Menopause or Nervous Breakdown

I'm glad you are going to an ob/gyn - tell her that you want a blood test done to see if you are in menopause. If you are indeed in menopause, you can try hormone replacement therapy. If you are in peri-menopause, it's too early for HRT, and you need to know that. However, I would research natural ways, including diet, to deal with peri-menopause. Some women really have a time and a half with peri-menopause - I am one of them. My problems were mostly hot flashes and night sweats, but sleeplessness was the thing that made my life the most miserable. I finally after 5 years of peri-menopause went without a period for over a year and now I am sleeping through the night and not suffering from the incessant hot flashes etc, and can sleep again, BECAUSE of taking HRT.

I don't like that your doctor is refusing to test you. Even if it turns out that you aren't in menopause, you can still benefit from the testing to see your hormonal levels. I think you need a new primary care doctor who is recommended by your RA doc. Those two could work together to help you, along with a gyn IF it turns out that you are in menopause.

Hang in there, mom. And if group therapy doesn't work for you, go to private therapy. Sometimes it doesn't help to hear other's problems.

Dawn

My older sister started menopause at 36. Good for you for dumping him to find another doctor. There is no such thing as "too young" - seriously, everyone is different and a doctor that blows you off by generalizing is not a good doctor.

Here is the crisis hotline for your area.

MHMR Authority of Harris County
7011 Southwest Freeway
Houston, TX 77074
Crisis Phone: 866-970-4770
Main Phone: ###-###-####
Website: http://www.mhmraharris.org

I don't know about all the medication you take and depression but I do know that many women, well some anyhow, go into menopause at your age, 44. It might be a bit early for it but menopause can start and take awhile to end, if it ever does. I would see what the ob/gyn tells you. I know though that it's possible. I don't know that the symptoms you mentioned are typical for menopause though. It usually is hot flashes, night sweats, that sort of thing.

It sounds like you need a new doctor (psychiatrist) who knows more about medications for anxiety and depression. You just might be on the wrong meds for you. Plus, a counselor (not a group) who specializes in these areas.

You are not too young to be having peri-menopausal symptoms, those start usually between age 42-51, but those are more typically physical symptoms with maybe some mild cyclical anxiety. I wouldn't blame all this on your age without more evidence that your hormone levels are off. (I don't see why they wouldn't do a blood test if you are willing to pay for it, or your insurance covers it, just to rule that out).

Don't have time to read your post in detail but all I can tell you is that the radical hormone changes during menopause can definitely cause anxiety and unusual mental problems.

See what the doctor says and if you don't already excercise, try to add that to your routine.

I was in menopause by then. I also thought I was going crazy! My doc put me on hormones and the first night I took them I was 50 percent better! I wasn't perfect but it saved my sanity for sure! I took them 3 yrs and I am much better and weaned off of them. Keep searching, you are almost to help. Don't give up now!

Your story sounds so familiar to me. My mom had several of the same problems several years ago. I have a couple of suggestions that I know worked for my mom. There is a Dr. in Katy that deals with these types of things. The doctors are going to tell you that there is nothing wrong and they will probably at some point mention that the way you are feeling is in your head. Dr. Hotze was a GOD send for my mom. I am in nursing school and I have learned about hormones and such. I think you are on the right track asking your dr to look at your hormones but if the levels fall within the "normal" range they no longer look at that. Modern medicine only teaches so much to medical students and I have heard Dr. Hotze say what he learned in medical school. "If a middle aged woman comes into the office and tells you she doesn't feel well, lack of motivation, tired, anxious, and all her levels are normal. She is depressed. Give her antidepressants" That's all they do. Hormones are tricky. Everyone has their own "happy" zone when it comes to hormones. According to Dr. Hotze, you may not function well within the normal range modern medicine sets. I could write pages about Dr. Hotze, his care, testimonies I have heard, and everything. I take his vitamins myself and I LOVE them.
Dr. Hotze doesn't see new patients himself last time I heard but he has two other drs in his office. They are, Dr. Sheridan and Dr. Elsworth. I have met Dr. Elsworth and Dr. Hotze and they are incredible. They have a radio show that plays Mon-Fri on 700am. It is either at 11-12pm or 12-1pm I never can remember which time. I would recommend that you listen to this program because you will hear people call in with similar problems and testimonies. His website is http://www.hotzehwc.com. There are also several questionaires on there that can help you understand what you may be experiencing. Please look at these things. I know what it did for my mom and there are so many people who have been where you are. You are not alone and you are not crazy..you know your body and you know how you feel. PLEASE let me know what you think.

"about a month ago I went to group therapy like some of you suggested but it did not do anything for me" you have issues that have taken a life time to accumulate and you are going to give up on therapy after one try at a group session?
You need a complete and thorough checkup with a doctor that deals with this and either a counselor or psychologist to work with you to get the meds straight.
I did saliva testing for hormones and began using bio-identical hormones and it has helped. I have been in counseling for 5 years and it is like peeling off layers of an onion. Each year we work through more and different issues. These things take time. You can not try things one time and then quit. Give yourself the same care and treatment that you would if one of your children were suffering.

