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Autism, stress, perimenopause & thyroid issues

dopamineplz

Hello all, I'm 45 and struggling with the ups and downs of midlife stress, perimenopause and a sluggish thyroid along with late life diagnosis of autism.    I'm on HRT and levothyroxine but can't seem to get my levels right, or work out which synptom are caused by what.

Have been having lots of flashbacks of sh*te childhood and teenagehood since assessment and elderly parents are unsympathetic.  Have a lovely supportive husband and adult children but have struggled terribly with empty nest as my close nuclear family are  the only people i like to hang out with .

   Currently drained and more emotional and in burnout as well as getting more anxious despite all the meds.  Sleep (as always) is erratic and I'm still sweating at night. Frightened to increase or lower meds in case i get worse.

I'm doing all the things I'm supposed to do, taking it easy, light exercise, vitamins, doing things i want to when i want to but the fatigue is crushing  until around 6pm and then im alright for a few hours before crashing again.

Anyone else similar/any advice how I can improve things for myself please?

  • in reply to dopamineplz

    Thanks for the update. I'm so glad things have improved for you!

  • Hello just thought I'd come back to the thread and update. It seems my levothyroxine has finally started working in my system properly as I changed to taking it at bedtime and now I'm feeling alot less sluggish and not depressed which is amazing. Also have started coming to terms with my diagnosis abit more and *shock* my parents have started  being better about it.  So the combination of things just needed some more time for me rrally. I've just learnt that I may also have adhdnso will be referres for that too ...possibly explains my impatience at wanting to fix everything at once with my hormones.

    Thankyou again for reading BlushCherry blossom

  • in reply to Glitter

    That's really great, I'm glad you found something that's been working. I found that controlling my anxiety with medication has helped me a lot, since my anxiety has been more crippling than my depression. I can deal better with my Autism when I'm calmer!

  • Very similar!  

    45, getting all those hormonal changes and associated moods, recent autism diagnosis, other life factors causing mental health issues. 

    I went to the doctor a couple of weeks ago and she put me straight on sertraline.  It doesn't work for everyone, but for me it's amazing.  I feel like a weight that I've been carrying all my life has been lifted away, and I didn't even realise it was there before.  I keep wondering if this os how I was supposed to be feeling all along.

    I still feel autistic and it hasn't changed who I am.  I'm just sleeping better some nights and I have more energy and enthusiasm for life.

    I'm also seeing a counsellor online which has helped a lot with childhood trauma and other stuff, but it's still work.

  • Hi, I"m new here and just saw your post. I'm going through similar hormonal issues but from a different cause. 

    I'm 63 and I've been through an easy menopause. However, I got diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020 and I've been on an oestrogen-blocking cancer drug (I had surgery and radiation in 2020). 

    As a result of my medication, my sleep and chronic fatigue are terrible. I have night sweats and my emotions have been all over the place. Like you, the negative past memories are flooding back.

    I'm not a doctor but like you said, it would be helpful to know what each symptom is caused by - or maybe there are multiple causes. Perhaps assessing your medications, including HRT, directly with your prescribing doctor would help. Also, describing your physical and emotional symptoms could give a clear picture of your health needs.

    My female GP did not prescribe HRT for me when I had my real menopause many years ago but everyone is different. This cancer drug side-effects "menopause" is worse for me. However, I have been on antidepressants and anti-anxiety medication for many years. The low-dose anti-anxiety med is helping so much. Taking a nap each day has helped me too.

    I probably didn't answer your questions or give you any great advice but I just wanted to share back to you. Good luck and take care.