Dear ladies,
I came across this site a few days ago when I was desperate to calm myself after 5 days of health anxiety and panic attacks. Reading your replies and seeing the support you wonderful women give to each other helped me enormously.
I have just turned 54 and last had a period 10 months ago. When I was 49 I started experiencing anxiety attacks and worrying about everything. I started to panic even reading things or if someone else I knew was ill.
This went on for a few years and seemed to be when I had a period or just after.
As I haven't had a period for months, I was becoming far less anxious and hoping it would be better, but just recently I have had really bad acid reflux, first every few days then gradually over months every day almost. My doctor prescribed me Lansoprazole a couple of weeks ago and they worked straight away but they gave me awful headaches which made me panic. I stopped taking them 4 days ago, the headaches stopped but my acid is reappearing. This sends me into panic mode, my doctor told me that the menopause doesn't cause acid reflux but stress and nerves do.
I have been taking Sertraline 50mg for about 3 years and they helped a lot but recently I am not sure that they do anymore.
I thought about HRT but I am scared of breast cancer, but I am really struggling lately.
As well as the acid, I get flushes although not too bad, loose stools and or constipation, headaches,I forget things a lot then other times I am fine, but nothing is anywhere near as bad as the anxiety.
Do you have any suggestions on how I can help this please? I live on my own and don't like to worry my daughter. I feel like I am going mad.