Menopause Matters Forum
General Discussion => New Members => Topic started by: AuntyBiz on October 17, 2015, 10:22:06 AM
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Hi there
I'd just like to say hello and thank blimming heck I have found the forum. I am 48 and have been peri-menopausal/menopausal since the beginning of the year. My physical symtpoms are not too onerous as I used to have an overactive thyroid so was constantly hot so I'm kind of used to that ;) My main problems are my mood swings and the pshycological issues which accompany the menopause. The lack of self worth, the lack of self esteem, the 'is this it then?' types of feelings, the 'I'm running out of time' feelings. I'm hoping this isn't just me otherwise I will feel even more crackers than I do already. My moods can vary hour by hour too. I also suffer from depression so I;m on Venlafaxine and also Climagest (for the moods) which helped initially.
Is it just me?? :-\
Lots of love
Biz xx
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:welcomemm:
You're not alone & you're not crackers!
There are others on here who will be more able to relate to your issues than me. We all seem to suffer in different ways to varying degrees. Nobody told us, we've all had to find out. That's why this forum is a God send, or we'd all be heading for the funny farm. :)
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:welcomemm:
Welcome to our world :)
You are not alone - don't fret.
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:welcomemm: sounds 'within normal limits' from where I'm sitting ::)
Browse round. Ask questions! My Anti-depressants ease the illness but I get break-through low mood so I up my doseage as required. Then when my brain feels better I go back to my maintenance dose.
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Hi Biz
Taz x :welcomemm:
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;D
Thank you so much for your welcomes and replies!! Really really appreciate them.
I'm so glad I'm not alone. When my moods are 'ok' I wonder why I get myself into such a tangle and then when I'm feeling low I question whether I'm ever going to feel 'normal' .
It's great to know I can come here & talk to lovelies who understand.
Biz xxx
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Hi Aunty Biz
.... and another :welcomemm: from me too!
When you say you were peri-menopausal since the beginning of the year does this mean you've been going through a while of irregular periods etc?
Because you are taking Venlafaxine and Climagest ie ADs and HRT, both of which reduce and often eliminate flushes and sweats and improve mood, it is likely your physical menopausal symptoms will be mild - at least that you won't experience debilitating flushes and sweats. This is why you are probably noticing the mood swings etc a bit more. The HRT will prevent the worst of the fluctuations in oestrogen - ie the mood dips at the end of the cycle, because there is a constant dose. Are you on 1 mg or 2 mg? If on 1 mg and you find this is insufficient there is always the 2 mg dose to increase to as your own cycle gets weaker.
Are your moods dependent on your cycle and is/was your depression also related to hormones?
The other thing is that the progestogen in Climagest can also cause unwanted side effects in some women - so perhpas you notice a difference in the second part of the HRT cycle and more pmt when you start a new pack.change to the oestorgen only tablets? If this is the case you might consider changing to a different type such as Femoston 1/10 or 2/10 which is very well tolerated and the progestogen in this one is most similar to our own natural progesterone.
In the meantime you might like to read this artcile which explains what's happening to the body during peri-menopause, if you haven't seen it already! http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/article-perils-of-the-perimenopause.php
Hope this helps :)
Hurdity x
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Hello AuntyBiz and welcome to the forum.
My trusty meno book talks about lack of self esteem as being a typical problem and given what we are going through it's hardly surprising!
You are not alone by any means.
Take care.
K.
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Hi Hurdity
I'm so sorry it's taken me forever to respond to you, and thank you so miuch for your reply. It was extremely enlightening and helpful. I'm on 1mg of Climagest which I'm assuming is the lowest doseage.
Last year my GP said I was probably peri-menopausal when they did tests on my hormones but earlier this year when my moods were getting significantly worse (and usually just before a period) I asked my GP to test my hormones again and I was in the peri-menopause and practically in the menopause apparently.
