Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Lesley66 on March 26, 2017, 09:01:16 PM
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Hi All, This is my first post. I'm a health anxiety sufferer and I've had a great few years until recently.
I had my last period in September 2015, followed by about 14 months of hot flashes. These finished in about Nov of last year, followed be a few weeks of feeling relieved that the worst was now over! Wrong! The health anxiety that hit me so badly early in peri started to hit in December, when I felt a slight tingling in my right big toe. Stupidly I googled and hit on peripheral neuropathy. Not being diabetic I fixated on the fact that it can be caused by alcohol abuse. I'm partial as are a lot of people to a few glasses of wine during the weekends but I'm far from being an alcoholic, in fact I've only recently in the last couple of years started having the odd glass of wine after years of not drinking! I know it's stupid but health anxiety makes you fixate on what dr google tells you for whatever stupid reason! After much fretting a trip to my GP several weeks ago tells me the tingling is due to a irritated nerve in the top of my foot. Mind at rest? No ...
My muscles ache in my arms (probably meno). We just had to take the cat to be rehomed as it's weeing all over the house (major stress and upset). Teaching secondary in a deprived area academy with kids who don't want to know and bring accountable for their results, and the latest .... well I thought I had a tummy bug (wind, belching, gripping lower abdominal pain, bit like period pain, began last Sunday, manifested in diarrea on Tuesday-Thursday, poor appetite, fine Friday and yesterday but back today) googled again and now terrified I have ovarian cancer. Symptoms also match ibs, which I have suffered from undiagnosed I suspect in the past. I'm at my wits end, I'm 50 but have an 8 year old. I've been on ssri meds in the past which helped greatly and have a gp appointment this coming Tuesday but when does this all end? Does anyone else have this crippling anxiety?
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Join The Club - every ache becomes cancer and every headache a brain tumour >:( ::) - you'll fit right in!
As oestrogen levels drop apparently muscles may become lax = aches and pains which can be eased by over the counter pain relief. Also the body may dry out: deep in the ears, nostrils, skin, vagina :o (we have threads on the latter ::))
Anxiety seems to catch ladies un-awares and can become quite distressing. usually caused by hormonal upheavals, HRT can ease symptoms as can some anti-depressant medication and/or anti-anxiety drugs. I take a beta-blocka as well as ADs plus an emergency pill for when anxiety floors me.
Browse round. Make notes!
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Poor you Lesley66- it floors you doesn't it? Think you are going absolutely tonto and Mr Google can make things so much worse. I have a bruise on my big toe ( dropped a full bottle of gin on it. The bottle didn't break. if it had I think it would have been more upset about that than breaking my toe )
It was painful but didn't really think anything of it until I went for a pedicure and it was pointed out to me (my toenails are always painted ). Of course, Mr Google tells me I've got a melanoma even although it looked nothing like it. So that's me clocked up another sleepless night. Even although your head is telling you something else, the shadows just keep getting bigger until they resemble a monster. Well, welcome to the Menopause!
Your job sounds stressful and your son is still young so you've got a lot on your plate and stress makes the symptoms worse.
Have you considered HRT- have a read of the stuff on the site and go and see your GP. Might be worth a try but as CLKD rightly says, different strokes for different folks. You're on a journey and just need to find the right path which can take time as trial and error to find what works for you.
I suffer from IBS- sounds like you've got some digestive issues- again common in menopause or maybe just a plain old tummy bug this time round?
Hope you start to feel better soon- keep us posted xx
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"Floors you" is EXACTLY that - hence my need for an emergency pill :'(
How are you this morning Lesley66?
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Hi, Thanks for all your replies. It is good to hear from people who understand my struggles.
Still feeling rubbish, pain in mid left abdomen which is common for me when I'm stressed, some lower pelvic pain relieved by passing wind, no appetite (probably worry), feeling tearful, feeling like a poor parent/wife, terrified that I have something sinister .... the list goes on.
On a positive note there's been a lot of kids off with tummy bugs today, but I can't believe a tummy bug would go then return.
While I'm worrying like this I have no quality of life. So fed up with myself, thanks for listening xxx
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You would know if it was a tummy 'bug' ........
When I am full of wind I can chart it's movement because my belly moves ;D - a gentle prodding gets it moving can't remember whether it's clockwise or not :D. Generally works, especially when I'm in a warm bath ;)
There are emergency pills for acute anxiety, some of us find relief with Rescue Remedy too.
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Hi Lesley,
Just to try to reassure you, I had your stomach symptoms last week. Now I do suffer from IBS but this was definitely a stomach bug and I had the same pain in mid left abdomen and lower pelvic pain relieved by passing wind. I had a very uncomfortable week. It lasted most of the week and then Saturday my period arrived (even earlier this month and very heavy). If you do have IBS and you are stressed, stress exacerbates IBS.
I too have aching arms which the physio put down to poor posture causing my muscles to tighten.
