I'm so tired of all this.... and I know that I'm not alone in this, I know that many of you girls are just like me, but don't you just get so tired of it????
I cry anymore over anything. Parts of my body, not everyday, but most feels just like its on fire and it radiated to different parts of my body.....
Now my chest is broke out in a rash, heat bumps It looks awful, My neck stays red all the time, can someone explain this to me... I have tried different creams on my neck but nothing seems to help.
My sleep patterns for the most part "stink" I'm always worrying and sometimes I have no idea what I'm worrying over, Sometimes the fear is over-whelming.....just like I'm waiting for the a axe to drop any minute......
Sometimes I have the most irrational thoughts, I get so angry at myself for this, and I think I'm only 40 years old, I'm just starting these crazy hormonal things, what's it going to be like later on......
Lord if only I would have really listened to my mother, I think about what she went through, the poor thing could not even ride in a car, she would get very panicy and my Dad would have to stop the car several times and she would have to get out and walk. She would cry all the time, and I would sit quitely and wonder to my self why she was suffering this way.... I have found through all this that I have a new-found respect for my mother, and she went through it for 10 years without any kind of hormones, only nerve medication and even that didn't take it all away..
I remember her saying she was dying and now I truly understand what she was talking about, now my teen-age daughter has to listen to me, and she tries to understand.
My husband is disabled and his condition is getting worst, and I'm so afraid for him but I don't never let him know that, I try to be strong for him and my children, but Ladies I have to be totally honest I feel like sometimes that I'm so weak.
I hate to complain because I know that there is so many things that could be worst than this....

I appreciate this board, You Ladies have truly been a blessing to me

I know what you mean I am 39 and started this last october at 38 i look around and think this shouldnt be happening to me at my age i thought life began at forty, i hate anyone i see who seems happy and radiant around my age. always wondering why arent they feeling as bad as me. I know its awful thinking like that but i cant seem to help it.
I have had the awful symptoms: mood swings were terrible i cried for nothing i shouted at my husband over silly things, how he put up with me I never know. night sweats were i kicked the duvet of then dragged it back on again. palps i had never experienced before so scary. dizzy ligtheads that last weeks my worst of all. periods coming and going as they like, and my sex drive disapeared altogether. anxiety for no reason i can think of sometimes i hate being a female, i just hope i started early and finish early when everyone else starts theres i shall be happily sorted, thats the only thing that keeps me going,

Mine started two months before I turned 39, and yes I tried to find a positive, I keep saying well maybe I will get it over with earlier than some do.....
But, you know I'm thankful for many things, some people never live to see 40, I'm thankful that I'm able to walk outside, so many can't do that..
I guess sometimes if we can just see the good and not all the bad, it helps....
I get dizzy and lightheaded too, I'm not having the night sweats yet, and you did notice I said yet. For those around you that seem happy and radiant, are proably having different sets of problems.
I know what you mean by having thoughts of hating being a female, one night I told my husband "sometimes I wished I would have been born with a "penis", but then you have to worry about prostate issues.
But The Lord said "he would not put no more on us than we could bare" just hang in there.... These ladies on this board will help us, they have been a tremendous help to me.

Hi. I'm so sorry for both of you, that your symptoms are severe, and have started so early for you. Its no fun for me, but women of my age - if they are parents - are usually seeing the children out the door. You're trying to be sane and strong whilst your undergoing a dreadful ordeal. Can't be good.
Do you have some one to talk to, a vicar or councillor? Sometimes a sympathetic ear can be a lifesaver. There is, of course, us, but one - on - one with a trusted friend in the flesh is even better. On a more practical note:

"Now my chest is broke out in a rash, heat bumps It looks awful, My neck stays red all the time, can someone explain this to me... I have tried different creams on my neck but nothing seems to help."

Try taking 1/2 or even 1/4 aspirin after meals, esp on those hot days. it might reduce the redness, or prevent it from becoming permanent. Also, ask your doctor at your next visit if you're developing rosacea. Tetracycline ointment - not penicillin, can help prevent and reduce the redness. Can't hurt to ask. And consider anti-depressants. I don't know where you are on hormonal treatments, but if you're opposed to them, ADs can level out your mindset, help with the tears and reduce the flushing.

hope that helps.

