peri-menopause/anxiety - what helped you?

[lovelylurcher]

Hi all,

Would really appreciate some advice as beginning to feel at the end of my rope here...

Background - I'm 44 and generally in good health. Over the past year or so my periods have changed (shorter cycles overall, heavier for the first few days, longer in themselves etc) - I'm sure this is the beginning of the dreaded peri.

Together with this, my PMT is off the scale, and increasingly my anxiety and stress levels seem to be ramping up to unmanageable levels. I've always been prone to anxiety but it's got much worse in recent months. I feel pretty depressed some days. I'm having sleep issues. I'm foggy-headed and can't concentrate on work (this is a new thing). Some months I have weird body aches, almost as if I've done hours of hardcore exercise... when I certainly haven't

Ultimately I'm sure this is all hormone related and I was wondering if anyone experienced similar and what they did about it?

Do I get a blood test and if so, at what point in my cycle? A friend of mine a few years older takes some type of mild HRT and says she feels a lot better - however, I don't know if I'm a bit young for this, plus cardio issues and high blood pressure runs in my family, so don't know if it's right for me anyway. St John's Wort for the anxiety/depression? I already take a bunch of supplements so I don't think I'm deficient in anything else...

I'd love any advice.

Hi, if you're having symptoms that are having a negative impact on your life then you're not too young for HRT. It doesn't matter if there's cardio issues in the family, as long as you're healthy then it's not an issue (HRT protects the heart and circulaitary system) modern transdermal HRT is incredibly safe.
As far as St Johns wort is concerned I'm of a mind that I'd rather take something that's fiercely tested and medically regulated than something that you can buy from literally anywhere and isn't dose regulated.
You might want to nip over to the menopause board as there are lots of really clued up women on there who can give you advice.

Thanks so much @rosie39forever and sorry for slow reply. Good point about St John’s Wort and reassuring to know that cardio issues don’t exclude me from HRT. I’ll also post on the menopause board and see if they have any further advice. Many thanks again

hi lurcher I'm 44 and very very similar to you! However I'm already on Sertaline 50mg for low mood and still get the anxiety some months! Sertraline is supposed to be good for anxiety although I know SSRIs are not recommended for peri/menopausal anxiety issues. I'm bleeding between periods, around ovulation also and am going to the GP next week for blood tests and examination. Have also been referred for a transvaginal ultrasound. I'm convinced this is all the perimenopause.

hi @balaur - interesting! It all sounds very similar. It's funny you mention the mid cycle bleeding. I find that my periods are heavy for a couple of days, then weirdly bleeding stops entirely for at least 24 hours. Then lighter bleeding returns which takes several more days to completely go! Bleeding can linger on into the time I ovulate - which seems to be earlier than it used to be too.

I've read this is hormonal - something to do with hormone levels and uterine lining - which is reassuring, though I should probably look into getting a scan done also.

Good luck with your tests - do report back and let us know the outcome!