Official DIS "Change O' Life" Ladies Thread

[Morganpics]

I'm glad to find this thread. Although I'm on the other side of this issue, I still have "symptoms". Hot flashes, though not as bad, and "ahem" dry, and the no interest, too. I've been taking evening primrose and promensil, both OTC that seem to help the hot flashes. If I get stressed, I immediately have one. I have also had to redo my closet-couldn't begin to wear the stuff now that I used to-no more turtlenecks for me! Short sleeve tops even in the winter! Bedtime is much better. I only wake up and fling the covers off 2-3 times a night!

 

[grinningghost]

I had my annual physical today and the doc is sending me for a pelvic ultrasound just to make sure all this bleeding is really just perimenopausal and not fibroids or something else. I was happy not to hear "endometrial biopsy", as I had one of those several years ago and it was horrific.

She's also putting me on birth control to try and regulate my cycles. We shall see...

 

[DisneyForLife]

How's this for a big disappointment.
I have not had IT since last July and today-----Big surprise. I was so close, it just seems neverending. I guess I have to start the "year" all over again. I will be 49 this month so it is a bit early but I thought I was getting lucky.

 

[chrismiss56]

Evening All!!

Grinninghost - I also had excessive bleeding and was sent for a pelvic ultrasound. Turns out I have fibroid tumors. They are benign and do not hurt so I am leaving them be. Dr. changed my birth control and now I have light to medium spotting each month.

So hear is a new twist - I have been reading about your hot flashes. I have had exactly one in my life about 3 years ago (I'm 49). What I get is the CHILLS as in goose bumps running up and down my body from September through May. I always have fleece with me (even in the summer ) - never know when the cold flash will attack I shiver while the rest of the world sweats

Been tested for thyroid twice in the last 3 years and it is well within normal range. Both reg dr and ob/gyn tell me it is part of the periomen symptoms.

Anyone else experience this?

Have a magical Disney Day!!

 

[mtblujeans]

...What I get is the CHILLS as in goose bumps running up and down my body from September through May. I always have fleece with me (even in the summer ) - never know when the cold flash will attack I shiver while the rest of the world sweats

Been tested for thyroid twice in the last 3 years and it is well within normal range. Both reg dr and ob/gyn tell me it is part of the periomen symptoms.

Anyone else experience this?

Have a magical Disney Day!!

Yes I can get hot flashes and then goose bumps! I always have trouble adjusting to the warmer, more humid weather when we go to WDW! I remember I wore a terry cloth beach cover up over my bathing suit once at the water park at WDW and a couple of CMs made fun of me but I was freezing in just a bathing suit....in 80+ degree weather!! I, too, have had my thyroid checked and it is normal. I don't know...

 

[Hopetobee]

Evening All!!

Grinninghost - I also had excessive bleeding and was sent for a pelvic ultrasound. Turns out I have fibroid tumors. They are benign and do not hurt so I am leaving them be. Dr. changed my birth control and now I have light to medium spotting each month.

So hear is a new twist - I have been reading about your hot flashes. I have had exactly one in my life about 3 years ago (I'm 49). What I get is the CHILLS as in goose bumps running up and down my body from September through May. I always have fleece with me (even in the summer ) - never know when the cold flash will attack I shiver while the rest of the world sweats

Been tested for thyroid twice in the last 3 years and it is well within normal range. Both reg dr and ob/gyn tell me it is part of the periomen symptoms.

Anyone else experience this?

Have a magical Disney Day!!

When I was having night sweats, I also became chilled, I would wrap the covers around me and shiver , fall asleep, wake up wet with sweat , change gown and go to bathroom, lie on bed with no covers because I was hot, wakeup again with sweats, you get the picture. Asked my doctor if it was menopause and he said No. All my symptoms started at about 40, breaking out with itchy bumps, messed up periods even on BC, horrible cramps, depression, hair thinning, and my doctor kept saying I wasn't in menopause, and he never even mentioned perimenopause, and I can't remember if I ever mentioned it. My memory is bad, too, don't know if that's from MP or something else. Last year I went back to the doc, (I know I should have seen someone else) and told him "I haven't had a period in 17 mths, am I in menopause?" He said" 7 mths, No, its usually 1 year without a period."
I said " 17 mths is over 1 year " He said " Oh yes, could be then" and did a blood test. he finally said "you're in menopause" After 6 years of symptoms .

Now I have hot flashes, and they come and go, sometimes 2-4 a day for a couple of weeks, then they stop for a while, like 4 weeks, then come back.

Now I'm uncomfortable and can't sleep if the temps above 71, and thats with no covers on. My poor DH is wrapped up like a tamalie.

Doggonit -- forgot what else, can't think straight anymore

 

[Mary Anne]

My memory is bad, too

That is my # 1 problem. I keep writing stuff down but then I lose or forget where I put the paper. I find it is worse when I'm under stress. Then I can't remember a thing.

 

[chrismiss56]

My husband thinks I try to do too much and that is why my memory is so bad......I think it is WHACKO HORMONES!!! Can't tell you how many times I walk into a room and forget what I needed

Have a Magical Disney Day!!

 

[Grandma Bear]

That is my # 1 problem. I keep writing stuff down but then I lose or forget where I put the paper. I find it is worse when I'm under stress. Then I can't remember a thing.

