Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Personal Experiences => Topic started by: Kathleen on September 23, 2013, 06:48:22 PM
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Hello ladies, anyone else tired of feeling anxious so much of the time? I had a lot of anxiety last night and I feel really awful today, headache, sweaty, rumbly tummy, the lot.
It is all the more disheartening because I'd had a few days of feeling much better, even calm at times and now I've crashed again. I know experiencing lots of negative feelings is all part of the menopause but I am so, so fed up feeling crappy so much of the time.
I was given a new HRT but have delayed starting it as I was doing okay but now I'm frightened again. The future looks bleak on days like this.
Sorry to moan ladies but I needed to get this off my chest. Any words of wisdom would be gratefully received.
Thanks for reading.
K.
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I'm afraid I have no words of wisdom but a lot of understanding and sympathy.
It's so tiring being anxious all the time.
You did say you had a few good days.....you will again so hang on in there, you are not alone.
:hug:
Honeyb
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You moan. We understand :hug: I have 'nerves' - anxious guts, weak legs, shakey feelings ......... nothing except a small tablet from the GP helps :'( when it is really bad. I use Rescue Remedy mouth spray as and when ..........
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I know how you feel, I too was feeling much better because I stopped taking HRT as I was very anxious an low and I did feel better but WHAM!!! It's back, anxious, upset tummy, lack of sleep because I'm so anxious and every thing else that goes with it. I take Kalms and on AD but I don't understand why it's still so bad.
The only thing that saves me is knowing that I'm not the only one who is going through this and hopefully it will end soon.
Take care everyone. Carm01 XXX
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Thank you so much honeybun, CLKD and carm 01. It was so reassuring to hear from you and to know you understand. Your posts have made me feel better and I'm very grateful for that.
At times like this I try and explain how I feel to my husband and although he does his best it is clear he doesn't really understand. Maybe men can't appreciate that these awful feelings are generated internally and are not always the result of an event or external problem that they can help to resolve. It must be very frustrating for them I suppose.
Once again thank you ladies. There is no substitute for the sympathy of other women.
Wishing you well.
K.
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Sending hugs, it must be awful feeling like that all the time. I am fine during the day but I've certainly been finding I've been having an increased amount of disturbing and upsetting dreams. Don't know if that is related but its not helping my sleep thats for sure :(
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So sorry you feel this way know what you mean am exactly the same now on AD and HRT and under a Phychiaristit (spelling) and still feel crap most mornings don't know why I would lave to go back to being my old self again but can't seem to get out of the mind set i am in. Sounds stupid but just want my life back I feel such a failure at times now it seems as i am moaning and will shut up but it is always worse in the mornings and it always affects my stomach say i have severe IBS due to stress (AGH)
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Hi
I am so glad its not just me who feels like this as sometimes I think i am loosing the plot! I have been on an AD for just over a year and started back on hrt 4 month ago but the anxiety is awful I seen my doctor yesterday and she has changed my Ad so fingers crossed this one works. I want the old me back I feel lost inside myself somewhere, does that make sense? Im 48 next weekend and dreading the big 50 and still feeling like this ...
WTD xxxx
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Hello Evenstar, Leony and WTD.
Sorry to hear you are also suffering from these awful feelings. If someone had told me a few years ago that the menopause could have this effect I wouldn't have believed them and horrible as this is, at least we know we are not alone.
Sending you all my best wishes. Take care.
K.
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:( :(hi ladies it's great to have all your mm problems to read, to know I'm not alone and always have someone with the same problems as me, I thought I was going mad, felt very scared last week after yet another flush, I was shaking, sweating and panicking all at the same time, had to call my husband home from work as thought I would explode hope we all feel better soon thanks to you all it's great to hear from you Mags
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Hi all. Not sure if it's the same but I over react a lot and can be in tears at minor things anything from train being 2 mins late to getting constructive criticism in work
Try Nelson's ignatia tablets. Homeopathic so can't overdose. I now take these before work or any situation it think need it and keep a bottle in my bag along with rescue remedy gum and liquid.
