Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: KarineT on May 15, 2021, 07:31:27 PM
-
Anxiety is a common problem with the menopause. But why do some people automatically assume that there are external factors like stress at work or home responsible for this? I even read somewhere that it could be caused because a woman's children might have left the home, she's in the process of getting divorced and so on. I don't have any of these. I get anxiety episodes out of nowhere. It's like this morning, upon waking up, I felt moderately anxious and nearly had another episode of internal shaking. I can start the day felling like this and it's terrible. I don't have any external stressors so for me it doesn't coincide with every day stress and I believe it's purely hormonal.
-
Mine was hormonal too, it went after 3 months on hrt. I think the problem is that there are many causes of anxiety, and many people have it long before meno. If it comes with peri more likely than not it's hormonal and will go if oestrogen levels are restored.
-
Totally agree, anxiety seems to come out of nowhere. There isn’t always a rational explanation, so it must be hormonal.
-
Yes I agree too. HRT sorted it out for me. Lack of oestrogen I believe causes these feelings of fear and unease. If you are feeling like this and it is impacting on your life then don't get too low before considering HRT. I waited around two years because I was determined to sit it out which just meant I spent two miserable years.
Of course the menopause also coincides with other things such as children leaving home or the death of parents so it may be a combination of both.
Taz x
-
I also had anxiety coming out of nowhere.
One of my worst experiences was while on vacation. There were absolutely no stressors whatsoever (and no alcohol involved). I was having the time of my life, but one night when I went to bed it came over me. I was scared of my own shadow, my muscles tensed, I was a real mess. It lasted for days and when it passed I just felt empty.
This was 2 years ago and I went to the doctor when I returned because at that point I knew enough about MP and peri that I connected the dots. I also had a batch of other symptoms presenting at the same time. All tests came back fine.
-
Hello ladies.
One of my first experiences of anxiety arriving out of nowhere occurred when I was at the theatre with my husband.
While waiting to take our seats I suddenly felt extremely panicked, my heart began to race and I started to sweat. I found some steps to sit on and I tried to relax. My husband asked if I wanted to go home but I wanted to see the show so we went into the auditorium. I still felt terrible and in the interval my husband again asked if I wanted to leave but I just sat rigidly in my seat. A few moments later all the horrible sensations drained away. I felt completely well and normal. I really enjoyed the remainder of the show I was fine for the rest of the night.
Take care ladies.
K.
-
It can be very scary. I don't know if it's caused by a sudden surge or drop of orstrogen but it can be very suuden. This is a symptom I don't want to carry with me forever and hopefully, it's not a forever thing.
-
I found that the best way is not to fight it, as that just increases the intensity. Just slow your breathing and relax your muscles. Doesn't stop it but it helps.
-
Thanks for raising this issue, the comments really resonate with me. I didn't know what it was for ages. I haven't really been an anxious person as such. A bit of a ruminator but nothing that held me back.
Since perimenopause hit several years ago, I can be fine one minute and highly anxious the next. It usually comes along with feeling a bit paranoid and irrational. It isn't usually accompanied by all the physical symptoms like raised heart rate etc, with the exception of butterflies which is my other main symptom. It is just horrible and at times life limiting.
I believe in my case, it is hormone related, but hasn't been fully 'cured' by hrt although seems better. I am learning to live with it. Recognising it and labelling it helps me to cope as well as being kind to myself. This isn't our fault.
-
Yes, mine has been really intense and not fully cured by HRT either - in the end the only solution was drugs (duloxetine and quetiapine) but I still believe the primary cause is hormonal. It's just a mystery why sometimes it appears to be untreatable with HRT.
-
It's very troublesome at times. That goes to show that HRT does not necessarily work for every sympyoms. I wonder if it's because our natural hormones were a lot higher than HRT before the menopause. I also wonder if a more natural form of HRT, like BHRT, would help with this symptoms. The trouble is this kind of HRT is only available privately and not everyone can afford it. I get the feeling that HRT on NHS is limited as there is no much choice for the progesterone part.
