menopause

Thank you for all your advice and I know deep down you are right but in my head all my anxieties are overtaking it all, its so hard, I am so close to going back to GP to get help and it does help when I read other poor ladies experiences - I really hope this doesnt last for years and years as I dont know how on earth you get through it, I hope you are feeling better now but so horrible for you aswell, uugghh todays nearly over and tomorrow I have to go through it all over again ! x

Hi Lou,

The one thing that I have tried recently was the homeopatic route and was prescribed a remedy called ignatia which trys to compat fears and anxieties. I took the remedy on the 20 Feb and last month when my period came to be honest was the best month that I have had in a long while as normally prior to my period i get my health anxieties and think of all sorts going on but no real PMT or fears! May be worth reading up on homeopatic treatments and deside for yourself.  Some people are sceptical about homeopatathy and I was no different but when you get to think like you said earler "when is this going to stop" anything is worth a go, its all natural and harmless.

I also have accupunture which is also very calming.

Take Care Lou and always remember we are all here for each other so when you feel down the come on here and share your feelings with us all.  Big hugs Lou and hope that you will soon feel brighter.  xxx

PS: I totally agree with you that when you are feeling anxious all you are being told you just cannot believe it will end but I have read it does get better once you are about two years after your last period. xxx  

Thank you for support and yes anything could be worth a go - I don't have periods anymore as am in surgical menopause, so pretty full on at moment and it's sickenley horrible, I am going to GP asap can't go on like this any more, it's so boring for others and nasty for me - so glad you feel better though x

Hi lorna, agree with you feel very very fragile indeed and its awful, I havnt lost any weight like you I have put it on and mainly ALL on my awful fat bloated stomach and that makes me feel even worse than I do already, always stressing and cant think straight and its hard to accept, think I might have to give in and go back to GP as am feeling like I really cannot go on like this much longer, feel like life is over and where have all the happy days gone, such a horrible feeling, when I wake up its like oh here I go again, whats the point in it all - I,m sure many others feel like this and its rotten for us all xx

hi susan - I have been discharged from hospital as all is well they said, but because of my paranoia I don't believe them and think they told me that to get rid of me, that's how bad I am right now, feel like I'm losing it -desperate to get some help as I could crack up - it's so horrible, never could believe surgical menopause could be so cruel x

Hi there,

I am interested in hearing you have a pituitary problem and that you mention the affect it can have on the adrenals.. I was diagnosed several years ago for the same thing and am on cabergoline for this now.  Since September I have been having the most scarey, horrible "spaced out" kind of feelings mixed with confusion and anxiety, which I have never suffered from before.  Would be really interested to know more about your experiences.  Also, is there a test to show adrenal function as my doctor hasn't talked about this possibility.  At the moment they are "ruling out other things" x

Hi,

yes the function of the pituitary and adrenal gland and the thyroid are all related - the endocrine system, - so a malfunction in one can affect the other glands.  They are all responsible for very vital functions, including control of many hormones, so a overactive or underactive endocrinal gland can produce pretty drastic results.  

I know someone whose pituiatry gland failed suddenly, and had to be rushed to hospital and nearly died, and she was in the Far East at the time, - so very scary.

I am convinced I have some adrenal deficiency, which is what the test is for. One of the main symptons is overanxiety, because one thing which happens is that your'e body's ability to balance seratonin levels is severely disrupted.  I had the test first about 20 years ago - I also was put on cabergoline initially as I hadnt for a period for about 7 years. The problem was sorted out, but my prolactin levels are very raised again. I recently had an MRI scan which showed my pituitary gland is 'bulkier' than normal, and also a bone density scan as I could have osteopenia, as the problem wasnt initially diagnosed for so long.

Your'e specialist should really have sent you for an adrenal function test - if not do ask to be referred for one. The treatment for this I believe is cortisol.

Regards.

wow, that's really interesting , thankyou.  I even saw my endocrine specialist a few months ago and told him how I had been feeling and asked if this could be connected to my pituitary tumour and he said "I have no idea, sorry, i can't help you there!"  I've just another MRI scan, but if all ok, I will definitely ask my doctor for an adrenal test.  Thankyou very much for your reply.  j have only learnt about these things through this forum. My prolactin levels are consistently high, although the last MRI showed the tumour had shrunk a bit 9 months ago.  Bone density showed slight thinning of bone density, but nothing too drastic.  Interesting that both yourself and I, and I know at least one other person on this forum have all been diagnosed with the same problem, and all suffering from suspected perimenopause.  Like I said, never had anxiety before now and am 45.  thankyou again x

Glad to be able to help in some way. I'm really suprised your'e specialist didnt refer you for the adrenal test. They seem to operate in different ways depending where you live - postcode lottery etc!

