menopause&depression

Posted , 3 users are following.

Hello, I have been going through menopause recently, well probably the last 3 years or so. I recently have had a uterus operation as it prolapsed and now hoping everything is back where it should be! But now i have been experiencing hot flushes, depression, and feeling scared of going out now sometimes. I can only put this all down to the menopause. I have had the moments of heavy bleeding, light bleeding, spotting in between and now i at the point of not seeing a peroid for now 6 -8 weeks. Peroids have been irregular for 3 years or so. I am nearly 48. I cannot go on HRT as i have a fibroid and slightly enlarged womb. Can anyone advise of something else that will work? So many herbal remedies out there. Do any of thm work?

0 likes, 15 replies

15 Replies

  • Posted

    I understand where you are coming from I can't do HRTs because of all the meds i am on. I suggest you talk to your doctor about an antidepressant Neurontin has helped me some. Zoloft and Celexa I do not recomend but it can help with depression and anxieties 

    Just keep smiling and do not look down things will get better

    • Posted

      Thank you Susan. The doctor has given me sleeping tablets but they make me feel so groggy and that makes facing the day even worse! I am afraid of taking anti depressants but if my problems continue i know i will have to go down that path. I get ok days and then all of a sudden i feel like a brick has struck me and i feel so afraid of coping at times. I am trying to go out, even if it is just to do some shopping. I cannot talk to my family about this but my husband knows. I just hope i find my old self someday soon. Thank you for your advice much appreciated. And thank you for replying.
    • Posted

      You will. At times i get scared of going out. I advise you to take an antidepressant because you can't avoid things all the time, your going to have to talk to your friends and see them again. Hiding away just makes a person more depressed and yes it does that with me. Please take my advice a take an antidepressant because you can't hide away for the rest of your life. Life is to short to be hiding away 
    • Posted

      Thank you Susan. My not going out for some days is due to the depression and other medical worries at the moment. I need to take one day at a time as see how things go. I am going to make a effort to push myself going out again and see what happens from there. I get good days and bad days. I am not sleeping well at the moment and have been like that for sometime. So that is not helping. I will eventually get myself sorted and find the old me back. I will take your advice on board. Thank you for taking the time to reply to me. I really appreciate it. 
    • Posted

      You take care of yourself Susan. I never thought i would have to battle with depression. But i know there are loads of people suffering with it. The menopause and post op problems has bought it on for me. So bad timing with everything! I think i need to get out and start talking to people again. I have to admit i do not have loads of friends! I have been a bit of a loner for alot of my adult life really. I talk to people but do not have a big social life. My husband has a few friends and he too does not have a big social life. I think as you get in your late 40s you get a bit set in your ways and life does become a routine. But we must be grateful that we are alive and life is too short to fret and worry! I hope you get better and you can stay in touch if you want someone to talk to at times. Take care.
    • Posted

      Was it the menopause that has bought your depression on? Are you managing to go out? How are things with you? Are you still scared of going out? I think i am not sleeping so i am in a bad routine and the menopause is a bit like a demon! You do not feel yourself! My Mum went through hell with menopause. Lets hope we turn into butterflies and have a fresh start with a new life.
    • Posted

      Hi keepsmilling 

      I had a terible night was anxious all night did not sleep to well I had palpitations all night and the skipping of the heart its calmed down some. Went to see my obgyn he ordered my estradiol 1mg and provera 2.5mg don't really know how to take it with the meds i am on which is Nerontin for depression and anxieties, Lorazepam for anxieties, Trazodone to help me sleep its for anxieties too, then my blood pressure Losartan and my famotidine for acid reflux and my multivitamins and my vitamin d3 how should i take the estradiol 1mg and the provera 2.5 mg

      Does anyone else take a lot of meds and then add HRTs with them please let me know how i should take them

