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[Dee46]

Hi

I have been suffering high anxiety since being put on AD's last October, I stopped the mini pill almost 2 weeks ago, I am not on any hrt as the doctors refuse to look at my medical history when I was suffering all the normal panic attack symptoms last summer just put me on AD which have sent me over the edge !!!
Since stopping the pill I have waves of the anxiety easing off although still not feeling myself, can anyone shed any light on it the mini pill was adding to the anxiety?
There are mixed reviews as to if I go on hrt the anxiety will go away so still not sure if I need to insist on going on it, having blood tests in 2 weeks to see if anything shows up as in peri although the doctor keeps telling me I am depressed!!! Never suffered before with this so fed up with keep waiting for results.
Is it worth paying to go private? We have a menopause clinic in our area but it is privately run.
Any info on the mini pill adding to my symptoms would help

Thanks

[Dancinggirl]

Dee46 - do tell us your age and whats happening to your cycle.  If you didn't suffer with anxiety before taking the AD then it clearly isn't good for you. If you were suffering with flushes and other normal meno symptoms then Hrt should be the first line of treatment - the new NICE guidelines clearly state this.
HRt can give side effects and if anxiety is your main meno symptom then the progesterone in some HRTs can increase low mood but finding the HRT that suits is trial and error. 
It does sound as though your GPs are not ‘up to speed' on treating the meno so, if you can afford it, the meno clinic could be your best option as you'll get specialist advice. 
Using progesterone all the time will not be helping your mood but if you were getting problematic bleeding it can help to control that. DG x

[Dee46]

I am 46, cycles before coming off mini pill for blood tests were averaging between 2 - 4 weeks, 8 days longest 2 days shortest.
The thing I was suffering beforehand was shaky legs/hands, shortness of breath dizzy spells & horrid taste in my mouth

Will the hrt still give me anxiety even though I have never suffered beforehand?

Suggestions on here is to use Estrogel & back on mini pill if not, can anyone really suffer for this long with anxiety?

My bleeding has never caused major problems it just seems to be hormones spiking I think

[dangermouse]

Taking the progesterone pill may have been lowering already dwindling oestrogen levels. Adding back oestrogen in the form of HRT or the combined pill would be a way to test of you feel better with extra oestrogen. Testing it on yourself really is the only way to know.

[Dancinggirl]

Dee46
The peri stage is tricky - fluctuating hormones cause so many problems.
It's not a matter of using either Oestrogel or the mini pill - if you go onto HRt instead of the mini pill you will need to use oestrogen together with progesterone and as you are peri meno you would mirror a natural cycle by using progesterone for 12-14 days each month to induce a withdrawal bleed - on HRT one uses oestrogen every day.
You could certainly use oestrogel daily ad Micronor for 12-14 days each month which can be a really good HRT combo.
Do look under TREATMENTS at the top of the page to get clued up.
Progesterone alone will certainly not improve mood but adding in oestrogen could help.  I believe that the anxiety and low mood that creeps up when meno emerges needs to controlled in various ways and HRT is just one of them.  A good diet and exercise regime alongside sensible relaxation and often meditation are essential and HRT added in can often bring further relief. DG x