Peri menopause and / or depression

[tropicalpancakes]

I am 46 and have all the symptoms of perimenopause and feel shit. Up and down bla bla... this has been going on for a number of years without ever being resolved. My doctor gave me Fenoston last year which I tried for 6 months or so. Not much help really so I stopped. Doctor said to leave it a few months to get back to normal post medication levels and then they would blood test. Anyway, had test for oestrogen levels and doctor said they are ok despite me having so many symptoms and my age. In addition I have felt crap for a number of years due to awful family feud (not immediate) so doctor has given me anti depressants and not HRT. I'm also waiting for counselling. How on earth do I know whether I should be taking HRT or antidepressants? Can anyone help? I feel awful but can go for periods where I feel fine but wake up the next day and feel rubbish again. Has anyone else been through this? I take extra time to take care of my health and nutrition but it's just not cutting it.

I'm also waiting for counselling. How on earth do I know whether I should be taking HRT or antidepressants? Can anyone help?

Your dr ought to know!

The NICE menopause guidelines are crystal clear on this. Unless you have existing depression OR are recently diagnosed properly with depression , drs have been told NOT to give HRT to women in perimenopause, but to offer HRT.

An 'awful family feud' is not a reason to take medication or diagnose you as having depression, no matter how distressing it may be; everyone has things like this in their lives or similar, but learning to cope if necessary with counselling is the route along with HRT for your peri symptoms.

See this video by a menopause GP

www.menopausedoctor.co.uk/menopause/anti-depressants-and-the-menopause

Go back and ask for HRT and maybe try other types- Femoston is a good one to start with as the progestogen in it is less likely to cause low mood.

www.menopausedoctor.co.uk/menopause/women-need-hrt-not-antidepressants

www.menopausedoctor.co.uk/menopause/blood-tests-and-the-menopause

sadly you have just got another GP who knows bugger all about menopause.