Hi Taz,
I initially went to the doctor thinking I'd have to go on Anti depressants or something along those lines. Hadn't really thought of menopause.
For the last year or so I feel like my mind has been hijacked. I'm unreasonable, prone to attacks of rage, I cry for NOTHING, and I'm causing havoc with my family and my marriage. It got progressively worse and when exorcism didn't work, (I'm KIDDING!!!
) I went to my doctor.
I actually had a whole list of complaints, Aching joints, feeling exhausted all the time, Unmotivated, constant UTI's, weakness in my hands and wrists, a basic general feeling of malaise. But the worst was really my emotional well-being. I am very much in love with my husband, he's AMAZING, and we have two gorgeous, pretty much trouble free kids aged 17 and 21. I have no reason to feel as awful and depressed as I have been feeling....I have been flying off the handle for silly things and making everyone around me miserable.
The doctor took blood tests and checked my thyroid and hormone levels as well as all the usual things, (Cholesterol, blood sugars etc) and when the results came back he called me in. I have a family history of early menopause. (My mum was done and dusted with menopause by the age of 43 and my sister just went post-menopause at the age of 49) The doctor reckoned that I was definitely perimenopausal and suggested two things. Either HRT or anti-depressants. But he said that he really didn't think that I was actually depressed. He was definitely angling for me going on to the HRT. I spoke with my sister who basically had the same issues....and the HRT worked really well for her. SO, I went with HRT and these are what he gave me.
The pills are not only for post menopause, they are also not supposed to be long-term. I still have all my "bits" and he said that he wanted to try and keep me on a cycle of sorts and that these pills are tricyclic which mimics the natural cycle and might be better for me. Partly for the fact that I still have a cycle and partly to help prevent osteoporosis........
Phew! Sorry! I got a little long-winded there! Did I actually answer your question? HAH!