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[tearful1]

I have joined after seeing Patsy Kensit on This Morning & reading some of the posts make me feel better to know other people feel the same as me. My Mum sailed through her menopause so I hoped to do the same but a I feel emotionally wrecked. Finally went to the doctor yesterday but she prescribed anti depressants. I am not one for taking medication & having read the leaflet I am reluctant to start them, have had some support on another forum but all different views so not really helped my make the decision whether to start them. The sensible me knows it's just my hormones but I'm struggling to cope & almost resigned from work. I thought the GP would offer advice not a prescription for anti depressants!

[honeybun]

 

It would help us if you give us a few more details. How old are you and do you still have a period. Don't want to bombard you with too many questions but if you can tell us your symptoms then there is plenty of members with good advice.

A lot of us have come away from the GP with anti depressants when what we need is HRT.

Browse around and ask questions. There is always someone around for a chat.


Honeyb
x

[tearful1]

I will be 52 next week, my periods are erratic, (last one end on December) I am crying a lot, feeling unable to cope at work. Having hot flushes although I don't find them too troublesome. It feels like permanent PMT. I feel guilty but have no idea why. The doctor didn't want to risk HRT although didn't really say why. She felt I needed anti depressants to stop me crying.

[CLKD]

Take the ADs for 3-4 months so that you can begin to see the wood for the trees.  Weepyness is common.  By then you will see if the ADs help at all.

Read the menus, left of screen.  PMT can be eased by eating every 3 hours, even through the night.  Helps keep blood sugar levels even - I graze on dried fruits/nuts, biscuits, bananas.  The idea is not to eat more but to spread your diet throughout 24 hours.

How old is your GP?  I think you should have a talk with your Practice Nurse if she is 'our' age ……… have a well woman check, i.e. BP, smear, general health discussion and find out what the Surgeries policy is regarding HRT.

Go back to your GP and ask her to explain her worries regarding HRT and refer her here ;-)

Browse round!

[tearful1]

Thanks for the advice CLKD, the GP I saw was very young. There is an older doctor but she is not very sympathetic. I saw the nurse a while back & she suggested HRT but I wasn't as bad then. I think I will go back & ask what my options are, do you think it will be easy to come off the AD after 3-4 months? I am worried about being on them long term!

[CLKD]

What has the GP prescribed?  ADs don't stay in the system for very long.  The longest I took to wean off one was 9 weeks.  After 3-4 months you will feel if they are doing good: or not.  Some take 2-3 months before the beneficial effects can be felt.

Let us know how you get on!

[Greyhoundgal]

Welcome to the forum - your story sounds similar to mine!  My GP was keen to prescribe AD's but I wasn't so keen to go on them.  After seeing our Nurse Practitioner who specialises in menopause she recommended that I start on HRT, she explained that in a lot of cases (not all obviously) the boost to hormones from the HRT was quite often enough to sort out the emotional side of things.  In my case she was spot on and within a week I was seeing improvements so it might be worth going back to your surgery and see if you can get an appointment with someone a bit more menopause savvy?  It was also her that pointed me in the direction of this site and it's wonderful forum

[tearful1]

To CLKD I have been prescribed Citalopram 10mg for 1 week then 20mg & supposed to go back after 3 weeks. Thanks for your help

To Greyhoundgal that sounds like what I need as I know my sadness is hormonal, thank you

[CLKD]

I take 5mg of that at night and 5mg in the morning.  I have organic depression since 1988.  If you feel your tearfulness is hormonal then maybe wait, have another talk with your GP ……… 10mg is a starting dose …….

[honeybun]

Why take an AD if it's a hormonal problem. Your GP is very wrong about your age. You are the absolute right age for menopause.

Have a look at the menu on the left for detailed information, print it off and go back to your doctor. You have the right to the correct treatment and you can insist. I know you will feel fragile so if you can take someone with you for support then that would be great.


Honeyb
x

[tearful1]

Thanks ladies, I feel I have had better advice here in the last hour than I received from my GP, you are all wonderful thank you

[Hurdity]

Hi tearful1

  from me too

Your symptoms sound very very normal for peri-meno and I felt as you did - always bursting into tears at the slightest thing and I found everything such a big deal

I agree 100% with honeybun. Your doctor should not prescribe you anti-depressants for a hormonal problem unless there is a good medical reason why you should not be on HRT.

Personally I would not start them if you can hang in there. Your doctor is taking the easy option.

Read as much as you can on here and if possible go back to a different doctor who understands the menopause and is sympathetic to HRT. If you read the menu on the left you will find so much information. The benefits are thought to exceed the risks between the age of 50 and 60
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/balance.php

Dr Currie herself (a consultant gynae who started and runs this site) does not think ADs should be prescribed in the first instance for hormonal anxiety that has come on, or been greatly exacerbated by the menopause and would recommend HRT.

The HRT stopped me crying - and now you know what the cause is hopefully you can cope a little better until you get the proper treatment your body needs.

Hurdity x

[tearful1]

Thank you so much Hurdity, that has reinforced my thoughts that antidepressants are wrong for me. I am otherwise healthy so don't know why she felt HRT was a risk, she didn't ask any questions in regard to my health or family history, although to be honest, I would prefer not to take any medication at all. Thanks for your support

[Chatty]

I tried anti depressants and felt rubbish. I felt ill the whole time. Long story but I took hrt for only a few days and felt fantastic. I sometimes think that ad are the easy way out for gp's.

[bev567901]

Hi Tearful, I am 52 this year & started peri a year ago. I went down hill fast & by last Sept was prescribed an AD. I think if I had got HRT straight away it would never have got to that stage. I feel like it is a plaster for a broken leg. However, I do think the AD has helped. I actually phoned into This Morning & got through to a person but was not on the show. They phoned me back & boyed by that I booked an appt at my GP's for next month & I shall be demanding HRT as the first caller that day sounded just like me (and you!) With all the knowledge I have off here & other places I think I am able to fight my corner now & the AD has helped me with that too.  I am a long way from normal & know it is a hormonal thing & not another type of depression/anxiety. I want the old me back. I am going to write a lot of notes & I am not a very forceful person at all but I think I can do it. My life is being extremely compromised now & I have two under 10's,  so don't wait as long as I have to fight your corner. I will make sure I keept you up to date but appt is not until March 3rd. B x