to be worried about perimenopause/menopause because I had PND?

[blossommy]

That's it really.

No mh probs until I was 30 then had IVF twins followed by severe PND.
Still on low dose tricyclic anti depressant but still some blips every now and again. A couple of more serious episodes over the years - but more generally been very happy years. Dcs gorgeous. Happy marriage and successful career.

44 now and definitely having peri symptoms (night sweats/very tired/change in cycle/swollen ankles etc etc) but have also started having more anxiety and depression spells.
Ive read that if you had PND then more likely to suffer with menopause...
But then by worrying about it am I making it self fulfilling ....

Had v late (58) menopause following hysterectomy.
Fantastic- no more PMT, no more heavy periods. A few hot flushes but nothing to shout about.
Try not to worry- not everyone suffers with the menopause. Great to be free of PMT!

I think thats what im trying to tell myself - ie IABU to be concerned because of PND experience.
I know why it is .... the mood swings I've had recently feel similar (not down to any reason ... out of the blue ... hormonal) but I need to try and be rational.
(And realise that even if it does happen ... there are things that can help)

Actually its quite reassuring that loads of people havent replied to say YANBU because the psychological symptoms have been so bad in peri/menopause. Maybe Ive been looking too much for it - and like drudgetrudy says for lots of women its ok

Your GP will do you an fsh test that will give you an idea of what's going on, under 5 is ideal, 5-10 ok, 10+ peri menopause and when your looking in the 50/60s game over

My fsh is 23 and I'm only 30, having donor egg ivf at the mo, its my 3rd ivf

Lauren

could just be thyroid instead

Good luck with the IVF Lauren and thanks for those figures - hadn't actually seen it written down like that.

sanfairyanne my thyroid test was ok but it's a good reminder for everyone because so often not checked

I too suffered with PND with all three births. Far more severely third time (ended up in hospital for several weeks). My guess would be that it wouldnt ever hit you again quite like the PND did. The hormonal shift wont be so sudden. You're in a better place to be able to deal with it too :)

Please don't worry unduly about something that may never happen. Lots of people have a straightforward menopause with no hormone surges or flooding or any other horrors that you hear about.

Regarding PND being linked with a difficult menopause, it is possible to find research to back up every theory. I am also a little cynical about research anyway as a lot seems to be carried out by drug companies, who may have an interest in promoting their products (!)

You are only 44 and have lots of happy years of life ahead of you. Enjoy your life, family and work, life is too short to worry about something which may never happen :)

that's great you had a thyroid test, blossomy

just to check, was your tsh under 2 and t4 high in range? often people are told it is 'ok' when in fact it is no such thing!

are they going to test hormone levels now?

I got the Mirena coil at 45 & it's really eased the symptoms of peri menopause. Doesn't work for everyone but was def the right thing for me. Comes out next month after 5 years. Not looking forward to what happens next.

Thanks for the extra messages - just got in from work and hadnt seen them.
You are all completely right.... I need to stop thinking 'What If's.' This is my real achilles heel. Had a tricky physical illness earlier in the year and coped with it much better than any (even imagined) threat of depression/anxiety. (Even though everyone around me was concerned.)

Sanfairyanne Im not not sure of actual result tbh- gp just said 'normal.'

Chottie good point about the research ... depends who is paying for it !!!

Ive always been nervous about Mirena coil because of hormone link post PND ... maybe i need to stop thinking too much

socksandsandals sorry you had such a difficult time - do you still have 'blips' or is it firmly behind you now?

'tricky physical illness scare '

The Drs always said they thought mine was hormonal because of IVF drugs then twin pregnancy - then the 'come down' after that ... but I dont think anyone really knows.

I think Mindfulness might be a good idea because as someone said further up the thread I think there is a problem with 'expectations'.

So if I felt a bit anxious before the PND i just took it for what it was and didnt really give it much thought whereas since then theres always been that fear 'is this it again'.

Thanks definately going to look into it