen.com and I'll also link it into the show notes for you. So remember, this is a journey you are allowed to advocate for yourself. You are never, ever alone. Until next time, take care and stay strong.