-
Anxiety is a common problem with the menopause. But why do some people automatically assume that there are external factors like stress at work or home responsible for this? I even read somewhere that it could be caused because a woman's children might have left the home, she's in the process of getting divorced and so on. I don't have any of these. I get anxiety episodes out of nowhere. It's like this morning, upon waking up, I felt moderately anxious and nearly had another episode of internal shaking. I can start the day felling like this and it's terrible. I don't have any external stressors so for me it doesn't coincide with every day stress and I believe it's purely hormonal.
I have panic disorder and panic attacks comes anytime it wants, when I least expect it and usually no stressors. It's a bummer.
-
I have really bad anxiety all morning for no reason from the minute I wake which is usually around 5am ish. It’s horrible and hard to get through and I still don’t understand why I am waking so early when I am so exhausted. I feel that I am trudging through treacle trying to get through the day. It shouldn’t be this way. The anxiety is equally as exhausting and I am told to accept and allow it but it feels so horrid. I think it is hormonal.
-
That sounds so much like me, anxiety and insomnia were my worst symptoms. There is no need to suffer like this. Could you have a chat with your gp?
-
I am on HRT, 75 Estradot and Provera for 14 days after trialling various regimes over the past two years. I tried to up the patch to 100 but my anxiety went through the roof. I then tried to decrease the patch to 50 but almost instantly I could feel the energy drain out of me and my mood hit the floor. I feel like I am stuck in a half way house with nowhere to turn.
-
Could you cut a piece off the 75 patch? Perhaps somewhere in the middle would suit you better.
-
Funny you should suggest this as I have been cutting a piece off a 25 to add to the 75 but this has proved too much. Do you think I need to go lower but not as low as 50?
-
Sheila 99 - is it ok to PM you about this ?
-
I said that because you said it got worse with 100, and on 50 you were drained but didn't mention anxiety/insomnia so I assumed they improved. Is that right? If so then somewhere between 50 and 75 should be your sweet spot. It's so hard as symptoms of too much oestrogen are so similar to too little.
Wrote this before your last post. Yes, fine to pm if I can help but I'm no expert.
-
How long did you increase for before dropping back down again? Just wondering if the anxiety would have improved once you got used to the increase.
-
I increased over three days but just felt super wired where it became impossible to function.
I have cut some off the 75 patch today so will see how it goes. I feel a bit strange, almost a bit like how I would image withdrawal from a drug would feel and it’s only a quarter that I cut off. These hormones are so powerful and I am so sensitive to any change.
Thank you for your support
-
Shell, I’m in the same boat!
100 patch too strong, 75 is okay, but get bleeding and cramps and 50 is too low. I haven’t a clue what to do, so booked myself to see a menopause specialist next week! Trying to find the right balance seems nigh on impossible?
Best of luck to you, I feel the more I tamper with my hormones, the worse I feel. Right now I’m off HRT to see what symptoms I get ( think I already know the answer!)
-
Hormonal anxiety and insomnia to me is by far the worst of the symptoms. My anxiety appeared literally out of no where. One day I was driving my car happily, the next day, boom, i was consumed with anxiety prior to doing a 20 minute journey! That has carried on for 2 whole miserable years. I am beginning to tackle it slowly but by god it’s hell when you live semi rural and HAVE to drive to get anywhere. Take and do whatever you need to get it under control, I take Cbd oil, propranolol, rescue remedy, anything !
-
Blitzen5, are you on HRT? what stage of the menopause are you at? Has the anxiety started to disappear? I'm 15 months postmeno and I'm only hoping that it will diminish and disappear because it's a horrible symptom to have.
-
I’m two years plus, post Meno Karine.
I was on HRT but I keep bleeding so have taken myself off until I see the menopause specialist next week. I do feel better on my 75 patch but the bleeds are becoming more frequent now. Currently awaiting results for endometrium biopsy.
