Menopause or Post Trauma?cont...

 I too had instant menopause and it was hard with flushes every 5 to 10 minutes, fuzzy thinking, feeling panicked and not able to make quick decision when put on the spot.  It felt like.. no adrenalin, the flight or fright hormone..still does now. I do not seem to react like I used to. I manage by " keeping things simple ", and taking things" day by day ", and accepting I now go in " second to third  gear " most of the time.

Well you HAVE just finished chemo ! You still have radiation to go. It is such a long haul, and I commend you for all you have been through so far. I too, did not have hormone adjuvant therapy after chemo. Chemo was enough for me ..LOL. ( I am now taking zoloft.. 50 mgs daily.. and livial one daily..plus ovestin vaginal pessaries twice a week. ) Seeing someone early is prudent, I think. I perhaps think it would have been good for me also, but at the time I thought I was coping with all things like surgery, body image, family issues, and effects after chemo added to it, and it did feel like my body was not in my control anymore, physically also was hard to deal with. I had always been a strong person I thought and pushed through.. but asking for help is Ok, I learnt, and earlier is better than later.

I really think it takes at LEAST12 months to get back to a bit normal, or perhaps even a "new " normal.. although you really do change over the time from diagnosis. Your life is on hold, while you have treatment and then the treatments can have effects on you afterwards, which can sometimes be an ongoing legacy. It depends on the type and individual response, I guess. I know some people who had treatment, when I was having mine, who seemed to bounce back so quickly. I felt I SHOULD also, but it was hard when having flushes and slow brain, plus some issues with lymph drainage and work issues. Seeing someone to discuss things with, sounds like a good idea. ... Good on you for acknowledging the effects you are experiencing. It can be a hard slog. Time can help a bit though, but for now, I hope you can find talking to a professional, may help you deal with some of your physical and emotional challenges since a BC experience. 

 TC.. Love Kathy. P.S. If you get over to Bridport.. for a coffee.. etc there is a nice cafe there, or maybe on Friday this coming week, I could pop over to see you at Windermere, say around 2.30 pm ? I am over that way at Georgetown until 2 pm. I am going to a bush tucker event in G' Town, so could drive home via Windermere. Let me know.

I found this article on effects of aromatase inhibitors on cognitive function... and I think the jury is still out on the effects.

http://breast-cancer-research.com/content/13/1/203

 (You are NOT taking aromatase inhibitors but you are having early menopause symptoms.)