I hope you are all feeling ok today. My anxiety has reached new limits today and I'm in a tunnel of fears.
I'm 50 with irregular periods and many other peri symptoms for last few years including depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance (insomnia, sweats, nightmares, numbness, waking with a fright thinking there are noises when there aren't!), IBS, fatigue, dizziness, brain fog, mood swings. The mood swings have got worse the last few weeks - frequent crying, agitation, rage. I don't know whether I'm coming or going and neither do my family!
I've worried about dementia before but today I read about Lewy Body Dementia (LBD), apparently Robin Williams had it, and so many of my symptoms above can be early signs. I felt sick with fear when I read it. It doesn't help that the fatigue, dizziness and brain fog is really bad today. I'm just convincing myself that all these peri symptoms are adding up to something more serious. I'm sorry but I can't stop ruminating in anxiety and even that I'm interpreting as a sign of dementia or seriious mental disorder because I just can't seem to control my anxiety and emotions right now. Any words of wisdom or comfort would be greatly appreciated.
Thank goodness we all have each other to turn to, love and hugs to every one of you on this journey.
Hi ruthie, ah bless you i was feeling the same as you and very same symptoms yesturday , i read on this site that a lady had very same meno problems and took magnesium and starflower oil and after not to long she felt a lot better , i went out today and got magnesium i already use starflower oil so took first thing this morning , now this evening i feel slightly calmer lets see what the next few days bring, why dont you try this if you havent already ,please stay in touch would love to know how you are doing take care
Thanks Karen, I haven't taken magnesium for a while so I think I will try it again. I just don't feel myself a lot of the time and feel so unsure of myself. The anxiety just takes on a life of its own.
Ruthie, I had all these symptoms and stuck it out for as long as I could......but I've now given in and gone on evorel conti HRT patches. I'm 9 weeks in and although last week my consultant wanted to change my patches to evorel sequi (where I would get a bleed every 4 weeks) I'm glad to say I think things are finally settling down. Anxiety attacks were my worst symptom, especially around 4am - 6am, but this morning I woke once at 5am, bathroom break, and then woke again at 8.25am! Only thing I've done different since last Friday is that I've started taking a 10mg amitriptyline tablet at night as I also suffer from fribromyalgia. And, I've also only drunk decafinated tea and coffee up until 5pm and then lemon and ginger tea after that time. Not sure whether it's just coincidence, but I definitel y feel a bit better.
I was adamant at start of menopause that I wouldn't take HRT.....but I've felt like I'm going insane for last two months and wouldn't wish the feelings on my worst enemy. That'll teach me!
I also google my symptoms......and when you feel as poorly and as strange as we do you can often convince yourself you've got every ailment under the sun! Only thing I was definite I hadn't got was being pregnant.......thank god! Take care.
I'm definitely not pregnant either Pam! I used to have a high sex drive but not anymore
That's interesting about the amitriptyline - I've been on a low dose for the last two weekS for IBS and chronic abdo and back pain. It's made me groggy and I think it's made the dreams worse but I'm sticking with it. Has it helped you?
Do you still get a bleed with your HRT patches? I would try HRT if I thought it would help but I think I'm scared it might make me feel worse as I hear mixed reviews.
I hope you feel better soon Ruthie. Maybe your doc. can prescribe you some anti anxiety meds. to help you. I don't think I have Luey dimentia but it sounds really scary.
Hi, I went through exactly all the things you talk about, including a huge fear of dementia earlier this year. I was in perimenopause, and now I've been menopausal proper since early Spring, and about mid-summer, my symptons, which had been so appalling I was admitted to a mental health unit twice - mainly because I was suicidal because of the panic and anxiety - suddenly the symptoms just went away.
I have a history of depression anyway, and still suffer from this, but not as badly as before. I do feel I'm past the worst. Honestlly - what you are feeling is most likely down to very significant hormonal changes, which will settle down soon.
