Anxiety, hormone related?, where to turn?

[kabs8]

I suffer from what I think is anxiety, feeling nervous and shaky but not outwardly shaking.  A few years ago when I asked my gynecologist about it, she actually felt it was due to hormone changes and after several different meds, we finally settled on Prozac and Estrace.  I'm 53, perimenopausal, last period was 2 months ago.  When I asked if she would continue to prescribe this or refer me to PCP, she truly felt it was hormones and if she felt differently, she indeed would send me to PCP.  I've never had this before.  Was given Ativan also for times when nervousness was worse.  Now I'm out of Ativan, out of Estrace, and still on Prozac 40 mg a day, but nervousness is worse, every day, but not continuously.  Last saw gyn in September and she did not renew the Estrace but did the Prozac.  I called her nurse and was told I needed an appt. to talk to her to be sure it is hormones, otherwise will send me to PCP, since this feeling is worse.  I'm confused as where to turn now, Don't know if I should return to gyn, or go to PCP.  My gyn already knows my history of the anxiety but yet I don't want to go back to her only to be told to return to PCP, and vice versa.  Any insight into this and where I should turn?  

[anxietysuks]

I am 32 years old and had my hormones checked through blood work, I know you dont get acurate results from blood, but all my levels were out of wack, they wanted to start me on hormone replacement therapy. I didnt want to start all that, so I didnt. I have been deaing with anxiety for 6 years with no meds. I notice my anxiety gets real bad durring PMS, ever since I had my two boys my periods have been all wierd. Not to get into detail, but they are only 3 days and super light. I went to a womens health doctor who specializes in this.

I went to my regular gyno, and of course he was totally against it. So here I am back to square one. So who do we believe? every doctor has their own opinion, I get so confused as to who I should believe. Good luck trying to figure everything out.

[Suzzie205]

Thought I would shed some light on what happened to me. After 2 years without a period I got one in July of 06. Following that my youngest son left for Iraq, following that I got injured at a chiropracter. My anxiety has totally flared since all these events. I do believe the precursser to it was the period,which threw my hormones completly out of wack. Try going on the menopause forums and you will see that anxiety is a front running problem with menopause. Be careful about taking an antidepressant I have tried that and they magnified my anxiety, but of course we are all different. If you decide to go that route take the smallest dose possible at first then move up from there. I think I would try an antianxiety medication maybe first. Are you depressed or anxious? The reason I'm asking is that all my doctors kept telling my I was depressed and I was only depressed because I could not shake my anxiety and they would not listen to me. Just be careful about what you problem really is. Try not to Dr jump as I have done that and so far it's been over a year and I'm not better. But if you OBGYN won't help you, then I would got to your PCP for help.

[momofB_L]

Hi there....I think what your feeling may very well be a combination of the hormone fluctations due to approaching menopause and your anxiousness about this reality.  I would continue to see the gynecolgist since most of this probably does stem from the hormones.  I would ask about taking an antidepressant (that you would take everyday) coupled with an anxiety pill that you could take as needed.  Hope this helps.