Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Essexragdoll on January 23, 2015, 11:01:55 AM
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Hi everyone, just got back from seeing the nurse about starting on HRT. When I described my symptoms she said she was not sure if it was the menopause as I was sleeping ok and my anxiety was constant. She said with meno symptoms the anxiety is normally at certain times of the month. I have had if for about 6 weeks. I do get days that are better than some , but always feel on edge. I have also lost 1/2 a stone and she said that normally women put on weight during this time, but I am not eating much due to my anxiety. She believes I am very depressed ( which is causing my weird lightheadedness) and should start the AD'the doctor prescribed, even though I am not prone to being depressed or anxious apart from a bit of PND 20 years ago!!
I insisted on HRT so she prescribed me 3 months worth of Femoston 1/10. When I went to the chemist to get my prescription he charged me twice as he said it was to separate prescriptions( I was in no mood to argue, but is this correct ?) and then he told me that the delivery was late and that I would have to wait until later to pick them up.
I went back to my car and cried my eyes out. I now don't know which way to turn, I feel so anxious and scared, I am supposed to be going away this weeknd with my husband for his birthday but don't really know how I am going to get through it.
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Oh Essex
I'm 44 perimeno and suffered anxiety almost constantly before HRT now it's occasional. I sleep ok, I lose weight easily if I can't eat due to nausea from anxiety. Everything you describe is me! I'm on Femoston 1/10 and it does help. As for the charges I live inscotland so don't pay but I'm pretty sure this is not a double charge it does not come separately so tell them that.
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Or did you get AD and HRT?
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Glad you got a good HRT as a lot of the other ladies prefer or say to go for this one.
I'm at a loss as how they can charge twice for one set of tablets?
Perhaps you need to check with the doc and see what they say.
In my HRT there is 3 * single burst pack of 28 tablets. So how could they charge twice for that.
In the case of multi-phase Birth control perhaps they should charge 3 or 4 times as the tablets change over the month more!!
Sounds like a rip off or some sort of shady practice.
If the chemist logic applies then you should be charged twice for the co-codamol too.
In terms of the AD. MY own opinion is give the HRT six months first.
Then see how you feel.
Hope all goes better now.
:-*
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Hi Essexragdoll
I don't think the chemist should have charged you twice - perhaps check with your GP or a different chemist about this. Frankly at the moment this is not important. Bravo for standing your ground and getting what you need.
I can really understand you feeling demoralised after having such a negative visit with the nurse - I actually find the practise nurses can be quite harsh at times. Well done for getting the Femoston. As soon as you get it just start taking it. It may take 2-4 weeks to weave it's magic and if your mood is hormonal then this HRT may well help. It's right to try the Femoston first- you can try the ADs later if need be.
Try to stay positive - there is a good chance you will start to feel better very soon. I bet you even feel better this weekend knowing you've taken this positive step forward to getting your life back. Have a good weekend. DG x
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I can't comment on the rest of your post but the price for the Femoston 1/10 is indeed a double price. I tried arguing with my pharmacist but he assured me it was right - it's because you have two different tablets in each pack. Big con if you ask me! I'm on the Femoston 1/5 conti now so that is just a regular prescription.....
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What a rip off >:( thanks millykin it me feel a bit better that your symptoms were as constant as mine,but I am also sorry that you had to go through it. It just shocked me that I could be clinically depressed, i do feel very low and have not managed to get myself out of this feeling since it started 6 weeks ago but have nothing to be depressed about. Am definitely going to try HRT before the AD's as I also think it is hormonal.
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Hi
Ye try HRT first, it lifted my mood. I still get off day but nothing what it was like. I think they like to push AD. I noticed slight difference in days so hope it goes well for you.
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Thanks everyone I just gave a question regarding when I can start Femoston. The leaflet says if I have regular periods to start on day 5 of the bleed, well my periods have been abut irregular and I missed three during the summer months but had one in November and December, not sure if I will be getting one this month or not, it would be due in about 5/6 days, should I wait to see if it arrives or just start taking them now ?
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I hadn't had a bleed for few months so I started straight away but not sure if you should hold of for a week since you will be due then. If nothing appears then start.
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If you can get through the weekend with DH then I would wait before adding anything else to the 'mix'. That way when you period arrives you can start 'as instructed', if you don't bleed have a word with the pharmacist to see what is suggested.
As for prescription charges: years ago, a prescription was that - 1 paid 1 cost for a piece of paper regardless of how many products were on it: 'per prescription' ::) : now we are charged for each drug regardless of the fact that it is requested one 1 sheet ……..
Enjoy your weekend!
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It is scandalous CLKD one box, with 3 strips of 28 pills, £16.00. They are all in the same box so how can they be two separate prescription. Oh well, like dancing girl said that's not important now, at least I have them.
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My advice would be just to start them now. You could have a long wait otherwise.
You might get a bit of a breakthrough around the time of your period but after a couple of months you will settle into a cycle.
Try and enjoy your weekend.
I am also in Scotland so don't pay anything.
Honeyb
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Hello Essexragdoll
Sorry that you are suffering. The practice nurse you spoke to is incorrect about the menopause so perhaps she should spend some time reading this forum! I had an intense, constant anxiety all day every day until about 9pm when it would magically disappear but always return the next morning. During that time my sleep was okay and I didn't put on an ounce. After six months I couldn't take any more so I begun HRT and the anxiety lifted after two weeks. It hasn't been plain sailing and I still have problems but that particular brand of horrible was most certainly hormonal.
I hope the regime you have been given works well for you, if not don't despair, the knowledgeable ladies on this site can guide you through the alternatives. We know what it's like to feel the way you do and help is at hand.
Wishing you well.
K.
