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Menopause

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Original poster

Can't drive

27 replies

Sortmylifeout52 · 10/09/2023 14:06

God the journey just gets worse!
In peri, I had huge issues with driving and anxiety. It resolved after a very long period of time on HRT patches.

Now, I face it again. Anxiety though the roof and unable to drive. In fact my head and body don't even feel connected!

I can't face all that again, it was hell on earth.

Does the heat cause Hrt to not work?
Do I need more oestrogen?

I can't work out what I'm doing.
I'm stalling the car. Can't go round abouts. It's dreadful. M

Hating all of this crap time of life.

OP posts:
DustyLee123 · 10/09/2023 14:07

Sounds like you need more oestrogen - need to see the GP

Darhon · 10/09/2023 14:09

Also, if you don’t already and if you can, get an automatic. I split in my mid 40s and no longer had access to the family car and just thought why am I driving a manual. Automatics ate so much easier. They don’t stall.

Original poster
Sortmylifeout52 · 10/09/2023 14:09

@DustyLee123 yes I thing I'm low in oestrogen too. Anxiety is bad and so are palpitations. I am grumpy and don't want to speak to anyone.

OP posts:
DustyLee123 · 10/09/2023 15:05

Could you be low in iron ? That’s what caused my palpitations

Original poster
Sortmylifeout52 · 10/09/2023 15:19

Could be.
Will get some iron supplements i think.

OP posts:
Charlattanus23 · 10/09/2023 15:44

In a strange sort of way, hurrah, I honestly thought I was the only person in the world to experience this.

I actually had to give up driving completely when the menopause hit, which really knocked me for six, as it had taken me a long time and several tests to get my licence in the first place and I've mainly lived in places with utterly rubbish public transport.

I literally couldn't move the car safely any more, it was like that bit of my brain had died. I am now looking at having some lessons in an automatic (ironically, when I did pass, it was the last chance I was giving myself before taking it in an automatic) to get my confidence back. I've never understood why we've historically been so resistant to automatics in this country.

Original poster
Sortmylifeout52 · 10/09/2023 15:51

@Charlattanus23 yes, that's exactly it. It feels as though that part of my brain has died, literally!

I can't turn right at roundabouts without going REALLY slowly. I'm a bag of nerves. Bendy lanes, forget it! I tried to give myself a good talking to earlier, but alas, it took all my efforts to get out of Asda car park in one piece!

Are you driving at present or waiting to do your lessons now?

I feel so rubbish about it, but can't help it.

OP posts:
whatisforteamum · 10/09/2023 16:09

Same here 7 yrs ago.tried 2 lessons one was good other I froze.
Bloody menopause.

DustyLee123 · 10/09/2023 17:43

I’ve found that magnesium L-threonate has helped with my brain fog.

Original poster
Sortmylifeout52 · 10/09/2023 17:44

Where do you get yours from?

OP posts:
DustyLee123 · 10/09/2023 17:47

Amazon.

Original poster
Sortmylifeout52 · 10/09/2023 17:48

👍

OP posts:
Spendysis · 10/09/2023 17:52

this has just started happening to me terrible anxiety when driving I burn up and feel faint and dizzy my heart pounds in my chest
I have recently started hrt patches I have done 2 weeks of everol conti now on everol 50. It’s routes I do daily taking so had no idea why i am suddenly like this

Original poster
Sortmylifeout52 · 10/09/2023 17:56

@Spendysis yes this is me also.
Honestly I was shocked by todays performance, it was appalling.

Couldn't remember the pedals etc and when to change up and down gears. I was hot and panicked.

OP posts:
over50andfab · 10/09/2023 18:03

I’d suggest seeing your doctor to discuss your symptoms. If you’re on a patch you can increase to 100, and if on already on 100 either try a different type of HRT or get a blood test to check you’re absorbing the oestrogen in the patch.

Original poster
Sortmylifeout52 · 10/09/2023 18:13

Yes I agree.
I've got a very problematic fibroid too, which isn't helping my anxiety right now. It's consuming all my physical and mental energy.

OP posts:
Wheresmemum · 11/09/2023 00:48

Oh my goodness it's such a massive relief to know I'm not alone in this! Although I do feel for everyone on this thread because I know from experience how rubbish it is! My driving issues started about 7 years ago and at the time I didn't realise I was peri, I just thought I was going a bit daft! I started having anxiety, palpitations, panic attacks, anywhere near motorways or roundabouts high up, roads high up. I had to call my husband and son out several times because I'd literally had panic attacks and had to park up with hazards on! And these were roads I was really familiar with! I used to commute to work so motorways were never a problem before peri. Now I drive just locally which I know I'm fine with, but even the thought of driving down the motorway or a bridge sets my anxiety off! I've tried both manual and auto and it didn't make a difference for me, I hope it does for those of you who are thinking of switching x

Amwondering69 · 11/09/2023 00:55

I had the same anxiety about 15 years ago ..it never occurred to me that it was menopause related! Think I just ploughed on and eventually I was ok !

jlpth · 11/09/2023 01:16

To help menopause anxiety and palpitations, cut out all caffeine and alcohol. I have had to do that, but it is quite effective.

LaviniasBigBloomers · 11/09/2023 01:26

I 'caught' general anxiety when I was peri, HRT fixed most of it and now 4 years in I'm fine about everything but still incredibly anxious about driving. I don't know whether it's because it feels so high stakes or because it's actually a 'safe' anxiety for me? (Given where I live I actually don't have to drive very often and can usually work around it - mind you, the work around is often very convoluted.)

I don't think I'm even that invested in fixing it tbh. But I know I probably should.

Original poster
Sortmylifeout52 · 14/09/2023 17:35

Thanks all.
Still got this awful anxiety when driving. It's awful. I don't know if it's low oestrogen or what, but I hate it.

I was okay for a long time, once I'd started HRT, but now it's back with a vengeance but getting worse.

What can I do?
Bendy county roads.. oh my just hell.

OP posts:
WhereAreWeNow · 14/09/2023 20:32

I don’t think peri has affected my driving yet (it's consistently quite bad and always has been 🤣) but I've always noticed that I was incapable of parallel parking when I was premenstrual. Fine the rest of the month but just before my period it would take about 5 botched attempts to get into a really decent sized space.

Original poster
Sortmylifeout52 · 14/09/2023 20:52

@WhereAreWeNow I don't even ATTEMPT parallel parking! In fact, I need a complete empty car park, all to myself!! 🙈🙈

OP posts:
Joy69 · 16/09/2023 21:06

So glad that you started this post. I used to love driving, but now I am one of the nana's, stalling, unable to park & so cautious.
It really is rubbish. Stupid menopause 🙄

Missymarple · 16/09/2023 21:42

I clearly hate myself because I decided the best way to deal with my peri was to learn how to drive 😂 I went straight for the automatic and passed my test after two attempts. My anxiety was off the scale but my absolute rage at dealing with a truly crappy bus service got me through. Roundabouts I am fine with, but slip roads... I go massively out of my way to avoid having to deal with a slip road, they give me the absolute fear

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