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[Sparkles1973]

Hi there, I really need some encouragement.

I'm nearly 48 and been on this rollercoaster for about 4 years now.  I have suffered anxiety and low mood in the past but I had been well for 10 years plus since all this started happening.  I had to change my antidepressant as it wasn't working anymore to 100mg Sertraline, which I have been taking for about 6 months.  It took a while to kick in and I did feel better, but for the past week (I'm just finishing my period) I've been feeling low and anxious again, with a racing heart, not much motivation etc.  I'm so scared I'm going to go back to square 1.  I'm praying that in a few days I will feel better again.  I'm so fed up of this crap now.  I've been having loose bowels in the morning, worsening headaches, tiredness, feeling fluey, hot etc. for what feels like forever.  Everytime one thing stops, another thing takes over.  I did try hrt patches for about 12 weeks, but they didn't really help and my mood plummeted.  I'm at a loss on what to do when I'm feeling like this and it never seems to end.  I can't plan anything as I don't know how I'm going to feel from one day to the next.

My doctors are rubbish, and I'm at a loss.  The thought of this going on for 10 years plus is horrible 😥 I don't know whether to change my antidepressant or what and I've had a thyroid test etc. Xxxx any advice would be appreciated... sorry to moan xx

[CLKD]

U moan away!      How were your moods during your menstruating years, before peri.?  I would cry the night B4 a bleed began, even if a period wasn't due. I would sob.  Next morning, there it was!  Once the period began the mood improved.

How is your diet overall?  Eating little and often can even out the mood.  That's 24/7, in the night have a couple of biscuits by the bed if you go the bathroom or can't sleep.  If the body is hungry anxiety can kick in.  Also make sure that you are hydrated as if the body is 'dry', it can cause headaches. 

Loose bowels can be a sign of anxiety.  I am worse in the mornings - until about 10.30 a.m. : I try to have a routine to get me that far by which time breakfast has kicked in.

I rarely plan much.  I get anxious about even thinking about a holiday away  .  If I am spontaneous these days I seem to cope OK.  If I haven't been to the loo B4 we go out it's in the back of mind 'what if'  . 

It is probably hormonal.  Do U keep a mood/food/symptom diary?  Hopefully this will improve by the morning. Let us know!

[Sparkles1973]

Hi CLKD 😚

Thank you for your advice! I've always been a bit  down when I've got my period and especially when it's finishing and after, which is weird.... I also had PND with both my children, they are 15 and 18 now 😀.  Last month was the same, but I felt fluey with them for the last 2.  This period I have had had nausea and loose bowels a few days before..... it varies month to month.  My periods are quite regular, anything from 23 to 28 days albeit a bit lighter maybe.

My diet is awful tbh.... I rarely feel hungry in the day sometimes, and then get hungry at night.  I also work as a nurse doing nightshifts.  I really dont fancy anything to eat for hours, which worries me as I have always loved my food, but I think that's a separate thing from the low mood, if that makes sense.  I'm not losing any weight though.  I just feel weird a lot of the time, if that makes sense.  The Sertraline has helped a bit xxx

[CLKD]

It may be that your night hours are conflicting with your hormones, I understand that those working night shifts may be affected.

Would it be OK for you to batch cook?  Small amounts of stew/curry/mince mix in the freezer to eat with rice B4 your body needs energy?  What do you eat?  Lack of sustenance can certainly affect mood.  It can also alter the brain from realising that the body is hungry!  (recovering anorexic here).  I have to eat every 3 hours in order to make sure that I don't get that awful hunger dip = panic attacks.

Do you have access to foods on the Ward at night?  MayBe energy bars?  Bowls of a good quality muesli?  Bananas .......... do you eat when you get home or is it straight to bed?

What treatment and support did you get with the PND?

