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[honorsmum]

Morning, ladies.

Having booked to see Dr Annie Evans in March and feeling elated at the thought of getting help, I'm now having a wobble.

Before I joined this forum, I had joined a FB group for anxiety - because that's what I thought (and my GP told me) I was suffering from.
I was talking to a lady on there last night who said her anxiety, palpitations etc started immediately after she had a hysterectomy. I told her about my experience so far and how I thought it was peri and that I was going to see a specialist etc, but her answer was that she had learnt to accept her anxiety and stop looking for answers and explanations. Being a bit sensitive, I took this to mean that she thought I was in denial about it being simply a mental health issue (which is what my GP has also hinted at).

I don't know what to think now.
Thee only FSH blood test I've had was "normal" and I'm still getting periods every 3 to 4 weeks. However, all the other symptoms started when my periods went from being like clockwork 24/25 days - palpitations, insomnia, anxiety, hair going dry, spots, the odd night sweat and hot flush, feeling like I am changing chemically (the only way I can describe it - literally changing as a person), mood swings, loss of libido, blood sugar issues...

How do I know if this is peri, or if I'm kidding myself and it's actually just anxiety?
I'm beginning to feel like an imposter here, as I haven't been told I'm in peri by my doctor.

[honeybun]

I think I know what she meant by accepting anxiety.

My anxiety started after I had been on HRT for two years. I initially was determined to fight it and every day became a battle. When I started to accept that this is how it is it became a little easier to accept and deal with.

Your symptoms do sound like peri to me and you are the person that knows your body th e best. If things don't feel right then they are not right so keep your appointment and get the help that you need.

I don't think that you are in denial at all but fighting anxiety symptoms can be counter productive.


Honeyb
x

[Dancinggirl]

You've done the right thing with making this appointment with Annie - you are being very pragmatic and sensible.  You are experiencing plenty of peri meno symptoms and after your terrible experience with your GP you need professional advice. I'm afraid this other lady may be in denial herself - after all you may not know her true situation or the advice she has been given - we are all different.
I'm afraid too many women are simply given ADs/SRRIs without having the holistic experience of having a doctor look at the total spectrum of symptoms. Some women actually need an SSRI alongside HRT to help with all the meno symptoms but it's good to look at the hormonal issue first as oestrogen deficiency can bring long term health problems and HRT can help to prevent these things whereas SSRIs can't.
When are you seeing Annie?  DG x

[honorsmum]

Thanks Honeybun.

I know what you mean about fighting anxiety - my bible is Claire Weeke' s Self Help For Your Nerves, and I also practise mindfulness. I can accept the anxiety part, but I don't feel able to accept a diagnosis of anxiety, if that makes sense?
What I mean is, I feel the anxiety is a symptom, not the cause.

I had anxiety 5 years ago, but it was a side effect of having Crohn's disease undiagnosed for 8 months. Again, I KNEW something wasn't right in my body (hard to ignore bloody diarrhoea up to 20 times day and night!) but my GP insisted it was anxiety...which actually caused anxiety.
I was put on Citalopram but had a  horrendous reaction to it for weeks before it did any good, and even then, it felt like it numbed me from good feelings as well as bad.

Maybe I'm hoping for an easier ride by hoping it's peri and can be sorted with HRT?

Thanks, DG.
I'm seeing Annie in March. Because of my personality and my previous experience with my GP, I'm worried about wasting people's time and being seen as a hypochondriac. At the same time, I know I can't go on feeling as I have. The anxiety fades by lunchtime but then I'm left with this overall feeling of being unsettled - just not myself. Some days, I feel totally normal, like a light has switched back on and it's such a relief! I'm keeping a mood diary to see if it's cyclical.

[Hurdity]

Hi honorsmum

I presume you've had thyroid function tests already?

As for the FB woman - what a strange woman! If she had had total hytserectomy with ovary removal too then her anxiety is definitely due to hormonal deficiency! Also one woman's cause is not another's. And of course it is important to identify the cause because then appropriate treatment can be tried! If it is hormonally induced then hormne treatment can be gvien. If it is due to life circumstances - then something may or may not be able to be done about this.