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Thanks Kathleen, your comments have really helped, I am similar to you in that my symptoms nearly all disappear in the evening, at the moment I feel almost ok, and then in the mornings it is all back, its really strange. The nurse I spoke to did actually recommend this site and said that when she was going through her change she often went on hear for support, however she did also say that she did not get any real anxiety and HRT did nothing for her at all. She as really nice and did try to understand how I feel, but I suppose if you have never suffered with its hard to really know what someone is going through.
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Hi Essexragdoll
So glad you were able to get what you want - but very sorry to hear about the nurse. I am very surprised that a nurse is able to prescribe a medical treatment for the first time - and especially as this one does not know about menopause!!
Even though you have had irregular periods, as it is only 5 or 6 days until your next due date I agree with CLKD and wait to see if your period comes and if not I would just start Day 1, say - the day after the due date. That way you could possibly synchronise with your cycle - but as honeybun says you may well get a bit of breakthrough bleeding - because your cycle has gone to pot as it does in peri-menopause.
As the others have said - despite how you feel now, you can look forward hopefully to feeling much much better soon, when you settle into the tablets, and I would try to enjoy your weekend in a positive frame of mind if you can .
Hope it goes well :)
Hurdity x
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Thanks hurdity I do feel more positive this evening, but then I am always ok after 7pm, weird. I am going to start taking the tablets on Tuesday even if I have not started my period I just want to start them now I have them. Hopefully the weekend will give me time to relax and enjoy my time with hubby and then I can come home to a fresh start and HRT !!!
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Hi Essexragdoll,
I have very similar symptoms to yours. I wake with horrible anxiety which lasts till early evening then disappears, I lost loads of weight since last April, I sleep ok apart from waking early. I also suffer from nausea at certain times of the month, rashes, dry skin. I can certainly relate to the worry you have about going away too. Last years holiday was hell for me, just managed to get through for the kids. I had an FSH test last year that showed I was perimenopausal so these are certainly related symptoms.
Am sure you'll see results from the HRT when you get started,good luck! :foryou:
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Oh jedigirl it's so horrible isn't it. I feel fine most evenings and often wonder why I made such a fuss about it but come the morning " bang" the anxiety hits me. I also wake really early in the mornings. I am really going to try to enjoy the weekend for my OH as he has been so good to me during this time.
Do you mind me asking what you are doing to relieve your symptoms ?
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Sorry I have just seen one of your recent posts and now know what you are taking
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Hi, yes am switching on Monday to a different regime as have worked out I am better on more progesterone! Was fine on Femoston1/10 for two weeks of the month but when i went back onto estrogen only felt terrible.
I laughed when i read your last post as I am like that every night! I give myself the chat " Remember how good you feel this evening, get a grip of yourself, you're okay!" then wake next morning with the worries of the world bearing down on me! I even say to my hubby when we go to sleep "when I'm crazy in the morning remind me it'll go away again!" Blimey it's no fun is it?!
I also keep a small stash of diazepam for absolute emergencies (especially when i need to work) but only ever take a half tablet on an awful morning to get me through to the evening again. The GP is happy to let me have 5 at a time and the last five has lasted three months. It helps sometimes just knowing I have the option.
It might help you to know for this weekend that Benadryl (over the counter antihistamine) is helpful if your anxiety is spoiling your weekend away. I used it a couple of times before i had anything else and it relaxed me. If you google it there is information. You probably couldn't drink alcohol with them though.
Have a great time
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I can relate to everything you say, I even say the same to my husband in the evening, I am thinking of writing down how I feel before I go to bed so in the morning when I get up with terrible anxiety I can remind myself that it will get better later. I have proponol (beta blockers) that I take when it all gets too much and it help take the sting out of it. Thanks for your chat, I hpe your new regime works out for you
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Thanks essexgirl, sorry didn't realise you had something for those awful moments, for some reason I assumed you weren't on anything yet(not sure why) or I wouldn't have suggested the benadryl.
I write stuff down , keep a diary of how I'm feeling. It helps you to spot patterns you may not otherwise notice.
Take care x
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I've got propranalol too, was on it from dec12 -July 13, cut down after I had been on Femoston fir couple of months, started that april 13 and still got some for back up but haven't touched them but been close some days
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Hello Essexragdoll
Sorry you are struggling. Just to let you know I understand exactly how you feel, as I often feel just the same. I dread events that 'normally' I would really look forward to.
My anxiety/random fear just arrived out of the blue his time last year. It has been horrible and looking back I don't know how I got through some of the blackest days. The only other time I have ever experienced anything like this was when I had PND after my first child was born. In fact the anxiety and feelings of dread were identical. It was this that started to make me suspicious that my sudden anxiety/depression must be hormonal, and not just general anxiety like my GP kept telling me.
On my GP's advice I took ADs for 7 months, but although the masked my symptoms quite well I just didn't feel like myself. I fought for a referral to a PMS/Menopause clinic and the consultant gynaecologist immediately diagnosed me with hormone related anxiety/depression due to being peri menopausal.
I have since learned that many consultant gynaecologists are growing concerned at the sheer amount of women being prescribed ADs when they just need hormone therapy.
I really hope you manage to get away for the weekend. I usually find that if I am dreading something, but make myself do it then it is much better than I expected. Let us know how you get on xxx
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Oh and I have lost a stone over the last 3 months, mainly because the anxiety kills my appetite.
I also keep a mood diary every day. Like Jedigirl says it really helps you keep track of yourself, and makes you feel slightly more in control. It also helped me spot that I often dip badly as my period ends, and I sometimes dip again just after ovulation.
Basically my body can't handle ANY changes to hormone levels. But it helps to remind yourself 'Hang on, this happened the same time last month. I can see it did in my Mood Diary.'