I recently took a neuropsychology test.I was told to return and take another one after amy bleeding totally stopped.I am presently going through "the countdown".He said that going through the "pause" could affect the score.He wants to compare the two scores after I have another one done.What do you think?can this really affect a score? How many of you are going through "peri" or "post".I have seen both here,Do things ever get better?I did not know that symtoms could continue for some time---is that true?My experiece has been" a couple of weeks with many side effects and then feel fine for a few weeks until it statrs again.Would love to hear your opinions.

I am in peri,and have periods of time when I feel almost like myself,two to three weeks,then all of a sudden I feel awful again.Everyone is different,and the time we go through this is different as well.I hope that you find peace and relief.GODbless.

Libby,

I am 47 and have had no period for 8 months now. If I get through the next 4 without a period, I will be considered post. And I am quite young to be post, but not unheard of or unnaturally young. My peri phase was ok...I felt many of the symptoms looking backward from this moment...but as I was experiencing I didn't make the connection on many of the symptoms. And no doctor even asked about my cycle either during that time...which is odd looking back. I would say in all honestly I haven't felt consistantly great since I was 37. I had some periods of feeling great for weeks at a time sometimes, but not consistantly. Since the periods stopped has been the hardest....the anxiety, depression and panic caught me completely off guard! I didn't see that one coming!

I definitely don't think as fast on my feet as I used to, and my memory used to be sharp as a tack...now I forget things. I would think if I did a test prior to my periods stopping and now....I would have done much better then!! I am also a firm believer in hormone replacement, many are not here and everybody must do as they feel is right. If my pancreas stopped working, I would take insulin, if my thyroid quit working I would take thyroid hormones...so for me, if my ovaries quit working I will take hormones. For me it has become quality over quantity, because honestly if I had to feel crappy and stupid for the rest of my life, I think I would prefer to be dead.

Kathie

h-e-l-l-o good morning---thats how i feel all day.Foggy headed,Duh,I can;t remember a simple,or a single recipe that I;ve made for years, verything takes a year and a day to accomplish,When I tell a friend how I feel she says"Oh' its nothing,I haven't remembered anything since day one"---I am not sure what I was like before.Does it ever go away?my cognutive skills are way down .that I AM AWARE OF-----any comments or advice?

I started taking Paxil for my anxiety and panic and feel so much better it is amazing! My memory seems some better, but honestly not like it was before. I often find myelf half way down the hall and stop, thinking what was I coming down here for? And I can't remember....or I will set my car keys down some place and won't recall where I put them.

Today....I had to go to the court house and I swear to you I could not remember where it was!! It was stupid! I have been living in this small town for 30 years and today I couldn't remember where the court house was, to the point where I almost phone my husband to ask him!! thankfully I did recall where it was eventually but my goodness did I feel like an idiot!!

Kathie

Thanksfor your comments,Are you at all concerned about your situation?I keep"floating" back and forth and then wonder if I imagined"not remembering".My kids say"I thought you said you didn;t remember?"I seems like I have selective memory.

Libby,

I don't let myself worry about it too much. Although forgetting where the courthouse was, that was kind of scary really. But overall I just take it as it comes. I seem to manage to function and get through the day, as long as I am doing that, all is good.

I am blaming it on hormones and figure it will straighten itself out eventually.

Kathie

hi----after today,I wonder "do we ever go back to our cognitive former selves???????Without taking hormones or other meds or hormones?I was going to write this in the "what were you before menopause" but decided to post it here.Does anyone know?Today was a real foggy and full of fatigue.Before I turned around,it's time to go to sleep.I put on timers to remind me to do something,now if I could only figure out what it is that I wanted to remember.Its really scaring me.I am sure that I can find some good help by "spying out the PS message boards'--but I would appreciate some quick fixes and encouragement here.Take care.Libby

You can try checking my reply on the thread "Need thyroid help again" and see my little list....they did not help me much but perhaps they will help you! I am foggy and some days really FUZZY and DRUNK and other days SOOOO fatigued....can't keep up with it...I think it is amazing how well we ladies DO COPE with all of this on a dairly basis! Joan

i did go to a verypopular endo when I thought that might be my problem---he checked my neck and said i did not have a thyroid problem---the thing that really concerns me is "will this ever end.?

Hi Libby

I can totally sympathize with what you are experiencing. I too need to know how long we have to put up with these horrible symptoms. I have been suffering for 18 months and I am soooo sick of the constant visits to the doctor, changes in medication and all the crappy side effects. I am currently taking an antidepressant (Avanza), Seroquel for anxiety and an HRT medication called Livial (tibolone). (Am in Australia, so names might be different) I have tried 2 other HRT meds & other SSRIs but both caused severe anxiety/panic. So far nothing has really helped, although the Avanza and Seroquel do help me sleep. Apart from that, all they have managed to do is increase my weight (Oh JOY!).

