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[Dee46]

Right got an appointment this afternoon with an older female doctor, told her everything which she made notes of, she explained how our hormones fluctuate & that as I have just come off the mini pill I need the blood test to be as good as possible with no added hormones, she said that I should stay on the AD because of the year I had last year & we discuss me reducing down to 20mg of citalopram from tomorrow as I am still having palpitations, lightheaded, shaky legs & generally feel unwell, just a bit worried about any side effects in the reduction.......she also wants me to have an ECG to check my heart as she said I should be getting the benefits of the AD by now.

All I get from them is I need to work out what causes my anxiety...well if is there when I am chilling out then I am not sure!!

So back in a month for blood test & then she will talk about going on hrt if she thinks that is the problem.

Where are the menopause clinics? there are practice nurses but I am sure she will say the same thing

[babyjane]

Hi Dee46, I am truly appalled at your doctors practice.  they are telling blatant lies.  I have not used HRT but I have learned enough from reading threads on the excellent site to know that it should be prescribed if symptoms point to it being needed and 46 is definitely not too young.  You have been badly let down in my opinion.

As for 'all this chit chat' well there are many GPs who point patients to this very website and recognise its value.  Dr Currie who runs it is an established doctor in her own right, it is not just a bunch of loopy women having a good old gossip (well maybe sometimes it goes that way  )

[dangermouse]

By your description, it's clear the cause is physical adrenal rushes caused by hormones suddenly plummeting - if they need a technical explanation. Goodness me, why are they so convinced it's psychological??!! They are not psychologically trained. (I'm a psychotherapist so just tell them you've consulted a therapist who has said its physical).

Chit-chat indeed. Perhaps they should stop chit-chatting and actually read the NICE guidelines re. HRT for women over 45. Feeling your frustration.

[CLKD]

At least you have spoken to a GP with some sense!  Are you able to keep seeing her? 

There are many reasons for anxiety surges.  Can be hormonal.  Fear.  Shock.  Hot weather  .  Do you keep a food/mood diary?  I chart my anxiety on a 1-5 basis when I feel ill; 1 being aware, 5 is reaching for the emergency pill.  I also try to eat B4 my body is hungry.

[Keepgoing]

The menopause clinics will be based elsewhere like a local hospital...family planning clinic, std clinic, they are usually all in the same place. I don't know if you can get an appointment yourself like you can with family planning. You could phone your doctors and ask receptionist where yours is based and give them a call see if you can make an appointment without docs referral xx

[Annidav]

Dee46 I too am horrified by the way you have been treated! And "chit chat"?!?!? Everyone on here has gone through/is going through this hellish time of life! How patronising! I have been on AD's for quite some time - various types - together with propranolol on an as and when required basis. I am now also on HRT but am decreasing AD's from today under Doc's guidance. I hope you manage to get some help.

[Noodle]

Just wanted to add, my doctor thought it was great that I come on .

[Dorothy]

Dee46, congratulations on not punching someone at your GP surgery!  They are INFURIATING!  I really don't understand this insistence on ADs as the 'magic cure' for menopause!!!

Oh, and it might be worth pointing out to them that MY GP (who would have been happy to prescribe HRT for me aged 41, but recommended the birth control pill instead) actually recommends Menopause Matters forum to her patients!

[Dee46]

Woke up at 2.30am & kept mulling over in my head if I should reduce my AD yet or continue on this dose for the full 6 months?

Can anyone suggest a good hrt that will combat this anxiety?

What I really mean is will this anxiety go away on hrt?

Getting very exhausted & had a really bad day emotionally yesterday, just want to not feel scared like I do with this anxiety

[Keepgoing]

Hi Dee I would stay on AD until you get something sorted hrt wise and are happy and settled on regime, then think about coming of Ad gradually. Some of us tho do need AD and hrt but we are all different and until you get hrt and get settled you won't know how it works for you. Good luck and keep on at them till you get something xx

[babyjane]

I really don't understand this insistence on ADs as the 'magic cure' for menopause!!!

I wonder if it has anything to do with generic ADs being cheaper than HRT.  I know for a fact that generic citalopram costs £1.46 for 28 tablets 

[walking the dog]

Shocking the way they have gone about your treatment,or lack of it, Dee46. My fab GP told me about this website and that id get support from it, which I have, and the menopause specialist mentioned it to me also!Go back do some research and insist on hrt

[Dee46]

I have decided to keep on my original dose of 30mg until I get something else sorted
 
The doctor was still question if it was really depression & not peri due to the stress I was under with my relationship, I was actually questioning myself then was all this bought on from stress of my future & was I depressed & anxious as I was very low last summer crying on & off with fuzzy heads not knowing what was going on so part of me thinks it could be that although I am of peri age!!!

[CLKD]

Does it really matter  ……….. some ADs can ease anxiety symptoms which allows the sufferer to see the wood for the trees and able to make informed choices, that is, if the GP is informed.

Treat the symptoms?  Add to that hormonal upheaval for any reason needs to be taken as a separate issue.  After all, a diabetic would get separate treatment from other conditions! 

Keeping a mood/food diary will help.  Browse round, make notes!  OK so your marriage is unsteady, probably due to hormonal upheaval?  Have you printed off 'advice for husbands' from the Forum? to hand over, it may be a good explanation.

Do you take the whole AD amount in one swallow?

[Dee46]

Doctors seem to think the anxiety is linked to my personal life....although I was stressed out the hormones have added to this whole cycle I am in, they don't really say much except the anxiety should go away on these tablets.

Marriage is good at the moment but hubby cannot understand why I was getting so emotional, did not understand why I could end up getting anxiety & depression, me neither everyone has low moods but I have never been this low.

Yes I have to take 20mg + 10mg tablet to = 30mg, take this around 9am after my breakfast & then get some anxiety kicking in that is after the morning anxiety I have already had, seems to linger all day !!!