One Medical perimenopause recommendation?

[Anonymous]

Can anyone recommend a female MD or DO with One Medical, well versed in managing perimenopause? Ideally it would be someone who sees patients in DC or within an easy drive.

Background:
I’m 45 and a few weeks ago started getting hot flashes. My periods are 22-35 days apart (average 26) and I don’t really have other symptoms except rapidly graying hair. I am probably a bit more anxious and stressed out than usual due to a job change but nothing crazy. I was in denial about perimenopause because i had kids very easily at 36 and 40 and my mother entered menopause only in her mid 50s. I also thought I’d get off easy, because I always had relatively painless periods and uncomplicated pregnancies. Anyway, the hot flashes are waking me up at night and my productivity is definitely down as I am frantically researching what is happening to my body. I bought topical estriol and have been using it for two days so far (no effects yet). I’d like to consult a doctor, perhaps have some labs drawn and see what my options are.

[Anonymous]

I’m 44. I don’t have a one medical doc, but I’d see your gyn. What helped was: getting a hormonal IUD to make periods disappear and using estradiol gel. This is best done by your gyn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m 44. I don’t have a one medical doc, but I’d see your gyn. What helped was: getting a hormonal IUD to make periods disappear and using estradiol gel. This is best done by your gyn.

Thanks, I would like to stay away from systemic synthetic estrogen because I had a suspected blood clot from a high dose BCP in my 20s. I am interested in topical or non hormonal remedies if possible (I’ve seen magnesium mentioned for sleeping through the hot flashes).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m 44. I don’t have a one medical doc, but I’d see your gyn. What helped was: getting a hormonal IUD to make periods disappear and using estradiol gel. This is best done by your gyn.

Thanks, I would like to stay away from systemic synthetic estrogen because I had a suspected blood clot from a high dose BCP in my 20s. I am interested in topical or non hormonal remedies if possible (I’ve seen magnesium mentioned for sleeping through the hot flashes).

Understood. I still think your gyn (at least mine at Capital Women’s care who no longer does OB just gyn) will be most up to date on what’s available and what research shows actually helps for women with your health history.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m 44. I don’t have a one medical doc, but I’d see your gyn. What helped was: getting a hormonal IUD to make periods disappear and using estradiol gel. This is best done by your gyn.

Thanks, I would like to stay away from systemic synthetic estrogen because I had a suspected blood clot from a high dose BCP in my 20s. I am interested in topical or non hormonal remedies if possible (I’ve seen magnesium mentioned for sleeping through the hot flashes).

FWIW, for control of hot flashes you are looking at topical patches, which are indeed systemic (vs. vaginally dosed estrogen, which tends to stay more local and is good for vaginal atrophy-type symptoms).

I did not find this at One Medical and ended up paying out of pocket to a CNP in Takoma, but my insurance reimbursed all but a portion and has covered the drugs as normal.

[Anonymous]

I see Dr. Gupta at one medical in Bethesda. The first time I saw her she was kind of not thinking I was in perimenopause, but a year later, I complained again about hot flashes and she did put me on an estrogen patch and progesterone. But I also haven’t had my period since last June. And before that it was Feb. In hindsight, I had a lot of night sweats years before the no period and hot flashes started. But she did say that hot flashes are a defining sign of perimenopause because all the other symptoms could have other reasons.
I’m not sure how much she knows about it all in general but I was glad that she prescribed it to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I see Dr. Gupta at one medical in Bethesda. The first time I saw her she was kind of not thinking I was in perimenopause, but a year later, I complained again about hot flashes and she did put me on an estrogen patch and progesterone. But I also haven’t had my period since last June. And before that it was Feb. In hindsight, I had a lot of night sweats years before the no period and hot flashes started. But she did say that hot flashes are a defining sign of perimenopause because all the other symptoms could have other reasons.
I’m not sure how much she knows about it all in general but I was glad that she prescribed it to me.

Thank you so much for this information about Dr Gupta.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m 44. I don’t have a one medical doc, but I’d see your gyn. What helped was: getting a hormonal IUD to make periods disappear and using estradiol gel. This is best done by your gyn.

Thanks, I would like to stay away from systemic synthetic estrogen because I had a suspected blood clot from a high dose BCP in my 20s. I am interested in topical or non hormonal remedies if possible (I’ve seen magnesium mentioned for sleeping through the hot flashes).

FWIW, for control of hot flashes you are looking at topical patches, which are indeed systemic (vs. vaginally dosed estrogen, which tends to stay more local and is good for vaginal atrophy-type symptoms).

I did not find this at One Medical and ended up paying out of pocket to a CNP in Takoma, but my insurance reimbursed all but a portion and has covered the drugs as normal.

Thanks, good to know!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m 44. I don’t have a one medical doc, but I’d see your gyn. What helped was: getting a hormonal IUD to make periods disappear and using estradiol gel. This is best done by your gyn.

Thanks, I would like to stay away from systemic synthetic estrogen because I had a suspected blood clot from a high dose BCP in my 20s. I am interested in topical or non hormonal remedies if possible (I’ve seen magnesium mentioned for sleeping through the hot flashes).

FWIW, for control of hot flashes you are looking at topical patches, which are indeed systemic (vs. vaginally dosed estrogen, which tends to stay more local and is good for vaginal atrophy-type symptoms).

I did not find this at One Medical and ended up paying out of pocket to a CNP in Takoma, but my insurance reimbursed all but a portion and has covered the drugs as normal.

Thanks, what’s a CNP?

[Anonymous]

I recently looked at Alloy and they have Paroxetine listed as a low dose SSRI that helps with hot flashes for those who can’t take or don’t want MHT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m 44. I don’t have a one medical doc, but I’d see your gyn. What helped was: getting a hormonal IUD to make periods disappear and using estradiol gel. This is best done by your gyn.

Thanks, I would like to stay away from systemic synthetic estrogen because I had a suspected blood clot from a high dose BCP in my 20s. I am interested in topical or non hormonal remedies if possible (I’ve seen magnesium mentioned for sleeping through the hot flashes).

FWIW, for control of hot flashes you are looking at topical patches, which are indeed systemic (vs. vaginally dosed estrogen, which tends to stay more local and is good for vaginal atrophy-type symptoms).

I did not find this at One Medical and ended up paying out of pocket to a CNP in Takoma, but my insurance reimbursed all but a portion and has covered the drugs as normal.

Thanks, what’s a CNP?

Certified Nurse Practitioner