Menopause, anxiety and panic attacks

[peaches43]

Really hoping someone can offer some advice. About 4 weeks ago I suffered with a sudden 'panic attack' in the middle of the night. Heart racing woke me up and I found myself getting really scared and shaky. Managed to get back to sleep but the same thing happened the next night. Am now finding I regularly can't get to sleep because of this and am exhausted.

Been to GP several times. They think it may the menopausal and have prescribed Elleste 1mg (have Mirena coil which is now 6 years old). Been taking them for almost a week (confess to taking a double dose as am desperate for them to work). Still suffering though. Also been prescribed diazepam, beta blockers and sleeping tablets but am aware that these are addictive so trying not to rely on them.

Anyone had similar symptoms? Did HRT help? Feel as though I'm taking 1 step forwards and 2 back all the time.

Also waiting to start Cognitive Behaviour Therapy but the waiting time is around 6 weeks.

Feeling pretty low and hoping for some light at the end of this dark tunnel.

I am sorry you are having such a rotten time menopause sucks. I decided against HRT and I have gone with herbal remedies. I take evening primrose which was excellent in sorting out my anger. However if I think I couldn't cope I would look at HRT. Have a virtual hug and I hope your symptoms get better

My doctor refuses to believe that I am going through perimenopause as the blood tests don't come back how he things they should. However, I've not had a period for over 200 days (been all over the place for last 5 years). I went though a period of night sweats (wouldn't wish on anyone) - only lasted a month and am hoping will not return. Am also anxious a lot of the time (never felt anxious before really). Not sure I could call mine panic attacks as such, but they terrify me. Day time sweats still happen. Have gained well over a stone in last year. Generally feel quite crap to be honest. Taking Evening Primrose Oil and the usual vitamins. Am going back to doctors after summer holidays. You are lucky that your doctor is listening to you though, I wish mine would. Good luck.

I thought that I was going crazy when I was peri-menopausal. This really helped,and quickly.

hwize.com/hrt/hrt.html

Friends have also tried it,with great results.
You have my sympathy.

Thank you LaQueenLovesSummer... I told them my mum stopped her periods at 39. I am 45 and have had wonky periods for last 4-5 years. They still insist I am too young. But obviously I am not. I am near London... I have a GP. I don't have a gynaecologist nor a PMS/Menopause Clinic... can you recommend?

Thank you. I will have to push for it seeing as they appear to completely rely on random blood tests (have heard blood tests should be done on Day 3 for a clearer picture - but who the hell knows when Day 3 will be?). I will push as I am feeling fat and crap and angry and irritable and very hot and sweaty and basically just not like me any more. Thank you so much.

www.menopausematters.co.uk/clinicfinder.php

Any help in finding a clinic?

Have a look at the powersurgeinvisionzone website. There are lots of women describing your night time panic/ adrenalin surge.
It seems to be very common.

Thanks all. Muskey - much appreciated - glad to hear herbal remedies are working for you. My blood tests did show a big change but GP said this doesn't always show up.

Thanks LaQueenLovesSummer too - so interesting to hear how many people seem to suffer the same awful symptoms and that it isn't really talked about. How are you now? Are you taking HRT? Has it made things better?

Actually slept last night without sleeping tablets so feel that's a huge step in the right direction (this is day 7 of HRT for me).

How are you doing?

Hello, have had a much better few days until the day before yesterday when, after getting up in the night couldn't get back to sleep again as the anxiety returned. Was even worse last night (although tried hard to resist taking any medication).

Feel gutted that after 2.5 weeks on HRT and thinking it had 'cured' me, I seem to be going backwards again. After a terrible night's sleep feel awful today - like my head is full of something fizzy. Can't think straight and had to cancel plans to go away for the Bank Holiday as couldn't face being aways from home and feeling this awful.

Just hope this is just a 'blip' and that I'll improve again over the next few days. Anyone had this yo-yo effect when first taking HRT. SO hope so as I feel pretty low again :-(

Peaches I got this too. Suddenly waking up shaking and panicky, unable to breathe with heart beating like the clappers. It happened in the day, too, sometimes, and still does. I didn't connect it to the meno as I wasn't getting other symptoms. At

My doc wouldn't prescribe hrt so I just ate better, got more exercise and did yoga and pilates, along with non-prescription treatment.

peaches - I've come to this a bit late but have you been given Elleste solo or duet? If duet (gives a bleed) then no problem but if solo then your Mirena will not have sufficient progestogen to protect your womb lining so you will need another one (coil) or take Elleste Duet!

hello i am going through the menopause . its awful i am 49 and the first of my friends or co workers to go through it. i have hot flushes . i find drinking a drink of water helps and throwing water on my face helps. i don't want to take hrt. could any one tell me of any other ways of helping it.
my memory is gone . i am clumsy i caught my finger in the door the other day and fell last week.
i feel very embarrassed about it.
i hate the chaos but can't manage to keep order. yesterday i was to tidy a store room in work a job i loved before i just had no concentration for it. i also found the disorder driving me mad. it's like i'm going mad.
also my whole body is aching like i have the flu.
please forgive me for moaning. if anyone had any answers i would appreciate it . i don't want to burden my friends as they don't have it yet.
i have thought maybe i should just treat myself to a massage and the likes and not find a solution as it is just nature taking its course.
but really i'm sick of nature periods, pmt, childbirth ... then this.

Why do you not want to take HRT? Why refuse treatment for something that will help?

thank you pinkfrocks . i have being lucky in my life not to have to take much medicine and i suppose i am just frightened of it. i have read of some side affects . it is a natural thing and i would like to treat it in a natural way.
it is bad but not unbearable yet so i will just wait and see. if it get so bad i will try and use it.
i would love to just hear other peoples ideas.
finding this thread has helped a lot . knowing i'm not going mad is of help.
i have reread the thread and found more information.
thank you for your reply

HRT is not medicine. it's replacing what you would already have in your body and the bio identical types are the same as your own body produces.

Medicine is for a disease- menopause is not a disease.

have a good read around and think about it all but go the natural route if you prefer that.

Hello Bellaciao,

I was on Elleste solo 2mg at first but am now on Evorel 100mg patches as that wasn't working for me. My GP spoke to a menopause expert and they advised this with Mirena for the progesterone element.

Been on the patches for a week and a half and do feel better. Slept quite well last night for what feels like the first time in weeks and weeks. Also am starting to feel much less anxious and more like my normal self. Long may that reign!

Buggerthebotox,

Suggest you try another GP. Mine is convinced that my problems are hormone related. She's also referred me to a menopause clinic. If you're still suffering I'd recommend giving HRT a go.

Can you be perimenopausal and still be getting symptoms? im getting hot flushes anxiety which is worsening bad forgetfullness and clumsyness but still getting periods .

Perimenopause is when these problems start.

They can start any time from around 45- 55 or when periods end. Then once periods stop they usually get worse for a number of years.

Is this what you mean?

Symptoms are caused by fluctuating hormone levels, and lower levels of oestrogen- before and after your final period.