Depression is, at least in part, caused by a chemical imbalance which can be corrected with medication. Menopause causes hormone fluctuations, which is a chemical imbalance. It doesn't really matter if your depression and anxiety is caused by menopause or not. It is caused by an imbalance in your body and medication will help.

That said, it's good to see the OB/Gyn. Of course you could be in menopause or peri menopause and medication to smooth out your hormones can help if that is a safe and effective way to go. However, it sounds like there is much more going on causing this level of anxiety and body awareness than menopause.

Because you're sounding so desperate I suggest that you call your therapist. He may be able to increase your dose, change your medication, or add another drug.

If you aren't seeing a mental health professional for help, this is a good example of why you need to have one. Find one right away. Yes, general practitioners can prescribe medications for depression and anxiety but they don't know much about the nuances among different drugs or the specific drugs that will help with specific symptoms.

If you don't have a medical person that you can call, then call a Hotline so that you can talk with someone about how your feeling and they can help you find calm.

I see a nurse practitioner who specializes in medication prescriptions. He does some counseling but his focus is on medications. Therefore he knows more about them than a medical doctor does. I've had to change medications several times and it's rare that I've had to wait 3 weeks for relief. He sees me weekly until I reach an effective dosage. He gradually increases the dose each week or changes the drug based on my response to it.

I found him thru my counselor who does not prescribe medication. I see her for counseling and the nurse practitioner for medication.

If you aren't in counseling/therapy I urge you start now. Yes, depression and anxiety are caused by a chemical imbalance but how we think and act greatly influences the way we feel. If you're in menopause you still may not be helped by hormone replacement therapy. Also, there is concern about the safety of hormone replacement and is not prescribed as often as it used to be. You need help now and a therapist/counselor will be the best source of help. That and getting anti-depressant/anti-anxiety medication titrated to the right drug and the right dose.

I'm thinking that you're not in therapy/counseling based on your post. If not, find a therapist or counselor now. I just noticed the Psychology Today has a web site that lists therapists. That could be one resource. Google counseling and your city for a list of therapists. Ask your doctor for names. I agree that changing doctors is a good idea but you can still use him for getting names. You could also wait and ask the OB/Gyn for names.

my mother went thru menopause at 40 - you are NOT too young. I was done at 50.

It could be peri-menopause.
Ask your OBGYN about it. Go to that appt & be sure not to cancel it.
Hang in there. You have had a lot going on & are on some diff medicines
plus your age so you can figure this out w/the aid of your OBGYN/docs.

Don't give up. Hang in there . Ask for what you need.

See if your medical plan pays for appts w/counselors so you can discuss w/them your feelings of depression.

Hang in there. Help is on the way.

Time to pitch your doctor and get a new one!! I am 43 and am going through menopause. My doctor tested me and my hormones were beyond low. I ended up being put on bioidentical hormone replacement and it made a big difference. I have since started seeing a homeopath and added in some thyroid support and I was finally able to go off of the HRT and am doing even better than I was on it. Take time to research doctors that will run all the tests necessary. I have learned to lean more towards naturopaths as they typically only prescribe supplements that will support your body and give what it needs rather than several prescriptions. Medications are great as a band-aid, but they will not address the problem, and you will ultimately end up on a string of various meds to resolve each issue that comes up from being on the meds. This is just my two cents, but as I said before, I am 43 and have had quite a few health issues that I was able to resolves naturally and as a result my health is improving, not deteriorating.

It could be menapause but if your mom did not start this early it is unlikely. I am so sorry your dr did not listen to you and made you feel bad. I too suffer from anxiety and depression. I have always had it. But once I was like you. I could not break it. I felt like I was losing my mind. I would go to my dr and beg her to test my thyroid. I just could not believe anxiety was making me feel this bad. It was. You need to find not only a therapist but a med specialist. They work with the drugs to treat this and know way more the your pc. They will find the right medicine to help you get back to yourself asap. Ask your pc for a referral. Good luck. I am here if you need to vent cry or talk. I know it is unbearable and I promise it will pass.

I hope I'm not too late. Did you ever read the blog post on mamapedia voices about the woman who had ovary failure? It's just a thought. I hope you get a diagnosis soon.

I am not a dr.. This is what I was told.. I take Colanzapan twice daily and Lyrica midday I was concerned about the suicidal thoughts side effect that is stated on most anxiety or depression medication. My psychiatrist explain that they have to list all side effect that the panel found. And he broke it down to explain. Driving to work how many side effects can happen? Think about it. Making dinner. How many side effects ie. burn, boiling over,ect.. On the average depressed people are usually to depressed to commit suicide. When they are treated for depression the then are more likely if they can find the solution to the problem causing it. Please see a psychiatrist.... Another idea is saratonin uptake inhibitors. Google them.