Menopause or Bipolar
Posted , 6 users are following.
I have delt with depression for years and now have been diagnosed with Bipolar as well. I need to find out if part of this isn't Menopause. They said I'm full on Menopause months after they have been treating my mental health issues. Reading some of the different women on here leads me to beleive this is a big part of Menopause. The mood swings and demented thoughts. SELF DOUBT is one of my biggest scares!! I ask my husband all the time what I should do or say or ect... over stupid things. I never use to be this way! I feel dyslexic, forgetful, and just unsure of myself. Yes Hot flashes and need to sleep with my feet out from under the blankets with the fan on. Has anyone else been diagnosed with a mental health disorder since Menopause?
0 likes, 49 replies
lelawreck michelle55523
Posted
Dear Michell, Vix and Mauiblue. I refer to the last post to all of you and mentioned that I was going to visit my gyne. Well, her is an update. He had one look at my blood results and said that it is very low, estrogen progesterone etc. I was dumbstruck and said, "well I don't understand as according to my GP these results are normal". He then continued and explained to me that blood results are unreliable in testing hormones. You whom have been following me know that I previously mentioned this as well, as confirmed by my homeopath. I was glad to hear it coming from him. He then also told me that he doesn't treat ladies according to their "results" but rather the symptoms we experience as we know our bodies. It is so obvious now that you dont ask the shoe maker to built you a house! He said that he was going to put me on hormone treatment - a very low dose the ones that you stick on. I need to see him in 6 months again.
I was scared though as i know there are a lot of ladies that would rather go the holistic route on this but i am done with this hellish road. So I also went through a lot of old posts on this forum and there was a lady that mentioned that she started to feel like a normal being in 2 weeks time after starting with HRT. So I am going to give it a go.
I cannot deal with this anxiety anymore! It is caused by peri-menopause and why should I suffer any longer than I should. It is so easy to get a description for calming meds like Xanax and Xanor and antidepressants, but does these really tackle the actual problem? At the end of the day you can get addicted to last mentioned, which I really do not want to do. So I am slowly weaning myself of Xanor now, I am listing to mindfulness audios everyday and still going for CBT. I am doing relaxing breathing exercises.
I say again, I will not allow this phase in my life to take away a quality lifestyle. I WILL stay positive, as I push myself to believe that this is only a phase.
We are special, we do wonders for our families, we try to cope with having a full day employment, running finances, looking after kids, cooking cleaning etc. Life is hard and not fair, but we will get trough this!
To all the special ladies on this forum, thank you all for the support!
Vix72 lelawreck
Posted
Hi Lelawreck,
So wonderful to read your post of positivity and looking forward to a bright future beyond this. it has taken some of my lifestyle, in fact far more than I realised until l I read your post
Your Dr sounds great as that is exactly what I have been reading about too...did you tell him about the drugs you are using now? just checking...I have been doing loads of research as my anxious mind wants answers and solutions NOW. I have so much going on I'm not sure if i am Arthur or Marther... ( as in at times I have difficulties recognising myself).
I too am doing CBT, twice a week in fact and i have been using sleeping pills for several weeks, they are the same family as zanax but no where near as strong. i agree they give out these things when we are in moments of desperation and then we don't know whats happening.. BTW, i think there is a subtle but important distinction between addicted and dependence...my Dr doesn't think i'm stable enough to start weaning or tapering off them, and I agree...I did try a couple of weeks ago and it didn't go so well, i think i did too much too soon and my brain/body wasn't happy. but i will start again soon, just slowly and in small chunks.
i also did meditation today, i allowed myself to get caught up in the drama of this s**t storm and stopped doing it, it is so good for us as is this forum...today i have cooked breakfast, seen my Dr, weeded some of the veggie patch, walked the dogs, a quick dip in the ocean, cleaned the kitchen, made dinner and did some laundry. I find it better to be busy for myself but work seems too stressful somehow and i can't actually focus for that long, i get tingles all over my face and head and feel very uncomfortable. TBH i'm glad at the end of every day that i got there....
i am going to see an endocrinologist/ Gyneacologist who specialises in menopause and perimenopause, i just have to trust that he can help me....but i cant see him until Nov 22nd so i'm hanging on until then...
I haven't worked in a few months and I'm relying on my partner financially, for EVERYTHING which feels weird but i don't know what else to do...
We are special its true...and somewhere deep inside me - my essence the very realness and trueness of me still resides and believes i have a future. None of my friends have been through anything quite like what I am, they have had a touch of insomnia or a little anxiety over driving in the city etc..My experience is so intense and vastly different.
I've tried everything other than hormones so that's my next stop. Diet, meditation, therapy, massage, i even checked into a 'private facility' to get help with the anxiety...all they did was drugged me up whilst telling me i would be fine and totally discarding the hormone connection....
