Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[ukred]

Hi,
I'm 66 in the summer.  Have had a lot of stress lately and therefore a LOT of anxiety.  This makes me space out (DPDR if you are familiar with it) but I am concerned there is a physical cause.  I had the Mirena coil out over 10 yrs ago and didn't bleed so presumed that was it for me.  I recently did a medichecks test with these results. -
FSH -117
LH - 53.3
OESTRADIOL -<18
Does anyone know if this is normal?  As I know low Oestradiol can cause issues but do we just 'cope' at this age?  I'm done with antidepressants because they made me worse.....  The last month or so I have actually had hot flushes come back!  Thought I'd seen the last of them...
Any words of wisdom or pointers please?
X

[CLKD]

   R U able to explain DPDR?

[Emma]

DPDR is Depersonalization-derealisation disorder
- occurs when you always or often feel that you're seeing yourself from outside your body or you sense that things around you are not real, or both. Feelings of depersonalization and derealisation can be very disturbing. You may feel like you're living in a dream.

[Emma]

Your FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) and LH (luteinizing hormone) levels are elevated, which can indicate that your ovaries are not producing as much estrogen as they used to. This is common during menopause, which typically occurs around your age. Low estrogen levels can indeed cause symptoms like hot flashes and mood changes, including anxiety.

Low estrogen levels can also lead to symptoms such as vaginal dryness, difficulty sleeping, and decreased libido.

It's essential to discuss these results and your symptoms with a healthcare professional, preferably a gynaecologist or an endocrinologist. They can provide you with personalised advice and may recommend further tests or treatment options, such as hormone replacement therapy (HRT), to alleviate your symptoms.

In addition to medical interventions, there are also lifestyle changes you can make to help manage menopausal symptoms and reduce stress and anxiety. These can include regular exercise, maintaining a healthy diet, practicing relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or meditation, getting enough sleep, and seeking support from friends, family, or a therapist.

[CLKD]

 

[ukred]

DPDR is caused by extreme anxiety.  Unfortunately it seems to be my default setting under severe stress.  I get more the 'derealisation' part of it where it feels like I am living in a dream and disconnected.  It's not a nice dream either.  I remember first getting it as a child and on and off since but this is the longest I've had it and it's a real struggle.  The GP gave me antidepressants which made me worse so it took me two years to taper off them.  It is said most people experience a form of DPDR at some stage or other.  Imagine seeing your child run over by a car in front of you and suddenly everything happens in slow motion and its not real? - it's a long drawn out version of that.  I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

I just need to get to the bottom of the anxiety and if there is some physical cause I need to address  it.

I have no idea what hormones I should have now?  I mean is there such a thing as low Oestrogen/Oestradiol at 65?  Or are you just meant to get on with it?

Thank you so much for all the replies so far X

[CLKD]

Hi! tnx for the explanation and no, we should't be expected to get on with anything health related.

Perhaps read the 'treatments' thread at the top, white on a pink background.  Make notes.  Which symptom would you like to ease first?

There are a couple of anti-depressants that may relieve hot flushes.  Sorry, meno-brain here can't remember 

[When will it end]

Hi everyone, many thanks for allowing me to join
this forum. I'm 48(49 in june) and a year and a half ago I was hit by the almighty sledgehammer that I later realised was perimenopause  .  One day I was fine..the next,all hell broke loose!. I started hrt a year ago,yes improvement but as time goes by there are new elements to this that pop up randomly. I think I,ve conquered one then hit with something else. I read this forum constantly at my worst time,and it really did give me strength. Sometimes reading through tears,sometimes panic,sometimes not even knowing what I was reading as I couldn't make sense of anything on foggy days.  I'd like to thank each and every one of you for sharing your stories,i think we all deserve a bloody medal! Xx

[Hurdity]

Hi ukred

 

Sorry to hear about your issues.

Low oestrogen is expected after menopause yes, and is the cause of menopausal flushes and sweats. You were probably lucky in that the AD you were taking also prevented hot flushes, hence their appearance when you stopped them. As CLKD said there are a couple that can relieve hot flushes and are recommended by those who cannot take HRT eg who have had or are it risk from breast canceer. Women who have taken some ADs before and throughout menopause and beyond may well "sail" through menopause and not experience hot flushes, and only become aware of menopausal symptons later on when vaginal atrophy appears seemingly from nowhere! However the oestrogen is still depleted.

In your position, it might be possible to start HRT if you wanted to try this but as you are over 60 and at least 10 years after menopause (you won't know when you reached menopause because you had a Mirena coil which stops periods eventually), you would need referral to a specialist for thorough health check and to trial a low dose transdermal HRT. We can advise further if you want to go down this route.

No you are not meant to "just get on with it" !!!

Low oestrogen caused by menopause can cause anxiety too - especially if it only begins around middle age when periods begin to become erratic ie indicating a hormonal cause.

How is your general health - body weight, diet, exercise, fitness level etc. If you are fit and well with no health problems then starting HRT at your age should not present a problem, so worth investigating maybe?


Hope this helps - we are here to help if you need more advice or support!

Hurdity x

[Hurdity]

Hi everyone, many thanks for allowing me to join
this forum. I'm 48(49 in june) and a year and a half ago I was hit by the almighty sledgehammer that I later realised was perimenopause  .  One day I was fine..the next,all hell broke loose!. I started hrt a year ago,yes improvement but as time goes by there are new elements to this that pop up randomly. I think I,ve conquered one then hit with something else. I read this forum constantly at my worst time,and it really did give me strength. Sometimes reading through tears,sometimes panic,sometimes not even knowing what I was reading as I couldn't make sense of anything on foggy days.  I'd like to thank each and every one of you for sharing your stories,i think we all deserve a bloody medal! Xx

Hi When Will it all end

Your introductory post got missed as it was added onto another post, so if you would like more members to welcome you or more advice then do post on a separate thread.

In the meantime - thanks for your kind words to forum members - so glad we have been of some help and hopefully can continue to do so....

Glad HRT seems to be working for you

Hurdity x and

[When will it end]

Hi hurdity, my god,I can't even navigate this forum today! So grateful for your reply and again,so thankful for this forum. Would it be OK to ask some general advice? I feel like I'm turning another corner on this journey,I'm telling myself to get a grip but all over the place lately.

[sheila99]

Ukred your estradiol may be normal for post meno but it's probably lower than you need to feel good. On hrt you'd aim for at least 300. Anxiety was one of my worst symptoms, came out of nowhere with peri but has completely gone with hrt. Obviously hrt is a personal decision but anxiety ruins your life (well it did mine) so imo well worth trying. Your gp should be able to prescribe it but if they won't you can ask for a referral to an NHS meno clinic though there's usually a long wait. As Hurdity has pointed out you've been without oestrogen for several years so it's important to start with a low dose and increase slowly if you find you need to. Let us know how get on?