I have a family member with anxiety so I know it is very debilitating and hard to overcome, so I wish you well.
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Again, Thankyou for your kindness and support - it really means a lot!
One thing I have been told I do when I am anxious is swallow a lot, which could account for the wind (swallowing air) I guess there's not much I can do now until I see my GP tomorrow who will have a fix on whether there is some tummy lurgy circulating and maybe laugh me out of the surgery, or send me for a battery of tests on my suspected 'ovarian cancer' symptoms. Either way I am confident that I need some medication to calm me. I was on a low dose of sertraline a few years back which was a really happy and settled period, funnily enough this came about as I was back and forth to my GP with some of the same left sided stitch type pain I'm currently experiencing - husband was doing consultancy work away from home at the time and I was left holding the fort and my then 5 year old, with HA going haywire! I'd give anything to feel like that again at present even though I know that the first few weeks of taking an AD is tough!
Megamind - I have very poor posture too, I'd not thought to relate that to the achy arms, and thankyou for sharing your tummy bug experience, its very helpful. I remember the early, heavy periods well, they're draining aren't they!
CLKD - I've not heard of rescue remedy, I will google it now and see if I can pick any up on my way home. DD is at a friend's this evening so I have some free time.
Lesley x
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Yep, I know. At the moment I have Trigeminal neuralgia!!!!! (aka sinusitis) ::) I also have heart disease (ectopic heartbeats caused by anxiety no less!! :oops:) and Labyrinthitis (aka mild tinnitus and wax build up.
Anxiety/health anxiety is the pits and will not listen to reason once it really gets going.
My latest outburst has coincided with my husband being away for a few days, so heightening my overall anxiety which is usually under a certain degree of control following a year's psychotherapy.
You will find a lot of reassurance here.
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I can assure you BJ that neuralgia [OUCH!] ain't nowt like sinusitis! However, when I get acute indigestion it's obviously a potential heart attack even though it usually happens at the 'same' time in the night :-\
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Daft innit, how the anxiety overrules the common sense processes and sits there whispering lies into our ears until we believe them :(
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Singing loudly can help breath correctly ;)
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Hi Lesley66
:welcomemm:
You might be one of the lucky ones in having only a relatively short time of hot flushes. However there are other long term consequences of oestrogen deficiency of which low mood is a very important one! Following the last period - average oestrogen levels fall overall roughly for the next couple of years until they reach their lowest level - so even though your flushes have stopped - it could be the effects of the low oestrogen you are experiencing.
If this is the case as Michellemabelle pointed out down the thread, HRT might be worth a try. Unfortunately as edleweiss pointed out, in in the absence of the classic symptoms of flushes and sweats, some unenlightened docs will reach for the anti-depressants at this point so do try to resist these if you feel your symptoms are hormonal.
The other alternative is that your oestrogen could have risen - hence the absence of hot flushes - although this would not explain the low mood - so may there is still a bit of follicular activity going on - just not enough to stimulate ovulation. Your mood would reflect the fall in hormones and the fluctuations - if they are still present. As you are not much longer than a year since last period and only 50 - you may yet have another - a possibility?
Hurdity x
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I've also thought low estrogen may be a problem as the new symptoms seem to have started since my flashes finished. The suggestions from everyone have been most welcome and calming so thank you all! I've bought some rescue remedy this evening and some windeze and peppermint oil capsules, and have spent the evening relaxing in bed. I'm trying to deep breathe and not swallow so much. I'll report back after seeing my GP tomorrow, thank you all so much again, it's great to have had a line of communication with other ladies who understand! My lovely work colleagues are all decidedly under 40 and happily oblivious to my woes xxx
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Edelweiss - you say that anxiety is a sign of low oestrogen (but can also be a sign of high oestrogen too, which is frustrating, as how are you meant to know which is which/) do you know if aching joints and an upset stomach are signs of low oestrogen, too?
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As oestrogen levels drop so the muscles may become lax = aches and pains. It is known that IBS is affected by hormones.
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Just to let you all know I'm back from seeing my GP. Had a good chat and he examined my abdominal area and explained that there's a nasty tummy bug circulating that tends to wax and wane ..... in fact I was his 4th patient he'd seen today with the same symptoms. He agreed the anxiety was becoming an issue and gave me the option of SSRI treatment or counselling. I've opted to take the script as it helped so much before, and as the waiting list for the counselling could be a few months and I felt uncomfortable with that as I feel like I'd be in complete meltdown by then. I've taken windeze today which has settled my tummy a lot and rescue remedy has helped too I think. I hope to hang round the forum and share any of my past experiences and advice but thank you again to everyone for the calming advice and support over the last couple of days xxx
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i feel the same with health anxiety, omg i have never felt like this before and its driving me crazy. im going from one worry to another or so it feels :'(
i had never heard of perimenopause until about 18th months ago when i had my 1st anxiety attack and omg it knocked me for six and took me a long time to feel semi normal again, then i read something on perimenopause and it was a light bulb moment for me and i knew thats what i was going thru.
im trying st johns worts at the min to see if they help (fingers crossed they do ) as im really worn out from non stop worry and fear every day. im also taking evening primrose oil, vit b complex and just started magnesium.
im trying to listen to meditation to see if that helps but i find it so hard to focus my mind as its always off worrying somewhere.
sending you a big hug and i hope things settle down for you soon as this is so draining isnt it
xx
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Good news. Hope you feel less anxious now.
