Wonderful posts(s)! But for the sake of my own anxiety level, I'll reply later.....from the safety of my desktop (this Tablet, I now rapid, is only good for 'looking', not 'posting' as it reads like a cryptic message otherwise:-)
Greetings from sunny - for now! - London, UK x
Hi there
Wee update on how I am and to ask how you are.
My period arrived last Friday and by lunchtime that day I felt 'normal' !!! I was delighted!! Went out for lunch with friends, went to supermarket and daundered round enjoying the experience I also nipped into hairdressers and got trim!! No way could I have done that the day before!! However saturday and Sunday the anxiety has returned😞
HRT? not sure if I should try it. Doctor says give it a try, I just need to get back to work and feel normal again.
I do hope you are well x
Hi Liz
Glad to hear you had fun at the shops and got your hair done! Well done!
I'm in the same boat as you I suspect! I suppose we should be glad that at least it is not the titanic!
I was supposed to get my blood test done on first day of period this month, but guess what it arrived sat night and all our blood testing places are closed on Sundays!
So I will have to phone the doctor this morning (it is Monday morning here on a very grey Autumn Sydney day) and see if it makes a difference and whether I can get bloods done today (day 2 of period) or wait another month.... very frustrating.
I am waiting for anxiety to kick in...I'm ahead of this month since I got heads up from the doctor last month that it was hormonal. Weirdly, I don't seem to get the pms (bloating, irritability)I used to get before I hit peri 3 years ago, now it all seems to happen after my period.
On Thurs last week, I had the night sweats (to be fair, they are really mild and I wake up feeling hot and slightly damp on my chest and stomach).
Then last night I had the blooming insomnia (have never ever had that before peri) and firstly couldn't get to sleep, then when I did, I kept waking up and was awake from 3 am to 4.30am.
Ñext on the chart for me will be the anxiety....It hits me at the tail end of period and first week after....starts gradual and then picks up and then tails off in 2nd week.
My anxiety if scary too...I get health anxiety and panic, feel like I can't breathe, heat sensation on my chest, tingling...
But now I know it's hormonal, I feel a bit more prepared armed with the knowledge....Last month I tried to reason with myself during episodes and "talk myself down".... it will pass etc...
but armed with medication too if needed....and I did take the medication 2 or 3 days...
So my present plan for navigating this awful peri anxiety and panic is 3 step procedure.
I am on low dose antidepressant (effexor xr) which I have been on on and off for last 14 hrs and now my new female doctor reckons the anxiety may well have been cycle related all along!!!aghhhh.
MY 2ND step is my "as needed fall back position" medication which my new best doctor gave me called Zanex (alprazolam) which is fast acting and kills that panic and anxiety within 15 mins.... I can also take it on that 1, 2 or 3 nights of insomnia to help me sleep. Last month I took it as I said and one of the 2 nights of insomnia...
My 3rd step is in limbo at the moment....doctor mentioned hrt, but only once my blood test results and hormone levels are in... so not sure when I will see her next to have that discussion.
Truthfully, my only troublesome symptom at the moment is the anxiety and panic for a week, so I am not sure whether that justifies hrt or whether I should wait a while...I am certainly not averse to medication if it helps and the risks are low.
So that's my update for the moment....glad to hear you treated yourself...my advice is to do what makes you comfortable and gets you back to being "you" and not letting the anxiety run your life. If that means medication....then drink up! I'll have a glass with you! Well a wee one anyway!
chin up girl!
Sydneymum
Hi Sydneymum,
Mine are exactly same as you describe. I have trouble with anxiety and panick attacks, so I was under alprozolam on and off for short period of time. Doctor said this is highly addictive drug so incase attack happens I should take this. My first attack was 7 years ago when probably my peri started. Over the years the symptims getting milder, but other symptoms kick in. Insomnia is one of them. I don't take alprozolam anymore. I take valeriane, 100% herbal before bed, which seem to calm me dow a lot and no side effects. As I was recommended I carefully watch my blood pressure as this often fluctuates when hormones changes in the body. I exercise and do yoga and relaxation things. These seem to be helping lately.
HI Altaa
I did try Valerian a couple of years ago, but felt it did nothing for my anxiety at that stage.
I am aware the alprazolam is a benzodiazapine and therefore highly addictive. I find that firstly, knowing as of last month when I saw the doctor and she explained the hormone connection, it has helped me not to panic as much...for example last night I had really bad insomnia and could not sleep or when I did, only for a few hours....but I did not panic, just realised normal peri symptom which has become a pattern for me during my period (insomnia and anxiety) and just relaxed and read my book till sleepy.
same thing with the anxiety. I now expect it to happen this week or next following the last 2 month pattern, so will be less panicky about it and am also reassured that if necessary I have alprazolam I can take. Just knowing I have the tabless is calming in itself.
I may give the valerian another go as it has been a couple of years and worth another go. Thank you for sharing your experience!
Sydneymum
Hi wearykitty. Just wondering how you are doing now? I'm in Peri about 3 years I think but not sure. I have the anxiety, dizziness, sore joints etc. just wondered how you are doing now?
Hi sydneymum, just wondering how you are doing now? Any info would be great. Going through similar scenario. 
Hi Helen,
I'm experiencing symptoms such as yours particularly waking every hour for the past 3weeks. I wondered how long this sleeping problem went on for you and whether you experienced a fast hear rate with it? Thank you.