I have been hypotheyroid, was put on medication, but then I started getting huge rushes of adrenaline which was terrible! - so I came off it, told my doctor and my thyroid levels have been prety normal in susequent tests. Maybe the fact that my thyroid was also dysfunctional prompted them to think an adrenal test was necessary. 

My anxiety recently has been totally appalling - never had it so bad - its like a panic attack that lasts for hours, and I have started to think I'm literally going mad.

A friend of mine who lives nearby also has a pituitary tumor - it seems a bit more common than people seemed to think it was when I was first diagnosed.

Hi again, yes maybe not so uncommon.  My brother in law is also an endocrinologist, but hasn't given any useful advice on my symptoms. useless!! I had a recent thyroid test which ws normal. Do you know if the adrenal test is a blood test ?  I've also felt like I am going mad.  three times now I've been to the doctor in tears in the past 7 months.  It's getting rather embarassing as is so out of character, but am finding the anxiety and other symptoms soooo tough.  j just want to resolve it so that I can feel normal and back to my old self again x

Hi,

well you can have a blood test, but the most thorough test is what is called a procedure, which is what I'm going for and have had once before.

You are injected with something which actually stimulates your'e adrenal gland, and then they take blood tests for the reation of certain hormone levels, and the letter I had about it said you should expect to be in hospital for about 6 hours.

 I remember last time I had it I was admitted to a ward and a bed. When I had the injection a consultant came and talked to me for about 20 minutes, surrounded by all his medical students, asking me all sorts of questions. I felt like some sort of museum exhibit!!!

But I think its definitely worth having, because the right medication could make life bearable again!

blimey!  is it painless or did you feel ill?  I will definitely discuss with my GP.  Did you have treatment the last time and did it help?x

Oh Carol you poor thing, I also think you are very brave to go through all those tests, how did you do it ? you see because of what I went through I dont even think I could walk through hospital door even though I want to, I had a panic attack at my last scan and the thought of the smell and instruments, green uniforms wtc sends me into major anxiety - its a vicious circle, I want the help but cant seem to do it - might end up being dragged there by men in white coats at this rate x

Hi again,

well when I had the adrenal function test 20 years ago I didnt think that much about it. I didnt really think there was much wrong with me apart from being infertile due to the pituitary tumor, and I knew that could be corrected with medication. 

Also my mum and dad in law were both doctors and we lived nearby them, so I could talk things over with them whenever I wanted.  I was about to emigrate to the Far East and was excited about that, and so the health issues seemed quite minor in comparison.

Now I am much more worried about it, and because of my symptons of anxiety it makes me much more anxious. Plus my current dr's surgery is really overloaded with patients, its really hard to get an appointment, and every time I go I seem to see a different doctor, so I really feel now I have hardly any support. I feel there isn't a doctor who has the time to sit and discuss my symptons with me really seriously, and I get the feelingI have a reputation amongst them as a dysfunctional hypocondriac - and thats alot to do with the fact that I feel I never have enough time to discuss my problems with them without them getting impatient and twitchy, because they are overstretched on appt. times.

I dont know what your'e surgery is like but mine has the sytem that you have to booka routine appt, in which case you typically have to wait about 2 weeks, - or longer if its a particular doctor you want to see, or they give you a five minute appt slot if you want an 'urgent' appt for the sam day, in which case the receptionist often asks what the problem is, ans when you get to see the dr, they keep reminding you that they only have five minutes, and if you raise more than one issue they protest that they havent got time to discuss it, and you'll have to make a 'routine' appt.

The whole system is apalling, and the more experience I have of it, the more anxious and ill  I seem to feel.

I just want a GP who knows me, and can give me good sensible advice, and monitor my progress - I know its like asking for the moon these days. If I ever move again the first thing I'll check out is what people in the area think of the GP surgery, and how many patients they have listed with them.

 

Hi, I dont really mind the MRI scans at all, in fact I really quite amazingly relaxed when I am in the machine. As I said in the post below to Bubbins, its the ordinary dr's appts that I find really hard to cope with. I just feel like I'm trying to bash my way through a brick wall to get them to listen to me properly.

Wish I could relax! Freaked out when I had CT scan - agree about GPs I feel the same, waste of time- I was told I should be grateful to be alive !