Perimenopause is making me INSANE!

[Southernmiss]

I think I have been in perimenopause for a few years now (I'm 47)Edited-Damn don't even know how old I am... I'm 46 actually). The worst symptoms for me are the crazy itchiness of my skin and sweating bullets in the summer and at night. I can't tolerate extreme temperatures. Its soo hot and sweaty if its above 80 and too cold if its below 68. I wear lots of layers in my house in the winter. Socks and slippers all day. Then in the summer, I go through 2-3 pairs of underwear a day. I can't clean or walk the dog without having to change all of my clothes. I want to scratch my skin off. I haven't found a perfect cream yet but Cetaphil cream (not lotion) seems to help if I get it on before the itching starts. I've had some memory issues- forgetting to pay bills, forgetting stuff my dh tells me or my kids tell me etc.

I had my thyroid checked in Sept and its fine. No issues there so it must be menopause symptoms.

I had an ablation 10 years ago and haven't had a period since. I did used to get pain when ovulating. I think I felt that last month but its sporatic and not there every month anymore.
I need the air blasting in the car and the fans running in the house. It doesn't help that we live in Arizona and the summers are just unbearable for me. I can't find light enough clothing and look terrible in shorts but I don't care. I still wear them. I wear thru 4-5 pair of shorts every summer. The sweat breaks down the fabric and then it gets really thin and tears.

The memory stuff started last year. The sweating/freezing has been going on for 4 years or so. Itchy skin has been crazy out of control for 3 years.

Funny thing I went to my GP in Sept complaining of all these symptoms and he never once said anything about perimenopause. He ordered the thyroid test and blood sugar test and thats it.

I have a lot if the same symptoms as you. The crazy itching was so unexpected. Hot flashes get so much attention that I didn't realize the itching was a symptom too until I googled.

I also have a runny nose for no reason. So I'm sure there's a histamine connection.

For those with the fog, cutting out the white foods has helped me a lot.

And the temperature thing is me to a t. 73 degrees is my optimal temperature. Anything colder, and I'm freezing. Anything over 77 and I'm burning up. Fortunately, I live in Mississippi where it is sunny and usually warmer than other places.

 

[Kitty 34]

What about the brain fog!?! Sweet Mother of Pearl, please tell me the brain fog and bone-weary mental fatigue resolve eventually.

Ronandannette........wait 'til you're in your mid 60s; brain fog and bone weary fatigue will be an every day event for you!!! At least it is for me.

 

[wgeo]

I have a lot if the same symptoms as you. The crazy itching was so unexpected. Hot flashes get so much attention that I didn't realize the itching was a symptom too until I googled.

I also have a runny nose for no reason. So I'm sure there's a histamine connection.

For those with the fog, cutting out the white foods has helped me a lot.

And the temperature thing is me to a t. 73 degrees is my optimal temperature. Anything colder, and I'm freezing. Anything over 77 and I'm burning up. Fortunately, I live in Mississippi where it is sunny and usually warmer than other places.

I'm 41 and have been wondering if I'm starting perimenopause - but I'm still on birth control so I'm not able to tell by missed periods or anything. One of the nice benefits of my birth control is that I haevn't had a period in 3 years. I've had just a few hot flashed, but I've been wondering for months if my allergies were screwed up cuz my nose is always runny. Never even considered that as a symptom - now I'm gonna have to google.

 

[ronandannette]

Ronandannette........wait 'til you're in your mid 60s; brain fog and bone weary fatigue will be an every day event for you!!! At least it is for me.

Lalalalala (fingers in ears) I can’t hear you...

Where’s the “dislike” button?

 

[Owlpost23]

Ladies,it's hell to be sure,but when menopause really kicks in,it's glorious! No periods,no buying feminine products,it's so delightful! You just have to get there! Hold on and wait for it!

