Hi there mummy74 i would say most of us have been were you are now and the advice you have been given above is superb. Ive copied my first post for you to read to show you are not alone and I am so well now, I never thought I would survive. This is it........
Hello everyone ( i had no idea the menopause could do this-no one ever said and no mum as she died in her 50s from breast cancer).
A quick update last year was a year from hell. Started feeling depressed despite being on sertraline(i had started that 4 years previous due to losing my dad-and they just kept me on it as I was so well). I was 51 dr wouldnt recognise a link with menopause and took me down more anti depressants, physchiatrist until I was diagnosed treatment resistant. I read about Carol Vorderman & other celebrities & initially started on premarin, did nothing, moved to elleste solo(as I have the mirena coil for progestorone).
I was finally referred to the wonderful ladies at the menopause clinic at the JRadcliffe hospital and when they upped the elleste solo tablet to 3mg it took a couple of weeks but I was well again. I must add that I am still on the anti depressant venaflaxine, (that had done nothing until 3mg of elleste solo.) The ladies at the clinic said that if I was not absorbing enough oestrogen then no anti depressants would work.
After a horrendous 8 months I went back to work, and felt like a member of the human race again. All was well for 2 months then I started getting bad migraines(3 in 2 weeks) after never suffering, plus I had started to feel a bit flat again.
The clinic took me off the tablets and put me on oestrogel 2 pumps a day. That was 3 weeks ago and nothing has changed, they wanted me to give it 6 weeks but im so desperate I added a 3rd pump a few days ago. I feel like spreading it on like body lotion if it could only work like that. My fear as well as the lowness is work, due to go back after xmas holidays on Monday and now thinking of quitting as there is no way i will go off sick again(they have been amazing with me) but the lack of confidence, self esteem, teariness, forever saying to my husband I will never get better, cancelling things not planning ahead, no joy in anything has returned with a vengeance.
I have emailed the clinic(in wed/thus) and when my boys go back to school will go to the gp just to see if there is anything else I can be doing.
No wonder no one told you about the Menopause and it was like a big secret totally took me by surprise.
If there is a magic cure I will let you all know.
Keep posting as it does make you feel less isolated. Most people I speak to tell me they "sailed through" with my new found rage I could punch them.
That was my first post and I have done more since then. I am now on 4 pumps of oestrogel (moved from the tablets due to the migraines) and merina coil for progestorone. I am well. Enjoy life again, plan for the future, confidence returned, self esteem no anxiety. None of this would have happened without oestrogen for me.
Do get some advice and please dont beat yourself up about work. You will return to doing something again when you are well and feel better xxx
