Richard R. Lotshaw MD, NCMP

Very good

I didn't feel that the doctor was sensitive to my issues. He was a little dismissive, and I felt that some of his medical advice was outdated. I didn't feel like I was being looked at as an individual. I felt like I was kind of being looked at as a statistic. The doctor's advice about Perimenopause, only being a period of 2 or 3 years prior to menopause is kind of outdated, considering a lot of the medical advice that is out there and available in 2026. There's plenty of medical documentation and studies out there that shows that, for black women, perimenopause tends to start earlier and last longer for that population , for some it can be up to 10 years and I felt like the doctor wasn't aware of that. He also stated that my issue of hirsutism has nothing to do with perimenopause, which I totally disagree with, considering that it's been happening to me for years, and there really is no explanation for it outside of any of my blood tests or anything and other physicians have said that it's likely a symptom of peri. I don't understand the disconnect. I'm going to seek a second opinion and look for another doctor, preferably a woman that specializes in menopause/perimenopause. His follow up to my blood test results made me angry. His assessment and his conclusion Was very contradictory. He told me not to use the medication that he just suggested during our appointment, after telling me that blood test results won't really give me any indication of perimenopause because of the fluctuations and hormones throughout the the menstrual cycle. But then he based his assessment on those results and my period started the next day. So of course , my hormones are going to be out of whack right before my period starts , but he should know that as a doctor specializing in menopause. I'm very disappointed in my experience with this doctor I'm pretty sure he's a great guy, but when it comes to women's health and perimenopause , I just really felt like he was not a good fit for me at all. I gave him a list of symptoms and he only focused on my hot flashes and night sweats.

Seemed disinterested in my case.

I had heard many good things about this doctor, but he was even more than I expected.

Good

Absolutely love Dr. Lotshaw!

He didn't ask me anything about my history or symptoms. He was unaware of my genetic risk or mastectomy history. He was not interested in following me long term to assess the effect of the HRT after my surgery. He was knowledgable about the literature with regards to HRT, but seemed more focused on sharing that than understanding me or my specific concerns. This is a emotionally difficult journey (requiring prophylactic oophorectomies when I am not yet peri-menopausal), and I didn't get the sense that he was aware of that aspect of the visit for me. I think overall, more compassion and attention to my personal experience would have been appreciated.

I had to schedule the appointments many months in advance because I needed two at the same time. When he came in he said he could do one appt or the other and I'd have to come back for another appt. In addition, we talked about all of my current meds when we were going over the interactions with possible new script/treatment. He indicated there shouldn't be any issues and said he'd prescribe the patches. I reminded him that I'd like them at Vanderbilt since I was there and he agreed. I went for labs, then pharmacy and pharmacy said there was NO script. I walked back to Dr and reception talked to Dr who said he'd send to CVS. I said please change to Vandy. He said wHe would. I went back to pharmacy who said it wasn't through yet. After waiting a while, they looked and saw it was sent to CVS. They contacted CVS for me to transfer it to them. I had stay almost two extra hours to do this. I could have drive across town to CVS in that time. Also, when I got home, I got notice of the summary and labs. I looked at them and then followed the links to the education part because knowledge is wealth. I went through drug interactions and found the new prescription he gave me actually does have interactions with one of my current important ones. Why do we go over meds if they aren't discussed or considered. Or if he really thinks it won't be an issue, then he should have at least mentioned it to me.

This really was kind of the poster child appointment for lack of care regarding women's health. This man told me checking my hormones would do nothing, and that it was not worth testing for endometriosis. Despite me explaining that almost every phase of my cycle includes paid. He recommended an iud over and over again - mind you this releases progesterone and I was just told hormone levels don't matter and mine were going to be normal. The dismissive personality this man had was the worst I've experienced and truly a part of a bigger Issue - and a part of the reason so many women go untreated. Thank goodness I am 33 and well informed or I would have left with no answers and an IUD. I urge Vanderbilt to look into this for the sake of young women seeking care.