Left the job I love due to the menopause :(

[Greaselightening]

I can't believe it. I've left a job I love due to crippling anxiety from the the menopause. I feel so empty inside 😞

Thank you for your kind words. It means a lot ❤️

Can you not claim universal credit? I'm sure with everything you are going through health wise you would be entitled.
I'm not sure of the ins and outs as I've never claimed but it may be something worth looking into x

@Greaselightening yes it's not that easy as I have savings over the UC threshold. I would have to use all of that up first and then make a claim I think. Alternatively, I could look for a 16 hour a week job and claim ESA. X

@Enigma52 oh, I see. I didn't even think about savings. The system is so unfair.

Very unfair 😢 x

I am very sad to read how badly this affects so many of you. I never had any such problems, nothing that affected work, nor made me ever consider leaving - but I did have to fight hard to get HRT and was denied, then ended up with osteoporosis and a broken back in 4 places.
Hope it gets better, and you get a new job.

Good lord, that's awful @Oblomov24 Those doctors should be held to account. It's disgusting the way we still need to fight to be heard and be given the healthcare we need.

I just had this conversation with a friend and I'm very lucky that we can afford for me not to work at the moment. Obviously we're a lot more comfortable with a second income and I'd really like my husband to have the option of retiring within 10 years (he probably won't fully retire but I want to know he has the option). If we really couldn't manage then I guess I'd have no option but to keep pushing through at work and barely functioning with everything else! As an example I had some important papers to post and it took me 3 weeks to able to walk into the post office. I'd park outside but just couldn't go in - I can't even verbalise why and didn't admit it to anyone. Just far too much to juggle I guess, so if removing work wasn't an option, work would have to be the only thing I was carrying.

This thread is helping me realise that it’s just not me feeling like this.

looking back I think my mum suffered with anxiety due to peri as she changed full time job and then a good few years later moved to a part time role as full time was too much.

im going to give the gel a few more weeks and if no better go back to see the nurse. I have the 12th and 13th December off work so can use this to get an appt if needed.

I have Thursday Friday and Monday off so I’m hoping the long weekend will give me some space with the anxiety and time to switch off from the new job.

last night was not great in terms of sleep and palpitations.

has anyone gone on antidepressants as well to help calm the anxiety with HRT?

I'm on HRT but I am also taking fluoxetine and think it helps a bit

I have underlying anxiety so was already on Citalopram with my HRT. I have upped the Citalopram to maximum dose and still have to take at least 1 Propanalol (beta-blocker) per day to cope with my anxiety. I haven't noticed any adverse effects of being on HRT and anti depressants, I'll take anything to feel better! Good luck x

Thank you everyone for the honesty on this thread, it really does help.

I fear going off sick as I wonder how I'll ever go back, how will anything be different?

Mine is looking more like an underlying issue, possibly thyroid. HRT helped massively with the overwhelm, anxiety and lack of confidence I had previously so it's worth trying to get that right.

I'm sorry to hear you are struggling. It's good that we can support each other on here.
How is everyone doing? I'm still finding it hard not working but trying to enjoy not having the anxiety related to it xx

I'm starting to think my peri menopause is like some kind of shit advent calendar. Opening new symptoms on a weekly basis. This week it's my digestion 😖

I was listening to this excellent Huberman Lab podcast today which was saying a staggering 1 in 5 women in the UK have to quit work due to peri symptoms. I can really recommend a listen for practical science based advice on managing symptoms.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5vCeriupMVB6L5vVp0Lh2P?si=nNnNLuTpQNmstutG6y9ZMw

oh I hear this... is it my gall bladder exploding or did I put a patch too many on this week.

I'm so forgetful, and tired and stressed from the advent calendar of symptoms.

Oh, I know what you mean. It's the gift that keeps on giving 😢 One of my worst symptoms is my eyesight and very dry eyes. The day after my hysterectomy my vision deterioated x

I agree. Just when you think a symptom has gone, bam it’s back.

ive had 2 days off work and had a lovely day in London yesterday with my daughter as she had an inset day. By late evening though my anxiety was high again over all sorts. Today isn’t much better.

will give it this week and then if no better shall see about a dr appt as I really need to get the anxiety under control.

i do dream of winning the lottery and not needing to work though!

Still hideous here.

Had such a stressful week. CT scan for my cancer. Work is manic and to top it, I recently found out that the breast surgeon who did my
mastectomy 14 years ago and ( appalling) reconstruction, has been struck off!!! I made a claim against the hospital trust, who didn't back me one bit. This week, 14 years later the hospital apologised face to face and said " lessons will be learned" Will they fuck! 🙈☹️

Oh and my anxiety is crazy today! I hate menopause!

Did you speak to your employer about your issues? A lot of workplaces have strong menopause policies. At my office, we make reasonable adjustments in the same way we would for a disability. We wouldn't want anyone to feel they had to leave a job, though it is incredibly common during menopause.

Please get checked if there is anything else going on. Possibly autoimmune. Did it start slowly or was there a trigger?

I'm sorry to hear this. Anxiety is so debilitating :( I find yoga really helps me. I do 2 classes a week x

I did and without outing myself, I was offered another position that was even more stressful than the job I was in.
As I have complications of the gynae issues, I just felt I needed a complete break as I'm in constant pelvic pain 😢

I'm sorry to hear things are so tough. It Is so unfair.
I can't believe it has taken so long for an apology 😢