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[Kathleen]

Do any of you ladies recognise this? I seem to have a jittery, ill at ease feeling pretty much all the time these days. I wake up on edge and it only fades slightly as the day goes on plus my cheeks feel hot and tingly but don't appear any different, is this a new version of a hot flush do you think? I still have 'proper' flushes but they aren't as sweaty as they used to be. On top of this any stress, be it good or bad and I feel overwhelmed with anxiety. I'm taking 20mg of Beta Blocker when I need it and I'm on 20mg of Citalopram. I've been given HRT but haven't started it yet.
Any advice or thoughts would really be appreciated. Thank you.
K.

[grumpyandIknowit]

Yes I do - know the feeling exactly. I am going to see if Gotu Kola and Ash (doodah) work if not traipsing off to see the quack for a variety of reasons..........
I printed off the self help anxiety/relaxtion tips and am trying to see if they will work as well...............
In the words of Close Encounters (think it was that) we're not alone in this and the ruddy anxiety for me is the worst symptom as it seems to be for a lot of us "younger ladies"!
 

[suzykeens]

Morning, yes sounds exactly like I get some mornings - i dont know what the answer is but i have found that they do get better (less) over time, once I realised and accepted it was just part of menopause and tried to get on with my day with this feeling in a way playing in the background eventually they subsided. But for me and i believe many others the anxiety feelings appear to be one of the most upsetting part of menopause. Your not alone

[honeybun]

Yes me too. This has been the worst part of meno for me. I have not accepted it and get very frustrated that things I used to take for granted I just can't do any more.
This morning I had to take OH to the dentist. I wandered around the town before I could pluck up the courage to go into the supermarket. It's just daft but it seems to be out of my control.

I truly hope more than anything that this passes because the thought of going through the rest of my life avoiding things just does not appeal.

I want the old me back....the capable woman who could do most things with confidence. Where did she go.......when I think back to the things I have done over the years it seems as if I am thinking of a different person.

I have to hide so much as I am sure my hubby would think I had totally lost the plot.
Anxiety can be very lonely.


Sorry for the rant.....Just frustrated with myself today.


Honeyb
X

[Delilah]

Hi kathleen
Yes another one here who knows exactly how u feel. Its difficult to describe some of these symptoms we get isn't it? The uneasiness and anxiety are dreadful and not easy to convey to others. I'm taking hrt and ad's and am now feeling much better, dare i say in the last month anxiety and that uneasy feeling have gone. I've been having a pretty awful time for about 18 months. I feel that my hormones have suddenly calmed down alleviating these horrid symptoms. I dont know how long you've been suffering with all this but hang in there, the light does appear.  Hope this helps a little.

Take care delilah. X

[Kathleen]

Oh thank you so much ladies for the replies, reading them has made a huge difference to how I feel today. I agree that this can feel a lonely time in our lives I also think back to the person I used to be and wonder where she's gone.
I think the biggest change for me came in 2010 when my periods just stopped, never to return. Up to that time I'd been regular and quite heavy, and then in May nothing until September when I had a slight bleed and absolutely zero since. Seemed my hormonal levels just fell off a cliff!
I agree with the frustration side of things as well, part of me wants to fight these awful feelings and another part of me wants to accept that I'm older now and try and relax into it. Maybe we are suffering because our bodies are taking time to adjust to the new hormone levels and that we'll settle when we have 'forgotten' how things were.
I came across the phrase 'psychological distress during the menopausal transition' recently and I thought wow, that just about sums me up.
Once again ladies thank you for taking the time to reply, hopefully we'll all start to feel better soon.
K.

