Recommendation for Kaiser Doc for Pre menopause symptoms?
I'm 48 and having almost debilitating perimenopausal symptoms (depression, anxiety, hot flashes, mood swings, extreme irritability) and I'm looking for recommendations for an experienced, compassionate doctor in the Kaiser system.
Unfortunately the very young doctor I was assigned to when I joined Kaiser this year was incredibly dismissive and said there is no treatment, that I should just wait it out. The only suggestions were more exercise, more salad and throw in some meditation. Yeah.....no. That's not going to cut it.
I'm with Kaiser Oakland, but I'm pretty sure my plan doesn't limit me to Oakland only. Female slightly preferred, but at this point I'll take what I can get!
May 15, 2017
Parent Replies
Been there. My nice young Kaiser GP told me to exercise and drink a lot of water. Um...I already do that?
That experience sent me searching for a female gyno older than me in hopes of find one that went through the change already and found one in Dr. Laurie Miller (in SF). I live in Oakland and you can choose a doctor in SF. We discussed various options for my biggest complaint (insomnia) and she gave me the clamira estrogen patch. The patch worked beautifully but I hated the side effects (I felt like I was in my 20s again, the last time I was on birth control pills - weight gain, bloating, and feeling urky too often). So I stopped using it with her full support. That was a year ago and I'm just sort of coping with all of my symptoms for now (they are not nearly as debilitating as yours sound) but it feels good to know that Dr. Miller will work with me on solutions beyond exercise and water when I need her to.
My wonderful OB/GYN nurse practitioner at Kaiser Oakland retired. She put me on a low dose of Zoloft for perimenopausal/PMDD symptoms, and it made a huge difference. I tried lots of other things before deciding to try the meds, and was so relieved to find something that helped. Sharing in case that's helpful. Hope you find a good doc and get the help you need!
I'd file a complaint against that doctor. He clearly doesn't know what he's doing and he sounds really condescending. There is no reason to suffer and there are tons of treatments. I can't recommend you to anyone at Kaiser but I wanted to chime in anyway. My doctor put me on birth control pills and they saved my sanity, my job, and my marriage. You will immediately start to feel better! I take the lowest dose pill possible since we don't need to worry about an unplanned pregnancy. I'd demand a new appointment asap and tell them that you want BCP immediately.
Following. I have Kaiser, too. Been dismissed just as you have. Hang in there, and hope this thread gets some good suggestions!
I love my endocrinologist at Kaiser union city, Jade Gaines. It takes a couple visits for her to warm up (her bedside manner), but she's super smart, listens, takes time to consider options, etc. I've seen a lot of endocrinologists, and this is the first time I've ever stayed with one in my network instead of going to the number one doc in SF. Worth it!
If you're willing to travel to Martinez, Dr. Nan is wonderful, compassionate, down-to-earth and has been in practice for many years. (He is male.)
Just make sure you're not suffering from hyperthyroid. I thought I was perimenopausal too, with many of those symptoms, but really it was Grave's Disease. I would think any competent doc would think to check this in a 48 year old woman, but just in case they hadn't...