Hi again
Thank you so much for your kind replies, insights and welcomes.
CLKD - I think taking an anti-depressant long-term is a small price to pay if it means you can have a life .. The Psychiatrist I saw was a one-off from the Crisis Team, not specifically a Menopause expert, but he spoke of mood/hormones and thought it was worth trying the HRT to see if it helps.
I agree, I don't have much to lose by trying the Quetiapine. It sounds a bit 'heavy duty' when you read about it though. I think I will give the HRT a fair whack first and then try the Q if I'm still not well enough.
I'm not quite at the needing-a-wig stage yet, but the way things are going, I may well have to consider that, so, yes, could you tell me how to find the links to various hairdressers please? Thank you.
Tempest - Thank you for your heartfelt response and reassurances. My forum name landed quite randomly in my brain in a rare light moment. Glad you like it
You are absolutely spot on about the hormonal disruption and neuroendocrine maze (hell?!) I heard a radio programme recently which featured a woman who had had Post-Partum Psychosis, and, low and behold, at the Menopause, the Psychosis came back. My Mum, who is Bi-Polar, also went to pieces at the Menopause. I simply don't understand why Nature has inflicted such sufferings as part of 'natural' processes! Interesting that you are contemplating Quetiapine too (of course i've already read far too much about it). The Psychiatrist said it comes 'with a cost', referring to the heavy sedation it can involve. I'm certainly not ruling out trying it in an attempt to improve the quality of my life. Everyone reacts so individually to different medications don't they?
I just don't feel anything like the person I was and the distress over my hair just makes me feel I am never going to feel okay again, even if I get the hormones and mental health on an even keel.
I have often mused on the Fibromyalgia/CFS diagnosis. The symptoms certainly crept up during the Perimenopause .. I did silly amounts of research, not accepting the general 'mystery' which shrouds the 'conditions' and always wondering why women are affected far more than men, and, often, women of a 'certain age'. I am also tentatively wondering if, since the M has really kicked in, the aches actually aren't as nasty (I was aware of this before staring the HRT). It may be a coincidence but it would help amidst this mess to have one less thing to worry about
And I totally agree about self-love and self-care. I can manage the latter, but not the former ...
Hurdity - Thanks for welcoming me and for your advice. When I spoke to the Dr about HRT I mentioned that I'd find it difficult to deal with a bleed because it would remind me of former fertility/grief over childlessness. She prescribed the Conti but I did question that because it's less than 12 months since I had a period, as you say. She double-checked in a great big medical tome and said it was ok to take the Conti if my period was 6 months plus ago. So I went with it. Of course I realize that I may bleed anyway as my body adapts to the HRT. I'm very daunted by it all, especially as, reading on this forum, this HRT may not be hair-friendly
I do look forward to the night-sweats clearing off though. I find these far more intolerable than the hot flushes in the day!
Thank you again for your support X