Menopause is the pits!

[ma2jr]

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.

lol...

 

[m&m's mom]

I will be 44 in exactly a month and I do not have any of these symptoms.
I started my period very early so I thought I would go through menopause early. In December I did get a partial hysterectomy and some say that brings on early menopause but I still have my ovaries.
I am getting nervous from these responses.

 

[Pakey]

I will be 44 in exactly a month and I do not have any of these symptoms.
I started my period very early so I thought I would go through menopause early. In December I did get a partial hysterectomy and some say that brings on early menopause but I still have my ovaries.
I am getting nervous from these responses.

My lifelong best friend will be 53 in just a few short months and she has just started the first symptoms and she had her period 3 years before me. Me, I started my symptons at 42. Some of us are just luckier than others I guess.

 

[Belle0101]

I will be 44 in exactly a month and I do not have any of these symptoms.
I started my period very early so I thought I would go through menopause early. In December I did get a partial hysterectomy and some say that brings on early menopause but I still have my ovaries.
I am getting nervous from these responses.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but my doctor told me that the later you start your periods the earlier menopause will be for you. I asked her to repeat what she said, I thought she jumbled it around, and she said it sounds really backwards but that's the way it is.

I was late myself, 16 or so.

I thinking knowing I started menopause versus suspecting it is making me feel worse. I'm just miserable today. I'd like to crawl in bed and cry but DH had to go into work early, well before 6 this morning, so that he could get done early to attend an out of town business meeting. I'm here alone with 5 dogs and our 2 sons. He won't be back until at least 8 tonight and then tomorrow he goes in early again because he has to take a shift late Friday / early Saturday too.

Shhhhh .... don't tell him but I think I miss him.

 

[IDoDis]

I'm almost 45 and haven't had any symptoms yet. Everything still runs like clockwork My gyn said that since I started rather early that I would likely hit menopause a bit earlier. No such luck. I kind of wish things would start changing so I can get it over with, but at this rate, even perimenopause may still be years away.

 

[JoiseyMom]

I am 48 and peri.. I also used to be able to set my clock by my cycle!! My memory started going downhill at 40...right after youngest was born. I feel like I am always pms'ing... and every couple of months I miss one cycle. I want it over and done with already!!

 

[threeboysmom]

Another mid-40'er here

I can deal with the hot flashes, restless nights, forgetfulness (man, is that getting bad), but I can't deal with my emotions ALL OVER THE PLACE. I have NEVER dealt with PMS symptoms before in my life until this past year. I break down in tears several times a week and honestly have NO IDEA why I'm even crying!

 

[LadyZolt]

I've also had docs say the younger you are when you start your cycle, the older you are when you hit menopause (and vice versa), and from what I've seen in friends and family, that seems to be the case. I was almost 16 when I started my cycle and I'm peri-menopause at 46. My friend was 12, and she's was over 50 when she started peri-menopause. My 49 year old sister started her cycle at 14, started peri-menopause at 47, and she's already gone a whole year without a cycle, so she's actually at "menopause," and she's also said all her symptoms (hot flashes, night sweats) are gone.

Of course, this is still just a generality and the age will vary by person, but from what I've seen, this "start cycle late, enter menopause early" seems to be accurate for me anyway.

-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

 

[lustergirl]

Well I am in the same boat! I am 41 and going through menopause right now. I had a hysteroctomy 6 years ago but still have my ovaries. I exercise every day and watch what I eat. In a year and a half I had lost 72 pounds. In the last 4 months I have gained 23 pounds back because of this. I suffer from insomnia the most. Sometimes I lay awake at night at just stare at the celing- ha!! This is so tough on me because like I said before I exercise every day and to gain weight back- it is killing me. My doctor said it will pass. Okay long does this stuff last? I could be over with it tomorrow and be happy.

Thanks for listening and I was happy to see this thread.

 

[lustergirl]

Has anyone taken Black Cohosh or drink Primrose Tea? I read somewhere that this helps the hot flashes.

 

[C.Ann]

I was finished with menopause at the age of 48.. The biggest problem I had - which I was able to find ways to deal with - was hot flashes.. Unlike some women, mine were only at night.. In the winter I slept with no heat on and the window wide open next to my bed - and in the summer I had the a/c on as cold as it would get.. Because I didn't have hot flashes during my waking hours, that worked fine for me..

I don't remember being overly emotional - but I do remember suffering from insomnia.. I dealt with that by taking OTC sleep aids..

I've never been on hormone replacement therapy and never will be.. (I'll be 60 in the fall..) My gyno suggested it at the time of menopause, but after doing a lot of research I came to the conclusion that it would do more harm than good..

If you have the time, surf the net and you'll find all kinds of helpful info to get you over the rough spots.. Once it's "done", it's heaven!!

Have to chuckle though when I think back to the day that my doctor said, "You're going through the change.." I looked at him - smiled - and said, "Fine.. Then I would like to change into a millionaire!!"

