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[karenja]

  Hi can anybody help, I tried herbal remedies but they didn't help anxiety, then tried hrt I could not get on with this (Elleste Duet), tried Citalopram, had to come off after four days felt awful I know you are meant to get worst before better but the anxiety has been awful and you cant take anything herbal alongside to calm you down now even bach's rescue remedy, so Ive come off, got to leave it 48 hours to get out of my system. do I now go back to herbal remedies? if so can anybody recommend any, my main symptoms are night sweats, flushes and terrible panic attacks, palpatations, chest pain, any help would be greatly appreciated right now!

[Mrs January]

Karenja

So sorry you are having a hard time......I felt worse on Citralopam to begin with too but stuck with it and now great.

Perhaps look at diet maybe too. I am told curries and hot food aggravate hot flushes, I stopped all caffeine to reduce the anxiety too.

Hope someone comes along to give more advice

Hugs Mrs J xxx

[karenja]

thanks Mrs J xx

[Dyan]

Hi karenja,
I can't recommend any herbal remedies,I'm afraid.
I use  for the estrogen sandrena gel and have mirena coil fitted,for progesterone part and I take an antidepressant for depression & anxiety and one for my OCD.
It took a while for me to get on the right hrt. I tried pills & patches but didn't get on with them.
With hrt you have to give it at least 3 months to work properly and with ADs it can take weeks for them to start working.
You know that the ADs make you worse before you get better and that's when people tend to give up on them but I have been taking them long enough to say,"persevere,if you can" it will be worth it.
Your GP could recommended an anti- anxiety pill or beta blockers to help with the panic attacks initially while the AD gets into your system.
I had terrible panic attacks years ago after  my second child was born and was prescribed an AD and also a beta blocker.
Once the AD had got into my system I no longer needed the beta blockers.
It might be that you could try another form of HRT to find the right one for you as well as something for the panic attacks.
I'm afraid there is no quick fix,as much as we would like there to be.
Believe me there have been times when I just wished I could take one pill or wave a magic wand and it would all be better.
Hope this is of some help to you Karenja?
Hopefully someone will be along to offer you some more advise especially on herbal remedies.
Love Dyan X

[Linsey44]

Hi karenja

I used to sage sage complex during peri meno. Also 400iu of vit e morning and night to help with flushes.
Also magnolia rhodiolia is also good for anxiety.

I get most of my supplements from victoria health.

Good luck

[thorntrees]

Hi Karenja.
Can't comment on hrt but agree with others that you do need to give ADs time to get into the system and you can certainly feel worse to begin with but they do help eventually with flushes and anxiety. They are not a magic bullet but nothing seems to be perfect and just to feel a bit better is a blessing.

[CLKD]

I was unable to tolerate any of the AD side-effects for many of the types, however, eventually I did find one that works and doesn't cause the awful nausea.  The muggy head I can on the whole, tolerate. 

A short course of Ativan, Valium can help ….. but GPs are reluctant as both are addictive.  I take an emergency tablet (name escapes me) for when anxiety cripples me.  Have a chat with your GP again there are options there.

Have you tried a Beta-blocka for anxiety, that has helped me for years!

Herbal - not on the NHS so ………. 

Rescue Remedy helps too ………. pastilles or mouth spray.

[Hurdity]

Hi karenja

Just to agree with Dyan re HRT - you need to give it 3 months and Elleste Duet may not agree with you.

HRT is the best way to deal with the myriad of menopausal symptoms you describe - and I assume you are peri from what you describe, and didn't suffer these symptoms before becoming peri?

Do read up on the different types or ask us, and then go along to your doc and ask for a different one.

Can you cope in the meantime? There is a site someone on here recommended a while back - no more panic - which will give non drug methods of calming down until you can find an HRT that works. ADs are not recommended as the first line of treatment for menopause if there is no medical reason why you cannot have HRT. If you choose the right HRT it is not a drug - just replacing missing hormones!

http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/


Hope this helps

Hurdity x

[karenja]

Thank you for all your replies- I know that the citalopram takes a while to kick in and you do get worst before you get better but I really can't tolerate the anxiety which is worst. I can't take beta blocks as I have asthma unfortunately, I took all the white elleste pills but could not tolerated the green pills I only managed to take four then straight onto the citalopram
Also only taking four, I did have a bleed yesterday first time in seven months, i assume this is normal and as a result of coming off hrt?, ive read a lot about Femron I think that's whàt it's called where the progesterone is milder but the doctor wants me off hrt for a bit as I had terrible chest pains on the green elleste duet, the gp thinks unrelated. I may as about Femron though if hrt is best route for me as I admit last three days on the white elleste duet tablets I was starting to feel ok, just need something to help the anxiety for now which is awful x

[Hurdity]

Hi karenja

yes the bleed is normal.  I think I mentioned that the oestrogen builds up your womb linging and then the progesterone changes it. When the progesterone levels fall this triggers a bleed. As you only took the green tabs for 4 days it may not have been sufficient (progestogen) to allow all the lining ot be shed, although as you hadn't had a period for 7 months your lining may well have been thin anyway.

The other tablet HRT - is Femoston (look at menu on the left here http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/perimeno.php) and contains a progestogen called Dydrogesterone which many women tolerate better than norethisterone in the Elleste, because it is closer to our own progesterone.

I don't know why the doc should say stop HRT for a while - the chest pains should be investigated anyway. Some women do react to progesotgens - especially the synthetic ones but Femoston should be eaiser. There are other modse of delivery of HRT such as patches or gel, together with micronised progesterone ( the same compound as human progesterone) - sold as utrogestan, which would not cause these side effects.

If the GP thinks it is unrelated I urge you to go back and make sure the chest pains are properly investigated, and meanwhile ask to start a low dose Femoston 1/10. The extra oestrogen should help immensely at this time and is given at a constant dose so no fluctuations ( apart form whatever might still be going on in your body)

Hope this helps

Hurdity x

[karenja]

Hi hurdity u called nhs direct when I had the chest pains and they sent paramedics who did ECG so don't think cardiac maybe anxiety, I will go back to go but feel they are getting fed up with me to be honest

[CLKD]

Chest pain can be hormonal, diet related, caused by exercise ………. laying incorrectly, bending awkwardly, sitting for too long at the computer 

Ask your GP for a short course of Valium to see if it helps.

[karenja]

Ok thank you

[Hurdity]

Hi karenja

You will need to develop a thick skin re worrying about what the medical profession think of you! You are menopausal, it is your body, and you have symptoms which need treating - and it may take a while to find the right product for you. They are there to help us to better health if possible!  make sure you are are certain about what you want from them and why and if necessary take someone with you as an advocate. Good luck!

Hurdity x

[dulciana]

Karenja,
In addition to everyone's great advice here - is there anything that you really enjoy doing - something that makes you forget about time and cares, and has a real feel-good factor?  I find that when I'm completely absorbed in what makes the world go round for me, it gives me a lift if I've been feeling down.   Even if I have to force myself to do it, sometimes.
Hope you feel better soon.