    • Posted

      Hi Susan, 

      Hope you are okay with all your worry about the meds. Does your Gyno know you are on the other meds? Can you talk to your doctor for some advice? It seems you are on a few meds for anxieties. Maybe the anxieties meds can be cut down by perhaps taking a different dose of one of the anxieties meds? Obviously the blood pressure med is needed as with the acid reflux med. I think vitamins will fit in with any meds as long as you are taking them with food. I think vitamin D should be taken with food and i would follow the instructions with the muliti vitamins. Do the HRTs come with instructions, ie am, pm with food or without food? You obviously know when the acid reflus ones should be taken so stick to that schedule with those ones. All medications come with instructions, what you really want to know is how they all work together. That is where your doctor can help. If it was me i would perhaps talk about weather all the different anxieties meds are needed and can they be reduced to 0ne or 2 out of the 3.Talk to your Doctor Susan. If you are unsure about it all the HRTs can wait until you have the info. Goodluck! Take a deep breath and try and relax. You will get it sorted. Take a step at a time.

    • Posted

      I just talked to the pharmacist who did my prescription and she said for my to take the estradiol half an hour before the progesterone. I am going to take it with my Lorazepam at dinner, its just a small dose 1mg and the progesterone i will take for bed thats a small dose too 2.5mg i will take that with my 1/2 of lorazepam, a quater of trazodone and my neurontin for bed 

      to see how i sleep. Its not that huge dose i took which was a natural one 50mgs of progesterone was way to much these are just tiny dosages to see how it makes me feel because i read that when your estrogen level is down that can cause palpitations and i have been having a lot of that 

       

    • Posted

      Glad you have a bit of peace with your meds. Let me know how you get on estradiol and progesterone. I am voiding taling anything at the moment because i have a small fibroid, apparently it should shrink through the menopause! Why has all these hormones have to be so complex! Us women are too complicated. I hope you feel better soon, I am not looking forward to what has to come! Having a hot flush now! Stay in contact and look after yourself
    • Posted

      Tell me about it i took my first dose of the 1mg of estradiol after dinner tonight i will take the 2.5mg of progesterone with my other meds they say it should not interact which is good
  • Posted

    Hi keepsmiling 

    i was put on very low dose Escitalopram anti depressant in May 

    i only take 5mg a day, doctor suggested 10mg but i tried half and it suits me 

    its not for depression as i am not depressed, its for post meno hot flushes i was having severely 20plus a day and palpitations alot ..

    apparentlh i see low dose anti depressants ( not depressive strength ) is the new HRT for ladies who dont want HRT ..

    all i can say is it has changed my life, the flushes have gone, and its 40 degrees here in southern spain ... I still feel hot, who wouldnt in this heat, but the hit flush waves have gone, the feeling of doom has gone, and i am back out and about, driving everywhere with not a care or feeling of dread .

    i always refused this med Escitalopram but wish i had taken it years ago 

    i also take vits aswell a good vit B complex helps too, with 100mg levels in of B6 etc  helps energy and a must for peri and menopause 

    also Maca capsules have been great for me 5.1 which is equivilant to 2500mg a day, helps libido and  bones etc ..

    Jay x

    • Posted

      Hi Jayneejay, Thanks for all the advice. There is so much out there and you wonder where to start. My doctor does not want to take me down the anti deppressant route just yet. I will definately take note of all what you said. I have a few other medical issues which i am in the process of getting them checked out. It does feel so much on my plate and feel very hard to cope at times. Oh to be a woman! Sometimes i wish i was born a man! I do feel scared at times going through this. I need to take one day at a time and think what is right for me at the moment. But i appreciate all the advice on this forum. So thank you. I hope you keep enjoying that sunshine in spain. I do here that sunshine is good for depression as well. Unfortunately the weather in the UK is a bit gloomy today! 
    • Posted

      Hi jayneejay 

      i am going to try a low dose of estradiol 1mg and progesterone 2.5mg with my antidepressant and my ativan and trazodone 

      I have been having a lot of palpitations acid reflux and stress 

      i pray this helps me 

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