Menopause Matters Forum
General Discussion => New Members => Topic started by: 5hellsbells on March 10, 2021, 12:10:04 PM
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Hi..im Shelly..and will be 45 in July..i eventually contacted dr yesterday after yet another bout of anxiety..on top ofvarious other symptons over past year and a bit (change in cycle, mild flushes..some night sweats..sore legs at night..bouts of anxiety..and the dreaded insommnia)
Spoke to dr re symptoms..he had me go in for bloods yesterday..but also prescribed sertraline for my anxiety. He did explain it might me feel worse for a few weeks....but reading the leaflet terrified me..it looks like it could be making myself a lot worse for 2 weeks while i wait blood test results..so think i just want to wait and see what happens from that (he spoke a lot about HRT)
Any tips for the dreaded insommnoa would be much appreaciated..i feel like i like in bed and my body rests...but my mind and heart races...
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Hello, I'm also new :)
I'm 42 and I had my bloods done last Autumn after my periods stopped in June. I also had mild hot flushes, headaches, dizzyness and tiredness plus anxiety. After two lots of bloods it showed I was post menopausal.
I can relate about the insomnia, sometimes my mind just races. Sometimes i find it helps if I just stop focusing on the thoughts and instead focus on the rhythm of my breathing but i know it's hard!
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For bad anxiety appropriate medication is a must. People usually have good results with Sertraline. Don't read the leaflets, it will tell you everything that 'might' happen including the end of the World.!
What's the worst that can happen? I have used 'rescue remedy' mouth remedy successfully too. Relaxation therapy can help, it needs to be practiced. Tighten and relax all the muscle groups from the feet upwards, when in bed. Cortisol, the waking hormone, was my biggest enemy :'(
HRT can also help. It can be Trial and Error, so mayB appropriate anti-anxiety medication until 1 feels better, then discuss which HRT may be helpful. Some ADs can help anxiety surges too.
Put 'insomnia' into the search box. Apparently 'nytol' :sick02: :-X can encourage sleep short term.
:welcomemm: both.
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My advice is to ask for hrt. My worst symptoms were anxiety and insomnia, completely gone now but it did take 3 months on HRT. I was offered ADs too before hrt I refused them. He should prescribe it based on all the meno symptoms you have without the blood test (and since when did they take a fortnight?).
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Thanks ladies..
Sorry..i didnt mean the blood tests would take a fortnight..he said i might feel worse for a fortnight taking those meds...but when i read the leaflet...those 2 weeks feel like to much of a gamble,when there may be a better option just a bit later (he also refered me to this website..)
I dont even know when ill get blood results..tho he did mention they will be repeated in 4 weeks?
(Hope that makes sense x)
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Oh at least the GP knows about us 8)
Some ladies find that keeping a mood/food/symptom diary of use.
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I agree with Sheila.
Sounds like menopause to me.
I, like so many others are offered antidepressants before hrt, which I declined, ( I had them in peri, and had a bad episode with them) so asked for hrt, and with trial and error, trying different ones out, I settled on the tablet form. All my symptoms settled and now I’m virtually back to how I used to be.
Don’t get me wrong, antidepressants are brilliant if you really need them, but doctors are so quick to dish them out BEFORE hrt.
Some ladies take both, with brilliant results, so don’t rule them out completely.
I’m sure if the hrt didn’t settle my anxiety to a point where I couldn’t handle it anymore, I’d be on some sort of antidepressant or anti anxiety medication by now. But luckily, the hrt has worked for me.
For sleeping, you could try that night nurse remedy, it’s advertised on the tele, or an antihistamine.
I actually take antihistamine, not only does it make me sleep, but it kicks my tiny amounts of anxiety back into touch when that rears it ugly head too. I’d rather take that, every so often, than antidepressants.
Keep going, you will, get through this crap time.
Oh and welcome, glad you’ve found us. :welcomemm:
Jd xx
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:thankyou: Jd
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Thanks everyone..
