Hi to everyone,
I am new here and I did not know where to really post this because I seem to fit into every category on this forum. I turned 49 last December and have felt unwell since 1999-2000, and I put it all down to stress. I now I have poured over this forum, and can see I was in peri 7-8 years ago......

Late last year I sincerely believed I was suffering some type of anxiety disorder that had been present for about 5 years, so I went to my Doctor who ran a series of test, blood...thyroid...and he added hormonal. I thought nothing of the results and he just told me my anxiety was not true anxiety and it was physically caused and not mentally, and to go home and rest; he did tell my hubby to take care of me and that I was at a fragile time. I still didn't get it......and yes...I was always waking up wet and sweaty, but mainly just before my period, and when it wasn't then, I thought I had something wrong with me.

Well, I missed 3 periods now, and have had tests done by a Doctor other than my regular Doc, as regular one is on holidays. The results came back and he said I am now post menopausal. Just like that. I went and had these tests because I am roasting in hades at the moment, and sobbing and laughing like I have Bipolar......I mean...I can laugh and sob at the same time..and this has gone on for about 6 months on and off.

I feel like me not realizing I was coming to this time has really affected me emotionally. I didn't expect my periods to just stop. I didn't expect to suddenly be told it is all over..to be told "you are now post menopausal"..and I am crying and writing this feeling like someone stole something from me too fast......and thinking why didn't my Doctor tell me.....or was my ignorance a little bliss....perhaps it was when I read some of your posts. I have been there; and am now here....and feel worse.......the flashing.....the insomnia......grrrrrrrr

Insomnia is no longer just now and then....it is ALL the time.....and then when I am so tired I crash for up to 12 hours. I feel like I am a nice woman gone nasty at times, too. I cannot find me anymore..........like I vacated the building.....but I know I am still here beneath all these symptoms.

The brain fog is intense....and I am worried about where to start to try and help myself....but I am determined to do it......I will not let this get the better of me no matter how bad it all gets. But I am happy to have found this forum.....and perhaps not feel so alone.

Has anyone else just "stopped"???? Just been told they are "post menopausal"????? Is it normal to look in the mirror and be confused at not seeing an ancient lady and yet there is supposed to be one there??? I have always been sad and annoyed at Doctors telling me "you are too young for _______insert whatever because I carry my mothers genetics of aging well....but NOW I want to look my age......why? Because when this time I asked for hormone tests, this new Doc looked puzzled and then checked my DOB.....I snapped at him......grrrrrr "yes, I AM old enough". . I am clearly all over the place...can you tell?????

I DO have my sense of humor still......and I will not let that go. At the same time, my humor often hides a lot of pain...and right now I am a very confused woman in a lot of physical and emotional pain.....and I simply need some advice....or something.....I don't know what.....

There is one symptom missing....I am not "dry" vaginally.....a little less than before, but is that supposed to be all dry....or is every woman different.....?

So many questions.......I know....I am so sorry......but I hope I can contribute to a lot who are just starting this journey.....
Hugs to all women going through the hormone ride
~Viktoria
PS:-
To whoever posted about the spray bottle for flashing.....I already worked that one out too.....and now keep a bottle in each main room of the house.... ....and mineral water keeps the skin nice....

Hi, I don't understand these doctors who declare a patient "post-menopausal" before they hit the one-year mark. My GYN put "post-menopausal bleeding" on the request slip for my transvaginal ultrasound last year, when I had skipped only 3 months and then had a 2-month period!!!!! And after that, I had a 5-month skip and all the OTC hormone tests during that time indicated I was post-meno, but I knew I probably wasn't, after all my reading on Power Surge, and sure enough, I had a period after five months and I've had three "regular" periods since. So, I wouldn't get my hopes up just yet, no matter what the doctor says...there's a reason why the medical community has settled on the 12-month marker, and I won't believe I'm post- until I've gotten to that point. (In fact, there are occasionally exceptions where folks have actually had bleeding after the 12 months and had to start their count over, but it seems to be a relatively safe bet that you're post once you hit 12 months.)

Oh, I forgot to say "Welcome!" You've come to the best place on earth, believe me...I don't know how I could have made it through these last couple of years without my "meno-buds" on Power Surge...best of luck with all of your symptoms and do keep us posted on how you're doing. (And I'll keep my fingers crossed for you that you DO reach the 12-month mark without having to start over!!)