[CLKD]

Yep.  I still have to make sure I feel 'well' before I go shopping.  I still go shopping when there aren't many people around  but that gives me a sense of control.  I never allow the pantry/freezer to run low, because that backs me into a corner when I HAVE to go shopping.  I always make a list.  So that I can whizz round, leaving DH in the wine department  and he gets it in the ear if he isn't ready to go when I am 

Make sure that your body isn't hungry as low blood sugar can cause these dips in levels and make us feel AWFUL 

[Dyan]

Me too.
It's the worst memo symptom for me.
Recently taking Mirtazapine for it.
Horrible,horrible feeling

[Lucky Stone]

Like many "regulars" on here, I have had this and it is just the worst feeling. I do agree with honeybun that it just feels beyond your control, it just comes over you. I've been having some hypnotherapy/psychotherapy and that has helped as I think some of mine was "stuff" that I was carrying around from my past. At my last session, I pretty much ranted, it was a bit like a volcano going off (and there were some tears) but I felt a lot better afterwards. And ... this may not be for everyone, but I decided afterwards that I needed to show the world that there was a "new, confident" me coming out now (I've never had that much confidence although have hidden this quite well I think). So I've had a tattoo - in an obvious place, one that I and anyone I meet will be able to see every day. I already have a couple but they are in places which don't show - this one does. I discussed "rebellion" with my therapist and it made me realise that in the past, although I have rebelled, I've always been worried about upsetting people and that is pointless, isn't it?  So, this is about me saying, "d'you know what, I wanted this and I don't care what you think ...." -AND I've had it done just before an ultra conservative friend and her elderly mum come to stay for a few days. Would you believe that even my GP thought the whole thing wasn't a bad idea - I think she's just grateful not to be giving me ADs (believe me, I have come so close to asking for them in recent weeks). Anyway, it's worked and my confidence has shot up.  Hang in there everyone ...

[bramble]

Ditto for me too. Anxiety was way and above the worst symptom for me as well. Just could not function when it was at its worst. Lasted for about 6 months at it peak.  But it does gradually go. I'm still not back to 'normal' and doubt if I ever will be but I can manage the day to day stuff ok now. Can't see me going off abroad on my own again which I used to do but am grateful it has died down a lot. Onwards and upwards.
Bramble

[honeybun]

Lucky Stone.


You go girl.

What's the tattoo of and where.


Honeyb
X

[warwick01]

Me too, I know how you feel. The anxiety (jitters) has got worse over recent months, I wake early in the morning with a churning stomach for no reason. I always feel bad in the morning and the jitters improve around late afternoon.

The evenings, I almost feel 'normal' but I know I will wake the next day with that familiar feeling!

I am going on holiday to Cuba on Friday and I am so nervous. But I try to think positive as I could honestly never go out if I don't push myself.

Hopefully...... this doesn't last forever

W

[Kathleen]

Hello warwick 01. Like you I am plagued by daily jitters especially in the mornings. Oddly I recovered quickly today but have just been out and felt so anxious and hot that I've rushed home to try and calm down.
I admire you taking a trip at this time as the very thought of going on holiday makes me panic! My only hope is that these intense feelings turn out to be the end of the menopause, a bit like childbirth where the most painful part is the last push!
I also understand your reasons for trying to enjoy life. Some days I think I'll make the effort and on others I find the whole process too exhausting.
Every older lady I've spoken to tells me we do recover from this horrible  experience and they all seem pretty calm so here's hoping.
Wishing you well and dare I say it...Bon Voyage!
K.

[warwick01]

Kathleen

Thank you for the kind words. I too hope this is an indication that I'm almost at the end of this bloody hell of a journey.

I think over he last 4 years I have every 36 symptoms named. I am sat here now in dred of this 2 week holiday. I do hope all will be well and I get through this as I can't not let these symptoms control my life forever. As they have for 4 years since I turned 50.

HRT takes the edge off but as never really stopped all symptoms. I will take my netbook and you ladies hopefully be there for support, If I need it!!

Thanks again and never give up on life

[Lucky Stone]

I did a huge 6 weeks trip a couple of years ago and was really worried but found that after leaving home, I was absolutely fine for the whole time. Not one jitter at all. Sometimes I think that having to cope with our familiar places - where we might bump into someone we know - is worse than a strange place. Odd huh? Maybe it will be the same for your trip. Cuba will at least be interesting but we will all be here if you need a shoulder anytime.