14yrs. of perimenopause? - Menopause Message Board

cecropia · 09-23-2006, 06:46 AM

Hi everyone! I've been posting in the anxiety board a little, but never scrolled down far enough to see there is a board for menopause.

When I was 40 I started having anxiety really bad and depression. At that time my Dr. said I had generalized anxiety disorder caused from my change of life starting. I thought it was nonsense, but I did go on anxiety medication and it helped a lot. I would take it for 3yrs. and go off for 3yrs. I guess whatever good built up in my system, it took 3yrs. to deplete it again. My periods remained the same always, very regular until last year at age 54 they started coming every 3 weeks instead of 4 weeks. And now I've had some only 14 days apart. I'm soon to be 55 and I would say it's about time I'm seeing some changes that are significant to make me believe I'm really getting close to menopause. My doctor agrees and, oh yes, I had to go back on my anxiety medication 3 months ago, the hot flashes and anxiety were becoming severe again after 3yrs. being free of them. This time however, my doctor has recommended that I stay on my medication. If it takes 10yrs. or 15yrs. it has been advised that I stay on the medication, which is Buspirone. I don't want to take hormones, so I'm going this route, with anxiety medication only.

I think my doctor is right. I'm frightened that I am one of those who is having such a problem with this and can't breeze through like some ladies do. I guess I am looking for others who are on axiety medication for menopause anxiety. It's actually listed as one of the symptoms of peri-menopause and menopause and it can be severe in some cases with depression. I wish sometimes I could go into hibernation, wake up 10yrs. from now at 65 and have this all behind me, plus, wow I would be able to collect my social security by then too. hehe Yeah, I know, it doesn't work that way.

Hope to hear from someone....

Mileena42 · 09-23-2006, 06:54 AM

Hi cecorpia,

I cant help you with telling you where you might be, as I am basically in the same boat. (Dont know what I am doing). I can only tell you that from what I have read on this site that anxiety seems to be if not normal at least a given part of menopause for some women. I believe that is what I am starting to go through myself. I am 43, and think my peri has begun in ernest and quite suddenly. I need help, but I dont know what to do. There are women on here who can help....and by reading even old post you can find a lot of answers. I hope this helps.

cecropia · 09-23-2006, 12:07 PM

Thanks for your suggestions Mileena,
I intend to go through some of the old posts and see what I can find out. I wish you luck going through this too. The past 14yrs. has not been all bad, the Buspirone sure helped me a lot. And if it was not peri-menopause and was only GAD, the medicine helped that too.

MomtoC · 09-23-2006, 04:44 PM

hi,

I'm taking prozac for my migraines, but I'm also finding it helps with the irritability of perimenopause (or so my husband and sis say, lol). The prozac was to counter the irritability from the Topamax for my migraines.

from what I hear from other women my age (45) anxiety and irritability are part of what happens during peri/menopause.

btw, some of those ladies who think they breeze thru menopause aren't really breezing thru. my mom thought so, but she was just ghastly for about a decade, lol. I had no idea I was so irritable til the topamax sent me over the edge and then dh managed to speak up and said it wasn't just the topamax, lol. so yeah, many of these women think they're adjusting just fine, but they aren't

.

I think it's fine to take something for the problems. imagine not doing so...that would just be unbearable.

interstate495 · 09-25-2006, 08:27 PM

hi
could you tell me what dosage of Topamax were you taking was it more than 50 mg

thanks