Whether or not the cause is identified, it is always worth looking for self-help ways to deal with it when it occurs eg using the methods that have been suggested and that you are using rather than medication if possible.

You are not an imposter! Many women are sensitive to changes in oestrogen and notice symptoms while periods are still relatively regular.  As for wasting people's time - well that's what you are paying her for - her time so no need to worry about that!

Good luck !!

Hurdity x

[honorsmum]

Thanks, Hurdity.

Yes, thyroid checked and "normal" - although it was only TSH and FT4 checked, and I understand FT3 and antibodies should ideally be checked, but my GP refused.

I know what you mean about the FB lady - she even said she thought the sudden hysterectomy had caused her anxiety, but insists that she has had to accept it as anxiety.

The irony is that before this all started, I was feeling the happiest I had in a long time. My marriage is very happy and solid, my children are both doing well after a difficult period getting my daughter diagnosed with ADHD, we are happy as a family.
Yes, we have the same day to day worries as anyone else but nothing major.
When I had anxiety before, when I developed Crohn's, it was after a long period of intense stress - I had been carjacked at knifepoint and had to go through a subsequent court case and then my dad was taken ill with severe acute pancreatitis and spent 6 months in intensive care before having his machines switched off. I truly believe that it was the stress of both, following so soon after the birth of my second child that caused the Crohn's.

[Kathleen]

Hello honorsmum.

I think you are doing the right thing by consulting with Dr Evans as your symptoms sound menopause related and I would be interested in what she says.

For years I was told I had IBS until five years ago when I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis (coincidentally my periods stopped at the same time). Since then I have done some research and learned a lot about how the brain and bowels 'talk' to each other and how the bacteria in the gut affects our mood.

I am always doing different things to improve my health and at the moment I am taking an AD, using patches HRT, fiddling with my diet, trying probiotics and seeing a therapist. I figure if I keep trying something's gotta stick!
I wouldn't worry about appearing a hypochondriac, you are just someone who is trying to feel better and what's wrong with that ?

I wish you luck on your journey to good health and take care.

K.

P.S Is the Dr that doesn't think you are peri the same one that missed the fact that you have Crohn's ?

[CLKD]

Listen to *your* body.  Listen to experiences of others and see if they correlate.  Speaking to Dr Evans will give you peace of mind.  With Forums we can dip in and out, take what might be beneficial to ourselves due to others' experiences and move forwards/not.

Anxiety can be caused for lots of reasons.  It's the natural flight/fight response, however, knowing it is natural doesn't help when it floors me 
. ........ I would take anything if I thought it would stop it forever.

Let us know how you get on! and take that list 

[honorsmum]

Hi Kathleen,

I was told I had IBS for years too, although seemingly I have Crohn's AND IBS, for my sins!
I've had counselling from a counsellor my hospital provides for IBD patients, which was great. I am also trying all sorts of self-help stuff - I went gluten free for a month recently (but stopped when I started to have hypoglycemia issues at night, from not eating enough starchy carbs), I have also cut out a lot of dairy, chocolate, sugar head meant to be going onto the FODMAP diet as a case study for a dietician neighbour). I have started taking lots of supplements - vitamin B complex with extra B12, iron, high strength vitamin C, magnesium, probiotics, digestive enzymes, licorice root (to heal the gut), l-theanine for anxiety, and Boots own stress relief tablets occasionally (hops, ballerina, passion flower). I now go to bed at 10pm every night and meditate twice a day, and I walk my dogs every day too!

Yes, it's the same GP who misdiagnosed Crohns who is now telling me that because I'm still having periods and my FSH is fine, that it must be anxiety. I did remind her of her previous mistake, and she said she is keeping it at the back of her mind...maybe it should be at the front instead?! She also said that she believed adrenal fatigue, thyroid issues, CFS and M.E were simply a dumping ground for people whose blood tests showed nothing abnormal, but who couldn't accept a diagnosis of "anxiety".
My gastroenterologist also tried to tell me I had an anxiety disorder, because I am apparently too young for the menopause at 45. He said that because my Crohn's appears to be in remission currently, all my symptoms were indicative of anxiety.

[honorsmum]

Listen to *your* body.  Listen to experiences of others and see if they correlate.  Speaking to Dr Evans will give you peace of mind.  With Forums we can dip in and out, take what might be beneficial to ourselves due to others' experiences and move forwards/not.

