Omg! 10 years of 'depression' that's actually been Menopause

[MabelsMam]

I just wanted to let folk know my story, I hope it helps someone.
In 2013 I had a full hysterectomy, and went into menopause the very next day I remember it as clear as day.
I was refused Hrt as I'd had a blood clot after pregnancy 21 years previously and I was told I probably wouldn't need it anyway.
Over the course of the next 3 years my mental health took a nose dive, I'd loose my shit with my partner, cry and scream like a banshee, get in the car and just drive ( often not being aware where) my memory was shocking, I'd have panic attacks, anxiety was through the roof and my entire body hurt like hell... it got so bad I had to leave my job in 2017. The doctor prescribed me anti depressants they didn't work, I was sent to a psychiatrist who worked his way through a long list of anti depressants ( 9) for me to try .. again non worked. I was sent to therapy where they dragged up past events and told me that was causing my depression .. therapy didn't work.
I was sent to a rheumatologist who said I had Fibromyalgia and there was no cure for it .
A became a hermit I didn't leave my house, get dressed go shopping nothing I barely existed.
Now fast forward to Sunday past where I came across Davina Mccalls Sex, myths and menopause programme on C4... Omfg !!! This entire programme was about Me ... my symptoms, mental health everything ... I sobbed and sobbed because I finally knew what the hell was wrong with me !!! ... I had over 20 of the 34 menopause symptoms on the show .... I wasn't mad I was menopausal !!
Women who have a surgical menopause can suffer more severe and much longer symptoms than someone who goes into natural menopause ... so why in God's name had not one of the 3 Gp's, 3 psychiatrists, x amount of therapists never asked me about menopause symptoms even though I was in my 50's ?
Why was I handed tablet after tablet instead of considering whether the symptoms I was having could be hormone related ?
10 years of my life I lost and can never get back.... after watching the TV programme, researching non stop I could and can be prescribed HRT .. in patch, gel or spray just not in tablet form .. I can be prescribed testosterone ( yes ladies produce it too infact 4x the amount compared to estrogen ) to help with muscle and bone pain, loss of libido, and energy.
On Thursday I go to see a menopause Specialist in my area - a doctor who specialises in perimenopause, menopause and post menopause to get the HRT I should have had 10 years ago.
I can't get those 10 years back but what I can do is share my story incase there are other ladies who are feeling as crappy as I've been, who can watch Davina and go to their doctors armed with information and not get palmed off with anti depressants that won't cure menopause symptoms!!

Thank you for reading x

Hi everyone. Im on Evorel Sequi and find I feel dreadful in the progesterone phase. I see others have had issues with this - what symptoms did it give you? Mine is low mood , anxiety and brain fog … also some nausea

Sorry meant to be a new post 😫

Good luck for Thursday op

I went 2 weeks ago on Estrogel and feel like a new person already 🙃

Thatvis brilliant news, I'm so glad but also sorry you've suffered for so long.

Early days yet but I think I'll continue to improve, now it's time to start enjoying life 😌

The good news. I hadn't realized quite how rough I felt until I felt better 😅

That's me exactly !! My 'depression' & exhaustion have lifted and I feel alive for the first time in 10 years !!

Hello
I am sorry to hear about your ordeal ladies. This is a mad situation.
Had a nervous breakdown last weekend. Been having these lately but don't have a mental health history.
Been experiencing symptoms of peri menaupose (dryness everywhere, night sweat...) but my hormone levels remains within the normal range. Although my cycle and my period have changed (more frequent, painful and abundant) the GP i just spoke to would rather send me to a psychiatrist than a gynecologists. I lost my temper with him. How can mental illness (without history) be a more plausible cause than peri-menopause (by the way i am 46. My mum's periods stopped at 49 which i told him....). What is it with GPs? Is HRT cost the issue? Are they concerned by the potential long term effect of HRT? What is it?

MH15 I'd say disinterest, lack of training and belittling your experience.

@MH15, my understanding is that you're eligible for HRT after the age of 45 when you have pre-menopause symptoms, so you don't need blood tests etc. Go back and quote the NICE guidelines at them, or possibly at a more up to date colleague.

Oh wow! Brilliant. Sorry you had to suffer so.

Thank you so much @FlippertyGibberts. I just sent the guideline to my GP in a complaint letter. The guideline is clear that for a woman of my age the FSH blood test should be dismissed to establish a diagnosis on menaupose. Guess what? that GP ignored the other 20 symptoms and focused on the blood test only to conclude that i wasn't menopausal. Me being 'mad' was a more plausible explanation for him than being menopausal. Called him and his management out! Let's see.

On the topic is there any reliable online questionnaire to establish whether a woman is perimenopausal? My GP use to have one but it's no longer available.

Well done @MH15! Let us know how you get on. I only learned this recently from Davina McCall' book about menopause btw, so it's worth a read.

While many people view mental health interventions as a way to help people with substance addiction, they are also very effective for those struggling with mental health issues.

@MabelsMam so glad to know you are finally getting some relief. I am in the USA and gynecological health is much more accessible. You can just call a gynecological practice yourself, no need for the equivalent of a GP referral. I was having menopausal/perimenopause symptoms and then was diagnosed with cancer in 2018.

After chemo and recovery I saw my gynecologist who checked my blood work and labs and was prescribed HRT. I have a weekly patch and a progesterone pill. I have been taking them for at least 3 years. All my symptoms have been relieved and I feel physically great and on an even keel all the time. No issues with mood or sleep, no hot flushes.

Its horrifying reading how much women are suffering in the UK, especially for a process ALL women go through!

@MabelsMam, how are you now? Still feeling good?

Hi my love, well the flushes have gone completely, could even sit in the garden today. Aches and pains much improved but mentally I have to accept that I do have depression on top .... for a few months things were great but whilst at my very worst I was impulse spending ( not on expensive designer items ) but just random stuff I'd see on social media, if I couldn't sleep is shop, if my Cptsd was bad I'd shop, if I was struggling with anxiety I'd shop .... i wouldn't even open the parcels when they came ... it wasn't the product but the distraction of browsing shops online. Anyway I built up huge debts due to it - and it came to a head when I finally acknowledged I couldn't pay it back.
Being on HRT I firmly believe gave me the ability to face my issues and ask for help, which I have done.
My debts were a direct symptom of how ill I was mentally, and have been while it's being sorted out.

Without HRT, I would be in an even bigger mess of that I'm 100% sure, my impulse spending is now under control ... but my Psychiatrist has said that I do suffer from Cptsd, and depression and that 12 years of no hrt has taken its toll.
I dread to think where I would be now if I hadn't started on Hrt or how I would have coped emotionally with the money situation without it . X

Wow. Thanks for update. Hang in there. x