Hope this helps.
Sorry if wrong bit new here xx
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Hi,
I'm on HRT 50 patches, I still get scared, very nervous it seems anything out of the ordinary, like at the moment I'm having new windows fitted and it feels like your House is just not your own but the workman are very friendly so I can't complain it just me! I was even nervous ringing up for dentist appointment two weeks ago, I hate the dentist.! However the appointment was for today and I was so proud of myself I drove their on my own managed to park and had tooth removed, I wasn't too nervous either but I done it and it's over! Now I wonder what I was worried about!
My big problem at e moment is in the morning I have to get up and have breakfast ASAP and do nothing before hand apart from feeding pets otherwise I feel awful really exhausted I'm not sure if this is due to meno or my ms as I do have fatigue of varying degrees, but every morning it's the same!
One thing I alway think to myself no matter how bad I feel it tomorrow will be different and it normally is.
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Hi Kathleen, sorry to hear you are suffering so badly- I can truly empathize as I have been feeling anxious, nervous,scared, panicky, flat , horribly depressed to the point of thinking that I just want to go to sleep and not wake up, really struggling to get through each day, feeling no sense of wellbeing, having awful hot flushes with horrendous adrenaline rushes and basically a total wreck! I am currently on a new antidepressant-mirtazapine, but after eight weeks am still very up and down. All of this kicked off for me around ten years ago with perimeno, and really apart from a blissful break of 18 months, three years ago when my periods stopped then restarted, I have never really been free of it completely- I am feeling very despondent at the moment, especially after recently going on what should have been a relaxing holiday with my hubby, to Bulgaria, where I spent a lot of the time in the apartment crying and feeling afraid to go out- sounds bonkers Iknow. on really bad days I despair and feel that I have lost my old carefree self- It truly is awful and no one can understand how much it disrupts your life, unless they have been through it themselves. Iwould give anything just to feel normal again and to wake up feeling happy instead of terrified- I am seeing my GP this week to try and sort out the medication having tried virtually everthing- non of the alternative remedies worked for me either. Sorry to moan and sound so miserable but just wanted you ladies to know that you are not alone in feeling so scared and anxious-I really wish that GP's were more clued up on menopause and there was more awareness about it- big hugs to all of you who are suffering :) :)
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Oh Mags,
I wouldn't go out at one stage too, if your going o see your gp please ask about HRT the risks are a lot less than the rumours that were going round ten years ago! Unless there is some medical reason of course.
Hopefully you will find one to suit you, if migraines are frequent you can get one which is a patch, and by-passes the stomach .Mine started working after four days with the flushes and a few weeks after for the scared feelings and anexiety,and to be honest I dread when the time comes for me to come off it,I'm 47 by the way and have been on it three years now without any problem and it was the first one I tried.
I really hope things get better for you, let us know how you get on
Ann x
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Hi Smokey, and thanks for your very kind reply- I did try a conti HRT last year, and it stopped the flushes straight away but dld nothing for the anxiety and depression-I also had heavy bleeds on it so had to stop taking it. I am almost 57 and supposedly post meno but can't understand why I am still feeling this way.I am going to make sure I get some answers on Friday when I see the GP. Big hugs to you :) :)
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Good luck for Friday Mags if you don't get any joy maybe ask to be referred to a menopause clinic, they are the experts.
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Thanks for that Smokey- am having yet another bad day feeling low, crying and my anxiety is awful- I am just thankful that I am not working as there is no way I could hold down a job feeling this way.Thanks for the advice about the meno clinic-will ask the GP about it- many thanks again for your kind reply-Magsxx
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I have a friend in her 60s who suffers what she calls 'collywobbles' and a woman she met on a bus ( :o) suggested 5-HTP. (Neither myself or my friend had ever heard of it before).
Long story short, she's been taking them for a month and feels much calmer (not sure if it's a placebo effect but if it helps.......)
Think you can get them from health food stores.
