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[sn00py]

I have been having bad perimenopause symptoms for over 3 1/2 years - mainly anxiety, depression, insomnia. I was on Mirtazapine and as i thought i was getting better i weaned myself off of it over 2 years. I tried BHRT but had bad reaction to it. And suddenly spring of this year i started to get anxiety and insomnia again and this time around my depression is really bad. Finally went to my doctor again and she raised the Mirtazapine dosage and along with it put me on Promethazine for anxiety and insomnia. It has been only 11 days since i started this combo and I am waiting for full relief. Some days are better than others but i feel like I am tightly wound up all the time. Mornings are especially hard for me with anxiety and dread. The depression is worse than before. Looking back, i see that the symptoms got worse about 6 months before periods stopped. I haven't had a period in 6 months now. Also over the summer for the first time i had hot flushes with very light sweating and night sweats. It is better now may be because of the cooler weather and the Mirtazapine.
Is it possible that the emotional peri symptoms get worse before periods stop completely? Anyone has had similar experience?

[CLKD]

This was me even before menopause symptoms.  I would be very depressed, take medication, feel well, stop medication .......  I have organic depression which means that I have to take ADs for Life.

I also have a beta-blocka every day as well as an emergency anti-anxiety drug to swallow when anxiety floors me.  So the two illnesses are dealt with by taking appropriate medication.  It took me 8-9 months B4 I actually felt "I feel better today" - it was quite a shock at the time (2000).

11 days is too early to look for 'full' relief.  But if you are getting some better days then it means that the medication is beginning to ease symptoms.  This could be hormonal led or it may be that you require anti-depressive medication and possibly some form of HRT along side.  it really can be Trial and Error.

Do you keep a mood/food/symptom diary? 

[peri]

To answer your question Snoopy I do think symptoms are worse in peri, precisely because hormones are so up and down.  I feel happily settled now I'm post meno but then I have found regime that really works for me, but I well remember the awfulness of peri and do sympathise x

[Nasil41]

Hi snoopy
I'm hoping that this is true so I know what to blame for what I'm going through
I've had anxiety in the past with out the depression controlled by citilopram and it never stopped me doing anything I even went back to uni at the age of 40
Mine came back with a bang just over 2 years ago. Anxiety depression insomnia and this time the citilopram did nothing I was at docs every week in the end I had to give my job up
I take mirtazapine now alongside venlafaxine and was sort of functioning until last month when I started to feel the symptoms come back. I was still having regular periods but a lot heavier, I missed my last one but this months is on its way
I didn't know there was a connection with anxiety and menopause I don't even know if it is that thats making me worse
A hundred years ago I think I would of been put in an asylum 

[CLKD]

Probably true, my Gran went into the local 'bin' with what was probably post natal depression 

Have you considered upping the dose of your anti-depressant?  My GP is happy for me to self medicate as necessary in order to control the depression.

Some ladies find that HRT alongside appropriate ADs is useful.  It really can be Trial and Error 

[sn00py]

Thank you all for your input.

I do keep a journal but not so much related to food. The things i notice with food are, when my blood sugar goes low, which seems to be often nowadays, my anxiety creeps up. So i try to eat something even if i don't feel hungry. Also, if i eat after 7:30 in the evening or have had a big lunch like in a restaurant, i can forget sleep that night. Never used to be like this before Peri. I ate whatever i wanted whenever i wanted and went to bed whenever and still had good sleep. If i didn't, i could take a nap during the day, which is now impossible with anxiety going on almost all the time.

With mood, whenever i am interestingly engaged with something, my anxiety lessens or totally disappears. I work as a teacher and often have to drag myself to work. But once i am with the students and teaching, the anxiety leaves. The minute i am alone, it creeps up again. And i am often alone at home. My interaction with people right now is very platonic, including my husband. He is very understanding and loving and wants to support me. And i feel guilty all the more for just sitting there like a lump of clay with no emotions, except anxiety and depression. My personality has changed a lot, for the worst.

During the day suddenly i will feel so groggy and sleepy out of the blue and after some time it clears up. Anxiety is worst in the mornings when i wake up. I so wish for the nights when i can sleep through without waking up.