IrishLass

Hi, My sister was told my a very "cocky" male doctor she was in full menopause because of the fsh test which isn't totatlly accurate. She got her period after 6 months. I have a nice woman doctor that chastised me in the fall for using the home FSH test (you get 2 tests to try a week or so apart) and I told her I was positive. I guess it could still fluctuate but when she did my internal, she could tell by my vaginal walls, that I was pretty close in her experience and if I did have a "period" it would be light. So far it's been 4 months since my visit and 8 or 9 months since my last period. I don't think I'm going to get another one, but you never know.
I was also told by my male internist in November, I was "too young" to be in menopause at 47? What journals do they read, you can be any age and I think it's younger now than the old average of 51.
I was listening to a couple of older pretty models that were doing menopause commericals/bill boards on TV. Their girlfriends told them they were "brave" because being single, "menopause and men" just don't go hand and hand. It's not being in it so much, they just equate the word with grandmotherly picture. They said that's why they were doing it...to dispel the myths.
I hope you find comfort on this board/site and in some good books on menopause. It's a rollercoaster ride but much better "holding someones hand".

My grandmother told me of a friend of hers that "just stopped". She was having regular periods -- this was probably 30 years ago or so, so my grandmother doesn't remember all the details -- and was late one month, except that the late turned into never. And she never had another one. I personally would love that! I was three days late this month -- my cycle had leveled off to 25 days for about 6 months now, and I was 3 days off from that -- and was already starting the countdown to twelve months from now when I'll be fully menopausal. I was really ticked when I started.

But since you are really upset by this news, I say just read your body and don't let what the drs say worry you. You know what's going on with your body better than they do. I actually think that once you get used to the idea that all your crazy symptoms were just hormonal and you're not going nuts or dying, you'll start feeling better. I for once had fewer panic attacks and stopped getting so scared about my palpitations once I knew what was causing them. Try doing some nice things for yourself -- pamper yourself with a nice bath every so often, or maybe a walk in the park or a new book, whatever turns you on. And most of all, check with all these nice ladies at Power Surge often. They have been a world of help to me, and if you give them a chance, they'll help you too.

Hello Newest Sister - welcome to the ever changing world of menopause! Like Lass and Deb said, I too agree with them - it's all well and good that your doctors think your 'post', but the truth is Flush, only your body knows and it won't tell you until you've reached the 'official' year mark.

Flush, believe me when I say I have researched menopause to the 'inth' degree, and read scores and scores of articles. What I've found is a variety of confusing information. Not about menopause, mind you, but rather, about how doctors refer to it. Some will use the terms peri and menopause. As in, until a woman goes a year without her period she is in "peri" (i.e. the word 'peri' means before menopause). Then there are the other doctors. These write articles that say "during menopause a woman will experience many changes, both physically and emotionally, but these signs subside once they become post menopausal".

You then find yourself thinking....well what the heck does that mean? One tells me I'm in peri and another tells me I'm in menopause ... but know what? It doesn't matter what's written Flushings, because it's nothing more than words. Words written to convey change, so whether one says peri or another says menopause, the bottom line is...time. Could you be post menopause? Yes, it's possible. Some, though rare, do just simply stop their periods... But it's like we've all said....if and when you've gone a year without a flow, then you truly are in menopause...so until then, try not to worry. ok??

HUGS
Tay

Webelina, My mom insists she was thinkng about getting her tubes tied at 43 or so and she never got another period. Being 80 now, her memory might be shaky, but I know she was on the earlier side. Had some mood swings, etc. but all and all, that was it. Never took Estrogen (too much $ she said) and never read about it. Well, I like being a bit more informed, but maybe she had a point about too much reading, sometimes you anticipate things and then feel them. During her chemo (breast cancer) she was VERY lucky in not having many symptoms with the strongest chemo, but she didn't read about it either, she knew about the hair loss but had much more energy and focus than the doctors anticipated. They whispered to me, "don't tell her how exhausted she is supposed to be, just keep up the encouragement."
That said, I feel better knowing that the itch/burn,ache is not a deadly disease is wonderful, but I try not to anticipate anything, for example hot flashes or periods returning. One day at a time....

Your blood test may have indicated "post" but I bet if you were to retake it, the numbers would be different. I am reading you still have your periods, so to say you are "post" is not bodily correct. Post is One year, one day without a period. You definitely have signs of "peri" and that is where I truly think you are at present. All symptoms indicate as such. And yes - it will be a "wild ride" both mentally and physically. Been there; done that and still doing that.

