So, for weeks, I've posted and read posts on this website convinced that the reason my paxil stopped controlling my anxiety disorder was that I was in perimenopause. The newest nurse practitioner that I've seen said she could tell me I was in perimenopause just because of my age--nice! But she did do hormone levels, even checked b vitamin levels, vitamin d, and cortisol--I found out today--all "normal". So why does my anxiety get so much worse right before my period which is when the labs were drawn??

So then came the question I've heard so often, "When did you see a psychiatrist last?" I responded almost before she finished the question, "Friday. He gave me seroquel xr to try to help with the anxiety/depression, "(which are still horrible, despite being on 100 mg of zoloft. ) I took it before bed that night with high hopes that this would be the answer. Unfortunately, I ended up with very restless sleep and had to take xanax to really sleep. I woke up the next morning early, very irritable and restless. The whole weekend I cried, had severe tremors, terrible anxiety, and panic attacks. The NP's response was that seroquel is a hard medication for some people to get used to. I don't think I can ever bring myself to take it again. She also said I may need to be on two or three medications to get control of the anxiety/depression and panic attacks. She gave me the name of a nurse practitioner in mental health that she "sends all her patient's to".

So I have no idea where to go from here. Back to the first psychiatrist who hasn't been able to help me in over six months? Try the nurse practitioner and start all over again?

Help?

Angela

I often wonder about "normal" blood tests. Since hormones fluctuate (and wildly during peri), how can they get an accurate picture?
I think you'd have to have blood drawn 24/7 for a month to get an accurate picture!

You're probably right. My Pdoc wouldn't even check them. I just had such hopes that if they checked the hormones during the worst part of my cycle, it would give me a starting place. So I guess it's back to AD's and benzo's.

I am going to get a copy of the labs, though, so I can see what the numbers actually were, along with lab ranges. My pdoc also started me on bcp's to try to control the roller coaser of hormones, but it made the anxiety so much worse, I just couldn't tough it out.

Wish I was tougher like some of you PS ladies.

Ang

You will be!

Angela:
The best advice that I can give you is to NEVER accept a doc telling you that your labs are "normal". Ask for a copy of your results (your right as guaranteed by the PBOR) and start studying. What did this woman run? I have to tell you that it makes me really angry to hear the old "are you under psych care" routine. When you say anxiety is bad RIGHT before your period..how soon before..days? a day? hours/ This might be a clue.
Vliet (and Ed Klaiber, one of the researchers Vliet has to thank for her knowledge on hormones) both contend that ADs will not work w/o estrogen.
It is your body and your decision, but I would not allow anyone to give me a psych med period..much less one as powerful as Seroquel.
A very good book for you to read is "Menopause and Madness" by Marcia Lawrence. In my humble (albeit non-professiona) opinion, you are not Seroquel deficient, you are likely estrogen deficient. Hang in there.
AFF

Actually, I filled out the release to get copies of my labs before I left the office. I found it interesting that she gave me a copy of the results of my pelvic ultrasound without a release, but wouldn't give me the labs. So hopefully, I'll get the results back soon, including lab ranges. I get upset when the doctors all ask me if I'm seeing a psychiatrist, especially when they have my medical record in their hands and should know I've seen a psychiatrist at least monthly for the last six months. They even ask me his name every time I go in to see a doctor or NP. Don't they write any of this stuff down? They certainly don't read what the nurses have written down or look at trends (like the fact that I've lost 30 pounds since December.) I can't tell you how many times I broken down crying in doctor's offices and been asked if I'm suicidal.

I have high levels of anxiety all the time, now, but it starts getting worse about ten days before my period starts and continues through the first few days of menses. I asked the NP about getting a second set of hormones at day 20 of my cycle but she said it wouldn't do any good because everything is normal.

So, when I get the results, I'll post them. I'm pretty sure she did E/P/T, FSH, LH. Hopefully I'll get the results soon.

Thanks for your response. I'd almost forgotten that sometimes I just have to get angry about this so I can keep going.