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[Angel1964]

Hi post menopausal and anxiety has escalated to the point I cannot work, go the shops or socialise. I have started Femseven Conti hrt patches on 4th patch now.  Firstly how many of you suffer with anxiety at post? Secondly how long do hrt patches start to work? I am at the end of my tether now. Thank you xx

[Toodle Pips]

Hi Angel, sadly I can't answer your question as I am not post menopausal. Hopefully someone will be along soon who can help though.

[Taz2]

Hi Angel1964.

Lots of us suffer on here with post meno anxiety so you are not alone. I've been on HRT since the age of 53  (I'm 64 now) and although it's been brilliant in getting rid of hot sweats and vaginal dryness, in my case, it hasn't helped with anxiety. Quite often anti depressants are taken in conjunction with HRT if anxiety is a big problem. What other symptoms do you have? I know how crippling anxiety can be.

Taz xx

[Angel1964]

Hi Taz.  Hot sweats are better but they were really before the HRT patches.  I sleep ok now and don't get anxiety through the night. I am very thin and can feel heartbeat alot. Been checked out thoroughly with bloods/ECG and all fine. GP has suggested going on Citalopram 10mg but I have a big phobia of tablets after having anaphylactic shock years ago. I also read the side effects which didn't do me no good either.  So GP has said stay on the Femseven Conti patches and give it at least 3 months for them to kick in.  I had the same symptoms at peri menopause and patches (can't remember name of them ones) worked for the anxiety.  Xx

[CLKD]

Have a chat with a pharmacist in your area to see how long it might take for this particular regime to work and if it needs more to begin to ease symptoms.  Then:

Get some anti-anxiety medication, take for 6-8 months and then decide if the combination is helping you.  Some ladies can cope with HRT alone but others have to take other meds. to ease symptoms.  Regardless of causation, anxiety and depression can be fatal.

I think that without already being on appropriate medications I would have suffered a lot more when entering The Change.

[Lanzalover]

Hi Angel1964

I had never suffered from anxiety until I was post meno and rember feeling like you do now.

HRT very quickly sorted out the hot flushes and night sweats but the anxiety was more stubborn and I think in part that was down to continuous progesterone so I changed to taking it cyclically and feel much better. In fact I have just been trying to rember when I last felt anxious and I honestly cann't remember.

I would continue with the patches for a couple of months more but if you don't feel any better then if you don't mind having a withdrawal bleed I would try switching to taking it cyclically,

Hope you start to feel better soon.

Lanzalover x

[Angel1964]

Thank you yesterday I was great and thought great the hrt is working. This morning horrible anxiety and jittery all day so far   I'm waiting for CBT therapy but there is a 5 month wait and I really want to get back to a "normal" life of even being able to go the shops by myself. I will try for another 2 months and if no good will do as you suggest. Thank you again x

[Kathleen]

Hello Angel 1964 and welcome to the forum.

I completely understand your situation and as a fellow sufferer you have my sympathy. Anxiety and mood changes have been the most problematic symptom for me.

I have recently begun using HRT that also includes continuous progesterone and I will certainly be following Lanzalovers advice about considering a cyclical regime if no improvement after three months. I just have to persuade my consultant to let me try it!

Sorry I can't be of more help to you but I wish you well and keep posting.

K.

[Lanzalover]

Good evening Angel1964

Oh you poor thing I really feel for you.
Hope tomorrow is a better day.

Take care

Lanzalover x

[jillydoll]

Hi Angel1964.

I too suffer post meno anxiety, and I tried femseven patches, but looking back now,
which was last year, or longer , can't remember, they didn't do much for me, my anxiety stayed
through the roof the whole time I was on them, which I admit, wasn't for long, maybe around 4/5
weeks, so I went and asked for femoston cont pills instead. Which the doctor gave me, and I've never looked back, these really helped and still do, although I've had to up the dose, for low mood ect.
The patches also gave me terrible migraines. I didn't want a bleed, so I chose to stay on the conti.

Hope you start to feel better soon. I really feel what your going through..
Take care,

Jd x

[Miabella]

Hi Angel 1964,

I am yet another post menopausal anxiety sufferer. I was already on a low dose of Citalopram when my anxiety got bad, so the GP said we should try increasing the dose of that first. I'm 6 weeks into the higher dose and only this last week have I had any improvement in my anxiety, though whether that is because of the Citalopram or i'm Just having a good spell is anyone's guess. I had some anxiety-free weeks before the dose was increased, so i'm Thinking it may be hormonal variations that determine my anxiety levels more than the medication.

I see GP tomorrow and plan to discuss trying HRT alongside the ADs, and if/when I feel the HRT is making a difference, I would reduce the AD dose, but I feel I am probably going to be someone who will need HRT and ADs to keep anxiety under control.

I feel I am turning into a walking medicine cabinet (I also have Propranolol and emergency Diazepam and sleeping tablets) and I am not happy about it, but as many others have said, trying to live with anxiety is truly awful, and if there are reasonably safe ways of controlling it, I'm prepared to pop the pills. If I feel bad, it affects family life too, and I don't want myself and everyone around me to suffer this for years.

Hope you are having a better day today. Keep posting to let us know how you're doing x

[Angel1964]

Hi Miabella I am still anxious on and off. I feel so nauseous too but I am thinking is that the HRT patches as only on 4th week. I have now arranged therapy called BWRT. Ive read so many good reports on this type of therapy. I have a 2 hour session on Friday so will let you all know after how it goes.  I only spoke with the therapist for a 30 minute consultation and she had me in tears. Which is positive in my eyes as she made me go back to what could be the root of the problem. My anxiety started years ago in maybe my early thirties. Reared its ugly head severely at peri was okish for around 8 years then back with a vengeance now at post. But she has said this has stayed with me all these years and was just lying there waiting for something to trigger it off.  I did lose my sister in law in January to alcohol addiction of 4 years, she was only 49. And I supported my brother and my 3 nephews on a daily basis for around 2 years prior to this as their lives were not good around her.  So maybe with hormones and all this happening thats why I am really bad again. Who knows but I am so excited in a funny way to try this therapy.  Google it as I had never heard of it before.  Thanks ladies you are all stars and watch this space for my update on therapy xxx

[Kathleen]

Hello again Angel 1964.

I am intrigued to hear about your BWRT therapy session so look forward to reading your update.
Anything we can do to help us navigate this turbulent time would be great and of course it's never too late to learn a valuable life skill.

Take care and I hope tomorrow goes well.

K.

[Burchers]

I can sympathise how you're feeling. I'm having the worse time with my anxiety at the minute. I go on holiday tomorrow. I hate going on holiday. I'm fed up of my poor kids and husband walking on eggshells around me.
I've just had enough.

[Angel1964]

Hi Burchers I do hope you find time to relax but I find it's so hard as you are anxious thinking about the next anxiety attack. It's a vicious circle. I have been fine all day slight palps then around 7pm got muscle spasms in both top arms and that raised my anxiety up. It's ok now but I feel that every little thing causes me anxiety. Are you going abroad or staying in England?  xx