Is It the Menopause?
At Bridge McFarland, we are committed to supporting women who have been harmed by delays in the management of women’s health topics.
We are very concerned to see that mid-life issues are not being addressed, and we support all those campaigning for better menopause care. At that stage of life, women are busy, often looking after families, at the peak of their career, whilst all the time trying to navigate menopausal symptoms and finding answers to why their body may be changing.
A Case of Misdiagnosis: Mrs M’s Story
Nicola Evans, Partner in our Clinical Negligence Department, has recently resolved a medical negligence claim for Mrs M. Mrs M has suffered for years with symptoms that were quite simply, brushed off by the medical profession as menopause symptoms. Mrs M knew there was more to it. She felt totally lost and alone.
She attended her GP setting a number of times spanning many years. Her GP attempted to help with prescriptions and referrals, but nothing seemed to address her continued exhaustion, dizziness, loss of libido, aches and pains, weight gain and general anxiety and distress. At one stage, she even got into the care of an Endocrinologist who also told her that she was experiencing “women’s issues” and sent her back to her GP.
The more questions she asked, the fewer answers she received. She started to think it was all in her head.
Mrs M was right to worry. Right to ask questions. There was more to her problems than was first appreciated. After she attended A&E in 2021, feeling physically exhausted, lightheaded, generally unwell and having experienced a fall, it was identified that there had been a previous failure in A&E to act upon abnormal blood results.
Had the team at A&E acted upon her abnormal blood results earlier, it would have been identified that Mrs M was suffering from abnormal parathyroid hormone levels, and she would have received a referral for further management.
Mrs M suffered a delay in diagnosis and treatment for a period of over 2 years. She had to undergo surgery, and during the period of delay, she had a deterioration in her condition and experienced psychological distress in not knowing what was causing her to feel ill.
Speaking Out: Mrs M’s Advice
Mrs M’s message to other women is clear, and she would stress to all women:
“Doctors are fallible, they can and do make mistakes. Be proactive. Challenge those who are looking after you if you think something is not right, ask questions. A GP does not know everything, and they should have more training on women’s health and understand in particular, how the parathyroid works and how it can easily malfunction.”
The Hospital Trust admitted that they missed an opportunity to help Mrs M in April 2019. Now that she has had the diagnosis and treatment Mrs M feels better both physically and mentally, safe in the knowledge that she has a diagnosis of her condition and is getting the treatment she needs for it.
Menopause Awareness: What You Need to Know
In the UK, right now, it is estimated that almost one third of the female population, approximately 13 million people, are peri- or menopausal. If you are suffering from symptoms that you believe are connected with the menopause, please do not suffer in silence. The symptoms may well be menopause, and your GP / healthcare provider will be able to provide guidance and support you through the process. In addition, there are charitable organisations that you can speak to (links below). However, just like Mrs M, it is important to be vigilant and proactive in the management of your own health. You know your body, you know you. Do not be afraid to ask questions.
Legal Support When You Need It
If you or a loved one has concerns regarding possible delays in diagnosis or treatment, please do not hesitate to contact our experienced medical negligence team. Our medical negligence specialists are here to provide guidance and support through what can be a challenging process.
Mrs M shared her experience working with Nicola Evans and the team:
Mrs M says, “Please do not be afraid to speak up. We sometimes have to fight our own corner and we have the right to do so. If you need legal advice I would recommend Nicola Evans. She and her team (Lisa Clark in particular) did everything they could to put me at ease. My claim took some time to settle but Nicola kept me informed throughout and was caring and professional at all times. Once my claim was settled, I was pleased with the outcome. I can now try and get on with my life.”
To contact our experienced medical negligence team, call us on 0800 987 8800 or make a free online enquiry here, and we will make contact with you. Alternatively, email us at medneg@bmcf.co.uk.
Useful Resources
NHS: Menopause Help and Support
Medical Negligence Specialists – Bridge McFarland LLP
medicalnegligence.co.uk is owned and operated by Bridge McFarland LLP, an established and nationally recognised law firm renowned for specialist expertise and experience in this complex area of law. With our determination and commitment to providing our clients with an exceptional standard of service, we have held the highly regarded Lexcel quality mark since June 2008.
