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[QueenofReds3]

Hello Ladies
It has been a while since I have posted on here but here goes!
I have been waking up around 3 am every night with really bad anxiety and sweats. I try to calm myself down by breathing exercises etc but nothing seems to help. I am in a state of panic but do not know why. I am constantly exhausted and tears at times. I also have a constant pain under my left rib. I can do the bare minimum but even that takes a huge amount of effort. I have mentioned to the GP who has done a blood test but all okay. I exercise by walking my dog in the morning. I am on HRT Evoril Conti patches. It seems to have happened since I had my COVID booster jab, anyone else had this? I have no mojo or inclination to do anything. I work but sometimes I am aware I am not performing how I used too. I have also developed anxiety when I drive, hate it now and avoid if I can. I have lost interest in things like music, going out even food which is not like me at all😊 I am dreading Xmas. If I could hibernate I would. My hair skin and looks are suffering too as I really cannot be bothered. I would like to have the old me back so would my hubby I am sure . My colleagues think I am depressed. I expect I will have to go back to GP, but feel like a pest.

[Flossieteacake]

Hello Ladies
It has been a while since I have posted on here but here goes!
I have been waking up around 3 am every night with really bad anxiety and sweats. I try to calm myself down by breathing exercises etc but nothing seems to help. I am in a state of panic but do not know why. I am constantly exhausted and tears at times. I also have a constant pain under my left rib. I can do the bare minimum but even that takes a huge amount of effort. I have mentioned to the GP who has done a blood test but all okay. I exercise by walking my dog in the morning. I am on HRT Evoril Conti patches. It seems to have happened since I had my COVID booster jab, anyone else had this? I have no mojo or inclination to do anything. I work but sometimes I am aware I am not performing how I used too. I have also developed anxiety when I drive, hate it now and avoid if I can. I have lost interest in things like music, going out even food which is not like me at all😊 I am dreading Xmas. If I could hibernate I would. My hair skin and looks are suffering too as I really cannot be bothered. I would like to have the old me back so would my hubby I am sure . My colleagues think I am depressed. I expect I will have to go back to GP, but feel like a pest.

Hello QueenofReds3. I am sorry to read of how anxious you are feeling. You are not a pest by contacting your GP. They are there to support you. Waking up with anxiety sounds very distressing. I think it would be worth contacting your GP and telling them how you are feeling. Not having any motivation is a sign of depression and it would really help to have support through it. I just want to say, you are not alone. Depression and anxiety can make us feel so lonely. I have depression and have found going through perimenopause can make my mood lower at times.

[QueenofReds3]

Thank you for your reply Flossie Teacake. Sending hugs to you. I will contact GP next week. I am post menopause and have been okay on my HRT until September. Each day is a uphill struggle. There is a lot going on, poorly dad, work issues, teenagers! I have just downloaded a mindful app from the NHS and will try some of the suggestions. I am not very good on trying to just switch off either . Tried yoga , had CBT for anxiety when in peri. X

[CLKD]

Delegate.  Teens can take over their laundry, clearing the table, loading the dishwasher.  If they grumble, they don't get their clothes clean when required!  Focusses the mind a bit.

Anxiety can be awful.  It may be that cortisol is waking you suddenly.  It happened to me and it was awful.  Depression can creep up ........

It's The Change - so we don't get back to where we were, it's about adjustment as our hormone levels alter.  Eat little and often. Sleep when your brain needs to.  I find that catching up twice a week in the afternoon or early evening keeps me sane. 

[Flossieteacake]

Thank you for your reply Flossie Teacake. Sending hugs to you. I will contact GP next week. I am post menopause and have been okay on my HRT until September. Each day is a uphill struggle. There is a lot going on, poorly dad, work issues, teenagers! I have just downloaded a mindful app from the NHS and will try some of the suggestions. I am not very good on trying to just switch off either . Tried yoga , had CBT for anxiety when in peri. X

Sending hugs back. With all you have going on I can see why you are feeling anxious. It is very hard to switch off when anxious. Even if you can switch of for 10 minutes then that is an achievement. I hope the mindfulness helps. Maybe a relaxing bath or soothing shower could be an option or watching something easy on TV. If you ever wanted to try CBT again then you can refer yourself and have it online.

[QueenofReds3]

CLKD , Thank you for your reply. How did you cope with your anxiety?
I woke up again this morning and had a panic attack told myself to calm, what is the problem then started to panic of how ai am going to get through the day. It does get better once I am up and I do eat little and often. I feel something is missing though and I don’t know what that is. Most days it’s Groundhog Day but I expect it is for most.

