Anxiety + Flashes - Menopause Message Board

lilian123 · 09-27-2003, 02:24 PM

I'm new to this board. I've been in menopause for almost a year; I'm 45. I thought the hot flashes were over, but they have come back in the past few months. I'm not taking anything. I'm wondering if anyone else out there has associated anxiety with the onset of a flash. I've found that just having a fleeting thought of something that worries me or encountering a minor inconvenience resuts in a feeling that starts in the pit of my stomach(an emotioanl feeling) and then the flash just washes like a wave over my body. I'm very certain that there is anxiety involved . I've never had anxiety attacks, so I'm really wondering if the hot flash is a physical manifestation of anxiety or anxiety is a manifestation of menopause or what. Also, why in the world would a doctor want to recommend an antidepressant versus an anti-anxiety drug because they think the anti-anxiety drugs are addictive. My doctor recommended Effexor(an anti-depessant) which has night sweats as a side effect and a whole website of unhappy addicted users who went through heck 'coming off' it. I decided not to fill the prescription. I hate drugs altogether but am open to other people's recommendations. I'd also like to hear about anyone's new found experinece with anxiety upon the onset of menopause and any observed links to hot flashes. I guess I really just want to know I'm not alone.

prendi · 09-27-2003, 02:42 PM

hi lilian,
i am 49 and going thru the menopause, i have hot sweats,anxiety ,a feeling of pressure in my head,i can hear my heartbeat in my ears,shaky weak legs,headaches the list is endless.i am always worried.my doc put me on anti deppressants 7 years ago for the pressure in my head,they dont work though they just knock me to sleep,i dont think mine are addictive,i just wonder what i would be like without them ,the things us women have to put up with,good luck,

Monday1954 · 09-27-2003, 06:08 PM

Windwater, you know better, no one would buy anything from us menopausal women in hot pants, they would be rolling on the ground laughing - why doctors don't realize this is beyond me - I hate to trade my body for an estrogen fix, not that anyone would buy it, they would take it back for a full refund in 1 hour.

I really do think it is easier for doctors to perscribe what they call "real" medicine, they must not consider estrogen/progesterone necessary for life.
For years now I have been convinced that men created all of the modern marvels of medicine, can you imagine what would happen to mammograms if all men were required to go once per year to have their testicles flattened and squeezed???? I think we would have a different method of detecting changes in breast tissue if testicles were subjected to the same treatment.

bubbly · 09-28-2003, 06:29 PM

Prendi, your symptoms sounds like a thumbprint of mine...All these things started this spring...overheating at night around 2am about 15 days out of month, anxiety with nervous hands shaky hands sometimes, & I feel the throbbing of my pulse in my neck, head & stomach area, shaky & weak legs (just awful), & the strangest "pressure" & just a weird undescribable feeling in my head, sore breasts (about 15 days out of month), & feeling that my concentration is harder to keep...I don't feel as creative & excited about life...this stuff has taken the "umph" out of the joys I love.

I'm 41 & could never relate to all of those women who were having those "hormonal" problems...I was very "indifferent" to their concerns, but boy oh boy do I now have sympathy for anyone going through this...& unfortunately, the "fertility gods" have wreaked their revenge on me for my apathy

My gyn has prescribed to me "Aleese" birth control pills to hopefully help with my symptoms of low estrogen/progesterone output. I'll let ya'll know if it helps...

What are you other ladies doing for your symptoms with regards to medications?

Thanks for sharing & also any responses.

Bubbly

LauraLynn · 10-03-2003, 02:16 PM

Bubbly we sound so much alike..I have that same weird feeling in my head and face sort of like a burning sensation. I feel so odd at times..Like I am losing my mind, I don't feel like myself at all anymore..my doctor has me on Xanax for anxiety which started a few months ago, he doesn't think my anxiety is related to menopause but I think it is. I have an appt with my gyno for an exam soon and I'm going to ask for a complete bloodwork up to see what's going on..I just want to feel myself again and not feel so nervous and dreading each day wondering how I will feel.