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Menopause

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Original poster

Is there such a think as perimenopausal anxiety/depression?

142 replies

Umbongo1 · 07/12/2020 10:48

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?

OP posts:
Original poster
Umbongo1 · 07/12/2020 18:16

@Aquamarine1029 what you say is me completely.

Where did you find treatment?

OP posts:
Aquamarine1029 · 07/12/2020 18:20

@Umbongo1

I went to the gp twice, was completely dismissed both times which is sadly par for the course with most gp's, and then I went private to a gynae. I was immediately put on HRT and it was like a miracle. My symptoms including the horrible anxiety were gone almost immediately. No more horrible periods, insomnia, hot flushes or night sweats.

Original poster
Umbongo1 · 07/12/2020 18:36

@Aquamarine1029

Wow that's amazing. I haven't had hot flashes or any other physical symptoms really so maybe I am just nuts... :(

It's odd though as my sister (3 years younger) suffers similarly.

OP posts:
Aquamarine1029 · 07/12/2020 18:42

@Umbongo1

You're not nuts. Anxiety was my very first symptom, and I was terrified. I had no idea what was wrong with me and I had these idiot doctors trying to push AD's on me. I knew that wasn't what I needed and started doing my own extensive research. The other symptoms began within a year, and I started HRT at 41. I'm 47 now and it's still working beautifully.

Newgirls · 07/12/2020 19:05

GPs get half a day at med school on the whole menopause. They have to go on courses to learn more.

Lots of people don’t get hot flushes - anxiety is more common.

PickledBunion · 08/12/2020 07:10

I’m with you Umbongo, I’m older at 49 but bar the horrendous periods I don’t have any other menopause symptoms (apart from the horrific moods and anxiety) so I’ve struggled to understand in the last year or two whether it’s the perimenopause or “just me”. It’s heartbreaking because I don’t like the person I become when it all gets too much and it’s almost as if a fog descends I can’t see beyond.

Yesterday was awful. I had a full blown panic attack in the car because the traffic was dreadful getting the kids to school, and one of them had forgot their coat! It was utterly ridiculous. I used to have such a stressful, successful, challenging career (I do something a bit more low key now), I’m capable, creative, responsible and yet one forgotten coat and I was a total mess. All day I felt like I was stuck in this thick soup and I was exhausted by life. Then I’ve woken up this morning feeling fine. Totally normal, back to me. I’m usually a reasonably measured and very loving parent but this gloom and stress just tips me into becoming someone I loathe being around the kids. It’s such a relief to know I’m not alone. I definitely need to do something about it and your positive HRT stories are spurring me on!

I’ve got an NHS gynae hospital appt in Feb as I suffer from polyps and endometriosis (hence the bad periods and my poor iron levels). Would they be good to chat to or will it take years to get it that way? I do have private health but I don’t know if that covers hormone/menopause issues? Thank you all for your encouragement and reassurance, it really helped yesterday, and thank you Umbongo for starting such an appropriate thread on a day when I really, really needed it! Smile

sandgrown · 08/12/2020 07:19

I was very lucky and had an easy menopause. I didn’t need HRT but I did regularly take a herbal type remedy called Estroven. It was often on 3 for 2 at Boots. I think it helped me.

Newgirls · 08/12/2020 08:19

Some people do have an easy menopause but it can be worth keeping an eye on your bone density as low oestrogen is the main cause of osteoporosis. Oestrogen continues to fall after periods stop so we should all check on our health. Memory is the other one that women struggle with as oestrogen falls.

DameCelia · 08/12/2020 08:34

@PickledBunion It was utterly ridiculous. I used to have such a stressful, successful, challenging career (I do something a bit more low key now), I’m capable, creative, responsible this is one of the absolute scandals of the mess of current menopause treatments. So many capable women who should be reaping the benefits of the years of slog they put into their careers, instead they are stepping back due to a disabling but easily treatable medical condition.
@Umbongo1 perimenopause is the time leading up to menopause, it can be up to 10 years long, starting in early forties makes perfect sense if you will enter menopause (not have periods for a year) in your early fifties.

