has anyone else experienced this?
I am 45 and had an appointment with my doctor yesterday to discuss what I believe to be peri symptoms and discuss going on HRT
i had a phone call with him around a year ago after having some blood tests done. At the time I’d been feeling really tired and flat, my skin had gotten very bad and my hair had thinned and was falling out. My blood tests came back ok although I’m not sure what the actually checked for. He was quite sympathetic and asked what I wanted to do. We decided on a watch and wait and I’d come back to him if things changed/worsened.
in the last few months I’ve been having terrible insomnia,night sweats, irregular periods, no real interest in doing things but the worst is the brain fog and memory loss. It’s debilitating, im
mixing up my words, making stupid mistakes at work and I can’t remember what I’m doing or where I put anything. Feel like I’m going mad.
When i went to the appointment it was a locum doctor I saw. She asked v briefly about my symptoms and I said I was interested in maybe trying some hrt possibly in a gel form. She started talking about this other medication that she would prescribe first saying it was really good for mood and brain fog. She was speaking fast and it was a while before I realised it was an anti depressant she was talking about. I was a bit surprised but she said it’s often used to treat these symptoms. She said just take it for 6 weeks and come back of it didn’t help and we could try something the coil or am implant. I asked about side effects, she said there’s none??!
I said I was also concerned about bone and heart health during peri and this obviously wouldn’t do anything for that or my insomnia but she just said not to worry about that. When she went to write my prescription a box popped up to say it was contraindicated with the triptans I take for migraines, which have also increased. Again said not to worry just try not to take the triptans if I can- if I dont take them I wouldn’t be able to get out of bed if I have a migraine.
since coming home I’ve done my research and it seems Venlafaxene is a strong antidepressant which has severe withdrawal symptoms when you stop. The only symptoms of menopause it was mentioned as being good for was hot flushes which is the one I told her I didn’t have!
I’m going to make another appointment to see my own gp but I’m really annoyed about this. Mostly at myself for not speaking up and saying I’m not depressed, I’m forgetful, confused, tired etc but also at the doctor for handing me out 6 weeks worth of antidepressants without even asking if I was depressed or trying to find out why
sorry it’s so long, anyone else taken this medication?