Does anyone have any hormonal info???

[kikipartidge]

I have had the most awful combination of anxiety, depression and hot flashes for about two years.  Since this is an anxiety board, I'll address mainly that part of it.  I sometimes wake up in the middle of the night with feelings of terror, and feeling like there's not enough air in the room.  Then I'll begin sweating from feeling too hot, then I get chilled.  When I awaken in the morning, I may have the anxiety, or sometimes it starts after I've been up a couple of hours.  At its worst, I begin crying, hyperventilating and then can't stop for hours.  I'm not aware of feeling afraid of anyone or anything in particular. The thoughts that go with it are something about being totally alone in the world and forever trapped in a body that isn't comfortable. During these "episodes" I am inconsolable...nothing and no one can stop it.  It appears to occur randomly, although this last year the frequency has increased.  My estrogen levels are extremely high with only occasional periods.  My GP does not want to start HRT at this point.  Any ideas, suggestions?

[greenlydia]

You fail to mention your age which could be a major factor in what you're experiencing.
When I began peri-menopause and then hit full blown menopause, my anxiety hit the red line.
Since you say you know your estrogen levels are extremely high with only occasional periods, I'd pass up that moronic GP and head for a female OB/GYN who specializes in menopause. They DO exists.......I see one myself. And don't rush into taking HRT. I DON'T want to start a debate about the pros and cons of that form of therapy, but you must be very educated about it to make the correct decison for YOU.
Anxiety and menopause very, very often go hand-in-hand, as do virtually all the other symptoms you've written about.
Hie thee to a WOMAN gyno! And I write that in caps not because I'm a "man-hater," but am just of the firm belief that if you do not own your own pair of ovaries, you can't possibly have a clue. Don't care how many books you've read, either!  
Peace
Greenlydia  

[kikipartidge]

I am 47.  What did you do with the red line anxiety?  Did you sob uncontrollably and feel like it was never going to end??  The craziest piece for me is that I can get caught in thinking all these crazy thoughts and have sensory stuff happen that is absolutely psychotic...an example is feeling that my head is buzzing with the vibrational frequency of chalk and therefore all food is a total gross-out idea.  Or I can picture myself visiting a friend's home and smell that it's all contaminated with death and depression, and bones and body fluids...and that is all from just imagining being there.  I dunno...

[greenlydia]

You're definitely at the age when peri-menopause can begin to kick in and even menopause.............your doctor can determine where you are with a simple blood test.
The "red line" anxiety for me was a time when I upped my Xanax dose, a huge error on my part. But I wasn't going on HRT for love nor money, so I self-medicated the only way I had. I hope you'll be wiser!

I cried at the drop of a hat, I felt rage that scared the hell out of me, I had extremely odd and sometimes frightening physical sensations, I broke into sweats like a pig heading to the slaughter house and I'd break out in hot flashes that made me feel I was about to spontanieously explode. And I ALSO thought it would never end!

I read that some women have olfactory hallucinations during menopause and what you describe seems to fit that bill.
I would definitely see a gyno...........there is no reason you should continue to feel this way where there is help out there.
Please keep me updated on how your doing.
Peace
Greenlydia    

[greenlydia]

Check out the Menopause Forum..............excellent support and advice over there.
GL