Anxiety/depression linked to perimenopause

[CosmicOwl]

I've just got back from a hospital appointment discussing what I'm pretty convinced are perimenopausal symptoms.

I have various physical symptoms but my main reason for seeking help was my awful mood swings. The consultant agreed it was likely hormonal but as I'm only 41 and still having regular periods didn't want to prescribe HRT yet.

They have advised I make a GP appointment to discuss depression and possibility of taking anti-depressants.

I do need to do something, I am crying constantly (over nothing), feel highly anxious and tired all the time and am generally being a grumpy cow, this has been going on for about a year now. Nothing has happened to trigger these feelings, I have a great relationship, happy children and work is fine. I just feel sad.

Has anybody else been through similar, also hormone related and been successfully treated with antidepressants, or anything else?

Thanks for any advise.

[Summersalt]

Hi there,
Don't have a huge amount of advice but had to respond as you could be me!
I'm also 41 with similar symptoms and have made an appointment with my GP tomorrow. I've done a fair bit of reading courtesy of Dr Google and apparently it is due to imbalance of progesterone and oestrogen. Low dose antidepressants at certain times of cycle are generally very effective.
My symptoms are definitely worse the week before my period. I scream blue murder at my poor daughters and hate myself afterwards.
I will report back after my appointment tomorrow! Xx

[CosmicOwl]

Thank you summersalt, it's comforting to hear I'm not the only one. Would love to hear what your GP advises!

[liger]

I was absolutely 100% in your position a year ago. It was so obvious that my anxiety and depressive moods were linked to my cycle.
GP and hospital appointments yielded little insight. I was given a prescription for sertolin at 41. I never took them.

A lot of reading, of threads here on mumsnet and lots elsewhere and I finally made an appointment at the Marion Gluck clinic and left with some progesterone cream which I apply on my wrists in the second half of my cycle.

It has changed my life and I am me again. Still a bit more emotional and
snappy in the run up to my period but in a perfectly normal range.

My GP was impressed and intrigued by how they had analysed my bloods - looking at ratios between the varying hormones not just whether one is above or below a certain threshold as they do in the NhS.

Basically medical science and the NHS have put very little time and money into looking at this aspect of women's health and how hormones can have this enormous effect. Their only answer is anti-depressants it seems to me.

Very best of luck. I hope you can find a way to get what you need to be you again.

[CosmicOwl]

liger I've just had a look at their website and it sounds fantastic, unfortunately I'm nowhere near London and it's probably a bit out of my price range. I do wish the NHS could afford to put more money into similar treatment as it must affect so many of us, but sadly I guess they just don't have the funding.

[Chrysanthemum5]

Hi I'm older but I went to the GP about crippling anxiety - I'd had anxiety before but never like that. I'd read on mumsnet that a small dose of prozac could help. The GP said it had been shown to be very effective with hormone related anxiety. So I take a small dose (about 1/3 of a standard dose) - I take a tablet every second day in the fortnight after my period and one per day in the fortnight leading up to my period. It has revolutionised my life! I can now manage the remaining anxiety with mindfulness and I feel so much better

[marlene4boycie]

Hi, same symptoms - now on a low dose of citalopram (10mg) and pill (Qlaira). Never felt better.

[CosmicOwl]

Thank you both, I'm finding these responses very reassuring.

[MonsterINTHECupboard]

Anxiety has been a huge part of peri-menopause for me. I was never anxious before. EVER. I have finally got through the hurdle of no period for a year and am now on FemSeven Conti patches. All anxiety has gone. As have the hot flushes. Won't say I'm completely me, but am feeling far better.

It takes doctors a LONG time to work it all out: age (you are far too young - I was 41 first time mentioned to doc), blood tests (they all seem fine), wonky periods (you're still having them). Symptoms can arrive before the periods stop. Keep notes on your cycle. Took me over 6 years of them changing to get to this stage.

[CurtainsforRonnie]

Im sure it is, Ive been feeling anxious for a long time now. Its really horrible.

[liger]

Marion Gluck was out of our price range too, and I felt guilty as hell. It was my husband that insisted we prioritise me. Looking back he was right. For two weeks out of every four I wasn't able to be the wife and mother I wanted to be and my ambitions were being quashed because every attempt I made at thinking about going back work my anxiety got in the way.

I can now function and plan ahead. Just this week I got a part time job in my previous field after 10 years as a SAHM. I'm glad we spent the money on the fancy clinic although I was sceptical as hell going in.