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[sarahy]

Hello,
I’d be grateful for any help as I seem to be unable to find any online or from my doctor.
Very basically I started to get incredibly bad anxiety about 10 years ago, (51/2) and other menopause symptoms, I was put on HRT and had 3/4 years very good. I didn’t realise but my oestrogen had dropped massively and the same very bad and very distinctive anxiety had slowly returned and become worse and worse. Because I was on HRT I didn’t suspect any problems there and reasonably put it down to the pandemic. It took a few years to get blood tests that showed how much my oestrogen had dropped. After more years and heavy constant bleeding for a few years, and eventually leaving a very bad doctor, my new doctor managed to pretty much stop the bleeding, I had also gone up to 3mg oestrogen. Most symptoms were gone except for the anxiety.which was identical to the previous’ hormonal anxiety’ . I have had it 5 years , it just recently slowly was beginning to get a bit better, then I had a two week bleed ( very little) but my mood and anxiety got much worse again. For various reasons I am unable to see my doctor. I’d like to see if the hormones are the cause, if that’s even possible. I have forgotten what normal is like .People have told me that it’s all fine when you get out the other side. But if you’re on HRT how do you get out the other side and is it even healthwise sensible to stop.what can change if you keep replacing your hormones?

Also what happens to your health if you stop!? I can find very little information on this too.
My partner has been with me 30 years and says this is just not me, I find it difficult after 5 years to remember, but I know the anxiety has stopped virtually everything except work which I manage to do because I’m on my own.
Sorry for the long and convoluted in the end questions. ( I’d thought I was only asking one!)
I’d be so grateful for any help.
Many thanks
Sarah

[CLKD]

Hi1. any1 on HRT won't know where they actually are: peri are the years when we may notice issues i.e. periods wax and wane.  The Change, does what it says on the tin  .  U may find that symptoms become worse because you haven't reached a 'natural' last period = menopause. 

HRT can protect heart and bones, along with a healthy diet, regular exercise and plenty of sunshine will boost over all health.  I haven't had replacement other than VA treatment, I do a lot of gardening but not enough walking  , getting lazy in my older age.  Do U have hobbies?



Anxiety often becomes problematic during peri. with the hormonal rises and falls.  There are medications that can ease symptoms, have U been offered anti-anxiety for example. 


I found Bachs rescue remedy mouth spray helped, I would use it and then not think whether it worked or not.  Now I have an emergency anti anxiety tablet for when it floors me. 

R U able to get a phone call with a GP or Nurse Practitioner?  Make a list of your queries and note the replies.  U do not need to be alone in this. 

[sarahy]

To : CLKD
Thank you so much for your reply. I’m sorry if I’m doing this wrong, I can’t make head or tail of it!
I use Bach flower  rescue remedy too for specific extra anxious events .
I’ve been given beta blockers which I’ve used a couple of time but they have no effect. I am doing quite a lot to actively try and reduce the anxiety and things after 5 long years did seem to be improving recently but they’ve gone right down again now for about 6 weeks. It does feel hormonal as mood/anger, not being able to stomach coffee, nails feeling weaker again and bleeding have all started up again and I just seem to hit brick walls or be sent round and round in circles in any attempts to try and work it out, or get any answers from doctors or nurses.
I  was so desperate we saw a menopause specialist when could not really afford to and she simply put me on higher and higher doses until at a hospital appointment the main menopause specialist doctor there said I should stop seeing her immediately as I could be pushed back into getting all the symptoms again. To be honest the only one that really bothered me was and is the chronic anxiety ( and a bit losing most of my hair !)
Sorry for the moan fest, I seem to have so many false starts of hoping doctors or medication will help and nothing does.
Any health problems I’ve had seems to have been to do with hormones, I have asked to see an endocrinologist but never got anywhere with that.
But thank you again for replying,
All the best
Sarah

[CLKD]

To : CLKD
Thank you so much for your reply. I’m sorry if I’m doing this wrong, I can’t make head or tail of it! 
. no worries.    U moan away !


I use Bach flower  rescue remedy too for specific extra anxious events .
.  Has it helped?

I’ve been given beta blockers which I’ve used a couple of time but they have no effect.  Which BB have you been prescribed?  When did U swallow it?  They should be taken on a regular basis, I began with 80mg 3 times a day and gradually dropped over a couple of years, down to 20mg twice a day: then 20mg in the morning.  I was advised to swallow them at night to ease anxiety surges in the early hours. Worked for me!

I am doing quite a lot to actively try and reduce the anxiety and things after 5 long years did seem to be improving recently but they’ve gone right down again now for about 6 weeks.
. It could be hormones rising and falling.  Lots find that they become intolerant 2 caffeine and alcohol .  Make sure that you have a healthy diet, gentle regular exercise, keep hydrated ........ eating little and often can also help to stop those sudden energy drops.



I was so desperate we saw a menopause specialist when could not really afford to and she simply put me on higher and higher doses until at a hospital appointment the main menopause specialist doctor there said I should stop seeing her immediately as I could be pushed back into getting all the symptoms again. . Sometimes women are advised to continue increasing their oestrogen levels without real consideration of why ?  Blood tests can be unreliable but mayB worth asking for: VitD levels, Thyroid function, as well as oestrogen levels.

To be honest the only one that really bothered me was and is the chronic anxiety ( and a bit losing most of my hair !)
. U may benefit from an anti-depressant medication which also eases anxiety.  Or a dedicated anti-anxiety pill i.e. Valium for short term use to give your body a break.  I was told in 1 session that a panic attack cannot sustain itself for more than 20 mins.: my longest was 2 days/nights.

[CLKD]

In the 1990s I used 5mg of Valium the night B4 events that I was unable to get out of, mainly travelling to visit family  .  Knowing that I could take 5mg the following lunch time: which I never required: really helped. MinL hated that I fell asleep mid afternoon  but without the medication, she wouldn't have seen her son ;-).  In the early 2000 my GP gave me Propranolol which I stopped taking when we went into lockdown.  Now I have an emergency anti-anxiety pill which either enables me or knocks me out, giving me relief.

I also take 10mg at night and 5mg at breakfast of an AD.  Let us know how you get on.

[Kathleen]

Hello sarahy

I am in a similar situation as so far nothing has helped to stabilise the emotional ups and downs that began in post meno.

My NHS menopause nurse recently suggested Pregabalin as a way of calming the nervous system. This has never been mentioned to me before so perhaps it is a new treatment that you may be interested in?

I have often thought of consulting an endocrinologist though it would have to be at a private hospital as I don't suppose my GP would refer me. Perhaps this is also something that you could consider for the future?

I completely sympathise with your predicament, I have been on an emotional rollercoaster every day for years and I am exhausted with it all. According to my trusty meno book all these problems should resolve in post meno but it seems some of us are destined for a much longer wait...

Wishing you well and take care.


K.