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[Hotscotgirl]

Hi there,
I'm reading a few posts where ladies are saying "my oestrogen was low"
Or "hormone levels low" and wondered how they knew this?
I have had horrendous morning anxiety /depression for sometime now and it had eased off for a few months but now is back worse than ever. I asked my GP could it be hormone related and cld she test my levels to see if anything untoward. She said no we dont test hormones!
I would just like to find out if it can b done even willing to pay as I cant go on like this anymore
 
Thanks xx

[CLKD]

Because hormones rise and fall 24/7, it is difficult to get a true reading with blood tests.  So practitioners with menopause knowledge will treat by symptoms.  Some find keeping a mood/symptom/food diary useful. This can B taken to an appt with a Practice Nurse or GP to discuss.

Which symptom would you like to ease first?

[Hotscotgirl]

Hi
For some time I would wake with horrendous feelings of depression and anxiety, it went but recently it has come back.
About 2 weeks ago I started feeling v low and teary, awakening with a terrible feeling of dread, then 2 days later I started bleeding! I'm 57 and haven't had a period in years. It lasted about 2 days and tailed off with just a bit if old dark blood when I wiped myself. But I'm still suffering from these awful feelings. Got so bad I had to phone my dr yesterday who's put me back on antidepressants.  I suggested because of the timing being same as bleed cld poss be hormonal n cld they test my levels but she said they "tend" not to do this. I feel I cant take this for much longer.

[Hurdity]

Hi Hotscotgirl

As CLKD said re levels. You don't need a test. However if you are post-menopausal then you can guarantee your oestrogen levels will be low.

If you have had a post-menopausal bleed after stopping natural periods for longer than 12 months and you are not on HRT, then this needs fast track referral for a scan to check your uterus, because this is abnormal. Of course it could be a random ovulation and natural period but depends how long ago your natural periods stopped? Whatever the answer you must ask for this referral and I can't believe the doctor did not refer you and instead put you on anti-derpessants!

These are absolutely not indicated as first line of treatment for anxiety etc due to hormonal changes. Do you have or have you had any flushes and sweats at all? How long is it since you took anti-depressants last and how long did you take them for?

The point about menopause is that it's for ever, once you've had your last ovulaton and period, and some women are affected by the resultant low oestrogen leves on mood, sometimes even after the fluishes and sweats have stopped.

Did you used to suffer from PMS before a period and did you have anxious feelings while going through peri-menopause when your periods were irregular?

Thing is as you are well under 60 it is certainly not too late to start HRT as the oestrogen may well help to lift your mood, but you would need to take a progestogen as well. Have you ever taken it?

Sorry for all the questions but just trying to get a picture. The most important thing is to get back to the doc about the bleeding and ask, rather, demand a referral. It is remiss of the doc not to do so.

Hurdity x