Welcome,you are in my prayers.Remember you know your body better than the dr.Read the posts and info on this site.You will most likely come to your own conclusions,but you sound peri to me as well.We are here for you!!

I was thinking the same thing Sybillruth. It sounds like the doctors are jumping the gun here, doesn't it?

FlushingLady, I thought I read that you had only missed three periods. You're not post until you've missed 12 -- in other words, gone a year without one. Your FSH levels may have been high at that time, but you may get it tested again and it be low. Lots of women on this forum will attest to that, including me. We all have symptoms of impending meno, but the FSH numbers don't reflect it. I did read in a fertility page -- no, I'm not trying to get pregnant. I was searching for FSH level info and hit that link -- that you're only as fertile as your highest level. Supposedly if your test level is 50 one time and the next test says 10, the 50 is what counts.

Hi Irish Lass, I do tend to agree with you. I am definately going to wait out the 12 months because I have seen too much on this forum to think this is 100% the end. I feel sorry that yours all started up again. Like you, I hope "this is it". But I know rationally that is may not be "it".

Thank you for the welcome; I really do feel so worn out from all the symptoms, and have no Mom to turn to and all my female friends are not having symptoms...but all are now dreading it. I think this forum will help a lot.

Hugs,
Flushing

Hi Debra R, I know exactly what you mean. I bought the FSH test kit, but the blood test came back first. This is in reality my second blood test, and all I was told about the first was "I don't think it will be long for you". That was about a year ago. I do agree that the "grannie" thing needs to go...it causes a few strange feelings...funny ones too. I have no idea why you would be told 47 is too young, but when I attempted to get help at one time, an internist told me the same at around 45. I believed him. Silly, silly me. Thank you for the reply, and the welcome.

Hugs,
Flushing

Hi Tay, I agree with everyone. I must wait the time out for the 12 months. Yes, you are totally right about the Doctors. I was told "Post Menopause" definate! There was no "maybe" about it. The Doctors word became gospel, and if the test is right, so be it, if not, I am taking your advice and not going to concentrate on it so much. I doubt it does me any good. I do think it was the way I was told. It was a shock even if incorrect. For a laugh; this Doctors name was Doctor Frost. That says it all. I am waiting for my regular Doctor to come back who tells me things on a need to know basis. Thank you for the warm welcome, I already feel amond fellow sisters here.

Hugs,
Flushing:)

Hi Sybilleruth, Yes, the blood test did say Post Menopause.....at the moment!! But as we all know...and me too now, that means nothing until 12 months have passed. If this is as you say "peri", and I tend to agree..it is simply a worse version of what I have suffered for 7-8 years, and thought I was just anxious over nothing...getting hot due to anxiety...but these flashes now are intense...extreme, and very frequent. I have no idea what true sleep is like annymore...and sleep has been good then bad for years....so I have been "peri" for at least 7 years now. That much I do know.....and I should not have been self diagnosing...that is the one good thing to come of this. I am not a nervous wreck normally, it was always "peri". My husband remembers me telling him "I don't feel my old self anymore" since around 2000. Do you know what it means when Peri turns extra bad and intense??? I am confused about that....or is this just all part of it??

Thank you for your kind reply.

Hugs,
Flushing

Hi Lady, I am reading and reading, and feel less distressed now and certainly not feeling like I am abnormally going crazy. If you read my reply above, I can know within myself now that I was in Peri from around 7-8 years ago....so many symptoms you all talk about, I thought were stress and only stress...one problem. I had no real stress. So I blamed myself. This happening, and me finding this forum has taken away a lot of self imposed guilt. That is a positive I feel good about today.
Thank you so much for your prayers. I am rather worn out at the moment....in all ways.....lol...

