Perimenopause is making me INSANE!

[shellabell]

I'm 43 and for the last year or so, Aunt Flo has come to call every 3 weeks. It used to be every 30 days, now it's every 19 to 22. I wouldn't mind missing one or two, honestly! If I'm not gearing up, I'm winding down. Aunt Flo is not a sweet little lady who only spends the night and doesn't bother anything, no, in my house, she's a bad girl rock star who comes in and trashes the place, then gets held over for a week.

Hot flashes, cold spells, got 'em. Harder to lose weight, easier to gain, check. Irritable and my short term recall is now for naught. I make notes detailing where I left my notes!

Got nothing but for everyone else who's going through this!

I am right there with you. Having mine for the second time this month (oh joy) I wish I would start skipping them. The only thing I don't have so far is the hot flashes, thankful for that at least.

 

[castmemberb4]

I take a supplement that has worked well for me with the hot flashes/night sweats.
The company name is Enzymatic Therapy it's called AM/PM Perimenopause Formula. I buy it at Whole Foods, the company name is really small on the box but the AM/PM part is promenant on the box front. It has two different pills one to take in the morning and one at night.
It also helps with mild irratability. I was haveing depression issues associated with perimenopause, my Dr put me on Cymbalta which has been wonderful for my concentration, sensory overload issues. I'm a much happier girl since starting it.
Still have the crazy mostly stressful dreams though.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Thirty-nine is not too young to begin the hormone changes. I've been 39yo for 12 years now, and have had hormone craziness for all that time and have had difficulty regulating my temperature for 3-4 years. I don't have many full-blown hot flashes, partially because a med I'm on for something else also helps with the hot flashes, but I do get hot easily and it has been worse the last couple weeks. My periods have actually gotten closer together, which is not helping! Aunt Flo needs to go away and never come back!!!

 

[JessicaR]

My DH accused me of wetting the bed the other night because I had such a severe night sweat! There was a ring of sweat on my side of the sheets.

My husband accused me of the very same thing, when my water broke. I had to prove it.

 

[disneyfans95]

This is why you have to love being a husband....

1. You deal with your wife's PMS
2. You have a daughter
3. You deal with BOTH of them with PMS
4.. Now you deal with all the 'net junk that makes the wife have pre, almost, couldbe, somethingother pre menopause

5. At that point now...

/cry and blame the teenage son on all faults of manhood...

For real though, women are nuts...

 

[low-key]

I think when a women gets a hot flash, a real bad one and starts sweating out of nowhere ,its real sexy, seriously I thinks its hot

 

[KiminChicago]

I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm 52 and I've just recently started waking up in the middle of the night feeling like I'm going to burst into flames. But I'm hopeful that in my case perimenopause won't last for 10 years!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Semi-read the beginning of this thread a few days ago and re-read last night.

Will have to join since I see myself in a lot of the posts, too. Especially the dreams! Most nights I jump out of bed freaking out with my heart racing thinking I'm trying to get out of harms way. My DH is like, WTH?

Glad to be able to show him I'm not the only one, and that there can be a physiological reason for this - and other stuff.

My DH can also join the club of having me and a 14 yr old DD with her PMS. Fun times!

 

[mrsv98]

Semi-read the beginning of this thread a few days ago and re-read last night.

Will have to join since I see myself in a lot of the posts, too. Especially the dreams! Most nights I jump out of bed freaking out with my heart racing thinking I'm trying to get out of harms way. My DH is like, WTH?

Glad to be able to show him I'm not the only one, and that there can be a physiological reason for this - and other stuff.

My DH can also join the club of having me and a 14 yr old DD with her PMS. Fun times!

Maybe we should organize some sort of support group for the husbands/fathers. We could supply a big screen tv, lots of beer and a female free zone!

 

[njcarita]

Another sufferer here & 47.

I just wanted to tell the OP she may not be in "peri" but in MENOPAUSE. I have started with symptoms last yr and I can say today it is official menopause.

So far I will just "get hot" esp. when I am feeling stressed.

i was told you are NOT menopausal till you are one year period free........ its peri till than....and it can last upto 10 FUN years.....................i think i am going on year 4 or 5.........not sure...........now for me the night sweats or hot flashes are nothing compared to the hold on to the wall lightheartedness and the panic attacks that came out of no where again............oh and the tingling and numbing of different body parts..........have been checked out by obgyn....cardiologist....... endocrinologist.... neurologist and infectious disease specialist all this year to be told it just flipping hormones............can i get off the pericoaster now PLEASE

 

[njcarita]

I will be 48 in a month and have yet to had a symptom. I was an early bloomer when I was younger, so I thought I'd be early with menopause, but my body must just love dropping an egg each month with no relief in sight. I was low on vitamin D at my last check-up which my doc said was common. Low vitamin D can cause the mind to be foggy which I have experienced. Vitamin D supplements have helped a lot, so for those who are in a fog, you may just need more vitamin D.

i agree last year when i felt my worst i was low D( 17)..........low potassium and low ferritin( 7)...........been supplementing since..........still deficient in d........but eeked it up to 26 in a year.................so yes make sure u have blood work done................