All that you mentioned is what i am going through. Depressed moods, anxieties, not sleeping well, stomach issues can't look at food at times don't know what to eat, then i to have crying spells, agitation, and rage to where i take it out on my boyfriend at times. Then i get tired and just want to sleep then there are times i can't sleep then there are times i do get dizzy and brain fog sometimes its hard to say what i want to say but i do get it out then there are times i forget things
Its just been really hard on my and i wish this would go away. Then there is a cyst on my ovary and the ultra sound person thought he noticed something i go tomorrow to talk to my OBGYN to see what he wants to do i pray it is not large but when the guy who did my ultra sound saw something he told me it up to my OBGYN as to what he wants to do
I just want to cry more and just cry but i want to be on the safe side and make sure that this cyst is not cancerous thats what i am afraid of
Thank you Ruthie. That's very comforting to hear. I'm hanging in there. Taking my B12 & D vitamins. So think it helps a lot with the dizziness and fatigue. Also taking probiotics to help with my digestive issues. Seems to help s bit too. Exercising and eating a little healthier too. I only go to the gym once a week though cause I need to keep up my strength and try to build up my muscles. It's hard though. I feel so less energetic st the gym than I used to. For awhile I thought I had MS or something like that too. I guess I don't though.
Anyway thanks for your encouraging words. Hoping to get through all this crap soon. Although I think its only 2 years I've been in the peri phase, and this year was the worst ever.
I am so sorry that you are going through the braing fog, that has to be depressing as well as scary. Our brain is what we make it - I have read research on that you have to do fun things to make the brain develop happy cells. One example is taking up a dance class and dance as much as you can. Another one is to a card game to get your brain to developing strategies. I go to the casino when I am down and once I leave I am better. these are just suggestions not a replacement for medical advice.
Thanks for sharing your story and encouragement Ursula. It sounds like you have really been through it, especially with the anxiety and depression. What great news that it has disappeared. Did you use HRT or antidepressants? Or did it just settle on its own? So pleased you are feeling better.
yiu have just made me feel so much better, my anxiety as been through the roof today, like Ruthie I google and I know it's the worst thing in the world to do, because all it's doing is feeding the anxiety, but when you start with all the problems it's hard not to.
Bit it's fantastic to hear that you have got better, it really as given me hope that this will not last forever, I have only been in peri about 18 months,so I know I've along way to go, it just perked me right up. thank you 😄😄😄
Oh Susan, that description sounds like me. Just lately I am finding it really hard to control my emotions in public. My hairdresser told me a sad story as she was doing my hair yesterday and I ended up with tears streaming down my face. Other times I don't know whether to scream or cry. I feel on the edge.
Take a deep breath and go along to your OBGYN. Cysts are nearly always benign and harmless just troublesome. I can understand your fear but your thoughts are just thoughts, they don't make your fears real. I wish I could take my own advice!! Let us know how you get on.
I was on HRT for a while, but was still getting the anxiety with it. I stopped it after a few months, because I was putting on weight and getting alot of acne, which can happen with HRT. I do take anti-depressants, which I started again in the Spring, - fluoxetine/prozac, 40mg a day. I also take vitamin B12, magnesium, vitamin D and calcium, folic acid and Omega 3 fish oil tablets, and eat very healthily - which can be really boring at times, but I think it does help. I get hardly any hot flushes, which I'm quite suprised but very pleased about. I was getting them for the first half of this year quite badly. I dont drink alcohol, which I know is also boring, but I have had a drink problem, and I think it also minimises menopause symptoms not to drink.
Good advice Ellen. I REALLY need more fun in my life. I just never seem to feel well enough lately to commit to a regular class/hobby. I'd love to go dancing though.
Hi, thanks - I'm glad to help. I really wish I had come across this forum myself earlier this year, as I think it might have helped me to know alot of us go through the same things!
Yes, the pressure of the cyst on the bladder could cause frequent urination. But increased urination/irritable bladder can be a peri symptom too. I am in and out of the bathroom day and night since starting peri.