For EXPATINSCOTLAND

[foxinsocks]

sorry to hear you are still feeling shite

come here woman

wanted to tell you about gynae blokey I have found

fox, how are things going? Damn, I still haven't posted some info about supplements .. argh, off to find book at once.

Cheers!

Had a panic attack in the car today. Man, that SUCKED!

Luckily I wasn't driving , so rolled down a window and managed to get it under control before it spiralled.

There is one good thing, however: my appetite has declined enough that I'm back in my size 10 jeans.

Is the gynae bloky hot??!

I had this HOT surgeon. Then I met him several years later and we were both divorced.

Oooo, that was a good 3 day holiday..

hi tribpot!

well good news really. I sent an email to a top gynae bloke who specialises in women who have hormonal intolerances. I never thought I would get a reply (I've just read the email I sent him back and it was rather long and I sounded v desperate and down!!). I told him I thought the GPs just did not have a handle on my case and I was desperate to see someone who knew what was going on - I'd read a few papers and speeches he had written and one of them sounded exactly like what I was suffering from.

He wrote an email back and told me that he would happily see me for an initial assessment without a GP referral (he said initially so I guess if we take it any further re treatment then I'll need to inform the GP) but I feel incredibly relieved. I don't think I could have handled another trip to the GP, explaining everything again etc. etc. On the one hand I'm excited but I'm also terrified that he won't be able to help me. I'm calling his secretary on Monday and booking an appointment - I'm on holiday for a few weeks quite soon so I'll prob only be able to see him in September.

How are thing with you?

oh expat, how awful! though you do sound like you have a pretty good handle on what's going on - have you still got anti-dep to take or do they make anxiety worse?

the reason I wanted to tell you about the gynae bloke is that while I was looking for stuff on what I've been suffering from, I came across quite a lot on people who have progesterone intolerance who also suffer from depression and wondered whether you had considered whether yours was related to your hormones (so whether you feel worse at some times of the month versus others) because I know you have problems with contraception.

excellent news, fox!

I had tried - w/my psychiatrist - to lower my dosage.

Am not there yet. Have stepped back up, but it'll take a couple of weeks to kick in.

In the meantime, I do have some medications to help w/the insomnia and panic attacks, so it's not as severe as last time.

I have a BAD time w/progesterone.

BUT, I don't know if I'd go for tinkering w/my hormones anymore. Am doing well w/the diaphragm for now. Luckily, we're not the most fertile of couples at all.

oh good (re the medication) - glad you have a pyschiatrist - at least they know what they are doing with all the drugs!

yes, I now realise that progesterone is basically a depressant. I never knew that before all this fiasco and for some people, it seems it can really affect their mood quite badly.

It's good that you have the condition under control when the medication is right though because I'm sure that will mean, at some stage, once your natural reserves are back to normal that you'll be able to come off them. Don't rush it whatever you do!

I was on ADs for 18 months after DD1. It taught me patience w/my body, happily.

I was feeling MUCH better, but obviously stepped down too much.

Ach, well, I'm just glad I feel a little more confident this time.

Yes, I probably shouldn't have tried Cerazette. When I saw the gynae at the FPC, she immediately ruled out some forms of birth control b/c of my depression - Depo and Implanon.

But Cerazette was low dose. Apparently.

Just wasn't for me, I guess. It really sent me into some serious blackness.

Keep us posted on your appointment.

I really, really hope you get some answers or progress.

thanks expat - and I hope you start feeling better soon. You don't deserve this all - it's so horrible to suffer like you are now so I hope it all goes away quickly.