Did your Dr see the connection? what other symptoms do you have? i have sore boobs most ALL the time, insomnia ( prior to sleeping pills) which made anxiety even worse ( manic almost). super light periods for past 2 years, some episodes of flooding but that was in 2013 and 2014, food intolerances ( well, i don't really know about that). dry skin, loose skin ( but probably due to rapid weight loss ( 8kg) in May/June when the anxiety started and i thought it was food related), I've since regained 5 kilos and I'm RAVENOUS!!. Tinnitus at times, back ache a week after period, some spotting, at times nauseous, forgetful ( that was really intense in 2013, i had to withdraw from my university studies)...I spent 2014 at home cooking and cleaning and being happy. as a Dr told me it was Chronic fatigue, then in '15 and '16 . a few of lifes ups and downs like relationship issues and bout of dengue fever after a trip to India, then this April BAM!!! it all hit me and i swear i don't know who i am....
Please respond, i so look forward to these messages...
THANKYOU SO MUCH
lelawreck michelle55523
Posted
Hi Michelle - This is my symptoms: Dry skin, brittle nails, sore boobs, food intolerance, nausea, migraines, dizziness, burning eyes, thinning hair, IBS, low libido, after sex it feels like the skin of my vagina becomes sore and feel thin, facial hair, tinnitus, mood swings, irritably, heart palps, insomnia, nigh sweets, crashing fatigue, strange sensation in my gums, tongue and upper wall, electric sensation in my legs and arm, extremes of feeling chilling cold and then burst out in hot flush and excessive sweating, brain fogging, painful shoulder blades only to name a few and then the anxiety which is by far the worst.
I too was impressed with this gyne, seeing that I live in South Africa and we do not always have the best of medical knowledge in comparison with overseas facilities. Not that we are a third world country, but we really do lack in some areas of more advanced meds and tech. He immediately notices the link. Although he said that it is sometimes best to be referred to a psychologist whom can prescribe antidepressants and find one that works. But I don't want to been there done it and it sucked.
As mentioned yes i have been on Xanor for 4 months now and think that I have grown to be dependent on it, which is a nightmare for me. If I only knew sooner I would have investigated alternatives. I though to go cold turkey on it without medical supervision but realized today that I am failing miserably. I did skip 2 days in a row but the anxiety hit me like bad at 10ish this morning. So i took one again. I think I need to see my GP about this, and let him help me ween off it. The side effects were terrible, my face went numb, had and had this terrible pins and needles sensation in my face and upper body. Similar to when you realized a panic attach is on its way. I have to say, I don't think one should do it on your own, think I was a bit foolish to consider it. I will see my GP about this and post an update again. I rest my case to say it is to easy to prescribe these kind of meds and GP's don't talk to you about the side effects about dependence.
Peri is seriously a nasty one and I just so wish we could have been informed about it properly then going through this suffering.
This forum really saved my life in so many aspects!
Hoping to hear from you soon.
Vix72 lelawreck
Posted
Did you tell the gyne you were using them?
Vix72 lelawreck
Posted
Oh and i don't have a libido at all anymore...
lelawreck Vix72
Posted
O and apparently if on HRT the libido gradually comes bck according to my gyne. Will keep you posted
michelle55523 lelawreck
Posted
WOW every time I read something on here there is someone mentioning another symptom I have been experiencing and I'm afraid to mention "another symptom" without feeling like a hypochondriac. My gums had been hurting lastnight and thought "WHAT ELSE" my god....My poor husband! I try not telling him too much. Not that he isn't a sweetie and is very compassionate because he is. I agree with not weening yourself off. Let your Dr. help. I laugh because over the years I get this great idea to stop taking my meds because I feel good. Then I go threw these scary moods of wanting to end my life and so on...then to remember that is why I feel better because I'm take my meds! However in the next breath I don't drink like I use to 6 months ago every day so I know that plays a big roll in depression. I'm always doubting myself and that is a big issue for me. Like you I thought this is great to know others are going threw the same after reading others stories. Talk to your DR and I love the fact your from South Africa!
Thanks for sharing your storie!
Vix72 lelawreck
Posted
the mouth stuff could also be related to the anti anxiety medication....its a minefield of cross over effects i'm afraid!
Keep in touch. My Dr wants me to stabilise first as I've been so anxious, like all the time...i'm not working- i'm just focusing on the house right now to take my mind off what feels insurmountable! Where the hell did this thing come from????
lelawreck Vix72
Posted
Thx Vix - I will stay i touch. I am planning on seeing my GP re weaning of the benzo, I will not continue to do this on my own. I too think I am far from stabilize and I am dreading falling into a dark pit again. Then I'll rather keep on using the Xanor until such time I am strong enough to cope without it.
Hang in there and focus on your house. And if so, take up a hobby to also keep your mind at ease. I have taking up crochet and it is kind off stimulating.
Vix72 lelawreck
Posted
Hey Lela,
That is so funny, I was thinking of crochet?!
Let me know how it all goes. I can't wait to see my specialist....
