anti depressants or anti anxiety

I know this is a touchy subject for some but are there any of you that actually sailed through this instant menopause thing without any need for antidepressants or anti-anxiety meds. I sure hope there are a few. Please reply I am still wondering if I am forever messed up.

Hi SweetRyn

I wouldn't say I sailed through it, but I didn't need any medications other than hormones. Are you working closely with someone knowledgeable about hormone replacement? To me that was key to finding hormone balance.

I hope you get replies from others who have had much the same experience. It would be good to keep in mind that women who haven't had any problems getting balanced aren't likely to be hanging around in the Hormone Jungle.

s

HI SweetRYN

My answer is no I didn't sail through this without the help of antidepressants or anti-anxiety mediciines.

I will say with 100% confidence that I could have found my balance without the use of the other medications IF I would have had the doctor that I have now in the beginning.

My PAST doctor didn't believe my symptoms were hormone related and of course started me on the anti-anxiety meds and antidepressants. That did not fix the problems.

My current doctor that I have knew my symptoms were hormone related and started me on the right dose of hormones while SLOWLY taking me off the other meds. That did solve the problem.

So please know that I don't believe you are forever messed up. It just takes time, patience and the right doctor (or pharmacist) that knows hormones.

I do hope you are feeling better soon.
BIG 's

I'm glad you asked that question, because after all this time, I am still trying to figure out how to get balanced without anti depressants. I seemed to sail through all of it and started on the Climara patch INSTEAD of what my DR recommended and did great for about 12 months. Then increased my patch .. and something is still not right!

All the things I used to love doing, such as gardening and cooking and home projects, I just couldn't care less about now. I keep on wondering what is wrong with me. And so here I am back again looking for some answers!

I don;t trust my Drs advice because right after my surgery he prescribed Premarin. I had done some homework here and told him nope, I want Climara. I thought I had made the right choice. I am now thinking I did so well because my natural hormones were still haging around for a bit. Now I'm not so sure.

I will confess to needing a good source of direct information on HRT. I am so confused and so depressed these days. You would think that 15 months after surgery I would have figured out the right thing to be doing! Help!

SweetRyn,
My trek thru the jungle wasn't a sailing trip, more like a rollar coaster. However, I didn't require any anti-depressants to finally get off the rollar coaster. I was considering them at one point as I could feel myself sinking into a deep depressive state. I had tried St John's Wort for a few weeks and that made things even worse so I quickly threw that bottle away. I than started taking B-6 and for me that was the key.

I didnt realize that b-6 has anti depressant properties but if it works, ill give that a try.


Thank you all for your replies


Ryn

I am going on 4 weeks post-TAH/BSO. I have been on anti-anxiety medication for two years due to anxiety attacks. Once I was able to get a handle on the attacks I slowly took myself off of the medication (MD agreealbe). HOWEVER, once I found out I would have to have TAH/BSO I put myself back on it to make sure I was able to cope with this life changing event. I believe it helped me for I have not had one anxiety attack and I see this has a very stressful time in my journey of life. My plan is to take this medication for a short time and then once again take myself off of the drug. I understand that some anti-medications can help with hot flashes...ha, ha not me but that is another story. What I am saying is a short term plan to help one over the hard times is a good thing. Remember to do research and empower yourself. God Bless, Arlene

Sweet Ryan,

I hope you and me are not forever messed up. I started taking effexor 37.5 mg about 1.5 months ago. Never in my life would I have thought I would need an anti-depressant. I had my hysterectomy May 2003 and started having bad anxiety this past summer. I switched HRT and doctors twice and did not find an answer. But the effexor has been a life-saver for me. I am now able to function and I don't feel any different than before the hysterectomy. I now feel different about taking the anti-depressant. It has helped me and I am thankful. I ended up switching to the .1 climara patch about 1 month ago and I feel pretty good. Everything seems pretty good right now.

My only question now is how can you tell if the HRT is working or is the anti-depressant masking the symptoms? Any feedback from others would be helpful for me to decide when to wean myself off.


Judie