 

[maxaroni]

I am through it for quite a few years. I was in my early 40s and would mention symptoms to my GYN and he’d say...peri menopause could start 10-15 years before you are through it....OMG. I did have some hot flashes, had bad night sweats but the biggest symptom for me was freezing at times. I would get so cold, skin ice cold, and nothing would warm me up. I would sit in front of the fireplace, pile on blankets, have DH hold me (he’s a furnace) and nothing would warm me up. It was by far the worst. Yes, hot flashes and night sweats were not pleasant but I had far more periods of being cold.

 

[bdcp]

I'm 50 and my periods are getting very weird, but at this point I'm more regular than I was in my 20s. No hot flashes yet. My mother suffered with them. It was awful.

That's how I was. I was never super regular, but the last couple of years in particular before my last period, it was like clockwork. They were also very heavy. My hot flashes weren't bad at all. My mom says hers were, but before her breast cancer diagnosis she took HRT for something like 20 years to prevent them, which they now think caused her cancer.

 

[PollyannaMom]

...but the biggest symptom for me was freezing at times. I would get so cold, skin ice cold, and nothing would warm me up. I would sit in front of the fireplace, pile on blankets, have DH hold me (he’s a furnace) and nothing would warm me up. It was by far the worst. Yes, hot flashes and night sweats were not pleasant but I had far more periods of being cold.

That's me as well. A few night sweats, but I've always had the freezing thing right before my period anyway. Now it's just more random and exagerated.

And to those who mentioned allergy-like symptoms - absolutely! That's another thing that always got worse for me right before my period, and now just kind of happens out of the blue.

 

[mousefanmichelle]

For me, I am 46, its the crazy mood swings - like I have never had before!! Also the acne, and I have woken up sweating recently. Ugh. I hope it goes quick because my periods are regular as clockwork give or take a day. I guess brain fog is hitting me too and complete exhaustion. I am so tired and work is really getting in the way of my sleeping in lol!!

 

[tyniknate]

Ladies, its all just not fair. My OB-GYN told me its considered peri-menopause until I have gone an entire YEAR without my period. I went almost 10 months and then BAM!!! She said I have to start the countdown all over again. Are you kidding me??? The headaches, mood-swings, temperature changes are all terrible, but the not being able to sleep and being exhausted ALL THE TIME is killing me. I feel like my brain is broken. And anymore If I don't write it down it didn't really happen. The brain fog is so immense. I'm completely over all of it!!!!!

 

[TLSnell1981]

The only relief from symptoms was through bioidentical hormone therapy. Wished I'd used it from day one.

 

[runwad]

I had my last period in September, but last year I went about 6 months without one and then it started again. I don't mind. I never had a problem with my period and I wouldn't care if i had it forever. It keeps us young and healthy! So I'll be sad to see it stop. I did start to have hot flashes this fall and a friend of mine said her gyno told her to buy this https://www.walmart.com/ip/Estroven-Weight-Management/47370638, Estroven. I've been taking it and no hot flashes! I thought maybe I just wasn't having hot flashes anymore so when I ran out I didn't buy anymore. Nope still had them, ran out and bought more. Now i order from amazon and just have it delivered every month. It has been a godsend! I'm not sure its doing anything for the weight, but uh, that could just be me eating too much

 

[anniemae]

OMG the mood swings, yikes.

 

[bdcp]

The last good nights sleep I had (7 hours straight) was a week or so before my very last period 7 years ago. It's amazing what your natural hormones do. I'm back to sleeping better, but I wake up every night around 2. I can go right back to sleep, but it would be nice to not have that interruption. But, I will never take anything that is hormone replacement or simulates hormones. Everyone needs to assess the risks and even "natural" replacements have concerns. Menopause is normal.

 

[PollyannaMom]

OMG the mood swings, yikes.

Yeah, I'm getting much more practiced at those "self-care" techniques like noticing my mood and adjusting my schedule accordingly, or speaking up when I just need more time to process something.

 

[PollyannaMom]

The last good nights sleep I had (7 hours straight) was a week or so before my very last period 7 years ago. It's amazing what your natural hormones do. I'm back to sleeping better, but I wake up every night around 2. I can go right back to sleep, but it would be nice to not have that interruption.

So true! Mine haven't even fully stopped yet, but I still rarely sleep for that long at a time.

