Menopause is the pits!

[Belle0101]

For absolutely no reason at all I just want to sit and cry. Thank-you menopause.

It'll pass. And once it does I'll be wide awake till about 3 in the morning.

At 44 I just don't feel ready for "the change" but nonetheless, here it is.
I've been to my doctor and I have a prescription to help with the symptoms but it hasn't fully kicked in yet.

Thanks for letting me whine.

 

[LadyZolt]

Thanks for posting -- I'm with ya here. I'll be 47 next month and this time last year, I weighed 118 pounds. Then, I started skipping cycles and gained 12 pounds. Now I have to focus every waking moment and work my buns off to stay under 130 (today I'm 126.5, so that's something. LOL!) This from someone who weighed 108 two weeks after giving birth at age 27. From what I've read online, gaining weight is due to hormonal changes. So not only do I have hot flashes, night sweats and unexplained depression, but I also get to enjoy the extra added pounds that I never had before. Thank you, menopause. <banging head on desk>

-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

 

[JessicaR]

Hopefully symptoms are temporary and as short lived as possible. Now is a great time for better living through chemistry.

You have my sympathies. I haven't had to deal with this yet but I say that very quietly.

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

I'm 46 and the inability to sleep is taking its toll on me. I've been feeling depressed lately and it hasn't occured to me that it could be menopause.

 

[Robinrs]

Wow, I guess that the symptoms of menopause are as varied as the symptoms of pregnancy and menstruation.

I'm 53 and tiptoed thru menopause, don't even remember a symptom, except saving a LOT of money on supplies!

I hope you feel better thru this, no "change" is easy, but the great thing is it's only a phase and you will get thru it.

 

[Patricia]

I was reading a great article the other day while waiting at the doctor's office about peri-menopause and menopause. It was very uplifting and positive shedding light on the process of changing to the next stage in our lives as something exciting and freeing. The author feels that women need to change our own attitude about these changes and see them for what they are, the next part of our LIFE. She stressed life and questioned why we look at it as a closing down. It was really a great article, which I had written the author... and I do not remember( def. a symptom!) One of the things she said we need to stop appologizing for is our emotions. Feeling like crying? Cry and do not appologize. You are entitled to feel what you feel and if it makes others uncomfortable, it is not your problem. She stated that those emotions are a real part of who we are as women and demeaning them as " silly or caused only by hormones" adds to the potential for more depression. So... cry away!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My sister is in early menopause, she started at 38. She is having a heck of a time with being hot and other symptoms.

I am 44 and I have memory loss and I also have to watch what I eat. I gained 10lbs. I did cut back and went back to a normal weight but geesh.

It really ticks me off & freaks me out that things I can rattle off are absent from my brain. I mean what is up with that?

 

[KimR]

Wow, I guess that the symptoms of menopause are as varied as the symptoms of pregnancy and menstruation.

I'm 53 and tiptoed thru menopause, don't even remember a symptom, except saving a LOT of money on supplies!

My Mother was the same way. She just stopped having periods - no other symptoms. I'm 47 and still have no symptoms other than night sweats, but I've been having those since my early 20s at least, so I don't think they are related to menopause.

 

[DisnyMama]

I am so glad to see a thread on this very subject and at this very time. I am 45, will be 46 in Sept. and have had irregular ....'s for the last 3 or so years. Well all of a sudden I haven't had my .... since the middle of May. HMMMM! Now, as far as hot flashes go I have been experiencing them occasionally and they have been very mild from what I hear other people experience. Personally I will be thrilled at not having to deal with my .....'s anymore. Such freedom Besides, I've already been dealing with the nasty facial hairs (yuk) for the past year and a half and the crying which drives my 18 year old son nuts but other than that I think I'm pretty normal.

Shannon

 

[Buckalew11]

I'm trying to ignore it. I think I have a lot of symptoms (am 44 also). However, reguarding the forgetfulness I will take menopause anyday as long as it isn't Alzheimer's.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I'm trying to ignore it. I think I have a lot of symptoms (am 44 also). However, reguarding the forgetfulness I will take menopause anyday as long as it isn't Alzheimer's.

That is what I keep telling myself.

 

[Saphire]

The author feels that women need to change our own attitude about these changes and see them for what they are, the next part of our LIFE. She stressed life and questioned why we look at it as a closing down.