-
I feel relieved that others feel the same. Yesterday I cut a quarter off the 75 Estradot and went to Morrison’s - I felt terrible, like something was missing and started to have panicky feelings. I got home, picked my son up from work still feeling panicky and when I got home I decided to change the patch to estraderm thinking that Estradot didn’t suit me after 1.5 years of suffering, I was grabbing at straws. I went to bed early and couldn’t sleep, I lay there and felt sick to my stomach. This morning I put an Estradot 75 patch back on in desperation. I have to face the fact that this is as good as it gets. The anxiety is Terrible this morning but I’m trying to talk myself down. My son was stressing last night about all the work he has to do for his apprenticeship and started crying and I started to crumble inside. This was preying on my mind also, my husband said that if he can’t keep up its time to look for something else, I felt broken. An over reaction, something I would normally handle but I don’t cope with stress anymore for some reason. Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that by messing about with the hrt, I am now worse off so I agree, it’s hard to imagine feeling worse, but today I do. I will have to leave the hormones alone as I have tried everything in an effort to escape the anxiety but am by far worse off today, I am so sensitive to hormone change, it’s unreal. I appreciate you taking the time to read this. Ridiculously my husband and son slept well last night whilst I slept restlessly again, they have no idea what I’m going through and my husband doesn’t understand. He has tried but his eyes keep glaze over as I try my best to explain. As you say blitzen5, it’s hard to strike a balance and I hope you get some answers from the meno clinic, please me know how you get on. I have tried increasing the patch, decreasing the patch, changing the patch, trying oestrogel, trying no patch, you name it, I have tried over the course of two years. I have also tried regarding progesterone - mirena coil, utrogestan and Provera plus combined evorel patches. Estradot 75?and Provera for 14 days plus a tiny pea sized amount of tostran gel is the best I can hope for. This gives me horrendous morning anxiety, a feeling that I can’t cope which is maybe adrenal fatigue and not good sleep. Thanks for sharing your stories.
-
KarineT / sorry to hear about your anxiety struggles, for no reason. I don’t have answers but totally understand what you are saying, it’s truly horrible and I hope it burns itself out one day. x
-
I’m having the same issues and have been for the last 26 months. Hormone fluctuations have been brutal and severe on top of the usual low Estrogen symptoms. I too have not got the HRT right and still battle on to do so because of how ill the peri menopause has made me. I’m hoping peri is coming to an end very soon.
-
I sympathise with all that you say. It has made me so ill that I can hardly function today. I am so tired from not sleeping, I feel horrendous today and wish I had not tampered with my hormones but at least I know that this is the best it will get. I used to be outgoing, bubbly, extrovert and now I am an empty shell of a woman. It’s so sad I could cry. I feel I am headed in a downward spiral. I have a lovely life and family and can’t understand what is happening to me.
-
Shell Babes, thanks for your reply. This stupid anxiety can be controlling at times and it's far from being easy. Just because these stupid hormones are doing all sorts of thing. I don't want to have this symptom for another 10 years. Of course, it's a wishful thinking but it would be nice if our hormones weren't causing so much problems. I can't remember how it was during puberty but I the menopause is more troublesome.
-
KarinteT - yes I agree and feel like my anxiety is controlling me and everything I do. It’s almost like my life has stopped. I’ve read a few books about not fighting the anxiety and accepting and allowing it but I find it so hard to do when it is such a dreadful feeling.
-
What was it like for you before tbe menopause?
-
To be honest, I’ve always been a worrier but nothing like on this scale, it was always manageable. I do feel that oestrogen from HRT seems to elevate my cortisol levels too much especially in the morning but if it’s too low, I have no energy. I’ve tried upping it, downing it, switching it but I end up feeling worse if that’s possible.
-
Shell, i totally hear you. I’m exactly the same. Early morning anxiety is awful there seems no way of controlling it. Ive tried upping doses, lowering doses, coming off HRT, Estradot, evorel, gel and haven’t yet found the right regime. It’s all consuming and exhausting. Are you under a specialist at a menopause clinic at all?
-
Good to hear I am not alone. I live in Preston so there are no menopause clinics in the North West.
-
I paid a fortune to see a private Gynaecologist but it was a waste of time.
I also paid to see a Meno Specialist in Liverpool (nearest one to me) who did prescribe me some T gel after 1.5 years of asking my GP for it with no success as it isn’t licensed. Apart from that she suggested all that I have already tried but I haven’t been back as it’s too far.
-
After a lot of reading, I’m sure that the morning anxiety (for me at least) is something to do with adrenal fatigue. I just feel like I’m sloshing around in cortisol when I get up and it wakes me up at an early hour. I am trying to eat healthily and drink adrenal cocktails although I am rarely hungry. I just feel so exhausted in a morning so I had some bloods done at the GP last week and I get the results on Thursday.