Sorry, I think I maybe about to have a rant…
Some time ago - Nov/Dec last year, I left a message on this board as I felt that I was seeing many symptoms of perimenopause - I am 50, and will be 51 in a few months time. After reading many posts on this site, and the helpful responses I received, I went to see a female GP at my doctors. I was told that as I was not experiencing hot flushes, then they could not prescribe HRT. I was given a prescription for Citalopram instead. The symptoms I described were:
Very irregular (but very heavy) periods
Feeling almost permanently premenstrual - feeling quite anxious and upset, for no reason, and emotional and tearful, most of the time.
Tired and no energy - I have just enough energy to get through the work day, and often don't have any reserves left to cook dinner or do anything most evenings.
Palpitations
Non-existent libido
Aches and pains, coupled with regular headaches, feels almost flu-like sometimes
Difficulty concentrating.
I felt a bit fobbed off, so didn't take the meds, but instead went to see another doctor at the surgery just before Christmas. She asked for some blood tests to be done - still refusing to discuss HRT - it turned out that my iron stores were low, and I was given iron for a couple of months.
Since then another test has confirmed that my iron is now within a normal range. However, my symptoms have increased in intensity, and added to the list is:
Nausea - regular but worse in the morning
Dizziness
Daily headaches - and sometimes really bad and come together with extreme tiredness and I guess are somewhat like migraines. I lose a whole day in bed and just sleep for a day. This has happened about 4 times since Christmas. I have never been a migraine sufferer.
Disturbed sleep, and waking feeling hot and sweaty several times a night
Generally feel pretty yuck most of the time and overwhelmed by everything (life)!
So, I decided to try another GP at the practice (again) - this time a male doctor who is usually really good and very nice/sympathetic. I had to wait 2 weeks to see him…
I went today. He was lovely, but was not keen on the HRT angle. Again, because I was not getting hot flushes he was not ‘allowed' to prescribe it! But, because of the hot, sweaty episodes at night, it may be okay. Hurrah, I thought… but because I had mentioned migraine-like symptoms, he asked if I had ever had the ‘flashing lights'. I truthfully told him that this had happened once about 6 months ago - but I only had the visual disturbance, no accompanying headache. Apparently, this is an ocular migraine and he then refused point-blank to entertain the idea of HRT, as I was a stroke-risk - “...it would be a brave GP who would prescribe you HRTâ€. But, he was concerned as in the last blood tests my B12 levels were 190 (GP said that threshold for treatment is 180 apparently, that that 190 can be a problem if other symptoms are present). So, more bloods being done, for B12 and iron. I also have another prescription for Citalopram.
I am totally fed up, so I am going to give in and try the Citalopram… I have been feeling like rubbish since last Summer, and I am getting desperate. It's beginning to bring me right down. I have a busy job, and a lovely family, but I just feel so unwell most of the time.
Sorry, for overly long post. Does anyone have any information about the B12 issue, and it's relation to peri/menopause (a work colleague told me she's heard it was linked)? Is this right about migraine and HRT? Will Citalopram help with anything other than my mood, anxiety and emotional reactions?
Sorry for the rant - I was so upset after seeing the doctor, I cried all the way back to work! I've tried to find some info about B12, and it does seem that some of the symptoms could be down to a deficiency.
Thanks for listening.