That sounds like a great article and one I would love to read. I admit I think of this time as the end of being a maiden and becoming a matron (ugh) but it is part of life and I need to get a grip, lol. And I must stay away from reading the 31 symptoms of menoapuse, geesh it starts putting ideas in my head.

 

[Belle0101]

I mean this in the very kindest ... I am so glad to not be alone in this. In my extended family I am the oldest of my generation so I am the first to hit menopause. And as far as my older living female relatives (aunts & grandma) ... it's taboo to talk about anything female related.

I really thought I was slowly going crazy until I talked to my doctor.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, it helps to not feel so alone.

 

[Pakey]

I dealt with many of the symptoms for 10 years. The hot flashes, night sweats and constipation were the worst. Chemo accelerated it 2 years ago the hot flashes became so bad that my oncologist put me on medication for them. That's when I realized that for 8 years, I could have gotten medication to help with the hot flashes from my regular doctor.

 

[Rose&Mike]

I am so glad to see a thread on this very subject and at this very time. I am 45, will be 46 in Sept. and have had irregular ....'s for the last 3 or so years. Well all of a sudden I haven't had my .... since the middle of May. HMMMM! Now, as far as hot flashes go I have been experiencing them occasionally and they have been very mild from what I hear other people experience. Personally I will be thrilled at not having to deal with my .....'s anymore. Such freedom Besides, I've already been dealing with the nasty facial hairs (yuk) for the past year and a half and the crying which drives my 18 year old son nuts but other than that I think I'm pretty normal.

Shannon

I am almost 43 and after being able to set the clock to my .....'s, started having irregular .....'s two years ago. It stinks. My doctor suggested I go back on the pill . I really don't want to take the pill--it seems to be a guaranteed weight gain for me. I think recently I started having mild hot flashes. I keep asking DH if he's hot--and he keeps looking at me funny. (The high temp here the past few days has been in the low 70's.) And he keeps finishing my sentences for me--which is really getting on my nerves. I know the words are in there somewhere, it's just been taking a while to get it out lately. Hang in there ladies!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I dealt with many of the symptoms for 10 years. The hot flashes, night sweats and constipation were the worst. Chemo accelerated it 2 years ago the hot flashes became so bad that my oncologist put me on medication for them. That's when I realized that for 8 years, I could have gotten medication to help with the hot flashes from my regular doctor.

That is also one of my issues. I am sooooo dry. My sinuses are dry, my throat is dry, etc. I feel like I live in a desert.

It is like I am eating boric acid.

 

[Pakey]

That is also one of my issues. I am sooooo dry. My sinuses are dry, my throat is dry, etc. I feel like I live in a desert.

It is like I am eating boric acid.

I'd like to tell you this one went away after I finished menopause but nope, it's still there. All I can tell you is eat lots and lots of fiber. My oncologist has also told me to keep milk of magnesia on stock at all times. For my sinuses, I do saline sinus rinses and I drink twice the recommended water level every day. I'm not sure it really helps but it makes me feel like I'm being proactive anyway.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I'd like to tell you this one went away after I finished menopause but nope, it's still there. All I can tell you is eat lots and lots of fiber. My oncologist has also told me to keep milk of magnesia on stock at all times. For my sinuses, I do saline sinus rinses and I drink twice the recommended water level every day. I'm not sure it really helps but it makes me feel like I'm being proactive anyway.

Oh yeah.

I have been using Ocean Spray on that seems to help. I know I need to beef up the fiber and water. Blah.

 

[LoveDopey]

Thanks for starting this thread, I'll definitely be following it. I'm 46 and starting to get some symptoms, the worst being ... oh, yes, memory. The other day I couldn't remember my mom's first name of all things. I didn't realize the facial hair thing was a side effect.

My poor husband though -- between me, my moods and our youngest DD who is just starting puberty I sometimes find him in the livign room with a blanket pulled over his head to avoid us.

 

[Trish Bessette]

I'm learning a lot on this threadI will be 42 soon and haven't experienced anything except the memory! My gosh...I can forget the dumbest things. Start talking and forget what I was going to say My 13 year old DD looks at me like "what the heck is going on with you"

I didn't know you can gain weight during this "journey" we're about to take. I had my annual doctor appt yesterday and I gained one stinkin pound from last year and the doctor went up and down me about gaining that pound!! I was a little mad, especially since I lost two pounds at last years appointment! I'm 5'7" and wear a size 10 - not that bad in my opinion

Hang in there ladies - we will win this battle