[jillydoll]

I’m so sorry you feel so bad Sparkles.
I’m thinking you should try another HRT.  What you got to lose? They could help. 🤷🏼‍♀️
Hormones make us depressed when they’re low, so personally I wouldn’t mess with the ADs anymore.
They’re working, so to me, it’s hormones making you worse.
There’s different HRTs for you to try, I’m on Femoston, ( tablet form) and I know they do a sequi in that, which you’d have because your still having periods. But if tablets isn’t your thing, there’s other patches and gels to try.
Read up on them, and ask your doc.
It’s a rubbish time for us, and I hope you find one that suits you. Keep going, we’re here if you need us.
Xx

[Sparkles1973]

Thank you so much ladies!

I eat well in the evening, a big meal and I eat well when I'm on a night shift.... a sandwich, fruit, yogurt etc.  All spaced out throughout the night.  My other half is brilliant and mainly does the cooking, bless him.  I have days where I have a racing heart/palpitations with a hot face, which knocks my appetite out as it makes me feel sick, but I feel this isn't linked to anxiety, it feels like a separate thing 🤦‍♀️ if that makes sense.  I'm definitely better than I was back in feb/ March but it's been a slow process.  I have had days where I have felt nearly 'normal' but days like these, with also physical symptoms make me think I'm going backwards.... I'm rambling now... lol! I just wish that i felt consistently better, not so up and down with these symptoms, but they are not as severe as they were.  It maybe the course of permenopause for me or the Sertraline has helped? Who knows 🤷‍♀️. With the PND, I took antidepressants, but I eventually got better after a few months' post naturally.

Thank you Jilly Doll, I will ask the Doc about the tablets,  although my GP's are very unhelpful and think it's all Covid related, which it isn't etc.  I feel like I'm hitting my head against a brick wall sometimes xxx

[CLKD]

Is there a Nurse Practitioner who may know more?

Don't mess with the AD this side of New Year.  Let it do the work it's designed for.

Flushes can cause nausea. Which then feeds other physical symptoms, it is the physicality which knocks me completely. 

Set backs are often worse than the original symptoms  .  They do pass.  How R U this morning?

[Sparkles1973]

Thanks CLKD! I feel 'okay', I had a good cry this morning, just because I was worried I was going to feel like crap again for months.... feel a bit better after a hug from the other half.  Now I have the racing heart a bit and flushing of my face...🤷‍♀️

It's so weird, as I don't know what is going to crop up next, whether it be physical or mental symptoms, but I think the physical symptoms bring me down.  I hate it as I can't plan things much as I just don't know how I'm going to feel one day to the next xxx the hot face and racing heart had calmed down a lot over the last couple of months, but im just scared of going to that dark place I was in a few months ago... it was horrid xxxx

[CLKD]

So don't plan?   When asked to go anywhere I have got to saying "If I feel OK I might turn up for a short while".  People don't seem to mind.  That way I can stay as long as I can, always leaving before anxiety kicks in.  It also depends on who else is present 

I can't cry due to medication: unless I put the end of the 'incredible journey' on video, when Bodger plods over the hill long after the cat and dog have returned  .  Sometimes I want to cry when DH is sitting beside me but won't . 

The Change - does what it says on the tin!

[Sparkles1973]

Feeling awful this morning.... racing heart, hot face..... and I have to go on a shopping trip with my sister in law 😣 I'm sure I will enjoy it once I'm there 😖❤

[CLKD]

That's the trouble, anticipation is awful!

[Sparkles1973]

Period has finished, thank goodness! I was ok last week!! How can it creep up on you 😣 I hadn't had a racing heart, hot face etc for quite a while, I thought I had cracked it 😣 Do you reckon it's my period? Felt ropey physically last period xxxx

[Floo36]

All symptoms of low Estrogen, I get those symptoms too.

Why don’t you give HRT a try again, it can take time to find the right type and dose.

[CLKD]

It's probably hormonal.  Do U feel any 'better' having shared?  Do you think that HRT will help it can take 3-4 months to get benefit.

[Sparkles1973]

Hi CLKD, I tried it a year ago, the patches, and I kept bleeding 😣 also my mood plummeted...... and the patches kept falling off.  I also had my AstraZeneca jab at that time and I'm sure it made my mood plummet, because I had my second the same thing happened xxx I really don't know what to think or do xxx