:)
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It has been around for a while panda and many people have had success with it. There was a thread about it a while back http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,21456.msg320220.html#msg320220
Taz
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Thanks for the link Taz2 :)
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Interesting stuff!
Taz
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can I tell you my recent experience with 5htp, I had read about them a long time ago and bought them online ,took them for about a week then chucked them in the drawer as you do, then sometime later got them out as they were pricey thought no harm trying again and have been taking them until they ran out. All summer I have been saying to hubby I feel different and my pain in my back and hips are much better ,his reply was it is the sunshine. I thought 5htp was ineffective so when they ran out wasn't bothered until about 3 days later the pain started again and the black mood returned , severe fatigue I couldn't work out was different then it clicked the only thing I had changed in my regime was 5htp so thought no harm in trying again. Ordered a different brand same strength and took them the next morning, at about 3am the following morning I was wide awake came downstairs and I could have cleaned my house from top to bottom and all day so much energy ,I felt alert I was hyper. When I read the label they should be taken at night . I don't know what happened but I definitely will be taking these from now on but I have decreased the dose . I don't know wether it was this particular brand or what
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It's certainly an interesting drug and is often used to combat the effects of an MDMA comedown. It's part of the recreational drug users survival pack.
Taz
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5HTP is derived from griffonia simplicifolia and it certainly interesting Taz. I took a Herbal Course in the Nineties and this was one of the herbs discussed, actually the 5HTP is derived from the seeds.
I have tried it and made the same mistake too and took it at night and it made me wide awake and certainly did not make me sleep.
Make sure you take the pure extract.
http://www.healingwiseforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4721
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Silverlady
in your research have you found any known side effects.
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Have a look at this jo61
http://naturalmedicinejournal.com/article_content.asp?edition=1§ion=2&article=243
Don't forget that even non pharmaceuticals can have adverse effects.
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Such an interesting article but one that makes you stop and think very hard about taking it.
Thanks SL. I don't think I would like to chance it in case of the side effects.
Honeyb
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Its typical just when I thought I had found something that works. I will just have to use in small doses,it cant be any worse than side effects of ADs or HRT. Thankyou
silverlady
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AD's totally floored me. Perhaps if I had stuck it out the side effects would have gone but it's difficult when you are being sick and can't function at all.
I am currently taking St John's Wort which I know you are not supposed to on HRT. I did find some research that said it could reduce the effectiveness of both slightly but as it helps me then I am prepared to take the chance. So far so good as my anxiety is slightly more manageable. It's not a miracle but it's better than anything else I have tried. I also take a Beta blocker. I am not sure if that makes any difference but I keep on taking it.
It's difficult to find something that could help that does not have side effects of one kind or another. I have spent a fortune on alternative medicine which has done nothing at all.
Honeyb
X
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It's been known about for a long time - well all the youngsters know about it anyway :lol:
I'd never really thought that MDMA works on serotonin levels before but I suppose it must do if a serotonin booster makes you feel better when you are coming down from it. Food for thought.
Honeybun - my partner uses beta blockers as and when he feels anxious and he says they work. He hasn't needed one for a while though.
Taz x
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Hello,
Just want to say me too, I sympathise with anyone going through this. I started a new job today, -practically the oldest one there,not quite but almost - I am a bag of nerves, no confidence and I look as bad as I feel (mainly thanks to new hair cut! ) I smile alot when nervous and find it difficult to maintain eye contact, so I come across as being a real fruit cake! Thing is how do you explain to people, I can't..
One thing I love that I can;t take myself and that is lemon balm. really wonderful stuff! It is simply the best, that and liquorice. I know I keep goin on about my herbs and teas, but these things help. Lemon balm relaxed me, helped me sleep too. I can't take as it affects my thyroid, (another boring story). I have read, that lemon balm normalises thryoid function, not so sure. However for what it's worth just a few drops of the tincture in some hot water helps. I think I may try it again.
Other herbs like valerian, oats, ashwangandha all help too. One tea that is brilliant is the Relax tea (orange) box by Pukka, marvelous stuff.