Original poster
Umbongo1 · 08/12/2020 09:00

Does anyone else get like just total debilitating fear?

OP posts:
oneglassandpuzzled · 08/12/2020 09:04

I used to before I started on oestrogel. And I would have a surge of hyper-alertness and near panic just as I was dropping off to sleep, like being hit by a sledgehammer. Apparently lack of oestrogen affects cortisol.

DameCelia · 08/12/2020 09:05

@Umbongo1 yes, before I took HRT. I would sometimes be physically paralysed by it, once for 24 hours.

bluebearss · 08/12/2020 09:08

Not perimenopausal, but have always had heightened anxiety notably before my period and also had some PND after my son was born.

I'm 30 and have regular periods otherwise, but certainly suffered terribly with anxiety/depression depending on fluctuating hormones throughout my cycle and pregnancy/post partum period.

Women's health issues are unfortunately just not priority, it seems.

Original poster
Umbongo1 · 08/12/2020 11:51

I'm so glad I'm not alone in this. My doctors have never considered anything other than a psychiatric diagnosis even though I'd never had anxiety or depression before in my life.

Thank you to all who have responded.

OP posts:
Newgirls · 08/12/2020 12:09

Might be worth pointing out to anyone who needs to hear - you can try hrt, see if it works, and stop any time. It’s not necessarily a many years thing.

hamstersarse · 08/12/2020 14:21

I definitely get peri-fear. Well at least I did before I went full on HRT.

When I was driving on the motorway I would just get an overwhelming panic, couldn't breath, felt like I needed to pull over. Absolutely hideous.

I know there was absolutely nothing wrong psychologically. Nothing. And I have never had anxiety about anything in my whole life. It was completely physical / hormonal.

IMO (and this is as someone who is an actual psychologist) we put far too little emphasis on the biology of women and are way too quick to go to the SSRI's (as my GP tried to do) and dish out a 'mental health' diagnosis.

Whatsnewpussyhat · 08/12/2020 14:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Bonsai49 · 08/12/2020 14:46

I’m perimenopausal and definitely identify with the feeling of flatness . It was one of my first symptoms closely followed by night sweats in my early 40s . I didn’t really put two and two together until recently .

Original poster
Umbongo1 · 08/12/2020 15:12

Yeah I really don't think it's psychological either as I've had CBT aplenty and I genuinely don't think my thought process is to blame here.

It's random, unprompted panic, and I'm exhausted by it.

OP posts:
megletthesecond · 08/12/2020 15:31

Yes, you're not going mad. It's crippling.

Original poster
Umbongo1 · 08/12/2020 15:35

@megletthesecond it really is.

Could all this really just be hormonal? Honestly I don't know which way is up at the moment.

My GP has put me on a new combined pill and I'm terrified to start it in case it makes things worse (mind you not sure I could fee a lot worse)😬😬😬😬

OP posts:
Nikki360 · 08/12/2020 15:46

I always had anxiety and been on Prozac for years but yes it's getting worse and I do also feel flat. I'm nearly 45. Add a family history of breast cancer and to do a genetic test or not is pushing me over the edge at the moment.

hamstersarse · 08/12/2020 17:17

I am not a doctor but I think the combined pill has higher levels of hormone than HRT so it could help, I would try it for a couple of months while perhaps getting some more help from your GP or if you have the cash, via a private appointment at Louise Newson's clinic.

The flatness others have described was still there for me on just estrogen and progesterone the anxiety went - but now I've added in testosterone and woo hoo, a bit of var var room is back!

Original poster
Umbongo1 · 09/12/2020 08:14

@Orangeblossom77777 how's things with you?

I've arranged a call today to talk to a specialist menopause expert, will update.

I'm desperate to stop feeling this crap!

OP posts:
Orangeblossom77777 · 09/12/2020 08:50

Interested to hear how that goes. I'm a little better today think as had my period over with- lasted all of one day. I'm trying mindfulness and steering clear of stress. Sunny out today as well which is a good thing. I do wonder how outside stuff impacts on it as well, feel a lot more sensitive to it all recently. Flowers to all.