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[Annie0710]

I think I am suffering from anxiety, social anxiety to be more precise

Pre meno I was always so sociable, Ive always lacked confidence but I happily chatted away to people but since meno I've lost my nerve.  I feel ill at the thought of a meal out, shopping, even just meeting up, I have become so solitary. 

For members that have encountered 'menopause induced anxiety' what worked for you ?

i get resentful when at docs continually being offered ADs, and that's without telling them about the anxious feelings I get, I want to replace whatever has brought this on rather than take something to mask it (absolutely no disrespect to members on ADs) they gave me fluoxetine a few years ago for IBS and I didn't like the feeling in them, it was like they stripped me of my personality

I booked an appointment for next week with a hypnotherapist (I think) as I've never discussed my problem with anyone, ever, so thought that might help

I'm forcing myself to be sociable when necessary but feel so helpless when the light headed feeling starts with the palps, I think my double vision doesn't help, if I look around it kind of brings on a vertigo feeling, so hard to explain, a couple of times lately being out in company I've felt like I was falling off my chair, it's like my senses vanish momentarily

Anyway I'm waffling....... Did a specific hrt regime help with anyone's anxiety ?

Annie x

[Taz2]

Hi Annie - I know how you are feeling but I'm afraid that HRT did nothing for me re this type of anxiety. Citalopram is the anti depressant of choice to combat this type of anxiety disorder but you may also need HRT for meno symptoms?

Your symptoms are typical of a type of agoraphobia which can develop when someone is anxious. I know that it is thought that agoraphobia means you have a "fear of open spaces" but this isn't so. It means different things to different people but it can encompass fear of going out, fear of being in a situation (such as a meal out) when you can't make your excuses and leave immediately etc. Hypnotherapy may help you so well done on giving it a go. I'm learning that the longer you leave it the more difficult it becomes to begin to beat it and the smaller your world is. I haven't tried the Citalopram yet but think that I may have to soon!!
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Agoraphobia/Pages/Introduction.aspx

What anti depressant were you offered?

Taz x 

[dulciana]

Sorry to hear you're having a bad time with meno anxiety, Annie0710.   I know the feeling.   My GP has just told me about a local NHS anxiety-help group, which I'm going to try.  Maybe there's one near you?   I also have a little lavender bag which I hold to my nose - bit like smelling salts! - and this helps too. 

[Annie0710]

Thanks Taz

I don't know what she was offering, I stopped her mid sentence , she called me back for a testosterone test then when I turned up she said she'd had a meeting and GPs advised waiting til sept for the blood test.  My eyes welled up in disappointment but whilst there I took along my Blue Horizon full thyroid syringe thingy and asked her to take the blood, she asked why so I said I have the double vision that no one is giving me reasons for , hair loss, and the 100s of other symptoms and I want to rule it out, she said my thyroid a fine, I explained they just skim the basics and then she started on I overthink everything.  I get so frustrated, back before all this in my healthy days I would've said that too but we shouldn't expect reactions like that from a professional, these are real symptoms we get and all we want is the cause and appropriate treatment

Each time something crops up I give myself a harsh talking to "what are you scared of?" "No one ever died from a silly anxiety attack"

My fiancé I don't think has any idea bless him but is so understanding when I say I have to sit down because I feel faint etc.  Meals out are a nightmare , I get palpitations after I've eaten and the horrible effects of those, at home I can lie down after a meal. 

I went out last night for a friends birthday and after a couple of drinks the old me comes back, smiley, chatty and enjoying people

Annie x

[CLKD]

Ask your GP to refer you to the appropriate Consultant regarding thyroid function because although blood tests can be 'within normal limits', borderline results can cause continuation of symptoms.

It doesn't matter what causes the anxiety it's dealing with it that can be difficult.  My phobia causes mine: sudden nausea, weak thighs, weak calves, light headed feelings and that's me: in full blown grounding anxiety  .  I have taken a beta-blocka for years and have an emergency tablet to swallow as necessary. 

You waffle away, clears the head a bit!

Anything out of our normal routines can cause anxiety which we perhaps don't deal with the same? I think when I was taking exams., getting a job etc. it was in the run of Life at that time, it's when I had a gap; established a routine then had to step out of it!

I no longer go to the theatre but do manage most weeks to go shopping etc., things I was unable to do in the 1990s.  Responsibility was a causation too.  I find that anything particularly important causes anxiety weeks before, then I stop eating properly …….. = anxiety surges  .   I always have an escape route and tend to people watch if I have to be 'in company' rather than taking part ;-).

What blood test do they want to take in Sept., I'm a bit lost on this one?  Blood tests for hormone levels are notoriously un-reliable  .  As for an AD for IBS, beggars belief it really does  .

Are you paying for the hynotherapist?  What do you expect to learn?  Relaxation therapy helped me for a while but I needed to practice and didn't …….. 

[dazned]

Hrt did nothing for my anxiety,palpitations etc and I was such a gregarious person before this all started,had a good job in charge of a team etc. I had to take an AD alongside hrt before an improvement in the mental department .

[babyjane]

nothing wrong with resorting to whatever helps.  I resisted a low dose antidepressant for some years, wish I'd had one sooner, what a lot of time and life I wasted 

[Annie0710]

Ask your GP to refer you to the appropriate Consultant regarding thyroid function because although blood tests can be 'within normal limits', borderline results can cause continuation of symptoms.

