Hi Lou02
![welcomemm :welcomemm:](https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/Smileys/extended/welcomemm.gif)
Sorry to hear about your menopausal symptoms.
You mentioned blood tests - did you have thyroid function tests done because feeling cold and fatigue can indicate underactive thyroid? Do ask for the results of your tests if they were done because some women experience symptoms even if thyroid function tests show borderline or within normal range. I wouldn't have thought that feeling cold was a menopausal symptom and anyway this doesn't preclude feeling the effect of flushes!
You sound as though you are well into the peri-menopausal transition and as such it would be a good idea to consider HRT at least until the natural average age of menopause of 51/52 in order to help protect your heart and bones. This would of course also help with many of your symptoms - especially flushes sweats, joint pain etc as well as anxiety.
Anti-depressants are not appropriate as first line of treatment for hormonal anxiety due to menopause and current medical guidelines recommend HRT if there is no medical reason why not. Do give this some thought and if you would like to go down this route do ask us again and we can give you some pointers as to what to ask for before you visit your doctor.
In the meantime - now is the time to look at lifestyle, diet, body weight, exercise, alcohol intake etc and make any changes which could be beneficial to your health and how you feel in the coming years?
Hope this helps
![Smiley :)](https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/Smileys/extended/smiley.gif)
Hurdity x