Perimenopause or Anxiety or ???

Hiya you lovely ladies,

I have just had the morning that I wouldn't wish to repeat in a hurry!

I started HRT 10 days (first day of my period) Elleste Duet and normally my periods last approx. 5 days max. I thought I had finished on Weds last week to then start spotting again the next day and still doing so now. I just got into my little brain that this wasn't right and something was wrong with me so booked to see a doctor this morning which I truly wish I hadn't bothered. There was no empathy or understanding for my feelings and she made me feel that I was just wasting her time in being there. I then wanted to check if it was ok to still take (Menapol plus) along side this particular HRT whilst my body was getting used to it (bought from simply supplements) and also was ok to take Melissa Dream at night to help relax your mind from the constant worrying which aids restful nights sleep.

Her answer was I am not a herbalist so I cant answer your question and you will need to go back to where you bought them from. On instructions leaflet of HRT it does say to check with your GP before taking any supplements which I was doing.

Came away thinking why did I bother and I know its early days in taking the HRT but so far I don't feel great taking them and still feeling low and that anxiety has started to kick back in. I know that my body will have to get used to these tablets but I really felt that the DR could have been a little more understanding to me. She did say that it is normal to have spotting as the tablets are putting extra hormones into my body so why am I feeling that this is still not right?

To finish things off when I left the DR's car park and drove a short distance in my vehicle a warning lightcame on saying that I had only 12 PSI in my tyres, so as I drove onto the forecourt of a petrol station it went down to 8 PSI, and when I came out of the shop after buying some milk and bread the tyre was reading0 PSI and was completely flat, and where you get the air from "READ out order" so how helpful was that? Thankfully a helpful man who I know offered to help and stayed with me until my tyre was repaired.

Whilst this was all happening I was feeling really shaky inside and truly wished I had stayed in bed this morning.

Prior to Nov 2012 I would never have worried about things unnecessary and I felt that I was always thepositive person around, where has she gone???? I want her back badly!!! I really am hoping that the HRT will soon start to balance my hormones so that perhaps the anxiety wont be so often and if I am lucky not atall.

Thanks for being there for us all! My husband keeps reassuring me that he will stand by me through this whole journey which I hope wont be loads of years as I don't think my sanity will last that long!!Massive hugs to you!! Joy xxx

Snatchpiece

oh bless you, what a day... and tyres OMG they were my thoughts last night 😀

glad someone you knew was around to assist..

yep, Doctors, why do we bother, some are very good, my UK doc was a god send, but some arent so good, and I dont know why they chose this as a job, common sense says docs should be understanding and good listeners, reassuring and polite.. sorry you had an ordeal....

so you have chosen the HRT path, ( i cant use it - due to family history) although feel tempted sometimes i do admit, hope it helps you, keep in touch with how you get on..

chill out now sweetie and have a cuppa .... Jay x

I am just so frustrated...my husband and i are part of a motorcycle group and we had meeting yesterday and i got so anxious on the way there and felt bad thru the whole thing!!!Ive known all these people for 2 or 3 years and we always have a good time so me getting anxious is something i dont understand..im like all of you tho cause i always wondering what bad thing is gunna happen or if i feel a pain what health issue is going on..always worried and get so mad because i know things will be ok but cant shake the darn anxiety..it really sucks that we cant relax and enjoy life because of this time in our lives...sorry had to vent!:-(:'(

It's all very frustrating and scary, I can't shake these anxious feelings either, and am beginning to think I will always be worried and scared. This forum helps so much, reading other ladies symptoms makes me realise I'm not alone, thank you all xxx

Hey ladies... I hope you are all bearing up as much as possible. This is my anxiety story for today - my partner is selling his place to move in with me so still goes home three nights a week. I text him this morning and after 10 mins - no reply - text again asking are you okay? Still nothing... At this point I am thinking oh god, oh god what has happened. I pick up the phone and ring and still nothing I am very anxious at this point. I then receive a text from him saying "oh s**t, I've overslept". I couldn't think straight, I was panicking to the point of shaking so much I had to sit down. It really does take us over, doesn't it! Saying that... He was happy that I called him in the end otherwise he would've been late for work! ☺️

I don't like these negative feelings. I worry about my partner constantly but also worry about my kids. God help if they don't answer their phones when they are out, especially on a trip (which teenagers rarely do).

Symptoms are starting up again. I've been sort of okay for the past week but now the fatigue is kicking in, and the brain fog is back - I'm also suffering with pain in my shoulders and get random stabbing pains all over, oh, and my boobs feel like they are starting to get ready to burst... being a woman is hard work!

