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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by justplainflakey on June 4, 2004, at 10:07:51
my ob-gyn has told me that I am in perimenopause and it is causing me a very rough time of it. the worst seems to be depression and a sense of abandonment. it can last for days and can be overwelming. I'm taking zyprexa, abilify, and alprazalam because in my late twenties I was diagniosed with schitzoaffective disorder although I have not had a psychotic episode for 15 years changing my meds now scares me. my doctor wants to take me off of the zyprexa and try gabitril. anyone taking similiar meds or similar experience please comment. I really don't have a large support base out here because only my husband and doctor know my diagnosis and I don't feel cozy enough with anyone else to trust their reaction.
Posted by partlycloudy on June 4, 2004, at 10:58:17
In reply to perimenopause and meds, posted by justplainflakey on June 4, 2004, at 10:07:51
I'm perimenopausal too. Although there's lots of controversy about it, my ob-gyn put me on HRT (the Combi-Patch) to even out my hormone levels. I am now dealing with the depression, anxiety, and panic attacks with effexor xr, wellbutrin xl, ambien and xanax.
I know that's not for everyone but it took the perimenopause issues out of the equation.
Posted by justplainflakey on June 4, 2004, at 11:14:25
In reply to Re: perimenopause and meds » justplainflakey, posted by partlycloudy on June 4, 2004, at 10:58:17
I tried hrt in the past with complications and although I was on effexor for years when I tried it again lately it made me so restless I couldn't stand it. I have considered trying the estrogen alone again, but my doc is a little hesitant because I tend to have lots of breast calcification in mammograms and my sister died of breast cancer. My pdoc has suggested the dhea might help but I don't see my ob/gyn til july.
Posted by partlycloudy on June 4, 2004, at 12:51:57
In reply to Re: perimenopause and meds, posted by justplainflakey on June 4, 2004, at 11:14:25
Another suggestion might be to try some holistic treatment for perimenopause. My therapist - who is, like us, going through this - has been taking black cohosh, flax seed, and using a progesterone cream that's compounded for her. She says she's feeling much better.
Good luck!
Posted by justplainflakey on June 4, 2004, at 14:22:13
In reply to Re: perimenopause and meds » justplainflakey, posted by partlycloudy on June 4, 2004, at 12:51:57
do you know if she uses ground flaxseed or flaxseed oil. I tried the oil caps and after a while my mouth felt oily all the time so I bought the ground flaxseed to add to food and have been adding it to my breakfast. have not been doing this very long, maybe it will take a while to kick in.
what is so bazaar about this is how these disturbing emotions seem to develope for no good reason and disapear all of a sudden just as misteriously. almost everytime it happens I think that I'm decompensating. I guess that I'll just have to stick with the flaxseed, etc and learn to live with it if that's possible.
Thanks.
Posted by partlycloudy on June 4, 2004, at 14:42:56
In reply to Re: perimenopause and meds, posted by justplainflakey on June 4, 2004, at 14:22:13
She uses the flax seeds and adds them into her breakfast cereal, I think. And the benefits do take some weeks to be felt.
I complained to my ob-gyn that I emotionally I felt like I was going through adolescense in reverse; she said that was pretty accurate. It's no wonder we're a mess.
Posted by justplainflakey on June 4, 2004, at 14:48:17
In reply to Re: perimenopause and meds » justplainflakey, posted by partlycloudy on June 4, 2004, at 14:42:56
about adolescence, you are exactly right. I'll try to be patient with all this and hope that my other med changes don't mess me up more. Thanks for caring emough to help.
Posted by Gael on June 5, 2004, at 10:14:48
In reply to Re: perimenopause and meds, posted by justplainflakey on June 4, 2004, at 14:48:17
Ask your doctor about Prochieve, a 4% or 8% progesterone gel, inserted vaginally, with a bioadhesive, therefore it STICKS and doesn't drip out. You can then get the benefits of estrogen, which aids tremendously in brain chemistry, and not suffer from the awful side effects of taking oral progesterone (or even side effects from the combi-patch); progesterone can cause so much depression. And your uterus is protected. I've been through the mill. I've sought 5 opinions to get here and feel rather even now.
Posted by justplainflakey on June 5, 2004, at 11:30:52
In reply to perimenopause and meds » justplainflakey, posted by Gael on June 5, 2004, at 10:14:48
thanks for the suggestion, I will ask about it. I've tried other hormone therapies including progestrone for a while and the outcome was unpleasant. it sounds like this could help.
This is the end of the thread.
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