Is there such a think as perimenopausal anxiety/depression?

[Umbongo1]

Sorry if this is a long post.

I'm 45 and am suffering from anxiety and depression which started when I was 40 (no previous MH issues ever).

It seemed to dissipate entirely when I was pregnant with my daughter at age 41 and re-appeared with vengeance as PND.

I've always noticed how it was worse just before my period but it seems the days when I feel good are getting fewer and fewer. Im already on a whack of antidepressants which seem to be doing nothing to help.

Am I hormonal or just nuts? Anyone else in a similar boat?

Well I hope there is because otherwise I’m going bonkers too! I’m 49 and bar horrendous period problems don’t seem to have many of the stereotypical peri/menopause symptoms like sweats, sleep problems etc. I am however constantly stressed and anxious even when I have no need to be. My moods flip in a heartbeat and I can’t even put my finger on why half the time. My patience is at an all time low and I’m often a big shouty mess. It’s awful and I feel terrible about it. It doesn’t help that I have two kids one of whom is a 13 year old so it’s a sea of fluctuating hormones here! I’m not on anti depressants (yet) but do see a gynaecologist at the hospital (although that’s about my awful period problems). Would ideally love a natural solution to calm me down and cheer me up as it breaks my heart to know the kids see me so stressed and moody (worrying about that then makes me even more stressed and so we go on!) Don’t have a solution sorry but can tell you that you’re not alone and maybe a hand holding thread would be good for us all?? Might help me pour out my stress online rather than weeping and shouting in the car on the way to school because the traffic is bad and the kids are late (that was this morning’s meltdown ) xx

Yes yes yes!!!

It’s been covered on this board a few times but many of us have had this and it’s gone after having hrt. The NICE guidelines recognise it and actually suggest hrt before anti Ds. It can improve x

Yes! It's very real. HRT helped my anxiety and also a feeling of complete flatness about life ever being enjoyable again.

Modern NHS-prescribed HRT is 'natural' in so far as it is made from body-identical hormones made from, I believe, on yams.

God yes, it's real as hell. I'm 50 and currently waiting for some HRT (supply problems..). My anxiety has gone crackers in the last 2 years.

Absolutely.

I was lucky and sailed through in many ways but have a few friends who had horrendous anxiety and depression issues. Out of the blue.

I think it needs to be talked about much more. It’s very very common.

I just feel that my GP won't believe me as this all started when I was only 40 and they now have me down as being anxious. Is that too early to be perimenopausal? I'm getting some wierd period stuff now too but back then was quite regular.

My husband and best friend noticed it was all cyclical before I did. I'm on two antidepressants and they're doing nothing for the panic and low mood I'm getting - I just don't know what to do.

Look at the NICE guidelines pinned to the menopause section here. I’m sure they mention mood and anxiety as something for which HRT is appropriate. Your GP can’t argue with that.

If you’re getting nowhere, however, I found Newson Health, the private menopause clinic very good.

I have always been wary of HRT (possibly wrongly). I associate it with a raised breast cancer risk which has always terrified me as I lost two friends in their 30s to the disease. Is that risk less of an issue than I think? And does off the shelf HRT still do the job? I remember reading an article about someone who had it tailored to their individual hormone levels which was the best way to do it, however I think they were not short of the pennies so it probably cost the equivalent of a loft conversion for a year’s worth of tablets! Xx

Maybe you could ask your GP to do a hormone blood test Umbongo to see where your levels are at? That way they can’t then dispute it being menopause related if it is. I’m going to take a look at Newsom Health. Did it cost a fortune privately oneglassandpuzzled?

Following. 44 and feeling similar. Started getting odd panic attack type things with hot flushes at night waking me up. Tearful all the time. Worse before period which now only lasts 1-2 days. Sort of weird tingly feeling also. Not sure how to explain.

I'm doing things like drinking too much coffee and wine so should probably stop that. I am taking prozac and have done for years but this is something else!

I evhad terrible mood swings and worsening longer pmt since I was around 42. I was fine during both 40s pregnancy but it can back massively after. I've had anti depressants which didn't change anything really but now I'm on hrt and I've noticed an evening out of my mood so far. Looking back it's the perimenopause and fluctuating hormone levels.

