Horrific anxiety

[zorrodrt]

Hi everyone

This is my first time posting here. I’ve just turned 39 and after a year of erratic periods my GP did two blood tests which confirm I’m pretty far into premature menopause.
So far the only symptoms I have are nights sweats, increased migraines and horrendous anxiety/panic attacks.
GP wants me to start HRT but I think I was in that much shock I refused and said I needed time to think about it.
I guess my question is did HRT help with your anxiety?
I’m really, really struggling to the point where it’s affecting my daily life. I’m worrying over everything and catastrophising every situation. Mainly to do with my health and my families health, worry about every ache and pain. I can’t live like this I feel like I’m never present because I’m in my own head constantly. I’ve tried anti depressants but they didn’t agree with me. The sleepless nights aren’t helping either. Shall I just bite the bullet and take the HRT? I feel really alone as non of my friends or anyone my age that I know are going through it

If you can find the right HRT for you it can work wonders.

Definitely take the HRT. You may need to try different combinations before getting the right one but it’s a game changer. I also take 10mg of Citalopram per day which takes the edge of my anger. I doubt you’ll look back. Good luck.

Yes. Out of all my symptoms, including night sweats and brain fog and so on, my anxiety was the symptom that improved first when I started HRT patches.

I'm also taking 10mg Citalopram for other reasons, and I think they may be helping me now. But when I get a hot flush my anxiety goes through the roof. I hope you find an answer OP.

Thank you ladies. I’m definitely going to give the GP a call this week. I think I need to try a different anti depressant too as I’m not actually living my life! Why doesn’t anyone teach you about menopause? Feel like it’s hit me like a ton of bricks . Thanks for the replies

@zorrodrt The anxiety and depression for me are the worst symptoms. I can deal with all the other physical stuff but the mental can be crippling.

Yep anxiety was my worse symptom and HRT has help massively. You might find you don’t need antidepressants if you get your HRT right. Sometimes GPs give antidepressants when all that was needed was HRT x

Thank you. GP did offer both to be fair. I took the Sertraline but felt like a zombie. Amazing for the anxiety but I literally had no feelings at all about ANYTHING on them. Just sick of being on an emotional rollercoaster it’s exhausting

@funbags3 totally with you on that!

@zorrodrt what mg sertraline did you try?

@TreeHuggerMum1 50mg I started on

That’s a big dose to start. I’m ok sertraline for peri-menopausal panic and anxiety.
I started on 25 and eight weeks in I am now on 37.5mg. I did try 50 after a few weeks but it was too much and GO suggested reducing.
I also take HRT, recently started on Lenzetto as it appears I’m not / have not been absorbing the patches for the last few years.
i am 43 and will try anything to feel like me again.
Definitely stating to see benefits considering how bad I was over the summer.

HRT has taken away entirely the dreadful anxiety and depression I was suffering earlier in the year - I had never had it before and suddenly I was floored, couldn’t work at all, and didn’t drive for three months, where I usually do about 20,000 miles a year. Three weeks into HRT and it was all gone, entirely, like a magic trick. I had additional risk factors for both oestrogen and progesterone and I decided to go for it anyway, because my life as I knew it was essentially over. Now I feel better than I have done for about 5 years. It’s always your choice, of course, but for me, it was transformative.

@ForfarFourEastFifeFive my GP said the Lenzetto might take 2-3 weeks to work and I’m keeping everything crossed. 🤞🏻

The 50mg was amazing for the anxiety but I had no feeling on it. It was like it out a veil over everything, good and bad. Plus (sorry tmi) I couldn’t orgasm at all 🙈😂 I thought sod this that’s one of the things I have left you’re not taking that away from me 🤣
I have a telephone consultation with the GP in the morning and I’m going to give her the go ahead for the hrt and maybe ask about anti depressants. I can’t live with this anxiety it’s absolutely crippling me. I cried yesterday because there was a queue for the tip 🙄🙈
Everyone in the house is getting the brunt of it and ‘mums in a mood’ is the saying these days and I don’t want to be that person

Following op. Also been given anti anxiety meds by the GP but wondering if I need HRT. I’m only 40. Did they do blood tests to check your hormones?

@BumWad yes they did two blood tests 6 weeks apart. FSH & LH. I had very irregular periods which is why they did they them in the first place (normally every 30 days) plus massive anxiety and panic attacks