Hugs,
Flushing

Hi Webalina...thank you again!, Yes, I have only missed three periods. I did feel like I was getting them at the time, but no bleeding. This last cycle I did not even get the feeling I was going to get one. I am now fully accepting I was in peri from 7-8 years ago, but self diagnosed anxiety...rather stupid of me. The Doctor who gave me these results is not my regular doctor, but about a year ago my regular Doc decided to do them as I was telling him my feelings were all anxiety. He "tried" to tell me my feelings were not in my head, and it was not an anxiety-panic disorder. He just didn't tell me what it was. Therefore, to suddenly be told by a strange Doc that I am "Post Meno" was a shock. Mentally I was not prepared....although since posting here, I am getting used to the idea; calming down, and just joining the rest of you.
I totally agree with what everyone here has told me. I have now read it all myself too...and am on the count down, and have mentally started to scrap what I was told. If it is of any interest, my FSH was 77. He also said I was in "estrogen withdrawal" due to such low estrogen, and immediately offered me BC pills. One thing strange; my progesterone was quite high, he said. I have no idea what that means. I declined the BC pills as I take nothing without research, and I don't want the BC pills right now; and I doubt ever will. I am more thinking of bio-identical to help ease through what I sense "may" be the last of it....seeing as I have done up to 8 years..it is posible I am close....am I right? Please correct me if I am wrong. But until 12 months. No way am I saying "Post".

Thank you for all the time you have taken for the replies; I really, really appreciate this so much.

Hugs,
Flushing:)

Flushing Lady,

Estradiol and FSH are tied together in an inverse way ... estradiol suppresses FSH, so if you are low on estradiol that will allow your FSH to go high.

Here's what I was given for normal ranges for FSH:

1 - 10 follicular
7 - 18 mid-cycle peak
1 - 6 luteal
23 - 130 menopausal

Your FSH is very high. In combo with low estradiol it does appear, on paper at least, that you are menopausal. The fact that you have missed 3 periods is also significant, especially if your progesterone is not low.

For comparison, I am 46 and perimenopausal, have been having irregular periods for a year and had hot flashes in January. My FSH was 18 during the week I was having the worst hot flashes, and only 4.2 two weeks later when I was no longer having hot flashes. My estradiol measured very high when I was not having hot flashes, wasn't measured when I was having them. My progesterone is low. I am having irregular periods.

I have also read that for some women the transition into menopause is rather abruptly. It's possible that you are one of those women. I know if I were in your position I would be stressed out, it was difficult enough for me to accept last year that I was heading toward menopausewhen I missed my first period and then started having irregular cycles. And then when I had the hot flashes in January, oh hell ! I was very agitated then.

I agree with the other posters that you can't really say that you are menopausal until you've been without a period for 12 months. And even then, it still could come back ! One woman recently posted that she didn't have a period for 14 months and then had one.

Are you experiencing other symptoms ? Did you have irregular periods or missed periods prior to your last one ? Had any hot flashes, palpitations, bouts of unusual rage ?
.

Hi Sandra,

Thank you for posting those figures for me. I can partly relate to having well passed what you have gone through already, probably years of that, but not major flashing.....or because I "thought" it was heat from panic attacks I did not see it as clearly as I wish I had.

My experience was all through my life, since I got my period, I was a regular 28 day woman. I could almost time it even to the time of day, then suddenly about that 7 year ago time, I started having bad palps and periods started to get closer together......until just before I stopped they went right down to 21 days apart......my iron stores are low and I have to build them up, but I am not anemic.
I only ever missed one period, but had strange things like feeling much much better a PMS time than at the time a woman normally feels better, and for years....too many to remember, I have woken with sweat even soaking my hair. I also, within the last year had several times when I had a period but my breasts remained extremely sore....as if the period had not gone away, but it had. The anxiety set in extremely bad since about 2002 and I self diagnosed it as me doing too much in my work.

My last period was much lighter, no pain at all, no sore breasts, and sore breasts were getting less and less anyway. Then Bang. Gone. Now my palps are less, but hot flashes are intense.......real horrors.....they make the ones before look like a walk in a park. BUT, they have a time of day that they are at their peaks......first in the morning, and last at night is bad for me. Insomnia is shocking. Frequent urination, even if I stop drinking 2 hours before trying to sleep. Dry eyes. Aches and pains...but these have been around for about the past decade.....less vaginal moisture, but I am not dry as in like total dry and that symptom I find confusing because I don't know how dry we are supposed to get even post meno.....libido is way down for me and I miss it.......thankfully, hubby is 10 years older than me and doesn't seem to mind the breaks between and we are concentrating on lots of emotional love.
Rage??? OH......terrible....for an assertive woman gone wrong....it is a bit like being filled with enough adrenalin to allow me to lift a car. ...assertion gone wild.....but I am controlling it by telling myself it is hormonal, and my loving husband .....well, I took him aside and told him why I was suddenly fighting so hard where I used to fight fair.....and he said "I know honey"......he knew....and just wraps me in his arms and says it is ok. Since then he is far more considerate in how he says things to me, and the rage attacks are not triggered by him much at all anymore, and if I feel that surge starting, I warn him he might bring out the other Viktoria...lol......
Crying is terrible and over silly things. Now I really DO know I have anxiety, but also know that it never was true anxiety before...it was always Peri....! I also seem to have a feeling of impending doom that hits from nowhere, but I can look back and still say I had this for the years leading up to this. It just got worse.