Thanks everyone it's really good to know I'm not alone. This is really ruining my life right now.

Is it normal for perimenopause to start as early as 40?

@Orangeblossom77777 I hear you with the coffee and the wine. I'm pretty good generally with diet and I do stacks of exercise but I do like a glass of wine now and again.

My GP tried to give me ADs earlier this year, I was 47, had already tried propanol for palpitations, they thought it was down to stress, started on low dose hrt patch and my palpitations/anxiety have completely gone, my sleep has improved and I feel normal again. I was probably 42 when my periods went suddenly very heavy and close together, it's definitely not too early

Well as chance would have it my doctor called today (about a totally unrelated knee issue).

I asked about the symptoms and whether it could be hormonal - she said not but would do a prescription for a different pill. Am I being fobbed off?!?

As in contraceptive pill.

As far as I know the pill is basically hormone replacement, my gynaecologist said some countries use it as cheap hrt but I'm no expert

@PickledBunion

I have always been wary of HRT (possibly wrongly). I associate it with a raised breast cancer risk which has always terrified me as I lost two friends in their 30s to the disease. Is that risk less of an issue than I think? And does off the shelf HRT still do the job? I remember reading an article about someone who had it tailored to their individual hormone levels which was the best way to do it, however I think they were not short of the pennies so it probably cost the equivalent of a loft conversion for a year’s worth of tablets! Xx

Yes, the NHS-prescribed HRT works well, though sometimes you have to try a few variations to get the best fit. If you use oestrogen gel you can tinker the dose easily. I started on two pumps, went up to three and have now settled on 2.5.

Some of my friends prefer patches.

I've just had a mammogram which was just fine. The doctor who prescribed my HRT told me that the risk of breast cancer for me was very, very slightly raised but still low. I'd be more at risk from drinking more than a moderate amount, or from being overweight.

@PickledBunion

Maybe you could ask your GP to do a hormone blood test Umbongo to see where your levels are at? That way they can’t then dispute it being menopause related if it is. I’m going to take a look at Newsom Health. Did it cost a fortune privately oneglassandpuzzled?

Here's a link to their prices:

www.newsonhealth.co.uk/consultations

I now seem to be able to get what I need from my local GP. But I started with Newson because there was a shortage of HRT 16 months ago.

It definitely is a thing

I started to get weird panic episodes and was 100% sure this was not psychological. It was physical.

Started HRT and it has gone completely.

I went to a private clinic in the end - Louise Newson's clinic - as my GP was pretty shit, not totally shit, but shit enough.

My advice would be don't think you just have to accept it - get some proper advice.

Yes! I felt like my life was falling apart. I really couldn't function. I decided to tackle it properly by

• going on the pill (suggested by GP)
• eating healthily and cutting down on alcohol
• taking vitamins and iron
• seeing a therapist
• running 3 times a week (still hate it)
• meditating/praying every day
• NOT using social media much and no Twitter
• actively arranging to see friends

It's not like I am 100% cured but I feel a lot better. I don't know exactly what worked though and I am loathe to change anything.

Is any of this part of it as well?

vertigo
nausea
headaches

as getting this as well

swimming seems to help a bit.

Buy/borrow a copy of The New Hot. It has a lot from Dr Louise Newsom in it and chapters on breast cancer risk etc

Basically it’s very low risk - it’s far riskier to drink alcohol or be overweight than take hrt.

GPs get very little training on peri. You need to do your own reading and research on this.

On the pill- so that can help? I tried the mini pill had to stop as seemed to make things worse..

New anxiety or increased anxiety is one of the most common peri symptoms. It happened with me at 40, and I had no history of anxiety whatsoever. I highly recommend you to to a private specialist. Also, AD's are not appropriate to treat anxiety due to hormonal imbalance due to peri/menopause, and can often make things worse.

www.google.com/amp/s/www.independent.co.uk/news/health/menopause-antidepressants-symptoms-worse-hrt-shortage-a9148951.html%3famp

i.stuff.co.nz/life-style/well-good/teach-me/113666670/perimenopause-lead-up-to-menopause-very-uncomfortable-and-poorly-understood

I take the gel HRT and the supplement below which I find great.

victoriahealth.com/magnolia-rhodiola-complex/