Menopause Matters Forum
General Discussion => New Members => Topic started by: MadBast on February 08, 2023, 11:31:04 AM
-
Hello Everyone,
My last period was about 2 years ago, aged 56. Low mood started about then and progressively worse ever since.
Terrible anxiety started around Christmas time this year and hit me out of the blue like a ton of bricks. Sudden and real feeling of darkness falling upon me –a black cloud – as though hammer to the head and senses – immediate feeling of dread and fear!
Negative thoughts from past becoming ever more difficult to control – thoughts upon thoughts upon thoughts…with catastrophic thinking…
Anxiety has skyrocketed. Have NEVER had such an experience before – all doom and dread!!!
All seems hopeless and I feel helpless –- so totally consumed by anxiety and now depression… worried that this will have/is having a terrible effect on my family.
Had bloods done and oestrogen extremely low. Started HRT Evorel Conti 22 days ago but think I’m more anxious than ever. Hoping it will kick in soon - but worried HRT won't help.
Can it all be hormonal? Can anybody relate to this? I'm really at a loss!
-
It can be hormonal.
However: some ladies require HRT along with appropriate anti-anxiety and/or anti-depressant medication. Some of the latter work to ease anxiety.
MayB a short course of 'valium' to give your brain a break. I used it successfully throughout the 1990s: 10mg 3 times a day initially for 2 weeks followed by 10mg at night; then 5mg taken the evening prior to an event that I was unable to get out of.
GPs are reluctant 2 prescribe valium for very long, due to the possibility of addiction. However, if treated as a drug that works, you may well get relief. I never had to take more than I required at the time.
Bachs Rescue Remedy can also help once the Valium has eased symptoms.
Do talk to your family. 'advice for husbands' is worth while printing out from the Forum to hand over.
I know when anxious I am unable to eat properly but little and often can ease anxiety surges. Ring your GP today and ask for advice.
-
Thank you CLKD! - Bit worried about taking antidepressants tho, but will speak to doc as you suggest.
-
Why. Without taking mine morning and night, since 1989, I wouldn't get out of bed! Also, nothing needs to be taken forever, if the HRT kicks in and you being to feel better after 6-8 months, then is the time to think whether you require them.
-
Thank you - i have never taken antidepressants so that is why a bit reticent, but will definitely will speak to GP about it. Also thank you for signposting advice for husbands - will print this off.
-
It took 3 months on HRT before my anxiety was cured, very little improvement in the first month then up and down for the next two. I think you should give it a bit longer but also be aware that the progestogen in evorel conti can cause mood problems in a few people so if you see no improvement I'd suggest switching to a sequi regime for a couple of months to see if you're better in the oestrogen only phase or else trying a different make of conti.
-
Can U wait for HRT to kick in?
-
hi madblast
yes i relate to the anxiety. constant feeling of dread its horrific.
give it time it will pass and it probably is due to low estrogen. my levels were low and when i started hrt my anxiety was horrific.
i get anxiety when i increase as well. ive been on 4 pumps of gel since nov and i can truly say my anxiety is so very much better.
get the estrogen in you take it slow and steady and you will get there.
stay connected on here and please remember you are not on your own.
in the early days something that helped was eating little and often as well.
take care xxxx
-
Hiya madbast,
Just wanted to say hello and assure that this forum gives so much support and understanding.
Am sure I am not the only one who can identify with the feelings you are experiencing. It's a scary place to be, especially when it comes out of nowhere. It took me a few months for the hrt to settle down, I have suffered hormonal mood swings my entire adult life and these
went even crazier at the start of me going on hrt last September.
I didnt think I could continue, I felt worse at first, and this forum helped pull me through, along with a great gp.
I suggest you to try to find a gp in your surgery who takes a special interest in women's health. Please discuss the possible need for anti depressants, I have been on them previously and found them a good support. You may be able to persevere with the hrt without them, but it may help you to know they are there, one day, if you need them,kind of a back up plan.
However, things may indeed settle once your hrt kicks in, mine took about 3 months, until I began to feel a bit more like the old me.
I still have wobbles, anxiety, my physical symptoms massively lessened, but my peri has always been emotionally\mental symptoms, ( happy to use word mental for myself, no offense to anyone who does not like this term) but honestly nothing like I was a few months ago, which was truly dark and overwhelming, as you seem to be feeling now.
Use this forum, full of good advice from ladies far more experienced and knowledgeable than me, but do know, plenty of us understand
how you feel and I encourage you to continue your hrt and I say again, we can understand - you are not on your own.
