Menopause,Depression destroying me

Hi Penelope

I do get some of the symptoms you describing but for me it happens the week after my period. I know is horrible and so scary. I wish I could tell you will get better soon..I'm hoing through this the past 6 years , I'm 51 and still doesn't seems to get any better..

I feel so tired..

I do enjoy my daily walk for an hour and try to eat healthy no sugars no coffee no alcohol but I still get anxious and depressed at times!

What makes me feel better I get to this site and dont feel lonely anymore..I found the support and understanding here that I wasn't getting from no one else.

Feel better, we are here for you.

Xxxx

My worse time is during my period and really bad the week after. I usually only get about 5 or 6 decent days a month. I'd much rather have only my period time to feel awful. Not that it makes you feel better, but small blessings I guess.

Have you tried natural progesterone at night? I think you would have better success with that than antidepressants since they don't see to be working. My friend has weened off her Lexipro and is having great success taking oral progesterone instead. Sometimes she takes 4 a night. I think that's probably too much but she's just happy to be off antidepressants and Ambien. I'm taking 200mg a night of prog and am only having trouble sleeping now because of frozen shoulder pain, otherwise I'd be sleeping like a baby. It really works.

Hi Penelope..did you suffer depression before meno at all? I ask because I've always suffered mood swings but through peri menopause was the worst mood swings iv ever experienced. Sounds like yours is a hormonal imbalance like mine and until you address the hormone issue it may not go away. I would cry all day sometimes waking up in the morning crying which was really strange. I lost interest in everything I love to do. I couldn't handle being around people at all and at work I would cry between customers. I also suffered extreme agitation and anger and I would go through stages of feeling like I was confused all the time, I had incredible brain fog that could last all day. I got to the stage where I couldn't function anymore and it was affecting my relationship, my job and everything I did. I also had the other meno symptoms like hot flashes, nausea, exhaustion etc which I could handle but the moods were too much.

Started BHRT about 12 weeks ago and the hot flashes etc have gone. My moods are heaps better. I'm getting through each day now and starting to feel a little motivation returning. It isn't an instant fix with BHRT for me. I still have some ups and downs but I can handle them better now. The amount of each hormone he gives me will be adjusted a few times until its close to perfect but its definitely worth it.

Hope this helps a little and don't be too hard on yourself. Unfortunately for some of us these symptoms go hand in hand with our crazy hormone changes. There is help out there so keep looking.

Good luck..

Hi Penelope. Have you talked to your doctor for menopause options? There are over the counter things too but you are taking antidepressants so you have to make sure anything OTC are okay with those meds. But as I said, doctor can give you menopause meds too to help with what you are feeling, just ask them! I've had all you've mentioned too and it's going on 9 years but hey, everyone is different, just because someone else has these issues this long sure doesn't mean you will, you just might be one of the lucky gals! Good luck and ask your doctor, they should be able to help smooth out your feelings during this time.

Thank you all so much I had anxiety and panic attacks since the birth of my last child.23 years ago.All the symptoms I mentioned happen at the end of my period.

The doctor offers HRT and to just get on with it.How can we women expect to live like this?xx

Yes I'm the same . Hormones if you find wat help please let us know. See gp.