Slight depression caused by the suddeness.....I wasn't prepared to lose my period.....and I seem very sad over this. It will pass, and I'll adjust, but I am trying to list all the symptoms. I have weight loss, not weight gain....so I am eating healthy to try to not get too thin, but I think some of this is bone loss....wrists seem thinner etc. BUT I have an appetite like a horse, and can see where I could gain weight, but I refuse to give in to all my food desires. IBS I have had all my life feels worse, and attacks come more often. Constipation..........I think I will just say I have about ALL the symptoms.......I am only happy the palps seem less...heart rate is a little high at times and beats faster and harder when flashing, especially if I react to the flashing.....but the wild palps seem less now....and that is one benefit I am enjoying. They are scary!!!!! Thyroid test breakdown came back totally normal. Estrogen.......extreme low......FSH 77. Apologies but I cannot remember the estrogen level as I have the brain fog too......the memory is shocking.

I better shut up......I think you will get the idea that I have it all.....

I "sense" this is "it" for me.....but will still wait for that 12 months....perhaps a bit longer. Basically I am a wreck......but also terribly sad because I pushed myself for almost a decade thinking it was "all in my head".

Thank you so much for your history. We really are all so different......it amazes me to read so much on here I relate to, and so much I have already had, and much I am different with.....it is just so wonderful to have others who "know what it feels like". I have calmed down a little since my first post here...and this forum is teaching me so much.

Hugs to you.....what did we women do to deserve this???????
Flushing....

FlushingLady, your last post is SO interesting to me. A lot of it sounds exactly like what I went or am currently going through. Where to start ? Crying, dry eyes, palpitations, rage. Frequent urination, yes !

I suspect my peri days are soon to end. My sister who is 3 years older said she only had approx one year of irregular cycles and then *poof*, she was done menstruating. My mother had a similar experience, though she was fully menopausal in her early 40's.

My mother said when she hit menopause she dropped a lot of weight. She was never overweight, and then she became quite thin. If it makes you feel any better she has had tests for osteoporosis and shows no significant bone loss even now that she's in her mid 70's. She's a smoker too, I've always read that smoking makes it worse. So hopefully you too will have little bone loss as you proceed.

I always find it amusing when the women who come to accept menopause get a period months later and are not happy about it ! I remember when I missed mine in Jan and then I had the hot flashes and then I thought I missed the next period, I thought "it's done" and I made peace ... and then I had a light period on Feb 7 and then a full period on Feb 21. :-/ With the periods coming so quickly I can never be without a tampon or pad in my purse, dang it.

If you have your lab numbers and would consider posting them, please do ! There are some measurement nerds in this forum and we love to see the numbers. :-) If you are a measurement nerd too, all the better.

Hi Sandra, I am now finding it sad, and I don't mean in a "woe is me way" that I placed all my symptoms as anxiety, and yet for years it was always Peri, so a lot of what I am reading I have already had. Your story sounds VERY close to mine except the periods part. I do agree with you, I think your days are coming to a close as well with the Peri. Do you have an almost crashing fatigue at times?? I did.....shocking, and would beat myself up over it...and in the past few days I am changing my attitude to "day by day" for now. I hope with all my heart you have an easy as possible transition....crying a LOT was something that happened to me as was sometimes TOTAL insomnia......I sometimes could never go to sleep for 24 hours....and that heralded what I am now hoping so hard is the END.

I got to tell you.....I too will be verrrrry mad if I get a period. I have in a few days reached "accpetance"....it's still a difficult ride, but my attitude is changing....now all I need is AF to show up.

Thank you for telling me about your Mom. She sounds like the type of woman I want to be at that age......and she sounds far more enegetic than I at the moment. Like you, I can also never be without a tampon or pad.....after all....I just never know.....but it better NOT. It gets annoying never knowing...not like before...we always knew. So...I am figuring it is better off gone.