Just back from my smear. Some blood results are back..sugar levels ok..and bloodwork (i think she said) normal. BP is good but ive lost a bit or weight..
I explained about the tablets...she said to speak to Dr again as the reason he wanted to see/speak in 4 weeks was to see how i was on the tablets..so to let them know i dont want to go take that route now..hopefullly get to speak to them 2moro 🤞
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Let us know how you get on? MayB make a decision about which symptom you would like to ease first?
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Thank you..i will..
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Thanks for you help ladies..
Just of the phone to dr...my bloods are all good..the hormone she says they measure is normal at 11..
She thinks its to early for HRT..i discussed the tablets i was prescribed and my reluctance to take them..so she has suggested the mini pill.
Im feeling a bit better now...and at least it gave me the kick up the backside i needed to get my smear test done! 👍
Thank you again x
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It is never too early for menopause :bang: :bang: :bang:
If you have symptoms ?!? In fact, at 45 you need to protect your bones, heart etc.. MayB keep a mood/symptom/food diary and decide which symptom you would like to ease? In 3 weeks ring and ask for HRT ;-). If they refuse, ask for a referral to a dedicated menopause clinic, not a gynaecologist.
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Her main reason was my periods are still regular (even if they do vary in flow/length etc)
Shes suggested this...but told me to contact them at any time if i feel the need to...she was really nice and im prob missing a lot she said..i get so nervous during appointments...
Thank you tho..ill keep all this in mind..this forum has been amazing the last few days x
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You are not too early especially if your periods are waxing and waning, usually the beginning of peri-menopause. How will the mini-pill help? [clueless in Norfolk here ;D ]
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She thinks it.may help my anxiety..🤷♀️
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Give it a go? How bad is the anxiety? It floors me :'( :-\
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It comes and goes..was horrible this week...but its usually managable..im thinking might be worth a try..but with an eye on going back if it doesnt help..
Sorry to hear yours is bad x
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Docs know very little about perimenopause....I had worse insomnia peri than post. Was offered anti-anxiety meds but didn't want them, so just pushed through which was incredibly hard. Brisk 2 mile walk per day helped sometimes, others it didn't and I just used the time awake to work!
The essential oil Clary Sage is a natural sedative (so much so there is a 'no alcohol' warning) and if you put it in a bath and some rub in oil it will zonk you out. Again, sometimes that didn't work so you need to try a few things. Progesterone also put me to sleep, but I felt drugged the next day.
Box breathing can help - in 4, hold 4 out 4, hold 4.
It's a really tough phase but it does pass - I am 3 yrs post and sleep is fine now (just my insides are falling out!
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Thank you. Im wary about trying alternative treatment as i take hydroxychloroquine for my RA..have tried lavender..and take camomile tea at night.
The Dr did suggest more excecise..and agreed with me that lockdown prob isnt helpinf matters..
Ill look into your suggestions..thanks x
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I don't think she's right that you can't be peri. What are your other symptoms and when did they start? You can ask for a referral to a meno clinic. Some do prescribe the pill for those who are young bit it needs to be one with sufficient oestrogen. 45 is not too young for peri.
If you're certain your symptoms are peri you could develop hot flushes and irregular periods. I was 57 when I saw my doc, many symptoms but not flushes, periods which had always been 6 weeks apart were now 4 weeks - so not meno and hrt not appropriate. Think she regretted saying that, bad temper was a symptom too ;D
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;D ............
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I have mild flushes..like the feeling you get when your embarrased..but not full on heatwave over your body/visible flushes...and they can come..then go away for while...at night i can get sweaty..but not soak the bed sheets bad..just like if its to warm...
Its been over a year now..she thinks im pre peri...so many phases...im starting to feel like a nandos chicken! 🤣
She says the mini pill is basically the 1st step before going for hrt..seems to want to leave that till needed...
Im a bit scrambled with what she said and when..but it all made sense whem she was speaking to me...