Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Vicky81]

Thanks Dawn... .yes il try that xx

[Postmeno3]

Vicky, Vicky, Vicky! What are we going to do with you?! For me, I'm curious that you have never mentioned classic menopause symptoms of hot flushes (daytime reddening of the skin, feeling heat all over and possibly breaking into a sweat at these times), brain "fog" (concentration, memory, word-finding issues etc) and fatigue. How I wish you would stop listening to colleagues, though. They are going to potentially give you very subjective advice. This is not helpful for anyone! You really must turn to the medical professionals who can be objective and give you the support you need as they are neutrally involved! Please keep trying to engage with gps (requesting an in-person double appointment which you're perfectly entitled to do, taking someone in with you, again as you're entitled to), request a referral to a menopause clinic if needs be, but you may or may not be at that stage, based on the symptoms you seem to feel are your main ones which do not SEEM related to menopause as yet, more to side effects of anti-depressants?
Firstly, we need to know who prescribed, not suggested, Setraline and who is medically monitoring this?
Then, if I understand you correctly, you are now on your fourth, maybe fifth type of antidepressant. Over what period of time have these swaps taken place?
What was the trigger for taking them and did a gp prescribe and monitor them?
Did Studd know you were on Setraline when they prescribed the full spectrum of sex hormones at your first session, upping them after only a week at your request?
In my view, I'd say please, STOP listening to and acting on the "advice" of colleagues. They may be in psychiatry and psychology fields of expertise, but that is the culture of your workplace which is separate from and different to the nature of your personal wellbeing and life away from work?
I'm just very confused by everything and very concerned for you in what seems like a very random approach to your health and wellbeing. I don't know what else to say or how to say it. I'm sorry. I feel I can only offer an opinion, based on what you are telling us.
Why not try an e-mail to Dr. Currie on here? She might be able to give you specific, specialist advice and recommendations?

[alibeau]

Oh Vicky81, I wish I could help.

I have been on my peri meno journey for a couple of years and the super hardest part is sticking to the regime and giving it a good three months to settle before making any adjustments. I know how hard this is when every day is a struggle, it feels like there is no light at the end of the tunnel.

On two occasions I have been at the very end of my tether with symptoms, I do think it’s slightly easier for me tho as I work from home and so I can carry on with ‘life’ by just rolling down the stairs in my pyjamas, minimum effort required!

I have emailed Dr Currie twice for advice when I was at the end of those tethers. On both occasions she gave good advice but I waited until the end of my cycle before making the adjustments and on both occasions I started to feel better before implementing the changes!

As an example, utrogestan initially left me feeling completely ZOMBIED. Zero energy, no get up and go etc, low mood, I was about to try an alternative regime on Dr Curries advice when everything just settled down without making the changes.

I really hope you find some answers soon. Perhaps Dr Currie is worth a try?

Ali x

[Vicky81]

Postmeno- heck....I know what to do with me! Sorry my other symptoms are sweats at night, hair coming out in the brush, completely change of character....along with the anxiety etc. That's what prompted me to look into peri.
Yes Dr Watson knows that I'm on sertraline.  The reason I'm on my 4th one is because GP just kept  trying me on different ones.
I also keep forgetting things...
The GP knows all my timeliness and that sertraline was recommended to me. They are fine with it. They also give me diazepam if I need it too.

Alibeau- thanks. I didn't realise that the utrogestan settles down...I'm ok in the day but upon waking my anxiety seems worse! Xx

[alibeau]

Alibeau- thanks. I didn't realise that the utrogestan settles down...I'm ok in the day but upon waking my anxiety seems worse! Xx

Well I didn't think it would settle down either but it did, thanks goodness! I also have what I call an anxious chest on waking.  Not always and I can't seem to pin it down to any type of pattern.  Sat at my desk today my chest is feeling very achy/fizzy/anxious, really not nice and it has not settled down at all like it usually does but I have learned to accept that certain days it will pass and others it won't and so I just try to accept that I can't fix everything and go with the flow.

Perhaps some ladies do find a 'cure all' but for me it has been a case of accepting it's going to be tricky to balance everything, just trying to find the best solution and accepting the not so good days for what they are.  This is a new phase of my life and sadly there is no magic wand that can magic away all my symptoms, they are up and down and I have learnt to accept this for the most part!!!!

