I have an (older) Ladies Only question

[DisneyObsessed]

How old were you when you started going through menopause? Did you know for sure or did your doctor tell you? My doctor told me a year or so ago, that I was in the peri-menopause stage, but I poo-pooed her saying there's no way, my mother was 65 when she finally went through it. I'm only 44. I've been on BC pills for 24 years and she's keeping me on them because my mom died of ovarian cancer. My period has dwindled during the last year and I have not had one at all in the last 3 months. About a year ago, I was complaining of pretty bad PMS, but my doctor told me I shouldn't have that because of the hormones in the pill. She put me on Zoloft which has changed my life. I guess I'm just looking for other experiences with this. I'm due to go to the doctor in April.
_______________
Dawn

 

[snoopy]

I'm 39 and I believe I have been perimenopausal for about 2 years now. I get night sweats pretty regularly and other PMS crap that I never had before. The doctor said the symptoms could last a good 10 years before I actually go through menopause. Oh joy.

My doctor gave me Sarafin (sp?) - its a milder form of Prozac. I never did get it filled, but a dear friend of mine who also is going through this is on it. She said its helped tremendously as well.

 

[CEDmom]

sent you a PM.

 

[LindaR]

There are tests that can determine what stage you are in. The one that gets overlooked, but is THE most accurate is a saliva test.

I am 41 and stopped having periods 2 years ago. My doctor started me on hormones. About six months after, I started having more severe symptoms. In talking with my pharmacist, he convinced me to switch to bio-identical hormones. They are customized to YOUR needs. Did this for a while and then noticed that some things were going on. That's when I did the saliva test. From the results, we were able to REALLY specify the exact dosages of the estrogen and progesteron.

A great book is "Natural Hormone Balance for Women" by Uzzi Reiss, M.D./O.B.G.Y.N with Martin Zucker. It explains how your hormones work and what they can affect.

Most doctors are not educated in the bio-identical hormones and how they can "solve" problems that you don't realize are related (depression is one of them - no need for Prozac). PM me if you want further info!!!!

 

[LindaR]

bump

 

[dianeschlicht]

My doctor did a blood test. I went through perimenopause for about 10 years and just stopped last year at age 55.

 

[Disney Ella]

Originally posted by DisneyObsessed
my mother was 65 when she finally went through it. _______________
Dawn [/B]

65!!! That's a long time to deal with that inconvenience.

 

[Feralpeg]

I had a hysterectomy when I was 50, but just prior to that I started having an occasional hot flash. I think I was close.

 

[RitaZ.]

I've been noticing changes too and I'll be 39 this year. I have talked to other friends my age and slightly older than me and we are all having similar problems. All of us have been prescribed (myself included) anti-depressants. Is this a cure all? There has to be something better... For all of us, these symptoms are new to us and something that we haven't experienced before. Anxiety seems to be one of the most common symptoms.

Judi, the night sweats that you described; what do they feel like? Sometimes in the middle of the night, I wake up feeling all sweaty in the neck and chest area, so much that my clothes feel wet. Is that what I'm having?

I really hate this "getting old" business.

 

[arminnie]

When I was in my 30s I had a friend who had gone through menopause at 46. I thought that was SO young and was premature. Little did I know. By the time I was 45 I'd say that half of my friends my age were on HRT.

I'd say the average is 50 but most people have that peri-menopausal thing that can go on for a long time. My mother had a hysterectomy at 50 so I didn't have any family guidelines.

The first hormones I took were premarin and progestin. The premarin made me terribly depressed. I know it works wonders for most women but not me. I took it for two weeks. I have now been diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome but before my diagnosis I tried all sorts of HRT - including going to a specialist endrocrinologist at a major university. For some reason - no matter how high the dose it doesn't register in my body - orally or by patch.

What I have learned is that it really doesn't do a lot of good to ask other women what to expect because everyone is SO different. There is a HUGE range of symptoms or lack thereof.

Some people have awful hot flashes, depression, fatigue, anxiety, etc. and others have absolutely none of those problems. I know women that would kill before giving up their estrogen and others (like me) who couldn't tell any difference.

 

[kadaten]

Originally posted by DisneyObsessed
How old were you when you started going through menopause? Did you know for sure or did your doctor tell you? Dawn

No experience with this myself, but a dear neighbor friend who was married at 30 and never could get pregnant went in for fertility testing at 33/34 and was told that she was completely done! Some rare thing...early onset menopause. So it can happen early. MIL is done at 55....took about 10 years, though. My DM...age 53...I think she's in it now, but she thinks she's still 29 (nope...I am!) and is in complete denial. However, I think her mood swings speak for themselves....