I will post my numbers when I get a copy....I was so shocked and with a strange doctor that I didn't ask for a copy, but I will be seeing my regular Doc this coming week sometime and will get them from him. Yes, I love the numbers...and my Doc knows I do, and always gives me a copy.....I really missed him when all this happened as he really did listen to all my "so-called" anxiety and "illnesses" with a gentle smile......I think now, ignorance was partly bliss.

With that spotting and bleeding you have been having...just beware of iron stores...not just free iron in the blood, as my stores were way down last year from the heavy periods....but I have a feeling you are a really "together" type lady and would think of this....

Thank you so much for your input.....I have come a long way since my first post here, thanks to PS.....

Hugs,
Flushing

My mother is in surprisingly good shape for being 77 (she just turned 77 in Jan). She takes NO medications, can you believe it ? I credit her good health to keeping busy, both mentally and physically, and eating well. She does smoke though, she can't quit.

Thanks for reminding me about iron. I should get an iron supplement. I don't get much iron in my daily eating, I eat very little red meat and am not big on the iron-rich veggies. I do take a multi-vitamin with 100% RDA iron, but I should probably have a little more. Do you know if I took 200% of the RDA every day if that would be harmful ?

Your Mother has it right, I think. I am pushing myself to not get idle and to keep my brain active, and I think there is something to be said for that. OK, she can't stop smoking...but she's 77, healthy and active ...who are we to say she should stop? And NO meds? Ohhhhhh, I think she's doing so well I envy her...and that is how I would wish to be at her age!

About your iron, my Doc tells me to NEVER go over the limit on a continual basis, and if you type in to google "excess iron suplementation" you will find a lot of nasty side effects. I wouldn't take more than the RDA per day. Like you, I am not big on meat eating, so I "did" have to watch my iron when menstruating. Also, my Doc tests not only the free iron, but also the iron stores...and the stores can tell more than the free iron levels. I had bad bad symptoms when my stores were down, yet free iron was within normal range. I think it is worth getting a test for the stores. Anxiety and heart palps were bad with low stores, as was fatigue.

I take none of the vitamin suplements other than calcium, and have just been given some estrogen cream to use intravaginal....very, very mild, and not enough to make a difference in my blood.......just to prevent vaginal atrophy before I get dry.....my doc says a lot can be prevented that way...and this part is worth preventing........typical male to think of this one.

Are you using estradiol or estriol cream ? I have read that estriol cream can help prevent atrophy and does not have the risk of estradiol.. Whether or not this works in practice, I don' t know. I think there are some posts in the forum about this, time for a search. :-)

Thanks for telling me about iron. I will not use more than just my daily multivitamin then. I will ask for iron test next time I am tested.

Definately the Estradiol as he wanted me on the one that is not going to be utilized by my body. I have used it once now, and no burning or stinging...and the little I used externally felt soothing even though I am symptomless "downstairs".....which means, if I don't get bad symptoms from the cream, I can stay healthy that way for many years.......wonder if I can use this on my face??? ....lol

I am glad you are getting an iron test next time....don't forget to ask "iron store" test....if you are down in the stores and even the free, this can cause fatigue and hairloss etc without Peri.......

Despite all my low results of Estrogen, and High FSH......my hair is very thick and shows no signs of falling.....but when the iron stores were down, I was losing hair....it all grew back....and energy came back a little for me....

Sorry Susan....I meant Estriol is the one I am on......not Estradiol .........grrrrrrrr....cannot edit on this forum....

Hi Girls...I found the the title of this thread right on the mark!

I just turned 53 alittle over 1 month ago. Right before my birthday, out of the blue I had 1 week of drenching night sweats.
That went away as fast as it came on me, and then I developed dizziness and nausea. That now comes and goes, and I have started these bone chilling cold flashes, racing heart beat in the middle of the nite (I like to call it sleeping aerobics), and some daytime palps.

So I called up my GYN, as my yearly exam wasn't due til the end of March. She said yes come in and we will do bloodwork. I got the results last week. My FSH is 102!!!!! She said you are definitely menopausal, and consider yourself blessed that you had no peri symptoms.

I had a partial hysterctomy at the age of 38, so I knew my only detection would be symptoms.

Prior to late January, I had no symptoms of any kind. I felt great. Like I always have, and I kept my body in excellent shape thru fitness and healthy diet. So from my perspective it IS totally possible to go from nothing to post meno in a nano second.

