Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: daisie on October 23, 2013, 07:12:44 AM
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hi,is there any of you ladies out there who suffer from anxiety with the menopause can tell me your symptoms and how you cope with it, thanks
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There are many if us suffer with anxiety and for me it's the very worse part of meno.
I think it affects us all in different ways but for me it's social anxiety. I panic in very busy places. I struggle to stand in a queue in a shop. I don't eat out any more. My driving is rubbish. Oh I could go on. It has impacted on my life in a big way as I used to be very capable and confident.
I have tried all sorts. More HRT, less HRT, different HRT. Herbal supplements, beta blockers, Diazepam and St John's Wort.
It's been going on for over a year now and is just a little better.
I take a Beta blocker in the morning, I use HRT and although you are not supposed to take St John's Wort I do because it does help me.
Not terribly cheery really but you are not alone.
Some of our ladies take AD's but I could not cope with them.
How does your anxiety affect you ?
Honeyb
X
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Daisie I do too. I started having meno symptoms in Feb. I am 50. I was so shocked I thought I would be a late menopauser no idea why. March started with palpitations & a bit panicky, nausea. My periods where so unpredictable, totally random. I could still do stuff though. Fast forward a few mths & I had been back & forth to docs with no help. I withdrew totally from friends etc, Couldn't do the usual seaside trips with the kids in August. I stopped working. By September I was so poorly with nausea I felt like I was pregnant, I couldn't eat, sleep or go out. Mid Septmeber I had finally had a blood test & it didn't show meno. I came home & thought well what is wrong with me then? Had a bit of a crisis & was prescibed an AD (sertraline) diazepam & sleeping tablets. I still feel like I need hormones. I had a period that finished last Sunday & today I have woken up with period pains.
I have to say though that I used to get nausea the day before my period & feel anxious & not sleep the night before one started all through my life. It was totally manageable though & I always found if I could control the pain it helped. I can't take strong pain killers now due to the other meds, I need to speak to the doc about this as I forgot last time. I made this decision myself to just take paracetomal for now, it seems sensible.
I hope this answers your question about anxiety. How am I coping though? Probably not well. I try to keep busy. I no longer go out. I think I just got so bad over 6 mths of docs not helping I got in a hole. I am digging!
Please tell us about yourself. B x
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hi honeybun,iv had anxiety for a while now been taking amitryptine for the past 4 years,doesnt seem to be doing anything at all now for me ,these past few days I have felt all my symptoms creeping back up on me yesterday I felt realy panicy shakey with the horrid fearful thoughts woke this morning in a state of panic apetite has gone feeling nausies week and drained x
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Firstly: :hug: I had my first panic attack at aged 3 and anxiety has followed me everywhere. But not continually as it did as I aged >:(. I have in the past used Valium on an 'as necessary' basis, the night before an event and the morning before we travelled. The GP eventually prescribed BetaBlockas which have been a Life saver. The depression is controlled mostly by an anti-depressant and once I find a drug which suits, I have been lucky in that they last for years before my brain needs a boost.
Eating well will stop anxiety surges. Low blood sugar at this 'time' of Life can cause surges, caused by hormonal ups and downs. When I am anxious though I can't eat :-\.
I remember the deep fear on waking. :'( .......... I also have busy, worrying dreams when stressed.
Blood tests are notoriously unreliable to show where we are as hormone levels alter many times a day. If your GP prescribes ADs then go with it if you can, because it will lift your mood and help ease the anxiety. Then you can make a list and discuss your hormone requirements with your Practice Nurse.
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hi clkd,iv been taking the amitriptyline for 4 years now,they seem to have stopped working for me what ads are you taking,i know I need something like diazepam to calm the nerves down ,but the doctors here don't like giving them to you .I had a blood test a few months ago it showed my estrogen and progesterone was low,iv not been taking homones as my sister died of breast cancer at the age of 35 realy need something to ease these symptoms im going to ring the doctors now x
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I really hope they will give you the help you need.
There is lots of support here. I don't know what I would have done without my forum friends to help and reassure me along the way.
Just thought I would say.