Thank you for explaining why my physical symptoms are probably milder, one GP did explain to me that Venlafaxine reduces hot flushes so every cloud. I do get hot on a nighttime but not as bad as I've heard some ladies experience this. I was always overly hot prior to having my overactive thyroid diagnosed so I'm pretty much used to always having a wet forehead!
My moods definitely seem to be cyclical and at least once a month I becoming overwhelmingly tired and have to go to bed at about 7.30. Again this isn't all the time but seems to be about once a month.
Is that usual?
Tahnk you for the article, I will read that with interest.
And once again thank you so much, you've been a blimming star!!!!! :-* :)
Hi Aunty Biz
.... and another :welcomemm: from me too!
When you say you were peri-menopausal since the beginning of the year does this mean you've been going through a while of irregular periods etc?
Because you are taking Venlafaxine and Climagest ie ADs and HRT, both of which reduce and often eliminate flushes and sweats and improve mood, it is likely your physical menopausal symptoms will be mild - at least that you won't experience debilitating flushes and sweats. This is why you are probably noticing the mood swings etc a bit more. The HRT will prevent the worst of the fluctuations in oestrogen - ie the mood dips at the end of the cycle, because there is a constant dose. Are you on 1 mg or 2 mg? If on 1 mg and you find this is insufficient there is always the 2 mg dose to increase to as your own cycle gets weaker.
Are your moods dependent on your cycle and is/was your depression also related to hormones?
The other thing is that the progestogen in Climagest can also cause unwanted side effects in some women - so perhpas you notice a difference in the second part of the HRT cycle and more pmt when you start a new pack.change to the oestorgen only tablets? If this is the case you might consider changing to a different type such as Femoston 1/10 or 2/10 which is very well tolerated and the progestogen in this one is most similar to our own natural progesterone.
In the meantime you might like to read this artcile which explains what's happening to the body during peri-menopause, if you haven't seen it already! http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/article-perils-of-the-perimenopause.php
Hope this helps :)
Hurdity x
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Thank you soooooo much K, I'm glad I'm not alone.
Biz
xxxxxx
Hello AuntyBiz and welcome to the forum.
My trusty meno book talks about lack of self esteem as being a typical problem and given what we are going through it's hardly surprising!
You are not alone by any means.
Take care.
K.
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Welcome from me too AuntBiz.
Like you my anxiety levels change on a day to day, or hour by hour basis.
I go from fine when I get up, to absolutely sky high health-related anxiety by the time I get to the office... usually it goes by lunchtime, but sometimes it doesn't. It gets on my nerves >:(
I lost my confidence in driving at nighttime last year. This year I'm back in the zone and singing my way home from evening classes ;D I also lost confidence in my ability to do my job - some tasks I used to do without batting and eyelid had me in buckets of sweat just thinking about them.
As Hurdity says, your physical symptoms will be helped by the combination of venlafaxine (I've been on this twice for GAD) and HRT.
You are so not alone :hug:
Galadriel x
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hi biz from another newbie i also suffer from the feeling of despair and anxiety so im glad to hear the stories from others on here makes me feel a bit more normal (ish) lol xx
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Helllloooooooooooooo @galadriel and @boxerheaven
Thank you for your replies - it's such a relief (obvs not for you experiencing the symptoms ;) ) for me to know other ladies get where I'm coming from!
I never even realised that Venlafaxine would help with the flushes, I still get warm but not to the extent I've seen one of my colleagues where her head nearly pops off with the heat!
Earlier in the year I had an interview for a job ion London (the interview not the job ) and I ended up withdrawing my app because I was worried about how hot and sweaty I would be by the time I'd travelled there on the train and then the tube and then the walk to where the interview was being held! And I had a complete confidence fail and thought I wouldn't be able to do the job. It's a nightmare isn't it.
The change in moods is dreadful and I just have to remind myself that it will pass but it's not easy.