Hi Coastergirl, it is nice to have another lady around with similar experience. Your experience closely resembles mine....but like you, I have some of the weird feelings, and some days I seem almost my old self.....if only I slept better.

I have found that the less sleep I get, the worse the roller coaster can be....but like you, all my life I have been conscious to eat well and exercise well, and I wonder if that payed off for us at this time of life? I think so. No weight gain, no hair loss, no depression.....but I do have flashes.....then get a couple of days break and totally enjoy them.

I just hope that I have no period return. !

Did you by any chance have a progesterone check? I did, and my progesterone is quite high, and touch wood; I think that is saving me from having all the palps I used to have........only about 1 big palp ever other day or so......but as I feel a little anxious with the suddeness of all of this, I think that is fairly normal.

I am not sure if with partial hysterectomy whether you still had periods? I did have periods that just got closer together.....then gone!

How do you feel psychologically with the suddenly being told you are Meno without any clue beforehand? I am really feeling this emotionally, but I DO think it is the loss of periods...like grieving.....this will pass.

Thank you for posting your story here.....at times I feel quite alone with the suddeness, but have a determination that this "thing" will not beat me.

I hope you sail through this journey.....

Hugs,
Flushing

________
Viktoria

I am not sure if with partial hysterectomy whether you still had periods? I did have periods that just got closer together.....then gone!

How do you feel psychologically with the suddenly being told you are Meno without any clue beforehand? I am really feeling this emotionally, but I DO think it is the loss of periods...like grieving.....this will pass.

Thank you for posting your story here.....at times I feel quite alone with the suddeness, but have a determination that this "thing" will not beat me.



Hugs,
Flushing

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Viktoria
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Hi Viktoria. No I had my uttie removed, and kept my ovaries. So no periods. I didn't miss that in the least.

Psychologically I feel great. Age doesn't bother me in the least. I view each birthday as a blessing and have never been depressed about one. I don't feel 53, and I'm met constantly with unbelief when I tell someone my age.

Becoming menopausal is just another passage thru life. And I'm grateful for each day I'm given. However......the symptoms that come with meno.....are a pain in the rump....that's for sure. LOL
Other than that, I look at myself in the mirror, and say...."Well you feel like crap today Vick.....but you look just like you did before this started almost 2 months ago.

Just tell yourself that Viktoria, when you start to feel down about it. You haven't lost anything. Your just as young as you were before you were given the news. Try not to let this passage mentally make you feel that your suddenly old.

Hi Vickie, Looks like we are a Victoria and a Viktoria.....

I can see a bit of difference between us in that you had already been well rid of the periods. THAT is the part that affected me the most in a psychological sense. It had nothing to do with "getting old". I have the same problem as you......and often have shown ID to prove my age when I have been totally disbelieved that I really am 49. This doesn't always help with some Docs who look at how young the patient looks and then scowl in confusion at the DOB......my answer to them is an abrupt "yes I am old enough"!!!!!. My regular doc is great and just tells me it is a good genetic pool and healthy nutrition I have kept up all my life, and I think you probably have done the same.

Basically, I seem to be one of those who are grieving her periods...and I hated them....but I had no warnings....and then gone. So it is all about that, and not about aging.....aging has never bothered me at all....and still doesn't.

I think there is a link to my feelings and the yuck feelings of meno.....and as you say....they are a pain in the rump!! I think my worst problem physically is my IBS-C has become worse, and I am working on that more.......eating even more fibre.....I am going to sound like a horse soon.... !

Are you on any HRT? Or cold turkey like me? I am trying to go cold turkey...my doc says I am safe to do so, and if I don't, I will only have to face it sometime down the road even if it is milder..........BUT....if I get all day flashes and palps I will get onto Bio HRT and slow wean off. One day at a time for me. Funny...my palps are almost zero now the period is stopped...and I like that....!

Keep going the way you are going Viickie....you are doing real great, and it helps to chat to others who are similar in how they view this, and how with symptoms we feel this transition.

~Viktoria

Funny, two Victoria/Viktoria's. And both slapped silly by meno out of the blue.

As far as HRT, the answer is no for me. I intend to go thru it naturally, just as my mother did. I do like soy, and I love the Revival Soy bars. I have eaten those for about 5 years. I originally purchased them as a cardio benefit for my dh (who does not eat as healthy as he should), and I tried one and loved it. At the time, I had no idea they were beneficial for hormone health. I just thought they would be a good source of healthy protein.