 

[DVCLiz]

Does anyone have any solid information on how long it actually took you or someone you know to go from the first time your period started to be irregular until you hit the magic one year without a period day? I have been irregular for three years (three years this month, as a matter of fact!) Everything from right on time and normal, to on time and light, to very heavy, to twice a month (NO FUN!!!!) to skipping one month, to skipping two months, and now, keep your fingers crossed - skipping three months. In between all of those I sometimes was regular for 4, 5 or 6 months at a time.

When will this end? Four years? Five? Ten? What can you tell me???

 

[dis-happy]

Another one in my mid-40's. Was having really bad peri-menopause symptons at 44 which turned out to be a surprise pg. At least it gave me a hormone reprieve for a couple of years!

Just got back TONIGHT from seeing live theatre..."Menopause, The Musical". See if if you can. I've never laughed so hard.

 

[Stitchfans]

I have good days and bad days. Days where nothing is wrong at all. But some days!

 

[Belle0101]

Does anyone have any solid information on how long it actually took you or someone you know to go from the first time your period started to be irregular until you hit the magic one year without a period day? I have been irregular for three years (three years this month, as a matter of fact!) Everything from right on time and normal, to on time and light, to very heavy, to twice a month (NO FUN!!!!) to skipping one month, to skipping two months, and now, keep your fingers crossed - skipping three months. In between all of those I sometimes was regular for 4, 5 or 6 months at a time.

When will this end? Four years? Five? Ten? What can you tell me???

All I have to go on is what my doctor me - everybody is different. She said it could be years or months. Sounds like our bodies just have to work through whatever unpleasant symptoms we're dealt.

I actually only had one period each year for the years 2005, 2006 and 2007. Sometime in 2008 I all of the sudden turned regular. Then in April I began having 3 weeks a month with periods and 1 week without. Why? It was so much nicer the other way.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I'm 44 and just missed my 4th month in a row. I've been on the pill since I was 22 (taking time off to have 2 kids). My doctor said I should stay on it right through menopause to alleviate some of the symptoms. I do get hot and sweaty at night. At DL earlier this month, I just about froze everyone out by keeping the A/C on all night! I'm glad the memory thing was mentioned. I actually forgot my ATM pin number last month. Just could not remember it for anything! Thought I was losing my mind! I've had that number for years. I had to get the bank to send it to me! Ugggg!

 

[Feralpeg]

Well, I'm 57 and still having problems sleeping. I have night sweats and hot flashes on a regular basis. I keep hoping they will go away, but they don't seem to be letting up. I cannot take anything to help due to having had estrogen related breast cancer, so I just have to tough it out. Fortunately, it really doesn't seem to affect my mood.

 

[gulf breeze]

So thats were my memory went!!!!! It's so bad that if I want to remember anything I tell my 9 and 6 year to remember for me And the no sleeping...well lets see... it's almost midnight and everyone else has been in bed for awhile now. No hot flashes so far...the only time I've ever been warm is when I've been pregnant Oh, I'm 46 by the way. Nice to know I'm not the only one losing my mind!

 

[horseshowmom]

OP, thanks for this thread. I'm learning some interesting things tonight (since I can't sleep! ).


My periods have always been very irregular, and when I stopped, I just pretty much stopped (had only one the I recall). I'm definitely over the one year timeframe now.

The only symptoms that I've had were night sweats (and a few hot flashes during the day). Most of our married years, DH has frozen me to death with the A/C. NO MORE!

After reading this thread, I'm recognizing a few other problems. I do have memory problems. Words that I should know won't come to me. I also forget names the I should know (as another poster mentioned). Sometimes I can't sleep for no particular reason. And, yes, I've got that fun facial hair thing going on.

I don't have mood swings though (never really did with periods either though). About 8 or 10 years ago, I did go through a phase of having a really bad attitude though. I can remember being furious with my husband for no reason. Even I recognized that I wasn't being reasonable, but I didn't have an answer for it. I wonder if that could have been perimenopause?


One question - Has anybody else developed a snoring issue? I really didn't snore until I started this, and now I snore pretty bad (when I do snore which isn't always).

Thanks, OP!!!


P.S. Not to hijack this thread, but if you take Premarin, you might want to do a little bit of research on it. Premarin stands for pregnant mare urine. If you google the PMU industry, you'll find some very sad facts. There are synthetic options. I'll get off my soapbox now...

 

[IDoDis]

I've also had docs say the younger you are when you start your cycle, the older you are when you hit menopause (and vice versa), and from what I've seen in friends and family, that seems to be the case. I was almost 16 when I started my cycle and I'm peri-menopause at 46. My friend was 12, and she's was over 50 when she started peri-menopause. My 49 year old sister started her cycle at 14, started peri-menopause at 47, and she's already gone a whole year without a cycle, so she's actually at "menopause," and she's also said all her symptoms (hot flashes, night sweats) are gone.

Of course, this is still just a generality and the age will vary by person, but from what I've seen, this "start cycle late, enter menopause early" seems to be accurate for me anyway.

-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

My doctor said the exact opposite. He said girls are born with only so many eggs. The earlier they start their monthly cycles, the earlier they'll hit menopause. He said this is a "general" rule, which of course stands to be broken by some.