Vix72 lelawreck
Posted
Hey Lelawreck,
How are you going? My GP doesn't want me to wean off just yet.. i'm just sitting here for a bit to stabilise...I am going to see a endocrinoloigist/ gyneacologist who specialises in this area soon. I thought i had to wait until 22nd Nov but he has found a place for me earlier...so in 2 weeks rather than 6! That is such great news and I am super grateful...
lelawreck Vix72
Posted
Hi Vix, I am doing okayish and hope you are too. Glad to hear you got an earlier appointment. Keep me posted. Ok, so I kinda have an update for you. Last week I explained to you that i got terrible withdrawal symptoms so I decided to go see my Gp about weaning myself off. Unfortunately he was on leave and I decided to go to my homeopath. I explained everything to her and she done a few test on me. She first tested my hormone balance again, which was still very low. I am now going into week 2 with the estrodot patches. We then tested the xanor and the effect that it had on me and would you believe it, it actually help stabilizing the current hormone imbalance. She said that in her opinion, even though using it a little longer, I should rather still stay on it. Maybe until December just to give my hormone's time to stabilize. Our offices closes during December and seeing that i will have no work stress and by then my hormones would have stabilized, she suggested that i can then try to wean off the xanor, but under my GP's watch.
She also said that due to the anxiety, stress and peri, my stomach is very upset. I lack enzymes to actually help with digesting food. This in fact have an effect on the absorption of the necessary nutrients and even though i have been boosting my system with all of these minerals and vitamins, my body do not absorb it. She is now treating me for my stomach issues as well, and I am so hoping that i will start feeling better by December.
It seems like there is still a long road ahead to recovery. I will however still try to remain positive. There is a lot of ladies here that confirmed peri to last between 6 to 10 years, I am not looking forward to such a long time, but if this is what we have to deal with, I presume we just need to accept it and make the best of this horrible situation. I have taken up crochet over the weekend as well just to keep my mind off of the crap that we need to deal with.
I take each day at its own past and just pray everyday for strength to get through it. I keep on reminding myself that this is a phase and it will past. I want to look forward to retiring one day and go on hikes and take pictures of birds (which is a hobby of mine), and just enjoy life at it's fullest again.
Hope you have a fab day and keep me posted on your results re the gyne appointment.
Lots of love from South Africa!
Vix72 lelawreck
Posted
Hey Lela,
That sounds reasonable for sure, look up the Ashton protocol for December and get all the info you can ok.
'
i too have gut issues and thats the road i went down first of all trying to figure out the anxiety, i also lost 11 kgs in 6 months, 8 of which fell off in a matter of weeks so we had all sorts of gut health stuff going on. Looked at methylation etc too, all the alternative bits and bobs. But then i fell pregnant and had a miscarriage and hormones went wild again. Then surgery etc and no sleep led to the sleeping pills....
I am now booked in for tomorrow!! I told him it was life and death and it truly does feel like that at times. i get the absolutely foul thoughts in my head.... i haven'worked now for a few months and my partner is supporting us which i feel yuk about especially as i am costing so much money... I've had to stop CBT today but i'm going to find a way to do it as I'm sure it has helped a great deal...
I've had some hormone tests done and it looks like everything is low FSH, LH and Progesterone
especially....i really am trusting tomorrow will bring me some answers and help
Will keep you updated and you do the same OK!!!
How did you learn to crotchet? i am really wanting to start...
take care and love from Sydney, Australia
lelawreck Vix72
Posted
I am think of you and do trust that I will come out positive for you. Also, try not to feel to guilty about your partner supporting you financially, this will pass too. You have given your life for your family and just need a little but of love and care now. When you are feeling better again, you can go and find some employment. I need to support my family financially and it takes a terrible strain on one. Got divorce abt 8 years ago after leading a quite glamorous lifestyle. Now i am just a normal employee whom battle to keeps ends meet. Sucks! I dont even have money to have a decent haircut, haha. I met a guy, whom I am still in a relationship with, but he doesn't earn a lot so 95% of our living cost are my responsibility. I look after my parents as well and my brother has been unemployed for 2years and 4 months and he stays with me too. Life is not always fair, so please don't feel guilty that your partner is supporting you now. That will pass too, your health is of more importance now!
My mom helped me to learn a little of crochet, and i bought a lot of books that teaches you how too. There is also a lot of online training. I have done a blanket already, a jersey, a top, sleeping socks and my new challenge is to do a topcoat. Believe me, i do still battle but once accomplished I feel so good to see the end result.
As you now, you constantly have these nasty thoughts, and thinking when will the next anxiety attach hit you again and on your good days you can't help to feel like the negative thoughts is slowly consuming you, and you have no control over it, with the crochet you will find that you cannot stop thinking about the end results. That is mindfullness and you rekindle your brain to stop focusing on the negative doom and gloom.
If you cannot afford CBT anymore download that stop anxiety app. The audios are great to listen too and some even have mini hypnosis with deep relaxing effects.
Speak to you soon and take care.