Boxerheaven and Galadriel do you do anything specific to cope with the moods? My excess chin hair is also beginning to get to me! ;D
AuntyBiz xxxxxx
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i just tend to go with it now saturday i was in tears walking the dog but monday i felt ok and today ok this morning now i feel quite down again .,,, but its nice to have the forum xx
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Hi AuntyBiz,
I try a combination of mindful meditation, yoga breathing techniques and a technique taught to me by my psychologist... a good walk also helps. Like boxerheaven, I kinda go with it, acknowledge it and I try to remember that it will pass and to enjoy the good moments while they're here. I find that keeping my hands busy with a task can also help - I knit. So far my DD's scarf is nearly as tall as me ;D
Galadriel x
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Good afternoon @Galadriel and @Boxerheaven wise words ladies! I should take up knitting i have three balls of wool and knitting needles stashed away in my cupboards! I took up colouring during the summer months and that certainly kept me occupied but with the dark nights that I haven't bothered as much.
A good walk is also v therapeutic and my pooch reaps the benefit too :)
xxx
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Hi again AuntyBiz
Were your periods irregular when you had the blood tests done and was it before you started the HRT? The thing is blood tests are very unreliable in diagnosing whether a woman is near menopause and the FSH levels can go into the post-menopausal range even while periods are still happening sporadically. Your cycle changes are a better indication (as well as some symptoms), and the new NICE Guidelines do not now recommend that blood tests are carried out for women of your age.
Hopefully the Climagest will help you and even out your mood swings. If you find that it doesn't do as well as you hoped or you have undesirable side effects, then there are always other products to try :)
Yes to walking - one of the best therapies around and with so many mental and physical health benefits!
Hurdity x
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Hi @Hurdity
My periods were irregular, fluctuating between every couple of weeks to every six weeks and back again. The previous year my GP said I was almost peri-menopausal so I assumed I was heading that way. I had bloods done before I went onto the HRT and my mood swings have definitely calmed down an awful lot. Prior to taking HRT my moods were definitely aligning with when my periods were due (although I didn't know they were due as they'd become sporadic which is probably why I felt so emotional/anxious/weepy/crabby so often! As soon as I started on the Climagest it was like my old self had returned. Luckily I haven't had any side effects with it :)
You are a mine of knowledge!
AuntyBiz x
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I am the Queen of Mood Swings. They are such a nightmare. I can wake up with awful anxiety and waves of dread sweeping over me. Then I spend the day feeling really jittery, like I HAVE to keep busy or something dreadful will happen, and I'm scared to be alone. Then in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea I can feel my mood lifting and the anxiety fade away. Then I can feel great for the next 24 hours, or even the next 2 weeks. But the depression and acid anxiety always comes back.
And the really cruel thing is that when I'm 'bad' I am convinced I will never feel 'good' again, even though I keep a mood diary so can see in black & white that I HAVE been this down 100 times before and ALWAYS improve again. But the low mood and anxiety are so severe that they stop me being able to think objectively or logically.
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@GypsyRoseLee
I'm so glad I'm not alone. Before I went on HRT I remember one night googling suicide websites and the Samaritans because I felt so depressed and then within a few hours it would subside but it was very scary getting to the point where I was having suicidal thoughts. Once I started on the HRT it did become better.
Huge hugs being sent out there!
xxxx
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You're not alone AuntyBiz. There are quite a few of us on here struggling far more with the psychological anxiety and depression elements of peri menopause as opposed to the classic hot flushes and vaginal atrophy etc.
At times over the last two years I have been in a very dark place. Thankfully I never stay there for too long. Before peri menopause I couldn't comprehend why anyone would commit suicide. But now I really do. I think they spend too long in the same dark place and it would break the strongest of people.
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@GypsyRoseLee so glad you said that. I could literally change from hour to hour, When I started taking HRT it was like someone had returned the 'old' me. I'm not saying I dash around swinging from the chandeliers now (I wish) but the fact the HRT has stabilised my periods so when I do feel bleak it's normally I guess what could be classed as 'PMT' and is just monthly as opposed to every couple of weeks. I never realised it would have such an impact on my moods. :-\ :'(
xxxxxxxx