Hello jayneejay and all ladies, glad to hear you've still got your energy. I know what you mean about the tyres, i would be just the same. I get anxious about the most stupidest things. I notice I've started avoiding people i would once stop and chat to so I'd say I've become unsociable. laurie i know how you feel my husband has arranged for us to have a weekend away in Durham for Easter and he's so looking forward to it cos he does work long hours and i'm just so uninterested and quite anxious about going even travelling there, id never show my husband that i dont really want to go but he does know i get anxious about it and he's very good about it but its just not fare is it would should be enjoying ourselves in our 50's. I'm so afraid of being ill when were away as this is how it all started for me, we were out having a meal and i all of a sudden felt faint and didn't seem to recover so an ambulance came and took me to hospital and i went down hill from there but didn't know at the time this was my beginning of peri amongst other health problems i seem to have developed related to peri. so I've never got over that time. do we ever get are old self back?? i was just an ordinary lady who didn't do anything special in life just work full time and do my housework and shopping at the weekend, visit my in laws and help them but now i struggle with my job i'm slower and getting my housework done and fitting everything i used to into Saturday and my in laws have more energy than i do. I must say this forum is better than any GP you've all been an enormous help to me and its so good to get all your problems out to someone who can relate to how you feel. lots of love & comforting hugs to all x

Can any of you ladies who have been in peri for a while now tell me if your anxiety gets worse or easier during certain times of the month and do you eventually find it easier to handle with each passing month xxx

i find my anxiety is worse if things are out of my control, it can happen to me anytime of the month, it seems to be worse when i have a period because my periods scare me ever since i had a bad one last year and then none for 7 mouths, then one came from out of the blue x

Hello Lovelies

Speaking as someone who has had most of the symptoms mentioned and also some that haven't! j I just wanted to let you know that there is hope that you can be normal again!!! Please keep believing that your symptoms can be relieved. It does take a lot of time and continued persistence on your behalf though to get, and do what you need to help. There lies the rub. We are all different and some of us who have the same symptoms will experience them differently and maybe more or less intensely. I don't believe that there is just one solution to these symptoms. You have to do a Sherlock Holmes jobby and hunt down the things that work for you personally. For me it was a blend of approaches.

My GP was nothing short of brilliant. She supported me to deal with the symptoms that I experienced in the ways that I chose. I chose to experiment with holistic, non prescription methods. I asked to be referred for CBT (Cognitive Based Therapy) and I attended a weekly appointment for this but your GP can, if you wish, arrange for you to do a course online. I developed a fear of going out (and what seemed like millions of other fears too) but I made myself attend these appointments because they helped me sooo much. On top of all my other problems I developed gut problems and also became intolerant of many foods. Long, long story but I eventually worked out that I was intolerant to milk and gluten with little tolerance for sugar too. Over a period of about 2 years, I worked my way back to normality (well my kind of crazy normal anyway!) I learned everything I could about my symptoms and conditions, did the online CBT also, changed my eating habits and diet completely, tried to walk daily ( could only manage around the small block most days) and took up guided meditation, mindfulness and bought a dealing with panic and anxiety course. I also joined a local self-help group which helped with my depression and also could provide a companion to support when trying to go out. I had a Reflexology or a Head Massage treatment as often as I could afford. This seemed to improve my ability to relax and get some sleep. Do as much as you can to support yourself and NEVER pull yourself down. Always praise and reward yourself for your accomplishments - no matter how small they are. You can get there in the tiniest of steps. YOU WILL STILL GET THERE!!

x Ellie x

Ellie,

What a breathe of fresh air, i am at the moment suffering all of or most of the symptoms on here, i also have opted out of prescription drugs am due my 2nd week of cbt this week and im off for my first day at a self help group to start a self esteem course, i push myself to do things some are easier than others, i know i can achieve it with a lot of hard work on my behalf turning my negative thoughts to positive ones will be my biggest achievement i think

Thankyou for your words of encouragement

Ellie how did u cope with joint pain and dizziness this is what is stopping me from doing things I hate this I really do

Hi

For joint pain I had a heated electric pad or I used those magnetic heating pads/belts that you can buy in any pharmacy or supermarket. You can buy the appropriate one for most parts of the body and these are ideal for about 12hrs relief if you are able to get out and about. For indoors, my choice was the electric one that can be wrapped around or you can lie down and just hold it on. My knees, elbows and back were all affected. Gentle exercise like Yoga or Tai Chi maybe helpful too. My dizziness was caused by anxiety and build up of wax also so you could try a gentle solution to see if it helps (I would personally not use the ones that contain bleach!!) I go for the one that contains only medical grade olive oil - it works perfectly for me. Or alternatively, you could get them syringed if wax is a problem.

I found that learning how to breathe correctly (belly breathing) helped with the anxiety helped as it gives you something to concentrate on and calms the body/mind effectively if practised often enough before you actually need it!

I have assumed that you have had these conditions checked out with a medical professional and that it is safe for you to go ahead and self treat.

Love and luck, and I hope that you begin to feel more human soon! Don't give up EVER - just try something else if what you try does not work. Something will

x Ellie x

Hey ladies,

I'm gonna ask something not very nice now... Started sort of spotting yesterday (16 days respite from my last 10 day period) but it's mucky brown in colour. Has anyone else experienced this before something else to mention to the doctor tomorrow as well as the brain fog, dizziness, long periods, short time between periods, tiredness, nausea, joint pain blah blah blah...

Your advice would be much appreciated. Is this another symptom?

Sharon xxx

Hi Campervanqueen

yes , dont worry I have had the chocolate brown blood alot... my Doc told me a while ago its old blood, and normal, I had this alot, sometimes choc brown mid cycle and then bright again another cycle, dont worry hun..

Jay xx

campervanqueen, forgot to say, still mention it to the Doc, its maybe old blood, old endometrial tissue etc, lining etc, thats not expelled before, especially when in peri, thats what i was told, sometimes mine could be on the black side, only spotting or light, then another time would be normal, and other times very bright blood.

hope that reassures you abit. Jay xx