SDBlue,

Crying is a sure sign that I let my estrogen get too low. If I apply a small dose of estradiol to my skin I can feel better and stop crying in less than an hour. Yesterday on day 2 of my cycle my husband said something to me that should not have caused me any distress. Instead I started getting tears. I applied a small amount of estradiol to my neck and temples and within an hour I no longer felt weepy. The first few days of my cycle my estrogen drops really low and I get headaches and become tearful. I am still figuring out how much estrogen to take and sometimes I do not take enough during this time but at least I know—tears mean I need more estrogen and taking more estrogen helps soooo much.

Have you ever had your hormone levels tested? Blood testing for estradiol and thyroid (including antibodies) may shed some light on your problem. If you find that your estrogen is too low, supplementing with a low dose could make a huge difference. If you are truly tired of feeling bad getting tested and treated can make a huge difference in your life.

I have a new book (for me) that goes into the appropriate tests to ask for and also talks about low dose estrogen. “You’re Not Crazy, It’s Your Hormones” by Larrian Gillespie. I have many hormone books but this is one of the easiest to read and understand. I would highly recommend it.

I understand about your mother not wanting to get in a car. I used to have the same problem; I would get anxiety and panic in the car and was having trouble driving. Now that I am taking my hormones I no longer have this problem.

Kathy

They have already tested my thyroid, I also had a Vaginal Ultra sound done, both were fine. I take birth control pills, My aunt died of female cancer so the gyn. was a little hesitant to give me hormones. However I may ask to have my estradiol tested. The b.c. pills have helped some even with my emotions, but from what I have read even taking hormones doesn't completely take all the symptoms away.... but it makes them more manageable.
I'm truly trying to help myself, but once in a while it helps to come here and talk about your frustrations, I'm sure you understand what I'm talking about. I may even try to order the book you mentioned.
Thanks for your advice
And God Bless

I'm so sorry you have to deal with this. It's really hard. I'm very perimenopausal and have all kinds of symptoms that are well,just strange. The other day I swore I was having a heart attack because of palpitations that I've never had in my life. It passed but I didn't like it.. Strange periods that are too long or barely there,irritability,anxiety,night sweats,hot flashes,headaches, and the list goes on. It can be tough. I haven't had the crying jags but I know many women who have and one who even had to go on antidepressants to feel better. Hang in there and no that you're definitely not alone.

Hi SDBlue

Sometimes birth control pills do not give you enough estrogen and you can feel terrible because your level is too low. Getting an estradiol test I think is a good idea.

Dr. Vliet has a revised and updated “It’s My Ovaries, Stupid” book that talks about birth control pills and the best ones to take in peri. Some of the birth control pill have so much progesterone that it can overwhelm the estrogen and make us feel bad plus some are just too low in estrogen. If you are not already on one that she recommends, you may feel better if you switch one she recommends.

Your GYN IS giving you hormones. Birth control pills are hormones.

It may be safer to take human estradiol and human progesterone rather than the strong synthetic estrogen and progestin in your BCPs (if you do not need the BCP for pregnancy prevention). Reading the “It’s My Ovaries” and “You’re Not Crazy” books will explain the difference in the hormones and why human hormones may be better for you. If you read the book, you will be able to make an informed decision for yourself rather than relying on your doctor.

With birth control pills if the dose is off and you have side effects, you are stuck with the dose but if you take low dose estradiol treatment that Vliet and Gillespie recommend you can fine tune your dose so that you can feel better.

Vliet’s books talk about the studies regarding the safety of hormones. If you understand what the studies really say it will be much easier to make an informed decision. The media hypes things up and often does not report correctly. Doctor’s are not always aware of what the studies really say.

For your doctor to say that she does not want to give you hormones and then gives you birth control pills (which are strong synthetic hormones and hormone like drugs) does not make sense to me.

Reading the two books I think would be very helpful to you. At least then when the doctor says, I do not want to give you hormones and hands you a pack of birth control pills, you will be able to identify the irony and make an informed decision.

Good luck, I hope you feel better.

Kathy

Where can I find that book???? Sounds very interesting.

Thanks for Everything

I ordered mine on Amazon.com. Her other book "Screaming to be heard" is also really good.

Yes, I get this too. I will all of a sudden start crying in the shower or tub. I don't have anyone to talk to this about because my husband is going through job stress, we are trying to relocate and things in my life are not 'peachy.'

I get rashes on my chest. I get weird, weird pains all of a suddenly...like a gallbladder attack..I have to take a motrin then and there or suffer...

I am just 41 and the worst to me are the flooding periods and killer headaches/vomiting/headaches.
I won't take any bc pills (they are not my cup of tea).
I look about 35 yet feel older most days thanks to peri..

At least we are here for each other.