Severe menopausal side effects

Hi Gailannie, yes your reply does help alot. I justv dont understand the fact that I have always had low hormone levels due to polycystic ovaries so dont see why I should be suffering with such severe symptoms. X

Hi Gailannie,

I found your post very informative and helpful.  I’m really struggling with anxiety myself.  I wonder do you know if and when your hormones settle down (please God) this awful flight or flight symptom will ease off ? I’m praying it does but somehow I can’t imagine it.  Absolute nightmare.

Hugs Deb x

Tina, every woman has her own unique chemistry.  While your levels may have been smaller than other women's, the lack there of, is still enough for your body to create symptoms.  Your adjustment may be harder, because of other hormone systems and the havoc it's playing with them.  

That's the best I can offer.  Obviously your chemistry is changing.  

Hi Debbie, I wish there was a patterned time line for all this, but unfortunately there isn't.  Each women is very unique.  Many women say it will take a year, of slowly lessening symptoms.  There are women who even in their late 70s and early 80s who will still have hot flashes, but most don't.  

Try to do everything you can to be good to your body.  Sleep, whole foods, a good multivitamin, some quality time for yourself.  Hopefully you'll adjust soon.   

Thanks Gailannie,

Very grateful for your reply.  I hope so to.

take care x

Hi Debbie, the panic attacks can stop if you can find a treatment suitable for you. I had a call from a female gp who is a senior dr at my surgery and she spent half an hour reassuring me then made out an urgent prescription for a low dose hrt. I have only taken it for 3 days but am feeling better. Try a menopause vitamin supplement or talk to your gp about what might suit you. Hope this helps. Hugs and x's.

Hi Rachael, thank you for your response. I o nly had to take one pill and all my symptoms worsened immediately. No more of them thank you very much. Waiting for ambulance crew to check me over as had really bad flushes and panic. attacks for hours, so bad I got chest pains so going to call surgery when it opens to get some hrt as cant take this. Hugs back to you X

Also, I would like to add that I am 45 and I strongly believe that I have been going through the menopause game since I was 35. My mother’s family ALL started going through it in their mid 30’s. I say this simply because, this is when my anxiety, panic attacks and unusual periods started.  Now, at 45, my list of symptoms is a long one, but I have learned how to manage most of them. I went through very short bouts of depression, but thankfully it went away before I had to go on antidepressants. But I was put on Lorazepam for my anxiety in 2006 and I am on the same exact dose now, that I was I 2006. If my anxiety flares up, I take Rescue Remedy all natural gummies, and that usually does the trick. Only if it is really bad, will I take an extra Lorazepam. I know that benzodiazepine’s are horrible for you, but they tried to wean me off of them and my body didn’t respond nicely and I almost had to be hospitalized. So I will stay on it for now, and maybe once this menopause is over, I will try again. Until then, I will be comfortable in managing my anxiety and panic attacks.

Hi Laura, just wanted to say took one sertraline pill at 6pm last night and within 2 hours my hot flushes were much worse so was anxiety attacks. Waiting for ambulance to arrive and check me over and take me to hospital if necessary as have had some bad chest pain.Will also be contacting my surgery to get my dr to come out and see me.

Hope you are feeling better and its not nice to find someone with similar issues because its terrifying but it is reassuring.  I've been diagnosed with anxiety and depression for over a year and only realised yesterday that it is strongly linked to my monthly cycle! And thats only because the GP asked me to do a diary.  I've had the most awful week running up to my period (left sided chest, shoulder, neck, jaw, face pain) and did end up in A&E on Saturday night, much to my shame, with it.  Everything was fine and they just look at you like you are wasting their time, which I was because everything was clear. I feel so generally unwell too with hot and cold, achy everywhere, headaches, retching, sensitivity to light, I could go on! I'm also on sertriline and it did make me much more anxious but the depression is less severe now, I was also very nauseous for a couple of weeks when first started but that settled. They say these ADs are not addictive but I would be scared to stop taking mine now incase the depression got any worse. Oh and I also use meditation app which really does help me calm down when panicking, and would strongly recommend as gives you 10 minutes peace from your mind which is lovely. I darent go to see GP for a while, went three times last week with chest pain!  Has anyone got any recommendations for anything herbal or over the counter that will ease symptoms?

Hi Rachel, good to know I'm not the only one who feels the need to use the emergency s ervices. I had an ambulance out this morning then after they had gone I contacted my surgery had a long talk with one of the senior gps also a woman who has put me on low dose hrt as my symptoms are so extreme. I cant toletate the problems getting worse before they get better on the sertraline so I'm taking the hrt route it seems to be the best option for me. Good luck and hope you feel better. By the way my own gp doesnt recommend herbal remedies as they are not licenced and can clash with prescription medicines. Look on NHS Choices website as they have alot of information on alternative treatments for the menopause. X