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[Nik2502]

Morning

Sorry I just need to vent to other women who may understand.

I just don’t know what to do with myself anymore.

I’ve not been well since Christmas and not sure how much longer I can cope.

Every morning I’m woken up in what feels like a physical panic attack then the tears start. I’m taking propranolol but even that doesn’t seem to help.

My husband is so supportive and I just want to be back to my normal self.

I increased my oestrogen to 100, three weeks ago but feel worse if anything rather than better. Also on Provera 5mg daily and Androfemme.

I’m under Newson Health and although they’ve been great, I feel like they are at a loss as to what to do with me. My own GP is clueless. I’m just left to struggle on alone.

I’m not depressed. I’ve been depressed and this feels completely different.

I’m going to have to resign from my job as no employer could support me the way I am. Who wants someone sitting crying all day?

All my friends are sailing through menopause and aren’t empathetic at all.

No advice necessary just had to get how I feel off my chest.

Thank you for listening x

[Vicky81]

Hi Nik

Had to reply because you feel so low. I too have anxiety and just about managing to go to work. I have no social life at present its not like me at all.

Not sure if this helps but i work in Broadmoor Hospital and am lucky to be friendly with some of the Psychiatrists. When they heard i was off from Aug to Dec with all these anxiety/depressive symptoms....one of them told me that Sertraline is the BEST for anxiety. I had been on Fluoxetine, then duloxetine then citalopram. Now Setraline 6 weeks in at 50mg (plus oestrgel and testosterone).
I am currently on the phone Queue as we speak to ask the GP if it will be ok to up to 100mg of sertraline to see if this will do more for my social anxiety.

Just a thought really to see if you would consider it?

Vicky xxx

[VictoryV]

Hi Nik2502.

I was like you for two weeks until the HRT arrived. It was last July. I was terrified and housebound due to anxiety.
The only thing that helped me was to put on a pair of sunglasses (to hide behind!) and go out for a walk. Sounds easy but was very, very hard. Can you try this even though you won’t want to?
I did it every morning for half an hour, it really, really helped to overcome the fear.

Sending hugs.
V.xx

[Dawnp]

From what you have written I seem to be very similar to you. I’m on 200 patches now and feel like I’m getting worse and worse. I’ve seen the Newson Clinic as well. Can I ask how you were before you started hrt? I only ask this because I don’t think I felt quite as ill before I started it; both physically and mentally. And it’s really difficult to get any help, so I really understand how awful it is.

[CherrySG]

I have anxiety and depression but managed it successfully for 7 years or so with antidepressants, until I went on HRT for 18 months and had a massive breakdown.

I got so unstable and depressed on HRT, it was like nothing I'd ever experienced.

Have been off it for months now and I'm fine. My theory is that HRT can be negative for some women, in terms of mental health. I hope you get to feeling well again soon 

[Gnatty]

I would just like to second that Sertraline after a lot of studies has proven to be time and again the best AD for anxiety. But it takes a good six to eight weeks to really get going, although I think a lot of people start to see some improvement after a couple of weeks. Anxiety is just awful. Some GPs prescribe Diazepam in the short term to get through the first weeks of starting an AD and this might help to break the cycle of the panic. Maybe you could go see your GP armed with what you would like to try. And take your husband too. When anxiety is that bad we need someone who has our corner and will speak for us at the GPs. It can feel just too overwhelming to do this on our own.
I know it doesn't feel like it right now, but you won't always feel like this. Maybe ask for some Zopiclone for a week or too as well so that you get some decent sleep. I found half a tablet was plenty to ensure a really good night's sleep. That will make all the difference. Xx

[Dawnp]

The other comment I should have made is that lots of women don’t tolerate the progesterone/ progestin element of hrt. I had panic attacks when I tried the combi estrogen/progestin tablet.

[CLKD]

My friend uses Sertraline with great success after worrying about feeling worse.  She's taken it for 4 years now and feels well.

Also, it may be that you have too much oestrogen especially if it was all at once rather than on a gradual basis. 

[Taz2]

Provera gave my daughter in law terrible anxiety and panic 

[CLKD]

Fear is a controlling factor to how I cope on an hourly basis  .  So be kind to yourself 

[Curlygirl]

Morning

Sorry I just need to vent to other women who may understand.

I just don’t know what to do with myself anymore.

I’ve not been well since Christmas and not sure how much longer I can cope.

Every morning I’m woken up in what feels like a physical panic attack then the tears start. I’m taking propranolol but even that doesn’t seem to help.

My husband is so supportive and I just want to be back to my normal self.

I increased my oestrogen to 100, three weeks ago but feel worse if anything rather than better. Also on Provera 5mg daily and Androfemme.

I’m under Newson Health and although they’ve been great, I feel like they are at a loss as to what to do with me. My own GP is clueless. I’m just left to struggle on alone.

I’m not depressed. I’ve been depressed and this feels completely different.

I’m going to have to resign from my job as no employer could support me the way I am. Who wants someone sitting crying all day?

All my friends are sailing through menopause and aren’t empathetic at all.

No advice necessary just had to get how I feel off my chest.

Thank you for listening x

Had to reply to you as I also suffer with really bad anxiety and health anxiety

I haven’t yet found anything that helps either so can’t really give any advice, but some of the lovely ladies here have made some very helpful comments

Maybe consider Sertraline as been suggested. It’s worth a go

Sending you lots of hugs ❤️

[Nik2502]

Thank you ladies for all your wise words and advice.

Unfortunately I’m stuck on Venlafaxine as an antidepressant- it’s awful to get off - I’ve tried and suffered terribly.

xxx

[CLKD]

I never had problems being weaned off it  .  Once I realised that any bounce back anxiety didn't stay after 24 hours of dropping a dose, I managed to cope.  It took 9 weeks with GP supervision.   What side-effects worried you in particular?

[Flossieteacake]

It took me months to taper off venlafaxine. I used a tablet cutter to reduce it be a quarter at a time. I think I reduced it by a quarter for more then a week at a time to allow me to slowly get used to it.

[Nik2502]

I never had problems being weaned off it  .  Once I realised that any bounce back anxiety didn't stay after 24 hours of dropping a dose, I managed to cope.  It took 9 weeks with GP supervision.   What side-effects worried you in particular?

It causes me to have seizures. I was on 525 mg under specialist supervision until their realised no amount of antidepressants was going to cure my hormone problems!
It’s taken me two years to reduce the dose to the 267.5mg I’m on now