This happens to a lot of us as we age. I refer to these times as senior moments

 

[hunnypotmama]

Hopetobe, I notice you are in KY. Me too! And your doc sounds like mine, except yours is a male. But sounds like they have the denial (?) or complete ignorance (?) about perimenopause down pat. You got totally through it before he would acknowledge it, amazing!

 

[OhMari]

I had my annual physical today and the doc is sending me for a pelvic ultrasound just to make sure all this bleeding is really just perimenopausal and not fibroids or something else. I was happy not to hear "endometrial biopsy", as I had one of those several years ago and it was horrific.

She's also putting me on birth control to try and regulate my cycles. We shall see...

I just had one of those. You have to make sure your bladder is full when she does the outside . Then you go to the bathroom, so she can see the inside with the scope. Now that is embarassing, but whatever. The only thing they found was a slightly higher ovary on my right side. When it becomes inflamed during ovulation and my period, it pinches off an intestine they said, and that is why I have such bad (gas lock), that is what I call it. They told me to watch my salt intake, caffiene, chocolate anything that will keep swelling down.

How old are you grinninghost-and with the skin thing, my younger sister who just turned 40 has that. She gets big blotches on her neck and chest. She was told it is pre-menopause.

 

[SunFloridaDisney]

No chills here, just the hot sweats at night.

But forgetful???? That definitely is a problem.

Seems like we have a few of us KY girls on here.

Worst thing for me is going through all this, at the end of the hormonal life, AND having 10 and 12 yr old DD's with that weepy, moody, crazy pre-teen stuff happening. Seems like there are daily clashes in this house!!

 

[whnim64]

That is my # 1 problem. I keep writing stuff down but then I lose or forget where I put the paper. I find it is worse when I'm under stress. Then I can't remember a thing.

I'll be 51 this year and can't wait until 'it' is finally over for good. Unfortunately I probably have a few more years as I am as regular as clockwork. I get made fun of because I write my notes on the back of my hand, so when I look at my Mickey Mouse watch I have my notes right there in front of me. I'm so glad that I found a group to talk about this. My mother never talked about ANYTHING, and dr. just says 'both the mean and median age is 52'...

 

[NMAmy]

I'm so happy to see this thread and see that I'm fairly normal. I'm 41 and peri-menopausal. I have acne (which I've never had in my life), awful bloating, and out of this world mood swings. I totally lost it with dd one night and just upset her so much. Afterward, I sat down and explained that at my age women can get just as irrational as girls her age (14). It just makes me feel awful that I go ballistic for no reason.

My dr wanted to put me on birth control pills again but ever since I was pregnant with dd and developed pregnancy related high blood pressure--I have the same problem when I'm on the pill. My normally low BP goes up to very high levels. So...I'm basically just suffering through it at this point though I need to make an appt to go back and see her again.

Thanks so much for starting this thread. It's nice to see that I'm not the only one going through this.

 

[Morganpics]

I had to chuckle when I read about the forgetting things from a number of you! I have to keep repeating to myself and then it probably won't stay in my head! If I go to the grocery store for just 2-3 items I alphabetize them so I can remember. How lame is that! I can't begin to tell how many times I walk into a room in the house and I've forgotten why, so I turn around and walk in again-half the time I'll remember. It's terribly frustrating for me-my job really depends on my passing on information timely-good thing I've got lots of paper!

 

[RachelTori]

I had to chuckle when I read about the forgetting things from a number of you! I have to keep repeating to myself and then it probably won't stay in my head! If I go to the grocery store for just 2-3 items I alphabetize them so I can remember. How lame is that! I can't begin to tell how many times I walk into a room in the house and I've forgotten why, so I turn around and walk in again-half the time I'll remember. It's terribly frustrating for me-my job really depends on my passing on information timely-good thing I've got lots of paper!

This seems to be a common thread among us! Glad to know I'm in such good company!

I also have the moodiness (that's putting it nicely!!) - my heart goes out to my DH. He has me on one end of the spectrum and DD11 who's on the other end with the hormones going haywire!

 

[RachelTori]

This thread was going so well - then I post and........

Talk about being a *thread killer*!!!

 

[swilphil]

I'm 42 and have recently become peri-menopausal. I have had a hot flash incident, irregular periods (though not too long), and mood swings. I remember several years ago an older woman I worked with talked about eating/drinking soy products to delay or lessen menopause. Does anyone know anything about this? Do you know about any other natural ways of dealing with it?

 

[PamNC]

I'm 43 and I've just started have irregularity, hot flashes, and some irritability issues. Not all the time, it seems the flashes and mood swings are right before my menses. IF I get my menses. I usually do. It actually started last summer, I was only 42! I skipped about every other month until December, then since December I've had it every month, although not as regular as it use to be. SHOOT! I thought I was on my way to it going away and guess what - IT'S BACK EVERY MONTH. I'm actually looking forward to it being over. I hear it could take years!

PamNC

 

[MNSusan]

I'll be 50 in November and have had no symptoms. I had a uterine-only hyst many years ago so I still have my ovaries, but not "it." I keep waiting for the symptoms but nothing yet. Seems to me I should be going through this stuff by now and if it really takes 10 years, sheesh! I don't want to be flashing when I'm 60! Anyone else start the symptoms late?