Sending you happy thoughts as you adjust to the new you!
Katie

 

[Mamu]

Early 40's, only lasted a couple of years, never had any problems and never had to take any medications.

 

[goofy4tink]

In my early 40's I had two miscarriages. Then at 43 got prenant. Had healthy baby. My system never went back to normal. So at 44 the doctor did complete blood work. Seemed that the reason I had had the miscarriages was that I was going through menopause. And now, post-partum, was done!!!! Can you imagine how wonderful I was to live with being pregnant and going through menopause at the same time!!?? What a saint my dh was. If only I had known.

 

[babylisa4]

I'm 49 and having hot flashes like crazy at night. I always thought this wouldn't be a big deal but it wakes me up about 5 times a night. Needless to say I'm not sleeping well either. It's like the previous poster said- mostly my neck and chest seem to sweat. I sometimes have them during the day but not much. I'm due to go back to the doctor but he wouldn't give me any HRT because I was still having occasional periods. Is this normal? Do you have to wait until you are totally done? I'm not a wimp but the hot flashes are certainly uncomfortable.

 

[Planogirl]

I've been having the occasional hot flash lately but that's it so far. I've been taking some of the over-the-counter premenopausal vitamins and I haven't had any since (knock on wood).

I've been wondering about HRT. Now some say that it's not a good thing so what are ladies doing now instead of HRT? I really need to read up on this.

 

[msdznyduck]

I am 52, and have had hot flashes for about 3 years. During the day it is like sticking my head in an oven. At night, I am hot, sweaty,blankets off. Fall back asleep, wake up, chilled. blankets on, fall asleep again. This can happen sometimes all night., over and over again......==no sleep.
Thankfully, it does seem to be not as intense, and not as frequent during the day. Caffeine plays a big part during the day, usually after having a cup of coffee, they start. Tried de-caf, but hated it, but it may be the coffee at work.
Tried Premerin ( I think. I was only on about 3 months, and seemed to work okay, and then that report came out about heart disease, and breast cancer, and my Dr took me off. Have tried some of the herbal concoctions, but they give me heartburn..They were like eating compressed weeds. Evening primrose oil seemed to relieve some of my symptoms, but gave my awful heartburn also.

 

[Nancy]

I'm 45 and have been going through this for 3 years already. I was diagnosed by a blood test. Hot flashes are the pits...but liveable. The mood swings are horrendous, especially at PMS time...which by the way I never know when it's going to show up..I have become so irregular it drives me crazy!

 

[Serena]

LOL, maybe it was because I've only had two, but I thought the hot flashes were kinda fun.

 

[faithinkarma]

I had my last period 8 years ago at the age of 47. Just like that. It stopped, no other symptoms whatsoever.

Now I do have to say that I was going through some pretty heavy duty emotional stuff all that year, so it is entirely possible I had symptoms and just wrote them off as part of the rest of the crap that was happening. Let's just say that my condition could best be described as zombie.

I did ask my doctor this year if I had dodged the bullet and was unlikely to ever have any more symptoms, and she said that was quite likely at this point.

If any of you have stories of an aunt who was symptomless for 8 years until the wrath of all symptoms descended on her, please don't tell me.

 

[ptcruisermom]

About tow years ago I started having irregular periods ( was always regular just like a clock). Sometimes I would go every other omth for a couple months then have two in one month (UGH ) The dr. sent me for blood test and nothing showed. Ayear ago last november ( which would of made it Nov.02 had terrible cramp like pains-went for ultrsound and nothing showed.) Continued the next couple months every other month(during this time my dad became ill and passed away so blamed it on that) and then went back to every month last summer to every month. Talked to Dr. about it and she said not to worry, but if it changed to let her know. Wll I havent had a period since October now. So I called the dr last week, and they said I could be going thru menopause ( Ihave the night sweats usually at 2 and 4) but until I hadn't had a period for a full year they couldn't really say it was menopause. They said I could come in now if I wnated or wait until check up. They said not to be concerned since I had been irregular-if I had been regular and just stopped then they would be concerned because of my age. I am 44. But here is another one I have a DD who is 9 willbe 10 in August, for about 1 1/2 years she has had body order when she sweats, She does use deoderant , I started her when I noticed the smell, she has since developed tiny breasts, hairy legs that is starting to turn dark and she told me her pubic hair was turning dark, I said ohhh I don't think so. So she showed me and by golly she has a few long dark strands, she is also very moody(you never know what will set her off) Good golly one of us stopping and one of us starting. I just feel she is awful young I was almost 13 I don't know how old MY MIL was so it might by coming from that side of the family.