I'm another person with the perimenopausal mental health symptoms. One who found you through your guardian long read on how it feels like derangement. I'm terrified of starting an antidepressant despite the HRT only getting me so far. I just got an ADHD diagnosis and the psychiatrist suggested duloxetine. I looked at those side effects and I am just as scared of it as the SSRIs. Your story doesn't give me great confidence, thanks for sharing it.
Could you swap back to the setraline while you wait for your review? Or does the free pass on weaning off only go one way?
I immediately thought that's a Siamese fighting fish. Their taxonomic name is Betta Splendens, which really fits. Will be keeping my eye out for the book here in Australia.
Sorry to hear that. I hope you have good menopause care? Anxiety is a very rare effect of duloxetine apparently, I guess I’m just unlucky. Honestly despite the dreams and other stuff, I still don’t regret going on sertraline. There is a tiny bit of research that suggests if your HRT is adequate, an SSRI can be helpful. Mine has been. Thank you for Betta Splendens, that is an excellent fact that I will treasure.
I agree the anxiety is unbearable, I got it for months on end just from the perimenopause. Fortunately for me the oestrogen has sorted that out. I hope going back to setraline resolves it for you.
I've just been reading the blurb for the book and it sounds fantastic. We've had massive issues with salmon farms in Tasmania in recent months, it's extremely distressing to me that people can't empathise with fish. I've had aquariums from my mid 20s until my early 40s (when perimenopause hit and I couldn't give them the care they deserved, so I rehomed them) and fish are clearly intelligent feeling beings.
Thank you for super-interesting post. As I’ve written before, my dog Dill is extremely empathetic and runs up to me any time I say “ouch!” or even just sneeze. As I have a chronic pain condition (fibromyalgia), he is a great comfort to me. There is another charity based in Dorset, Medical Detection Dogs, whose fascinating work I follow. Speaking of chronic pain: in the UK anti-depressants like duloxetine and amitryptilline are also the most commonly prescribed medications for fibro, though they certainly aren’t panacea. As a lot more women than men suffer from such conditions (7 to 1 in case of fibromyalgia), research hasn’t been prioritised.
I’m so sorry about your fibromyalgia, but thank dog for Dill! (That is not a typo.) yes, we — women — are too often given the “try it and see” treatment. Then months go by and when that doesn’t work we have to start again.
Really looking forward to read "Every last fish" !
If only wolffish could read…
I promise I will try to memorize the parts about wolffish, and dive down and tell them about it. Guess they will like it.
Rose! So good to find you on here. And with a new book under your arm too. Hurrah! Much look forward to reading it... PGJ x
Hello dear Philip! Very glad you have found me and my ramblings. Hope all well with thee x
I'm another person with the perimenopausal mental health symptoms. One who found you through your guardian long read on how it feels like derangement. I'm terrified of starting an antidepressant despite the HRT only getting me so far. I just got an ADHD diagnosis and the psychiatrist suggested duloxetine. I looked at those side effects and I am just as scared of it as the SSRIs. Your story doesn't give me great confidence, thanks for sharing it.
Could you swap back to the setraline while you wait for your review? Or does the free pass on weaning off only go one way?
I immediately thought that's a Siamese fighting fish. Their taxonomic name is Betta Splendens, which really fits. Will be keeping my eye out for the book here in Australia.
And yes I’m going back to sertraline tomorrow. I’ll inform the GP but I have made my decision. Anxiety is unbearable.
Sorry to hear that. I hope you have good menopause care? Anxiety is a very rare effect of duloxetine apparently, I guess I’m just unlucky. Honestly despite the dreams and other stuff, I still don’t regret going on sertraline. There is a tiny bit of research that suggests if your HRT is adequate, an SSRI can be helpful. Mine has been. Thank you for Betta Splendens, that is an excellent fact that I will treasure.
Thanks, I do have good care.
I agree the anxiety is unbearable, I got it for months on end just from the perimenopause. Fortunately for me the oestrogen has sorted that out. I hope going back to setraline resolves it for you.
I've just been reading the blurb for the book and it sounds fantastic. We've had massive issues with salmon farms in Tasmania in recent months, it's extremely distressing to me that people can't empathise with fish. I've had aquariums from my mid 20s until my early 40s (when perimenopause hit and I couldn't give them the care they deserved, so I rehomed them) and fish are clearly intelligent feeling beings.
Thank you for super-interesting post. As I’ve written before, my dog Dill is extremely empathetic and runs up to me any time I say “ouch!” or even just sneeze. As I have a chronic pain condition (fibromyalgia), he is a great comfort to me. There is another charity based in Dorset, Medical Detection Dogs, whose fascinating work I follow. Speaking of chronic pain: in the UK anti-depressants like duloxetine and amitryptilline are also the most commonly prescribed medications for fibro, though they certainly aren’t panacea. As a lot more women than men suffer from such conditions (7 to 1 in case of fibromyalgia), research hasn’t been prioritised.
Also I have had one of the bad days today, and my cat is being super snuggly and won’t leave my side. Truly we don’t deserve these creatures.
Aww. Hope you have more good days ahead🤞🏻
I’m so sorry about your fibromyalgia, but thank dog for Dill! (That is not a typo.) yes, we — women — are too often given the “try it and see” treatment. Then months go by and when that doesn’t work we have to start again.