:thankyou:
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Same here wasn't till they stopped the HRT abruptly after breast cancer scare that mine appeared went back on it but never been the same since. Family circumstances changed deaths in family and OH diagnosed with PTSD just hit a brick wall now on Diazepam Prozac and HRT must rattle when i walk, now seeing a Phychiaritist (sp) had to give up job i loved hate crowds takes me all my time to get out and mix with people. Stand on the outside looking in now lost loads of weight feel as though people are staring at me stupid isn't it. Going on holiday soon and dreading it but have to pluck up the courage for OH sake.
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hi honeybun and leony just phoned the surgery got appointment with the nurse at 5-45 finished up crying down the phone , she says it sounds like anxiety,i told her the amitriptyline is not working, so shes going to sort something out ill let you know what I finish up with x
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Hello daisie.
I'm another member who has suffered with anxiety. Since my periods stopped three years ago I've had a few extreme episodes and on each occasion my GP has been able to prescribe something to help.
Wishing you well and keep posting. You are not alone in this believe me.
Take care.
K.
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Hi Kathleen thanks for posting,what meds did they offer you to help get through it,symptoms I'm having seem to be more severe at the moment ,cannot pull myself round x
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Daisie I do too. I started having meno symptoms in Feb. I am 50. I was so shocked I thought I would be a late menopauser no idea why. March started with palpitations & a bit panicky, nausea. My periods where so unpredictable, totally random. I could still do stuff though. Fast forward a few mths & I had been back & forth to docs with no help. I withdrew totally from friends etc, Couldn't do the usual seaside trips with the kids in August. I stopped working. By September I was so poorly with nausea I felt like I was pregnant, I couldn't eat, sleep or go out. Mid Septmeber I had finally had a blood test & it didn't show meno. I came home & thought well what is wrong with me then? Had a bit of a crisis & was prescibed an AD (sertraline) diazepam & sleeping tablets. I still feel like I need hormones. I had a period that finished last Sunday & today I have woken up with period pains.
I have to say though that I used to get nausea the day before my period & feel anxious & not sleep the night before one started all through my life. It was totally manageable though & I always found if I could control the pain it helped. I can't take strong pain killers now due to the other meds, I need to speak to the doc about this as I forgot last time. I made this decision myself to just take paracetomal for now, it seems sensible.
I hope this answers your question about anxiety. How am I coping though? Probably not well. I try to keep busy. I no longer go out. I think I just got so bad over 6 mths of docs not helping I got in a hole. I am digging!
Please tell us about yourself. B x
[/quotehi bev,yes I can say your symptoms are the same as mine,I also feel I'm in a dark hole and can't pull myself out of it I just don't feel like going any where] don't even feel like going to the doctors but I must make the effort this to me must be one of the worst symptoms of the menopause,when you think the anxiety is over ,it tends to creep back up then hits you like a ton of bricks x
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I take 5mg Cipralex morning and evening plus a 40mg Betablocka at night. If necessary I add the Betablocka in the morning. When really grounded with anxiety my GP is able to prescribe an 'emergency' only medication for short term use. Valium worked for me and you might suggest that you have that for 5 days to even out your anxiety. Then ask for it on an as necessary basis, used thus, not many people become addicted.
Rescue Remedy can help too.
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Hi clkd',I do take a beta blocka,have done for years for my blood pressure, has cipralex got a different name Iv heard of citarolapram ,think I will ask for Valium for short term ,would not give it me before said it was addictive,so gave me amttriptyline ,Iv been hooked on them for over. 4 years now but they never said anything about being hooked on them how I feel at the moment I will try anything x
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Amitriptalyne (sp) is given for many different medical problems. I was given it for neuralgia and it made not a bit of difference :'(.
If you are not feeling any benefit then you need to speak with your GP about weaning off. Cipralex is similar to Citalopran ........... Explain that you are aware of the apparent dangers of Valium and other quick fix anxiety relievers but that you will be careful and if they work on an 'as required basis' then you will know how to be more in control.
It was when I thought I couldn't have any more 'emergency' medication that my anxiety levels rose to uncontrollable :-\
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Hi clkd I'll keep you up on what she gives me ,I will ask for the Valium ,need a quick fix to calm my nerves down ,do you still take the Valium x
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Hi daisie,
I'm an anxiety sufferer too >:( my worse meno symptom. >:(
The last time I had a bad spell my GP put me on the AD Mirtazapine.
