I had a panic attack

[Savemefromthis4]

I've had a bad six weeks. Bad periods have left me with anemia and horrible weakness symptoms. I have had a frustrating few weeks of barely leaving the house and hardly doing any of the school runs. My partner's basically working from home and he's been so supportive and helpful. I feel so guilty though as I want to be able to do what I used to do! Not being able to walk far means I'm not able to see my friends at the school gates. I'm not able to greet my daughter after school. I feel like an absolute failure.

I was put on the mini pill Friday. Made a post about it on here. The Dr said I won't get better until the bleeding is under control. Taken the pill 3 times. Felt fairly normal. Then last night I got period pains and a tiny bit of spotting. I was determined to do the school run. Got a shower and an early night. Started drifting to sleep at 9pm. Woke up at 9.30 feeling like the left side of my throat was tickly. Then I felt sick. I rolled over and took a few breaths. Then I started to feel gloomy. I started thinking I need feel good tomorrow but now I feel weird.

I sent a message to my oh downstairs and he came up. I told him I had this weird feeling and it had woken me up. Then I could feel my breath getting harder to catch. My whole body was shaking for ages and my temperature went hot then cold. I eventually got my breathing back to normal. Then for four hours I needed a wee every half an hour and was absolutely bursting. So strange!

I could not settle until the early hours. My partner's arranged to work here again today and took my DD to school. I'm sat here feeling so sad. I want to break this cycle. It's like the weakness has caused me to feel anxious and now I've thrown a hormonal pill In I don't know what's psychological and what's real.

This also happened last year when I took Microgynon. Nobody believed me. The Dr said it won't be the pill. My sister said I had only taken two pills and it was all in my head.

I can feel my life getting out of control. I have been going out for walks when I can. I've been to see my parents for a few hours this weekend. I'm pushing myself to keep out in the world. But I'm scared the longer it takes the harder it will be.

Six weeks ago I did all the school runs (mile each way) I chatted to the mums. I was mostly happy. Energetic. I came home and cooked tea for the kids. Now I'm a mess. It's impossible to get drs appointments quickly here. When I spoke to the Dr Friday and told him what a horrible month I had had. He just nodded and kept to the facts. You won't feel better until the iron improves. He isn't a regular Dr and I've never seen him before. I'm worried now he rushed me in and out and didn't actually listen to find out how this is affecting my life.

I don't know if I'll get any replies. But I feel so stuck with what I should and shouldn't be doing. Should I be pushing myself. Resting etc?

I'm not suicidal but I have been thinking if this is how I am going to feel now and will never be me again then what's the point. If I can't go out and make fun plans and be there for my kids what am I? My DD has a mini show after school on Wednesday and I am so worried I won't be well enough to go and enjoy it.

I'm so sad. Please help.

How are you raising your iron? Are you taking ferrous funerate?

I had exactly this a couple of years ago and had a panic attack. The Doctor finally agreed to give me iron supplements (the ferrous stuff j mentioned above) and I felt better within a week.

Ferrous Fumarate, that should say.

It can take a while for the iron to kick in. It can also make you feel nauseous, especially if you are taking a high dose. Eat small amounts but more often if you can.

I had awful "panic attacks" at uni and was given beta blockers which made me faint, turned out I had anaemia. You are weak and running on empty so it is no wonder you are feeling low. You are not letting your children or anyone else down, you are getting treatment and working towards recovery. If you can't go to your DD's show, you can't, there will be others. Try to stay calm and not worry about "what if's", take one day at a time, be grateful for the tiny things you might manage, like reading a book to your child or enjoying a TV programme. You will get better.

I'm on ferrous sulphate 200mg twice a day and I take a spa tone at lunch. Its just frustrating. My child has to go to school and I feel like I have to be ok for this reason. They said my levels were 10.6 and should be at least 15? Last year they were at 6. I just can't get back up. Are you able to function as normal now?

@SapatSea

Thank you. You are right. I'm just feeling guilty oh is working from home and doing school runs on top of a 60 hour week. I am just sat here looking after my toddler at home. I need to be kinder to myself. I just feel so frustrated and not knowing if this new pill will stop my bad bleeds is an extra worry. Thanks for your reply.

I've just been put on the mini pill for continuous bleeding as well.
I can't say that I feel as drained and run down as you but I do have anxiety and I do have the tickly throat closing sensation very very often. I think a lot of what you've said is possibly your anxiety making it worse and not the pill necessarily.
Please try to keep taking the pill it's taken around 4 days for mine to start slowing my periods although they haven't stopped yet.
If you really really can't bare to take the mini pill anymore go back and ask for tranexamic acid, this will work better without the hormones.
I hope you're feeling better soon but don't push yourself too much, take one step at a time and be kind to yourself too. We all need help and support at some stage.

Wow, OP - your levels are so low! No wonder you feel awful. I'm so sorry, that's really tough.

Once my levels went up, I felt perfectly normal again.

Are they monitoring your levels? I'm surprised they're not offering you iron infusions, to be honest. And bring anaemic can make your periods even heavier, so treating your iron levels might be a better way of getting your periods under control.

Make sure you take iron on an empty stomach, with vitamin C (to help absorption). Don't take it within 2 hours of having caffeine.

Thanks for the replies. I will take another pill later and see how I go. I'm determined to keep with it as this is my last hope of getting things under control.

I have had tranexamic acid and I found when I stopped taking it I just passed loads of huge clots. My periods last 7-8 days now before kids they were 5 days. So it's massively changed due to the kids.

The Dr told me to go back in two or three months for a blood test. So I'll book one in 8 weeks I guess. I just felt he wasn't really listening to me. It could of been a language barrier too as I noticed he was missing words out of sentences. I don't think English was his first language (still a perfectly capable Dr ofcourse) but it makes it harder.

@FloofenHoofen

Which mini pill have you got? How long have you been on it? I hope you feel loads better soon. Bleeding constantly is a horrible thing.

Im sick to death of my periods and cycles. A year ago I was on a two week holiday and ended up in bed for three days with nausea and feeling sick from my period. Everything I plan or book I check the calender. I'm going away in 4 weeks. Only in the UK. I'm starting to consider the fact i might have to miss out and my partner take the kids.

My little girl keeps asking me every morning why I'm not taking her to school. Just wish I could take her. I feel so out the picture.

I'm really sorry @Savemefromthis4 I truly know how you feel.
I've been on my period for around 4 weeks now it's annoying to say the least.

I've got the desogesterol if that's how you spell it? 75mg. It's the one that has a 12 hour window before taking it again. It's working beautifully at the moment I'm literally just spotting now which is a big improvement. I just really wish it would stop.

Which one do you have?

Should have also mentioned I started it last Thursday so bleeding only started to slow down yesterday and today it's much better.

Im also on desogestral. I really hope it works for me too. How are you feeling in general from constant bleeding? Must be exhausting.

I was exhausted and tired and hungry all of the time. I do feel a bit better now, bleeding almost stopped, very very light spotting now.

How are you? Are you feeling any better? Are you finding it's working yet?