Anxiety can be caused for lots of reasons.  It's the natural flight/fight response, however, knowing it is natural doesn't help when it floors me 
. ........ I would take anything if I thought it would stop it forever.

Let us know how you get on! and take that list 

Thanks, CLKD.
My GP actually said she had no time for forums or chat rooms and wouldn't take into account anything read on them.
Personally, I use them in exactly the way you describe, and her attitude does rather say something about her as a doctor - surely listening to individual experiences gives you a better knowledge and understanding than text books ever could?

I know I am an anxious person. I worry, I need to be in control of my life, I need answers - it's just how I'm built. Most of the time, I can deal with it, because it's based on something tangible - how can we afford x, y and z? How do we deal with a,b,c with the children?etc. Anxiety symptoms without any apparent cause are deeply unpleasant, and while all my self help stuff is sorting out my mind, my body appears to be doing its own thing!

I am going to write it all down for my appointment, don't worry!

[Dancinggirl]

Do you know what, if we weren't anxious about things then we would be very uncaring people.  A certain amount of anxiety is not only normal but necessary.  It's when we are anxious about trivial things and actually see problems where there aren't any that things get out of hand so this is when some strategies to help sort the 'wheat from the chaff' can really help.
I find writing things down can help as well - lists of pros and cons etc. and having a friend or relation with whom you can share your anxieties to help put things into perspective.  This site can be a very good friend in this way as most of us can be impartial and I've found that particularly helpful.  Good luck and keep posting.  DGx

[Rowan]

I had my first panic attack about a month  after my hysterectomy (I kept my ovaries) and I was on estrogen, my GP said that it can happen after a hysterectomy even taking hormones. The body is very complex disturbing the balance and the shock of surgery effects the nervous system too.

Years  later when I had a melt down, I was still on estrogen! and started having frequent panic attacks, nothing seemed to help, except an acceptance of it, The Claire Weeks books helped and the The Lindon Method.

Keep your appointment with Annie honorsmum, its taking control and making you feel positive and hopefully she will be able to help and advice with not just HRT.

[CLKD]

Some GPs/Medics hate the internet because instead of using it to advantage, they see it as a challenge to their knowledge and authority. 

I like to be in control so that I know I will feel less likely to panic.  I know what panic is but when struck down with it the logic goes out the window.  Years ago I used to take my own food when visiting family because they never get to meal 'times' and I needed to eat regularly.  That lessened the stress for me.

Knowledge is power  - once I have the reasons I can deal with my responses to them.  I have emergency medication for when the anxiety takes over and need it rarely fortunately.  I know it works for me. 

When I suffered severe depression I needed to know why - but no medics would help.  I needed to know if it was genetic as it is in both sides of my family.  I needed to know so that I got the 'right' treatment  …… now I know it's organic plus clinical I can adjust my medication as required. 

Keep asking those questions! and let us know how you get on.

[toffeecushion]

How do I know if this is peri, or if I'm kidding myself and it's actually just anxiety?
I'm beginning to feel like an imposter here, as I haven't been told I'm in peri by my doctor.

I feel exactly the same.  I am 48 and have symptoms similar to you.  I have had 2 blood test which have come back normal so my GP has said it is not peri.  I think it is, at my age it has to be.  It is difficult, we have to trust our doctors, but they are GPs not menopause specialists, their knowledge is limited.  We need to trust our instincts as well.  You will feel better after seeing Dr Evans, she will have the time to listen to what you have to say.  You know your body.

[honorsmum]

You're so right, DG. A degree of anxiety keeps us safe and compassionate.
I am lucky - my husband is the opposite of me and very good at grounding me when I am worrying unnecessarily. My mother, on the other hand, is horrendous - she worries about not having anything to worry about! I have to be very careful to filter a lot if what she says, because comments like, "perhaps you'll be one of those people whose heart stops suddenly" aren't helpful! She lives 200 miles away from me, but less than 5 minutes walk from my brother, and worries me be saying, "If I had a fall or a stroke in the house, no-one would find me for weeks!" 
Is it any wonder I'm a worrier?!