I really pray, hope and wish all this pain will end some time. My body doesn't adjust to HRT very well. So i am going to stick to Mirtazapine and Promethazine until i need them. CLKD, you're right. 11 days is too early for full relief. So i just have to wait it out.

[CLKD]

snOOpy - you sound a bit like me.  Maybe try eating every 3 hours which is what NAPS recommended when I had sudden, nausea because my body was hungry: now I try to eat B4 it maybe necessary, tuff if that doesn't fit in with others' meal times.  I've been known to take my own food stuffs so that I can eat when I need to.  Low blood sugar in this case is known to cause anxiety surges.  Himself will often ask 'when did you last eat?' when I complain of nausea or not feeling well   

I find that if I interact with others my mood can brighten, might it be an adrenaline surge?  Happy hormones?    Also, if you haven't eaten enough to fuel your body after teaching, mood and body can take a huge dip.  I used to feel SO sick!

If you were diabetic you would take appropriate medication for Life.  Why not take what eases your symptoms for as long as you require them, which may be for a long while?  Stop thinking short term and you may find that you suddenly feel 'better'.  My meds haven't been a cure but they do enable me ;-).

I had to accept that without the above I would never get out of bed.  Keep posting!  This too will pass.

[sn00py]

Yes CLKD. The first time i took ADs when peri started, i was in a hurry to come off of it and weaned myself off after 6 months when i started feeling a bit better. But this time, i have decided to stick with it. Eating every 3 hours is going to be hard but i will do anything to avoid this horrible anxiety. I wonder if my morning anxiety is because of going without food for so long in the night. Some nights when i suddenly wake up at 1:00 A.M. i will quickly eat a banana and then i can fall asleep. It is a big lifestyle change, but if it helps, i will do it.
I wish i could be a bit more happy for my husband. I was a smiley person most of the time and i don't like myself right now. But I am positive that my smile will come back again. I go through life like a robot doing the routines. It also helps to keep me sane.

[CLKD]

I found keeping a note of what I achieved each day gave me confidence that I wasn't actually sitting all day, doing nowt!  Also, from feeling really ill each morning, my feelings in the day improved as I shed each committment.

It's The Change.  Which we simply aren't ready for! 

My food pack consists of:

bananas
dried fruits and nuts
ginger biscuits
dry crackers
Dextrose tablets
Fruit cake
Custard - from a packet with hot water; soothing
Pancakes - mix can be kept in the fridge a couple of days and made immediately the body is hungry
Energy bars

I have a varied mix of the above in my handbag, car boot, camper van, walking haver-sack thingy, suit-case - and I never share with anyone, it's my emergency ration ;-).  Biscuits by the bed is important if we wake to go across the landing/back. 

[CLKD]

I find that having a biscuit beside the bed and not laying down too soon can keep reflux symptoms away.  Otherwise, I have to reach for the Rennies: 2/3 chewed helps ......... dry or ginger biscuits help.

[Roseneath]

Thesea are wonderful tips ladies. I am going to try the 'little and often' eating route today. I usually don't have any breakfast until 10:00am at least as we run a B & B so maybe that is why I feel so crummy in the morning....would make sense. Will report back.xx

[CLKD]

Eat Girl Eat!  Don't want you fainting over the breakfast table, not good for trade  . 

[sn00py]

Thank you CLKD for the food tips. I need to be more pro active about this. Last night my sleep was not so good. Struggled to fall asleep and then i was awake at 3:00 A.M. Sleep was poor after that. Which results in a crummy day for me. Having more depression, hopeless, gloom and doom feeling today. Scared of everything. Still went to work and functioned. As the day wore on, felt very down. Hope i can sleep well tonight.
I went for a workout yesterday from 5 to 5:45 P.M. After that it took a long time for my heart to settle down. I wonder if that sabotaged my sleep. I went for the workout after a long time.

[CLKD]

I went for a 40 mins walk last week and felt SO ill after.  I haven't walked for months [note to self!]

My anxiety certainly improves as I shed my daily commitments.

[sn00py]

I'm thinking of changing my work out time to a bit earlier in the day. I go to a sport center to do that. And yesterday the trainer grilled us all and we were all worn out and gasping in the end. I felt like throwing up after that. It was too much for my system i think.
After dinner i feel better now. So i think my blood sugar level is going crazy.