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Hi Lesley66
Like a lot of the ladies on here we seem to be in the same boat. I also have severe health anxiety at the moment my 84 year old dad lives with me and my teenage son I think mine has been building up over the last 2 years my last period was December 15 so that is a year and 3 months but I do still get hot flushes as well I also have been having major mobility problems as well with constantly pulling muscles or tendons issues with my knee it seems the menopause has exacerbated everything as previously okay I wasn't running marathons but I could more or less get around whereas now it seems everyday I have some issue or the other and of course because I'm the only breadwinner in the household it makes things seem worse as the others have said you've done the right thing I to have been prescribed an AD I have been too afraid to take it but after a chat with my GP I think I'm going to bite the bullet and take it as I need to get back on an even keel but he has also recommended a course of CBT as well which he thinks is a good thing to back up the AD. There is a very long waiting list but if you are comfortable and have a laptop and printer you can do it online it's an 8 week course I was wondering since you used GP if you are in the U.K. maybe your GP could attange this for you?
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Hi Lesley66
Like a lot of the ladies on here we seem to be in the same boat. I also have severe health anxiety at the moment my 84 year old dad lives with me and my teenage son I think mine has been building up over the last 2 years my last period was December 15 so that is a year and 3 months but I do still get hot flushes as well I also have been having major mobility problems as well with constantly pulling muscles or tendons issues with my knee it seems the menopause has exacerbated everything as previously okay I wasn't running marathons but I could more or less get around whereas now it seems everyday I have some issue or the other and of course because I'm the only breadwinner in the household it makes things seem worse as the others have said you've done the right thing I to have been prescribed an AD I have been too afraid to take it but after a chat with my GP I think I'm going to bite the bullet and take it as I need to get back on an even keel but he has also recommended a course of CBT as well which he thinks is a good thing to back up the AD. There is a very long waiting list but if you are comfortable and have a laptop and printer you can do it online it's an 8 week course I was wondering since you used GP if you are in the U.K. maybe your GP could attange this for you?
Hi there, I am indeed in the U.K. - my doc didn't give me the option of an on line cbt course but its definitely something I could discuss with the surgery, especially in light of the fact that it would certainly save some time in getting to and from appointments and perhaps having to arrange childcare/take time off work etc. Thank you for the heads up on that! I sympathise with you having dependent family at home. I have a young daughter -8,who can be very time consuming, although in a lovely way, but I couldn't imagine having an elderly parent too. Maybe because my mother and I don't see eye to eye and haven't spoken Ina long time. She is probably the one thing out there that's even worse than the menopause 😂😂😂. I try and keep going through all the aches and pains - I'm very very active and I absolutely will not let this beast destroy that, so I walk at least an hour a day, look after and ride my horse and go to the gym. Without that this HA would probably be a damn sight worse. Take care xxx
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Tell us more about your horse? we have a dog thread, perhaps a horse one is well over-due?
How's your anxiety been? I have beta-blockas, did I say already :-\ as well as an emergency as necessary tablet.
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Since my visit to the docs my anxiety has calmed down a lot. I have a day off today and I'm about to go and get my sertraline. I feel so chilled I'm debating whether I need it now. However although my mood has changed in an instant for the better I'm acutely aware of how quickly it can go back the other way. I'm struggling with the decision now whether to just hold off on the pills until my next meltdown.
My horse .... he's a 17 year old chap with one eye, dodgy legs and breathing problems 😂😂😂. Only a stress head like me could own a stress inducing animal like him 🐴🐴. However, the early morning shovelling 💩 ritual can be mood lifting and helps with shifting the aches and pains. Getting my leg over to ride however, is proving more problematic with age 😂😂😂
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TAKE THE Sertraline! as it can take weeks B4 one notices any benefit ::). Why wait :-\.
17 years ain't old for a horse though is it .......... is he friendly?
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I still think it would be preferable to try HRT before trying anti-depressants again - as you are 15 months after your last period and your oestrogen levels likely to be low and therefore low mood and anxiety are common. Did your doc not discuss this with you?
Obviously the decision is yours but this is what I would try personally - because of the stage you are at. If you had been suffering from flushes and sweats as well, the doctor would not have hesitated in prescribing HRT I am sure - but some doctors seem to be resistant to long-term menopausal symptoms other than the classic ones!
If you feel you symptoms relate to life events and similar to what you experienced before and not cyclical or hormonal then the ADs may be the answer (eventually!).
CBT sounds like a good idea too :)
Hurdity x