I hope this helps, I have tried these remedies and they work!
Best of luck! If you happen to meet someone outside scurrying around and talking 10 to the dozen...bag of nerves.....it's probably me!
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Ooohh I've just read this thread and I am sorry to hear so many people tortured with bad anxiety.
Is it the HRT that has caused this horrible anxiety?
It's scared me a bit, because I am feeling the same anxiety etc, and am about to hopefully start HRT to get rid of my flushes and horrible moods, due to being peri-meno. Well I assume I am. im the right age, and I am having irregular periods and flushes etc etc.
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Add my name to the club. I am so sick and tired of the anxiety, jitters and panic. Never ever had this elevated level of anxiety before going into menopause. It is all down to hormones. Anything stressful brings on the sweating. I catastrophise things like I never used to, yes I am probably a nervous wreck!
Another thing is I am way too oversensitive and noise bothers me so much.
Meg
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Add my name to the club. I am so sick and tired of the anxiety, jitters and panic. Never ever had this elevated level of anxiety before going into menopause. It is all down to hormones. Anything stressful brings on the sweating. I catastrophise things like I never used to, yes I am probably a nervous wreck!
Another thing is I am way too oversensitive and noise bothers me so much.
Meg
Ohh no.
Did HRT cause this?
If so, what sort?
I'm naturally an anxious person, but I don't want to be made worse by HRT.
I am thinking of taking it so my horrible moods go away, not get worse.
Hope you feel better as soon as possible.
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Hi Dandelion - different types of HRT have different types of progesterone and some women react to progesterone. It can give you PMT type symptoms especially if you suffer from PMT as part of your normal cycle. However, there are some members on here who find that the progesterone makes them feel really good and you wont know until you actually try it.
It is usual to try each HRT for around three months before you can get a true picture of how it will help you or not. The progesterone which is most likely to cause anxiety or grumpiness is norethisterone. Do you have other meno symptoms other than the horrible moods?
Taz
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Hi Dandelion - different types of HRT have different types of progesterone and some women react to progesterone. It can give you PMT type symptoms especially if you suffer from PMT as part of your normal cycle. However, there are some members on here who find that the progesterone makes them feel really good and you wont know until you actually try it.
It is usual to try each HRT for around three months before you can get a true picture of how it will help you or not. The progesterone which is most likely to cause anxiety or grumpiness is norethisterone. Do you have other meno symptoms other than the horrible moods?
Taz
Hi Taz, and thanks for getting back to me.
I get hot flushes as well as horrible moods.
I'm worried about being given synthetic progesterone as my friend told me that bio identical progesterone is a lot better, and that synthetic progesterone has caused people a lot of problems.
I am dreading feeling more anxiety etc from the hormones, cos I have had a lot of anxiety etc in my life from medications etc, so I am really overdue for some happiness.
Luckily I don't get PMT.
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Hello, Just started using Oestrogel, 8th day on it and I am feeling better today. I tried the combination patch a couple of months ago, but couldn't get on with it at all. Felt worse really. Using the gel and taking progesterone tablets for 7 days each month. I had so many symptoms of the menopause. Vaginal atrophy, blood in the urine, lack of libido, sweats, anxiety, depression, bad moods, insomnia. I don't know why it took me so long to get it sorted. Because I have always been into doing a lot of fitness I thought I would get rid of all the symptoms with the exercise, but nothing has worked. I have tried so many natural remedies! It is all positive so far, only early days I know.
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...do you think all your symptoms are menopausal or could it be a combination of what is going on in your life as well????
I would talk to you GP.....I went onto antidepressants - citalopram - when I started on HRT too....I was definitely suffering severe menopausal paranoia, depression, panic attacks etc....but then had a huge stress related breakdown...
I resisted anti depressants AND counselling, but finally was SO desperate....would try anything....slowy, slowy things got much better....that was 3 yrs ago....
You Will get better....you WILL move on from this horrid time....just keep plugging away at the help out there.....and know that you deserve better than this....with love and thoughts