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[abarthsister]

Hey girls, I started on hrt back in july last year, but decided for some reason (can't even remember now) to come off it in june this year. After a few days I began experiencing and disproportionate anxiety, which has pretty much been going on until now - I decided to go back on the hrt in july of this year so it hasn't quite been 3 months but in this time I've thrown my partner out, ended the relationship, I want to give up work and just sit in the corner of the room crying. I'm finding it hard in the mornings mostly, anxiety and dark thoughts.

I signed myself off sick this week to see if I can get my head around it. I have had days this month where I've felt almost normal again, but I've stopped eating enough and lost a lot of weight which obviously causes issues. I haven't thrived for so long and I miss me.

Any advice based on what I've said above? (I'm on estrogel 2 x pumps and utrogestan 14 days of the month) (I'm 47). More estrogen? I can't imagine I can put up with this for 4-8 years, heeelllp.

[sheila99]

I would wait for the 3 months aa it seems to be heading in the right direction and then increase if you feel you need to. My anxiety took the full 3 months to go. Imo you need a holistic approach which I know is difficult when you feel so bad but good nutrition and regular exercise are important too. Some find they need ads as well as hrt but best to get oestrogen levels sorted.

[abarthsister]

Thank you Sheila. I have always been a fan of the holistic approach, so I'm doing therapy and having acupuncture, can I ask what Ads is?

[abarthsister]

Oh anti depressents - I really hope I don't need these

[CrispyChick]

Don't be scared of anti depressants. Some are specifically used for anxiety. They can bring you back to your normal self. Xx

[CLKD]

I can feel 4 you having slipped into depression last week and n ow in the throes of acute anxiety ....... fortunately not all the while but my biggest problem is not being able to eat  .  I'm trying a bowl of muesli right  now with little milk.     I'm well out of peri .........

[abarthsister]

Same with the eating, I don't fancy food, but having acupuncture really gets my appetite going - just got back from a session I feel a little bit wonderful

[CLKD]

Ain't it awful  - once I restart eating ........ then I pick up.  Even though I know what the likely causes are, it's the physicality that I can't get over. 

[oldlady1961]

Sending sympathy. I have just about come out of six months of crippling daily anxiety and panic attacks.

I was put on Provera temporarily (instead of utrogestan) which was like poison and seemed to cancel out all the positive effects of Oestrogel from the last 7 years. It was awful.

I saw a private menopause GP and am back on Oestrogel and utrogestan and have also been using Androfeme now for over 2 months and can finally see I WILL get back to normal.

I didn’t want to carry on living it was dreadful and I have huge sympathy. If your GP is clueless about hormones can you see someone privately for some evidence based practical up to date advice.

[Dorothy Gale]

Hi

I'm not on HRT BUT my anxiety got so bad this time last year that I almost lost my life. I won't go into detail but during my late perimenopause I didn't want to live anymore my anxiety was crippling and my dark suicidal thoughts were constant.

I avoided taking AD for 6 months but in the end...it was literally do or die.

I started taking citalopram 9 months ago.

I can honestly say I'm a different woman!

I no longer have any dark thoughts, feel super happy and all that crippling anxiety is gone.

I've never felt sooo good mentally and feel amazing. I'm me again....but even better!

The transformation is staggering.

Citalopram has saved my life and I wish I'd done it sooner.

I just wanted to give my experience of finding a way out of my menopausal anxiety when I didn't think there was one.

Don't give up. There is hope!

Xxxxxx

[Nas]

Hi Dorothy Gale

What dose of citalopram do you take please? I’m really suffering post menopause, cancer and on a hormone blocker. My mood is on the floor right now.


Thanks.

[CLKD]

Tnx for the update Dorothy Gale 

[discogirl]

Thank you so much for that Dorothy Gale x

[discogirl]

Hi Dorothy Gale

What dose of citalopram do you take please? I’m really suffering post menopause, cancer and on a hormone blocker. My mood is on the floor right now.


Thanks.

Nas

I messaged you yesterday. No need to reply was just to say I was thinking of you xxxx

[Dorothy Gale]

Hi

I'm sorry I'm only just replying. I did use the notify me button but it didn't! 

I'm so sorry to hear you're struggling so much.

I started on 10mg of citalopram. The first 3 weeks were very very hard and I almost quit as the side effects were awful. But I was told to trust the process....so I stuck it out.....and after a little while felt much better.....

There were ups and downs and times I thought it wasn't working....and felt discouraged.....but my brother is on citalopram too and it has changed his life.....so I carried on.

I did about 3 months on 10mg....which helped but only to about 50%.......I decided to up it to 15mg with the advice of my MH nurse....

Not a common dose but I'm very sensitive to meds so I always go slowly....

I had 2 weeks of side effects again....but after that I felt better and better and better.....

I've now been on citalopram 9 months and don't currently feel I need to go up to 20mg (the most common therapeutic dose)

I've never felt better mentally. I still have regular normal anxiety that most people will get....but all the extreme suicidal dark thoughts crazy woman state has gone completely.

I feel normal. Whatever that is lol

I still suffer from M.E/CFS but have for 30× years...and other physical menopause stuff....but I can deal with anything now my mental health is better.

I was lucky it worked for me. Sometimes it's trial and error and may not work for everyone and may need to try a different AD and don't expect things to change quickly, it can take weeks/months for the full effect with lots of ups and downs before things settle or feel better....but I wish I'd done in sooner.

I might add that the meds have made the most difference but I've also worked hard on my own MH by looking at how my thoughts affect my body and mind. I had alot of counselling and changing other things to help with stress etc. But the meds put me in a place if being able to implement ways to cope and I'm I cannot praise them enough. Literally saved my life.

I never thought I'd feel 'sane' again...it was a desperate situation for many months before I started meds.....I never thought anything would help.......but I'm living proof it CAN get better.

Much love xxxx