It doesn't matter what causes the anxiety it's dealing with it that can be difficult.  My phobia causes mine: sudden nausea, weak thighs, weak calves, light headed feelings and that's me: in full blown grounding anxiety  .  I have taken a beta-blocka for years and have an emergency tablet to swallow as necessary. 

You waffle away, clears the head a bit!

Anything out of our normal routines can cause anxiety which we perhaps don't deal with the same? I think when I was taking exams., getting a job etc. it was in the run of Life at that time, it's when I had a gap; established a routine then had to step out of it!

I no longer go to the theatre but do manage most weeks to go shopping etc., things I was unable to do in the 1990s.  Responsibility was a causation too.  I find that anything particularly important causes anxiety weeks before, then I stop eating properly …….. = anxiety surges  .   I always have an escape route and tend to people watch if I have to be 'in company' rather than taking part ;-).

What blood test do they want to take in Sept., I'm a bit lost on this one?  Blood tests for hormone levels are notoriously un-reliable  .  As for an AD for IBS, beggars belief it really does  .

Are you paying for the hynotherapist?  What do you expect to learn?  Relaxation therapy helped me for a while but I needed to practice and didn't …….. 

The well woman nurse back in June brought up the subject of Testosterone, she was amazed I've never been checked, especially because I had a hysterectomy at 32.  I've been on oestrogen hrt since that age (kept ovaries but they started playing up) so she asked me back in July for the blood test then on the day tells me gps told her I had to wait until sept for it

She did the blood test for me to send off for thyroid, it all came back ok, but I need to see if the antibody one was for Graves.  You might remember I had the iffy Myasthenia query from Neuro, I haven't developed any specific weaknesses or enough to pinpoint Myasthenia so am in limbo regarding the double vision and nocturnal lagopthalmos

I've never suffered anxiety before, although recent episodes are kind of reminding me of feelings I had during puberty at school so I think it's safe to say that hormones are the culprit

Annie x

[CLKD]

I would be ringing to find out why you have to wait!!!!  Our Prescribing Nurses take blood then the result goes to the GP.  Have a word with the Nurse and ask why …….. it is a long while until Sept. when one is feeling ruff!!!! point out that you are in despair, lay it on a bit thick ……… is this down to money issues or is she over-ridden by the GPs for a reason?

Let us know how you get on.

[Annie0710]

I went shopping with OH earlier, admittedly not in our town but I got round the shop and stood queuing without anything happening, I feel liberated for that and grateful

So are ADs the treatment for anxiety ?

I don't understand any of it, I travel to a big city for my dental appointments, I go to dr's alone and my eye clinic appointments but sit me chatting to someone or in a shop or restaurant and I'm light headed

Annie X

[dazned]

Testosterone tests for women are very vague and not at all reliable as the labs parameters are for men,they dont go down low enough for women as I understand it. 

[CLKD]

It may be excitement? Or the feeling of being trapped?  I don't recognise adrenaline due to pleasure or fight/flight response.  Gets me into all sorts of anxiety feelings.  I have a friend who I don't visit because she will keep talking even when I say that I have to go now …….. it's 'I need to tell you this' or 'Did I tell you about ….. ' …….. so I stopped visiting her or being on the phone with her, we communicate by e-mail.

Does it help having OH to hand?  I prefer to either be alone or have Himself around when shopping so that he can take over if necessary.  I also have to go shopping at the 'right' time of day …….. i.e. I have to have eaten properly B4 we go out.  I also have to know that there is a cafe close by and have a snack B4 my body gets hungry.

It's about managing my anxiety.  In recent years it has been found that certain ADs do help anxiety symptoms, as a good side-effect ……. many medications are prescribed either on or off Licence for conditions that they were not originally developed for.  Some ladies find that ADs can ease anxiety.  I rely on my emergency med., knowing that it works is really helpful to me.

[Annie0710]

I would be ringing to find out why you have to wait!!!!  Our Prescribing Nurses take blood then the result goes to the GP.  Have a word with the Nurse and ask why …….. it is a long while until Sept. when one is feeling ruff!!!! point out that you are in despair, lay it on a bit thick ……… is this down to money issues or is she over-ridden by the GPs for a reason?

Let us know how you get on.

I didn't explain that properly sorry

Ok, I started taking utrogestan off my own back since January , my way of thinking is:  hrt since 1999, right as dandy.  2012 get poorly, bloods show peri and nothing they can do so plod on, join here 2015 so try Estradot, like the patch but no difference in symptoms, meddle with dosages, no change, so, I think the only other 2 hormones are progesterone and testosterone both of which ive been refused at the surgery. So I was too scared to dabble with testosterone so tried progesterone , I think I felt better on it but when I saw her in June she insisted I stop it and said I had to wait one month for it out of my system for T test, then when I went back she said dr's said I need 3 months clear before the test

Annie x

[CLKD]

AAAhhh ………. you still have your uterus, if not I don't think that you will need progesterone 

[Kathleen]

Hello Annie0710.

I can relate to a lot of what you say regarding meno anxiety. My trusty meno book talks about loss of self confidence and how situations that  we used to deal with easily can now leave us in total disarray. Although I could be anxious about social occasions the feelings that come with the meno are in a different class so definitely hormone related in my view.

Just wanted to send hugs and please keep us updated.

Take care.

K.