Question: I started menopause around the age of 38-40. I began having severe hot flashes (almost constant 24/7 - I have to keep my office ice cold). My doctor put me on something like tranxene. It worked very well; however, then he was killed in a plane crash and I had to start with a different doctor. He decided to take me off of tranxene (which I was on for approximately 5 years) and put me on Zoloft. Zoloft worked great. I was also taking something for hormone replacement (I don't remember what it was). The hot flashes were much better...they did not last as long and they were not as severe. My mother then got breast cancer and so he took me off of whatever it was that helped me with hot flashes). So, I again began having severe hot flashes 24/7. That was approximately 11 months ago. Then all of the sudden, I began having episodes of extreme anxiety and uncontrollable crying. I also have episodes where I feel totally overwhelmed and out of control. Well, it is time for my yearly with my primary physician. She had retired approximately a month before my appointment and a new doctor was there to continue care for any of her patients that wanted her. I went to my appointment and had waited over 1 and 1/2 hours in the examination room. I became overwhelmed and anxious and began crying. I had a client scheduled in about 45 minutes and so I went out in the hall to find someone so that I could reschedule. When I went out there was not anyone in the back. I was already overwhelmed and crying so I went back out to the waiting room and talked to the receptionist. She found someone who took me back to the room and told me she would talk to the doctor and have her see me in the next couple of minutes, I cried uncontrollably and was so embarrassed and anxious. The doctor was only able to spend 15 minutes with (because I had clients and no one in my office works on Fridays). She said that the crying was probably due to entering post-menopause and she took me off of the Zoloft and put me on Willbuterin (not sure of spelling) and Xanex (as a rescue for when I feel like I am getting overwhelmed and beginning to cry). Cried all the way to my office and had to cancel my clients that afternoon - which was extremely embarrassing for me. Then for about 3 days, everything was so much better. Several times each day I would feel the anxiety and tears beginning so I took a Xanex and I calmed down. Then on the 4th day, the crying began as I was going to work...I took a Xanex and it helped a little bit. I struggled through my first client (I am a speech pathologist in private practice. I own the company and began business about 20 years ago.) After my first client, my second one cancelled and I started crying and could not stop. I ended up cancelling all of my clients that day and after talking to my business partner and office manager I decided to take a leave of absence until after my vacation (which is from March 11 - 22). They have squeezed my clients into other therapists' schedules until March 22. I called my doctor but she could not get me in until Tuesday. I was a total basket case, so I called my gynecologist but he is currently out of the country (I have an appointment with him in approxiimately 2 months.) My cousin is a PA at a Women's clinic so I called her. She had me go in for a blood test and was asking a doctor to see me ASAP. When I got there they gave me a blood test but then the doctor's nurse told me that the doctor may not be able to see me for 4-5 days. I panicked and the crying escalated. After I left, my cousin called me and said that the nurse said that I was rude and that the doctor does not want to see me. My 23 year old daughter (who took me to the doctor) told me that she didn't think I was rude and that I was just crying and told the nurse that I had to see a doctor NOW. She said that I was not rude just very anxious and panicky. I am so frustrated and do not know what to do. I feel like that these doctors feel like I am going crazy and I feel that I just need appropriate medication to help with all the hormone changes (which was the only thing that showed up in the blood test) My cousin told me the thyroid and everything else was normal. She even suggested that I call the crisis line at Presbyterian Hospital. I was shocked and hurt...I am not going crazy, I just need appropriate medication for my hormone imbalance or whatever it is. Is the crying, anxiety, overwhelmed feelings, hot flashes, etc. normal with this? I have to get it under control so that I can get back to work. I am the sole money maker and have a stay at home father (step-father to my girls). He is disabled (PTSD) from the service and receives some from the military' disability program but I own a business and have to be able to function. Are these symptoms consistent with post menapause?