This had a calming effect and gave me a good nights sleep.
Within 2 weeks I was feeling better and a month I was totally back to myself. :)
I still take 15mg each night and it has been good for me. :)
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I've been on Sertraline for about 6 months now and they have helped me, I am also seeing a psychologist on the NHS for CBT and in the New Year, I am due to start a mindfulness course run by the same department. In the meantime, I have been familiarising myself with the practice of mindfulness and I am finding it helpful. I'm coming off my HRT now as it wasn't making any difference to my anxiety at all. It's still there but less than it was and I do feel I am making progress. Some ladies can't take ADs but I've had virtually no side effects at all from mine and hope to stay on them in the longer term because I believe they help my brain to be more "normal". If you see what I mean ::)
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Haven't taken Valium for 10 years. One day they made me feel really really weird ..........
The GP will give me a 'quick fix' when required, fortunately - can't remember the name of course ::)
I find that if I take one as soon as any anxiety begins then it eases symptoms sooner rather than hoping it will on it's own
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Hi daisie, I too suffer with the dreaded anxiety, since peri menopause set in. It's not easy dealing with it, I'm not taking hrt, I'm on a trycylic anti depressant which has helped but I feel that in the last 8 months or so they are not as effective, Been on them around 2 1/2 years now so maybe they lose their efficacy over time. I find the anxiety is up and down sometimes worse than others with no obvious outside stressors therefore it seems likely hormone surges etc can bring the anxiety on again, which is depressing. I do have low dose valium to take when it gets unbearable, if I didn't have asthma I'd defo give beta blockers a try. I'm due for a doctors review soon so I guess she may change my anti depressant, I'm limited though as I didn't do well with newer ssri anti depressants, they actually made my stomach bleed, which I think is rare but can happen.
Unfortunately anxiety does seem to be a common symptom during the menopause transition and this forum is such a help as not many women seem to discuss this aspect openely. I think I could write a book on all the symptoms I've had but it does help when you accept it as part of the menopause, as I type this my heart is flip flopping which I've also had on and off for the last couple of years. Had the 24 hr monitors, heart scan etc, all fine - still bloomin annoying though. Keep posting on here, it does help, I dip in and out and don't post too often now but just reading other posts helps me x
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Hi to all you have posted ,just to say went to the doctors no way would she give me Valium says it was too addictive ,I told her so is the amitriptyline Iv not been able to get off it tried a few times but had no look but nothing was said about that ,so she upped the dosage 25mg and to have some counceling,,had it before long time ago didn't do much at all ,I'll just carry on with the extra25 and see how I get on thanks for all your comments x
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Hi daisie, vallium is very addictive, but i find if taken sensibly it's a huge help to maybe take a low dose - 2 mg if anxiety ramping up, my doc trusts me with it, I can go months without. You may find the extra 25 mg of anti depressant does the trick. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you .
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Hi jj I did try to tell her I would be ok with it just for severe cases like yesterday ,no way would she let me have any ,so I didn't push it ,I took the extra25mg last night that took my dosage to 75mg. Of amitriptyline I felt a bit out of it this morning at the moment I don't feel as bad as yesterday could be that the 50mg has stopped working that's what Iv been on for the past 4 years ,couldn't see why she could not have gave me such a small dose for when the anxiety is bad ,I'll just see how this works for now thanks for your post x
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Daisie, Diazepam is addictive but my GP gave me up to 8mg a day to help with the AD side effects & then when I saw the CBT people they have a doctor in house who doubled the AD & gave me up to 15mg of diazepam a day. Seems I can't get hormones which is what I wanted but I can get benzo's you can't win can you. B x
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Hi bev,no you can't win ,I know they would help me through this,I do really want to come off the amitriptyline they have put me a lot of weight on which makes me feel worse ,try telling that to the doctor she was not bothered,the amitriptyline is addictive as well,but it did not bother her to give me a higher dose ,I can't take hormones as we'll they gave me them ,I tried them couldn't not tolerate them at all ,made me feel worse well looks like I'll have to keep trying my higher dose ,I'm going to go for some counceling they will know more than the doctor ,I'll ask and see what they have to say thanks bev for getting back to me x
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I would go to a Pharamacist for a chat! Given correctly and over-seen, Valium can be used as an emergency drug ........ seems your GP is over-worried about addiction! but less concerned that your current symptoms are over-whelming you. Is there another GP in the Practice?
