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[Lauraprovis]

Hi, I’ve just joined and been reading how everyone helps each other, which is fantastic.

My question is…. I’m menopausal, 3 years , and was misdiagnosed with anxiety when I was peri (about 10 years ago) and put on citilopram.   I now realise that insomnia, anxiety and restless legs are all signs of menopause!  Should I try HRT to enable sleep, then I can finally get this weight off?  Anyone else experienced this and have some much needed advice?

Laura

[Iris67]

Often happens - the misdiagnosis - easier to hand out antidepressants than do the complex work involved with menopause. I was even offered antidepressants when menopause was evident and not in doubt! I have a friend who works in the field of dependence on antidepressants so I am a bit wary - modern HRT is so good now that you should definitely try it if you have no cancer (hormonal) history. It is such a complex picture that HRT would do you so much more good. And get them to check for testosterone too - it is heavily indicated for all sorts of symptoms.

[CLKD]

One isn't usually addicted to antidepressants.  Some may take a while to wean off to avoid bounce back symptoms, it took me 9 weeks to wean off by decreasing amounts of one, can't remember which 

As for restless legs: mine were cured by eating bananas.  I don't use the word 'cured' often, I was eating bananas to ease blood sugar variations which made me very, very nauseous.  NAPS recommended eating every 3 hours, 24/7 including bananas.  Within 5 nights the restless legs issue had gone.  If it bothers me I now take 'nurofen' at night as that is when it's a real problem.

I've tried leaving my legs out of bed hanging down as well as trying to sleep with them up the wall 

[Iris67]

Bananas are high in potassium - electrolyte imbalance caused by hot flushes/night sweats?

[CLKD]

I didn't know about the potassium until 2-3 years later.  I haven't suffered with surges thank goodness.

[Lauraprovis]

Thank you so much for your help.....
 Think I’m going to try HRT and definitely eat bananas!

[CLKD]

Layer of brown bread with butter; sliced bananas covered in brown sugar 

In the mean time take a pain relief morning and 20 mins. B4 bed to allow the banana effect to kick in [see what I did there  ]

[marge]

Just to say there was an article in yesterday’s Daily Mail all about restless legs syndrome. I tried to copy the link, but no luck. I’m sure it can be found online though.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-9661719/Restless-legs-syndrome-sleep-wrecking-nightmare.html

[CLKD]

Tnx.  Nothing about potassium levels being a possible causation.