 

[SpecialK]

i was told you are NOT menopausal till you are one year period free........ its peri till than....and it can last upto 10 FUN years.....................i think i am going on year 4 or 5.........not sure...........now for me the night sweats or hot flashes are nothing compared to the hold on to the wall lightheartedness and the panic attacks that came out of no where again............oh and the tingling and numbing of different body parts..........have been checked out by obgyn....cardiologist....... endocrinologist.... neurologist and infectious disease specialist all this year to be told it just flipping hormones............can i get off the pericoaster now PLEASE

I've got bad news for you - hot flashes can continue throughout menopause. I know a woman who had them well into her 70s.

 

[mickeysgal]

Had to have a D&C last year for thick endometrium.

Yep. May be having one of these in the not so near future. Tried progesterone for three months. Didn't change the lining thickness. Biopsy to make sure all is ok was negative - thank goodness. We're relooking at this in a few months but all indications are leading to a D&C.

Two friends of mine are taking Maca Root for their PMS symptoms. Said it made all their crazy mood swings and hot flashes disappear. I don't know too much about it. Anyone try this?

 

[mickeysgal]

I think when a women gets a hot flash, a real bad one and starts sweating out of nowhere ,its real sexy, seriously I thinks its hot

You crack me up.

 

[ols386]

I'm 43 and for the last year or so, Aunt Flo has come to call every 3 weeks. It used to be every 30 days, now it's every 19 to 22. I wouldn't mind missing one or two, honestly! If I'm not gearing up, I'm winding down. Aunt Flo is not a sweet little lady who only spends the night and doesn't bother anything, no, in my house, she's a bad girl rock star who comes in and trashes the place, then gets held over for a week.

Hot flashes, cold spells, got 'em. Harder to lose weight, easier to gain, check. Irritable and my short term recall is now for naught. I make notes detailing where I left my notes!

Got nothing but for everyone else who's going through this!

This was me for several months until this past March, and now, NO MORE!

But now there are the hot flashes.

 

[Swimnoid]

I'm right there with you all and I work with young people so there is no one to talk to about it! I am well into peri but dont have hot flashes, have had some night sweats, cant sleep, mental fog.... One of the worst symptoms, though, was i would get a severe back ache every month even if I did not get a period. Thank goodness that stopped! (knock on wood) BUT... for the last 2 years I had a period in November and stopped. I thought Thank, God! and then it started up again in April and came like clock work until Nov again. Down to the same exact date!! ARGGGHH! Oh! and I am 57!!

 

[mrsv98]

Yep. May be having one of these in the not so near future. Tried progesterone for three months. Didn't change the lining thickness. Biopsy to make sure all is ok was negative - thank goodness. We're relooking at this in a few months but all indications are leading to a D&C.

Two friends of mine are taking Maca Root for their PMS symptoms. Said it made all their crazy mood swings and hot flashes disappear. I don't know too much about it. Anyone try this?

I had a large fibroid just past the "neck" of the uterus and it made my life hell. Never ending Aunt Flo, horrible cramps, headaches, etc. I had it removed in April with a D&C and life it good again in that department!

I have an order to get my thyroid blood work checked again, I just have to get over there and get it done. I will be very interested to see what my levels are. In my 20s (many many moons ago...) I had thyroid disease and was hyperthyroid. I have been "normal" for a long time (can you hear DH laughing? : ) but numbers have been going up so we shall see.

 

[IDoDis]

I'm right there with you all and I work with young people so there is no one to talk to about it! I am well into peri but dont have hot flashes, have had some night sweats, cant sleep, mental fog.... One of the worst symptoms, though, was i would get a severe back ache every month even if I did not get a period. Thank goodness that stopped! (knock on wood) BUT... for the last 2 years I had a period in November and stopped. I thought Thank, God! and then it started up again in April and came like clock work until Nov again. Down to the same exact date!! ARGGGHH! Oh! and I am 57!!

OMG! This is still going on for you at 57? That will be me. The first to start and the last to finish! Ugh!

 

[njcarita]

I've got bad news for you - hot flashes can continue throughout menopause. I know a woman who had them well into her 70s.

actually i can live with hotflashes........the rest of it ugh

 

[njcarita]

34 Common Symptoms of peri and meno............ Fun ..huh??
1. Hot Flashes
2. Night Sweats
3. Irregular Periods
4. Loss of Libido
5. ******l Dryness
6. Mood Swings

Changes
7. Fatigue
8. Hair Loss
9. Sleep Disorders
10. Difficult Concentrating
11. Memory Lapses
12. Dizziness
13. Weight Gain
14. Incontinence
15. Bloating
16. Allergies
17. Brittle Nails 18. Changes in Odor
19. Irregular Heartbeat
20. Depression
21. Anxiety
22. Irritability
23. Panic Disorder

Pains
24. Breast Pain
25. Headaches
26. Joint Pain
27. Burning Tongue
28. Electric Shocks
29. Digestive Problems
30. Gum Problems
31. Muscle Tension
32. Itchy Skin
33. Tingling Extremities

Others
34. Osteoporosis