First, I have to thank everyone on the forum for posting the information I've been stalking for the past 2 months. I can't remember how I found you, but thanks!!
In retrospect, everything makes sense now, but 8 months ago I seriously thought I was having a mental breakdown...me, the hard charging, expat, do everything woman with a sweet husband and 3 lovely kids.
It started with anxiety attacks, the little b-stards snuck up on me 2 or 3 times a day. That sweaty, hysterical woman on the tube, in Waitrose, hiding in the restroom of Selfridges? That was me. I was an exhausted, sweaty mess by 3pm everyday. Exhausted!!
Weight gain? 6kgs in 10 months despite spinning twice a week, weightlifting twice a week and one or two other fitness classes. The weight gain probably came from me sitting on the sofa, eating chocolate and sobbing at least an hour every day. Sweating, of course because it was SO HOT. :/
I was a total train wreck. I couldn't concentrate, was scattered, left my keys in the fruit bowl and had to have another set made bc they were "lost." My writing projects looked like the work of a demented 6 year old.
Up 2 or 3 times at night because it was soooo hot in my bedroom, despite me having the aircon on the highest setting. My night-time mantras became "Why is it so hot in here?" and , to the husband "Why are you such a human furnace?" (as I shove him to the other side of the bed).
SO, I consulted the doc. I've had generalized anxiety disorder all my life, but never went for treatment or consultation. Never had medication. No therapy. I wasn't keen on medication and argued with him about it for awhile. Then had a panic attack in his office, was reduced to a sobbing, snotty, sweaty mess and we agreed to try Pregabalin in small, increasing doses. I researched Pregabalin for days and days before taking the first pill and drilled him with questions for 30 mins.
The funny part is, I never once thought about menopause despite my being 51 BECAUSE I still have periods <sigh> quite regularly. No one ever told me that the horrible part is the run UP to menopause. Why doesn't anyone tell you this? WHY???
After looking through the forum and information on this board, it struck me that anxiety, leaving your keys in the fruit bowl and freezing out your husband in the bedroom (in more ways than one...ha!) is perimenopause.
So, here's an update on the Pregabalin. The anxiety attacks have almost disappeared. The crying jags are gone. I'm down to maybe (what I realize now are...hot flashes) 1 or 2 a week and they are mild. I sleep like a baby. The husband is miraculously no longer a human furnace.
I'm sharing this for the ladies who are possibly looking for alternatives to or supplementation to HRT or BHRT to alleviate symptoms. I also have an appointment to look at bhrt/hrt in a few weeks.
So, there you have it.
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Topic: I honestly thought I was losing my mind, and then.... (Read 4630 times)