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Dyan I have just googled your AD & it sounds ideal for me as it says it helps nausea & increases appetite. I am going to ask about it on Tuesday. It also has a side effect of constipation!! I have to take immodium every day for one of my Sertraline SE's. Are you in the UK as it may be something not given here? Its also given to cats but I shall ignore that bit ;D B x
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Hi clkd ,yes there are a few doctors at the surgery I'm going back to see another doctor,you are right she was more worried about the addiction and not how I was feeling I'm still waking up feeling full of panic and feeling nauseas will keep you up dated x
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I remember well the DEEP fear on waking, anytime after 3.30 a.m. :'( .......... and the worry that these feelings would never go away or become worse. <sigh> ......... it did pass with the help of a very GOOD GP and a loving husband ;) and fortunately when I get struck down with anxiety my GP is supportive.
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I wish I had your GP CLKD.
I always see different ones and as you might have seen on my thread,"Advice please"
I am still waiting for a GP to phone back on whether I can up the Mirtazapine as the old anxiety is creeping in again.
The GP who prescribed it a few months ago has left the practice and I WAS doing great on it before so think I might just need to up it.
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Dyan - up it whilst waiting? For a few days? I self medicate when required then go back to the 'prescribed' dose. With GP's knowledge.
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:thankyou:I knew I could rely on you CLKD.
I am thinking I should up it but anxious because I feel I need that permission to and to how much more to take. :-\
I take it at night so it will have to wait until then as it makes me tired.
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Bev567901,
Yes I'm in the UK
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I have written it down now thank you Dyan so I can ask about it on Tuesday. If you know that the dose you are on is quite a low one & a higher dose is more than acceptable I guess you could risk it. You might find the GP suggests more when you get a chance to see them which would make your increase acceptable. Thank goodness we have the net to google stuff like this. I think because it is sedating you may have to weigh it up if you take anything else in the sedating catergory. I can't take strong painkillers now & I'm down to paracetamol which is useless for period cramps. B x
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Hi Daisy,
I can totally sympathize with what your going through, I started the peri-menopause stage about 18 months ago and was housebound, with panic attacks , nausea, diarrhea, unable to function, breathing all over the place. thankfully I was referred to a meno clinic and got advice. I now have a Mirena coil fitted and am on 75mg Evoril patches, I also take fluoxetine 30mg and have diazepam in case of emergencies.
It has taken about a year but I now feel so much better, I have only had 1 small blip in the last 6 months and now know that when my hormones break through and cause a surge of panic I can take a diazepam 2mg and in about 20 mins its gone.
I think you should ask to be referred to a meno specialist as they are more aware of the side effects of the meno.
I know I am relying on a lot of medicine to get by, but I am glad I am able to function normally now.
Tink
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Tink- sometimes we need the help of medication,no shame in that.
I take 80mg fluoxetine for OCD and 15mg Mirtazapine for anxiety as well as hrt.
With the help of these meds especially fluoxetine I would not be getting quality of life.
That's what matters.it doesn't matter if it's with the help of medication.
I know what I prefer.
Dyan x
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Thanks Dyan,
I think this website is marvelous, I have learned so much, its reassuring to know that there are people out there who understand what I am going through and offer advice when I need it
Tink x
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You're welcome Tink. :)
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If we are hungry most of us eat! When dry we drink ......... if we were dealing with a chronic illness, i.e. diabetes, would we not take our meds as suggested? Why is there still a stigma about mental health treatment and menopause symptoms >:(
Dyan - you could ask your Pharmacist for advice, they are usually open until 5.00 p.m. ? Give 'Lloyds' or 'Boots' a ring ;) I don't think a few nights would do any harm, say 2/3 to help even out how you are feeling. You know that the drug works, perhaps your brain has been busier of late ;)