Take good care, hang in there and I hope you find some relief v soon.

Ali x

[Postmeno3]

Vicky, hair coming out can be stress. The other things like sweating at night, general anxiety and change of character can be side effects of anti-depressants. Can you remember how frequently they were changed? Thanks.

[Nas]

Anxiety is definitely worse in the morning for a lot of women. Before I’m up, my heart is pounding and stomach churning, which is why I jump out of bed, get dressed and drive to work quick! I know I’m not on enough Oestrogen though.

I think your peri anxiety could be compounded by the stresses and strains of moving flat? I can imagine your job is pretty tough going too? All these things, with fluctuating hormones, can get the better of us.

Is the HRT helping with everything other than the anxiety?

I think that women need to also accept that HRT isn’t going to fix all symptoms. Sometimes we need to accept that as we age, we feel differently about certain aspects of life.

Your symptoms could be attributed to general stress, bearing in mind that your Oestrogen is high?

[Vicky81]

Postmeno- all the symptoms I had were well before I started the AD'S. But because my moods and anxiety were so bad, my GP kept giving me AD'S. Xx

Nas- I'm the same! Jump up straight away!
And I thought thst....became my oestrogen was high last time ... I thought maybe I'm not?? But...today, a month  later I had another blood test... so well see what resukt of this is! Xxx

[VanillaLover]

I agree with Nas in that I used to think that HRT would be a panacea, a cure-all, make me feel like I was 25 again etc. Now I’m slowly and painfully starting to realise that it probably won’t be the case for me,certainly at least not now while I am undergoing huge peri fluctuations. Even if I do find that magic dose I am still undergoing a huge life change and that has ramifications mentally and physically. The best I am hoping for at the moment is that I can get my symptoms bearable and still live a good life while this transition happens. And maybe come out if it wiser and happier! One day!So yes I am trying to embrace the good days and be kind to myself and accepting on the bad days.

[VanillaLover]

Sorry I meant I agree with Alibeau’s post really

[Kathleen]

Hello Vicky81

I completely sympathise with you and your efforts to get back to some normality. I have been guilty of fiddling with my HRT at times though curiously never my AD but that may be next lol.

As far as I know none of the ladies on this forum are medically qualified but we are able to share our experiences and offer advice which is fabulous. Similarly your colleagues can offer their particular expertise so I don't blame you for talking to everyone you think may help you.

If the need arises and you do want to suggest another type of progesterone I was given Cyclogest by my meno clinic a few months ago. It is a 200mcg pessary that is used by fertility clinics but for the menopause we are asked to cut it in half and insert every other night. Just a little nugget of information that you may want to store away for the future lol.

Take care and please keep us updated. Like many ladies I am struggling to find a balance and if we can help each other it's win, win!

K.

[Vicky81]

Awww thsnk you all.

VL- wise words...its hard isn't it though?,

Kathleen- thank you 4 the supportive message,, yes tweaking your AD maybe beneficial? I haven't had any side effects from sertraline yet!
Thanks 4 the advice about the progesterone....il keep it in mind! Xxxx

[Minusminnie]

My GP said this morning because of my last level being so high, she was unsure if I'm peri......hmmmm xxx

For a medical opinion would it be worth asking your GP on that basis when she would have advised adding in hormones for you  ? Would she have waited for you to settle more on a level of sertraline first anyway ?

I've been following your threads Vicky as my daughter is taking sertraline and at an age when she could possibly be peri also but will get there at some point anyway.  Her triggers are changes of some sort and stress hence the sertraline. The GP reckons she is not peri at the moment so she is sticking with the sertraline to find a level that helps best for now.

Although you have been proactive and gone private, which we are prepared to do at some point if necessary, i do wonder if they have your best interests at the moment ?  If you pay something has to be given in return.

[Vicky81]

Hi minusminnie

You have a point. I had another blood test yesterday through medichecks...a hormone one. Shoukd get results by Thursday.  My GP said she wants to see the results of this along with my previous results from studd which was 1625! Estrogen. 
I will let u know.
Could you tell me bit more about your daughter? Age? Has she anxiety?

[Vicky81]

Sorry- 1615