[CLKD]

My GP gave me beta-blockas in 2002 to ease the early morning surges.  80mg 3 times a day for 6 weeks, then 40mg twice a day for ages; then 20mg ........... really helped.

I also have an emergency pill to swallow when anxiety floors me.  I haven't required it for 3 years  of course 2020 I didn't have to go anywhere, meet anyone ........... this year I have eased back into the absolute minimum of visiting people.

[Marchlove]

Hi queenofreds3
Sorry to hear you’re feeling awful.
Have you tried taking magnesium supplements?
300mg of magnesium bisglycinate is recommended by Lara Biden after your evening meal x

[loonarider]

Hi queenofreds3
Sorry to hear you’re feeling awful.
Have you tried taking magnesium supplements?
300mg of magnesium bisglycinate is recommended by Lara Biden after your evening meal x

I'm going to echo Marchlove,

I've been taking magnesium glycinate (since all the meds - propranolol, amytriptaline, and SSRIs etc  made me feel terrible) every evening with my last meal of the day for the past few months and have not had one nocturnal panic attack/palpitations since.

I actually had ran out and all the symptoms came back so I ordered a whole batch of them as don't want to suffer like that again 

[QueenofReds3]

Hi MarchLove and Loonarider.

Thank You for your replies.

I am so glad I came on here tonight! Today was one of the worst I have felt for a long time. I have been trying to think of what is the best way forward, I have tried in the past SSRI’s but if I am honest I really do not want to go down that route at the moment. I will give the magnesium a try, anything is worth a try at the moment. I feel worse on the 3rd day of my patch so am wondering if they need upping. I also am confused of what to do with my prolactinoma and meds, I have had no guidance from the consultant. In fact the last time we spoke I got the impression that they wanted me to stop HRT and the GP wants me to stop the meds for the prolactinoma, no wonder I am a mess. My O/H has said if I still feel like I do after Xmas we may seek a private endocrine specialist who maybe can guide me on what path is best as this is clearly not working. My legs feel like concrete today and I feel like I just want to scream at someone! And I have a dull pain constantly under my left rib. Not wanting to eat much either.

[CLKD]

I would get the appt. in hand, there may be a waiting list.

If it's anxiety, an appropriate anti-anxiety medication is available.  My GP gave me beta-blockas which helped me for years, I may have said  .  As well as having an emergency medication to take as necessary.

Let us know how you get on.

[Marchlove]

Queenofreds3, we’re with you tonight.
I notice you’re being treated for prolactinoma, have you had your prolactin levels tested recently?
Lara Biden covers this to some extent in her book Repair your Period (starting page 195) and she might also in her most recent book for post menopausal women, but I haven’t read it so I don’t know.
I expect how ever that you’re far more knowledgeable than me about this, but just thought I’d give you this info in case you’re more recently on this journey.
I’m afraid I have no personal knowledge though to assist,
Yes, private Endo after Xmas might be the way to go, research well as to who might be best.
You’ll get there, so take heart tonight xx

[QueenofReds3]

Hi Marchlove

Thank You for your reply. Yes I have my prolactin levels checked regularly. I have had a recent test and it was normal. I have had prolactinoma for over twenty years now, have come off tablets off and on over years but seem to go downhill a few months after I stop.
Is the book by Lara Biden peri menopausal or post menopausal as I can only find the peri and the period one.
I feel a bit better today but that’s because I have been at work , too busy to ruminate!

[Marchlove]

I think her book for post menopause is called Hormone Repair Manual. Are you post? I presume she’d have the same info in both books on prolactin, but I don’t know for sure.
As a matter of interest, do they test your Dhea levels as well as I believe there’s a connection? xx

[QueenofReds3]

I am post menopause. Around four years since periods. On the basis I have never heard of Dhea levels I am guessing that they might not be checked but I will look into that. I have not had a proper consultation since 2019 so that is why I am thinking going down the private route. I feel that with the prolactinoma and menopause is the reason why my hormones are high wire but so confused without advice on the best way forward. I will just have to keep on going until I find the right combination. I have looked at private endocrine specialist near me and the worry is not so much the consultation fee and follow up [ although that is scary enough] , they will probably do a MRI and blood tests which will probably make it out of our reach as we are like most having our finances stretched to the limit.