I send hugs to All
-
Hello All
Thank you for all your helpful replies/advice/comments. Glad I'm not alone feeling like this - but it really is horrid!!! - something that no one can prepare you for.
I was told by GP to persevere with the Evorel Conti combined patch for 3 months (23rd day today) and then look at possible change of product/regime etc. She did mention anti depressants also - but first to see whether the HRT alone will help.
Thank you for pointing out that the progesterone in the combined patch might be a problem mood-wise - I will definitely discuss.
Also helpful to know that the HRT took 3 months to work of two of you ladies - so am hopeful!
Am very keen on the estrogen gel - mentioned below - it seems many people have reported improved mood with this so will pursue!
Will post any developments.
Wishing you all the very best
Keep well
xxxxx
-
If the moods take over though :-\. Let us know how you get on.
-
will do
x
-
Dear All
Hope any horrid symptoms you’ve been suffering have lessened.
Just to say - for me - no improvement since last post - anxiety/negative thoughts worse i think. Still waiting for the HRT to kick in - coming up to one month now.
Keep well
X
-
I would ask your GP for 'valium' on an as necessary basis to over-ride anxiety until the HRT kicks in. No point in feeling ill!
-
Yes - it has gone on too long. Thank you CLKD.
-
:foryou:
-
Hiya Madbast,
Whichever way you decide to go to get the essential help and supporting need, just saying I understand, I wish you well and as with everyone who struggles and needs some support, I hope you all know how much people genuinely do care about you. It's bloody rough sometimes.
May not physically know you madbast, but I send a huge hug your way.
Xx
-
Hi, I am turning 50 this year. I had my first anxiety attack in Nov 2022 which lasted a month, the worst thing I've ever experienced, didn't know what was going on so that's when I threw in the towel and asked to go on HRT patches. You name it I've had every menopausal system there is going but I've been on HRT coming up to 3 months now and has done wonders for me. I would give the patches more time but if the anxiety is still bad my friend was prescribed Sertraline for anxiety which helped her for 10 years. Not saying anti depressants are good for everyone so good idea to speak to your GP first. Hope this was helpful 😊
-
Hello there,
I am new to this site and wanted to let you know you're not alone. I too am really struggling with crippling anxiety, I have tried lots of holistic remedies (ashwagandha and St johns wort) as well as wellbeing strategies but something more is needed and I'm considering going back down the hrt route as this for me is not sustainable. Please keep in touch as to how you're getting on its good to know we're not alone in all this.
-
Hi Annie 1210,
I too tried different routes to cope, I stupidly felt taking hrt was 'cheating', that I wasnt strong enough to cope. Before I came across this forum, like many, I was so ignorant of peri and menopause, my friends and female family all seemed to sail through menopause.... I had no idea of the differences of each individuals severity of this hormonal change.
I went without anything at all, then the anxiety and mood swings got so bad I went for an anti depressant, Sertraline, as well as being referred for CBT. Both of these helped for a while but then the hormones kind of took over and knocked me to the ground, I just could not continue, and I decided to speak to a good gp, and I went into hrt.
It was not all plain sailing as many of you here testify. But now, six months in, after needing to change a couple of bits of my hrt regime, I am getting better, I can cope, am off the anti depressants and have found my own ways to cope with the debilitating mind fog and some techniques to help with the anxiety.
I know I will undoubtedly have many ups and downs, I still do, and I may need my hrt tweaked (supply issues being a huge one here), but yes, 100% agree with you that it is vital to know you are not alone.
Madbast, please let us know how you are doing... Having been there and may be there again myself, I worry for you and always always appreciate the help and advice of everyone on this forum, even just a message saying, sorry, it can be crap but we understand
-
Hello MadBast,
I feel for you, I have also been suffering for a long time. Would you consider a talking therapy such as counselling or CBT? That definitely helped me, I feel that antidepressants were just masking the issue. Although the lack of hormones in menopause can contribute to anxiety, I find that also, as we mature, we have to face our issues as they start coming up in different forms. I had to take a good look deeper inside to understand more about myself. CBT and counselling have given me tools to deal with moments of panic and also to realise that I have to start taking good care of myself as nobody else will.
I am sure that many ladies find HRT or/and antidepressants enough to help with their mh issues, but for me, the talking therapy was needed and a big change of lifestyle and the way I treat and care for myself.
I got therapy through the NHS, it's worth talking to the GP, however, waiting lists can be long. if you can fund sessions yourself there are many therapists around and many are now offering online sessions too.
In the meantime, there are also good anxiety resources online and some really good guided meditations for relaxation.
Wishing you all the best x