Crazy chemicals called hormones! - Menopause Message Board

pud · 01-18-2008, 09:45 AM

Although I have suffered from depression and anxiety for many years (I think it was undiagnosed post natal depression left to escalate), I have lived a pretty good and normal life with the help of anti-depressants.

However, when I hit the menopause, the anti-depressants seemed to stop working, I suffered real bad depression and anxiety, but not only that, just felt so very weird and strange and, well, so ILL. Hard to explain. I came off my old anti-depressants, GP tried 3 different ones, didn't help!! Then finally gave in and got hrt. Silly me, doh, thought this will fix all, and promptly gave up all the anti-depressants. Not a very wise thing to do, just like that, after all those years of taking them, just going "cold turkey"!! I think I have probably REALLY upset my brain chemicals.

Well, I felt okay for about 3 months, then bang, all of the really bad depression and anxiety came back big time. I am going to see my GP again, perhaps I need both the anti-depressants and hrt - after all the anti-depressants were working fine until the menopause came along. My friend reckons this is what happened.

I've done quite a lot of research on menopausal symptoms, and through talking with friends, a lot of us are going through the same. I would like to reassure others that, although like I did, they probably think they are going mad (I truly thought I must now be suffering from a very serious mental illness!) they are NOT, and it's these horrible, powerful little chemicals called hormones that are creating havoc in your mind. Try to keep telling yourself that, and that you can't help it, and it should be treated with the respect of any illness by yourself and others.

Anyone else experinced anything like this?

wrightmother · 01-20-2008, 05:15 PM

Thank you! I came on this board searching for something that appeared similiar to my situation and your post was the first I read. I, too, have had an onset of major depression post partum. I have been on antidepressants since that time (16 years) and have done really well...most of the time. Made some minor adjustments to the meds over the years and then BOOM....perimenopause/menopause hit. (I'm now 51). The antidperessant wasn't keeping my mood swings in check, my anxiety went through the roof and my thinking became confused and fuzzy. About five months ago I started on natural progesterone cream which seemed to help the anxiety quite a bit. I felt better and decided to get off the hormones. Again: BOOM. Depression and anxiety, racing thoughts, fearful thoughts...thinking things I've NEVER thought before.

Saw a local specialist, a nurse practitioner, who presribes bioidentical hormone replacement. I started using 50mgs. of bioidentical progesterone cream and a vaginal estrogen cream (two separate applications). Started feeling much better so I, too, decided to lower my antidepressant (that was just not smart, was it??)...I started feeling anxious again and the nurse recommended I go up on the estrogen cream. I did and I started having bleeding....Then we went down on both the estrogen and progesterone...MORE ANXIETY and depresssion.

I feel like a total mess. SO as of today, I am increasing my antidepressant BACK to the dose I was on, taking a mild tranquilizer as needed (which has been twice today) and using the progesterone and estrogen vaginally. I need balance again, and in a hurry! I am a very faith based person and I have been focused on my prayer and relationship with God as my primary source of support. I need other women to correspond with.....Please reply if you'd like to correspond.

Laye · 01-20-2008, 07:11 PM

I'm right here with you. I feel lousy. I've always been prone to depression and anxiety..but with these peri symptoms it feels much worse than I ever imagined. I had no idea this time of life would feel so bad. I know some women who hardly have any problems. I must be very sensitive to hormonal changes in my body.
I'm trying to work with my doctor to balance things out. I do NOT want to go on the pill. I fear that will only create more icky side effects. I'm thinking of a topical cream or something. I have no energy but to sit down. It feels like a lot of work to do anything at all. It just feels like a very depressing time of life. Middle age for women is different from men. And I've always been active and I've tried to take care of myself. But this has hit me hard this year. Very, very hard. It's nice to know there is a support system out there. Some of my friends do not seem to be struggling like me.

pud · 01-21-2008, 02:24 AM

You seem to have been just like me throughout life, I also am a Christian and my faith and church and the support I get from Christian friends I have been so grateful for.

I am back on my anti-depressants, seeing doc tomorrow, but know I have to wait quite a while for them to work properly again. Try to keep going, go out as much as possible, hate being alone in the house (or even in the house in company for that matter!!).

Just remember, you are not alone, I am here. Also, all the feeling "strange" is normal. A poor friend of mine has begun to experience this, and I have explained to her that it is all part of the menopause.

Hope this note finds you feeling a bit better. Let me know how you get on.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrightmother

Thank you! I came on this board searching for something that appeared similiar to my situation and your post was the first I read. I, too, have had an onset of major depression post partum. I have been on antidepressants since that time (16 years) and have done really well...most of the time. Made some minor adjustments to the meds over the years and then BOOM....perimenopause/menopause hit. (I'm now 51). The antidperessant wasn't keeping my mood swings in check, my anxiety went through the roof and my thinking became confused and fuzzy. About five months ago I started on natural progesterone cream which seemed to help the anxiety quite a bit. I felt better and decided to get off the hormones. Again: BOOM. Depression and anxiety, racing thoughts, fearful thoughts...thinking things I've NEVER thought before.

Saw a local specialist, a nurse practitioner, who presribes bioidentical hormone replacement. I started using 50mgs. of bioidentical progesterone cream and a vaginal estrogen cream (two separate applications). Started feeling much better so I, too, decided to lower my antidepressant (that was just not smart, was it??)...I started feeling anxious again and the nurse recommended I go up on the estrogen cream. I did and I started having bleeding....Then we went down on both the estrogen and progesterone...MORE ANXIETY and depresssion.

I feel like a total mess. SO as of today, I am increasing my antidepressant BACK to the dose I was on, taking a mild tranquilizer as needed (which has been twice today) and using the progesterone and estrogen vaginally. I need balance again, and in a hurry! I am a very faith based person and I have been focused on my prayer and relationship with God as my primary source of support. I need other women to correspond with.....Please reply if you'd like to correspond.

pud · 01-21-2008, 02:28 AM

Yes, you're right, I think some of us are particularly sensitive to hormonal changes. Even though I have had problems with anxiety and depression in the past, this is VERY different, just feel so strange. One night I lay in bed and thought "I am going mad, I am going mad" - but of course, this is all part of the menopause. So many other women have said the same thing, but then of course there are the lucky ones who never experience any problems!!

All we can do is keep going. Let me know how you get on. It's good to know we're not alone out there!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laye

I'm right here with you. I feel lousy. I've always been prone to depression and anxiety..but with these peri symptoms it feels much worse than I ever imagined. I had no idea this time of life would feel so bad. I know some women who hardly have any problems. I must be very sensitive to hormonal changes in my body.
I'm trying to work with my doctor to balance things out. I do NOT want to go on the pill. I fear that will only create more icky side effects. I'm thinking of a topical cream or something. I have no energy but to sit down. It feels like a lot of work to do anything at all. It just feels like a very depressing time of life. Middle age for women is different from men. And I've always been active and I've tried to take care of myself. But this has hit me hard this year. Very, very hard. It's nice to know there is a support system out there. Some of my friends do not seem to be struggling like me.