But, I will never take anything that is hormone replacement or simulates hormones. Everyone needs to assess the risks and even "natural" replacements have concerns. Menopause is normal.

I won't say "never" but I am leery of "treating" it as well. My doctor offered birth control pills to help with mood swings, but I feel like that would just drag the whole thing out longer, and I'd rather get it over with.

 

[chewysmom]

I’m sitting here, ready to rip dh’s head off thanks to my friend peri. These mood swings are awful! Every. little. thing just sets me off.

 

[Christine]

So true! Mine haven't even fully stopped yet, but I still rarely sleep for that long at a time.



I won't say "never" but I am leery of "treating" it as well. My doctor offered birth control pills to help with mood swings, but I feel like that would just drag the whole thing out longer, and I'd rather get it over with.

As of tomorrow, I am two years without a period. Can you believe that I got my last and final period on my birthday, so it's easy to remember.

Anyway, I never thought I would do hormone replacement and not sure if I will. However, after 2 years, I definitely have some issues that are exacerbated by the lack of natural hormones and I am concerned how bad it will continue to get. The funny thing is, during the first year of menopause, I thought, "Oh, not so bad, I can deal with this." But now it seems worse (skin changes mostly). It's been very rapid in the last 8 months. I have an appointment with my doctor next week to just discuss this issue specifically but I already feel hopeless about it. Most GYN practices are geared toward BABIES. They really don't want to deal with this aspect much and one of the doctors in the practice as much as said it. Straight GYN practices seem to be rare in my area, even though it's a major metropolitan area.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Don't feel hopeless about it, Christine. I will be discussing the same with my primary care, I have to make an appt. I think they have a better handle on it than some of the GYNs tbh. I expect I'll get a referral to the Menopause Clinic they actually have. Mine was brought on suddenly when I had my ovaries out (per recommendation of oncologist when I had hyst; GYN and I wanted to leave them in as they were still functional). So it hit me kind of hard, all at once. Recommendations on HRT have changed a bit, so it's something I want to explore. It seems we get hit either way - take it, and we're at risk for cancer; don't take it, and we're at risk for heart attack, etc. I think there might be a middle ground. Thing is, I was reading something saying it's ideal to do it within two years or so, so it's good to look into it now.

This thread has been helpful. So weird how we have these symptoms, and few understand it fully.

 

[Christine]

Don't feel hopeless about it, Christine. I will be discussing the same with my primary care, I have to make an appt. I think they have a better handle on it than some of the GYNs tbh. I expect I'll get a referral to the Menopause Clinic they actually have. Mine was brought on suddenly when I had my ovaries out (per recommendation of oncologist when I had hyst; GYN and I wanted to leave them in as they were still functional). So it hit me kind of hard, all at once. Recommendations on HRT have changed a bit, so it's something I want to explore. It seems we get hit either way - take it, and we're at risk for cancer; don't take it, and we're at risk for heart attack, etc. I think there might be a middle ground. Thing is, I was reading something saying it's ideal to do it within two years or so, so it's good to look into it now.

This thread has been helpful. So weird how we have these symptoms, and few understand it fully.

I mainly feel hopeless about the medical community. I've been with my GYN practice for over 20 years. The GYN I am seeing next week is my age and was there for the delivery of my son. He's got a great rating and great bedside manner but when it comes to menopause issues, I just feel like they don't want to really think about it. There is a "menopause specialist" about 40 minutes from my home that gets good ratings. Used to be a regular OB/GYN but I guess as she has aged, she has changed interests. Appears she used bioidentical hormones which I hear are "the thing" to be using. Drawback: does not take insurance and charges a boutique fee. Same for finding a doctor to treat this skin condition I have (female parts related). Only two in the area and they are both cash only. One charges $1500 for the first visit. Unbelievable. So, I'm trying to work with my GYN as much as I can at first. I've *never* found a decent GP here either in my 20 or so years. It's really just a shame. I don't think it's me either. I've heard complaints from others where I live. So that's really where my hopeless feelings come from; I feel like I can't even get to the right person.