My worst symptoms are brain fog, especially in the morning and early evening - can hardly think straight. Feel spaced out and woozy like I have had too much to drink (but without the pleasant effect) Have trouble with S/T memory, spelling, talking fluently, mental arithmatic. Have real trouble concentrating and focussing - find reading and typing difficult. If I read for too long, I start to not be able to comprehend anything. I do stupid things like get out my work ID tag to open my car door or get my son's names mixed up (would be OK except one is 11 yo and the other is 32!) Am always forgetting something when I leave the house. Find getting the family ready in the mornings has become sooo difficult - I am just so disorganised and easily distracted! All of this makes me incredibly anxious and jittery which I think just makes me more scatterbrained- a real vicious circle. I also experience strange feelings like I am losing my identity or I feel like everything and everyone else is mentally "fuzzy" or out of focus and I feel a bit disoriented and confused about where I am or what I'm supposed to be doing. I keep wanting to blink in order to clear my sight, but I don't think it is actually my vision which is the problem. When I am really bad, I feel that my eyes are popping out of my head, my whole face feels hot and I have a feeling of pressure across the bridge of my nose. Yet, funnily enough I do manage to do whatever it is and keep going, but the mental effort is just so exhausting! For this reason, I am doing a lot less than I used to do and need a lot more rest in between activities. Funnily enough I sometimes find it easier to concentrate on something more mentally complex - like a problem at work, than when I am trying to do something really simple like make a cup of tea! Perhaps because I have to force myself to focus. I also find I have much less tolerance of others and sometimes feel so angry over the most trivial things. - I get scared that I will lose it one day and just start yelling at people in the street!

The doctor keeps reassuring me that I am suffering from anxiety/depression and the effects of peri (I am 50 yo with irregular periods which are often heavy and prolonged)and that it is a matter of trial and error in finding the right medications. Trouble is I am now a hypocondriac and am sure I have dementia, MS or some other serious brain disorder (had CT scan - was normal). Surely these symptoms cannot be just due to hormone inbalance and why isn't the AD making me feel better if I am suffering from depression??

Would greatly appreciate any advice, reassurance from other women who have experienced this. Sorry about the length of this post, but I do get very lonely as none of my own friends have had anything this bad. A couple of times I have just broken down and wept most of the day because it all gets too much to bear.

Capricorn Dancer

Dear Capricorn,

Just about all the feelings you are having sound so familiar to me. The foggy thinking and everything are symptoms of peri and I know it can be unnerving. I actually went to my doctor last summer and told her I was losing my mind. She had the therapist give me an oral test, asking different questions, and they assured me I was not going crazy or losing my mind. I was anxious, overly tired from never sleeping, and was also going through peri. She prescribed a very low dose of Buspar for the anxiety. I haven't had the fogginess so much in the last year even though I'm still in peri, but I still take the Buspar. Thankfully, I no longer have much trouble sleeping either.

I know it's really hard when you're going through it, but remember that it's all a part of peri and you're really going to be okay. You'll get through this, and you're not alone because we're all here for you.

Take care, Deb

To all of us who are having this awful foggy, drunk lighthead "head" thing.....three cheers for coming this far and somehow getting through the day, and somehow taking care of our family and all the little extras we have to do....It IS SO HARD...but we do it...don't you think that we are incredibly strong?! I guess Hillary is through meno...can you imagine running for president in this state?!

Slowbear-

That is so funny about Hilary........Yes, we're doing it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But wow, it's a doozy.

Capricorn,

You are the one person I have seen post here who seems to have the same symptoms I had prior to taking hormone replacement. The only difference is I sailed through peri taking nothing and the first 6 years after my last period on just soy and St. John's wort--then it hit me like a ton of bricks. I was actually wondering if I'd had a stroke--I was such a mess.

Since I've been on estradiol B17 patch and prometrium it has very gradually gotten better. I'm still not there yet--but close. I'd say about 90% better. I'm hoping the improvement doesn't stop until I'm completely the old Miss Tibbs that I knew and (apparently) loved.

Before I went on the patch, I used vaginal estriol for a month. I swear I felt the brain fog starting to barely lift--then I went on the patch and stopped using the estriol. I have wondered what would happen if I used the vaginal estriol AND the patch--but don't want to screw up my uterine lining by making it get thick.

I'm so very sorry that you are feeling this way. I know what sheer hell it is. Perhaps you should tell your doc. Perhaps he could tweak your HRT. I've been using it since March 2007--and have felt improvement.

Miss Tibbs

P.S. I've wondered about Hillary too. I HOPE she's been through meno.

Maybe the Hilary joke is nor as funny as it seems,After all she's still in the race.I always thought that the way I felt or feel,does not need any assurance from anyone else,but I must say,that hearing your feelings does indeed help.Maybe "misery does love company".Not being able to read or do many of the things that were so easy and interesting to to at one time,especially the things that wre helpful and calming to "take my mind off it" gets harder and harder.If I know that there a lighy at the end of the tunnel--that would be a great help.Many people look to me for advice,and I wonder "why would they be asking me"?I enjoyed your answers and feel much better,Any other advice would be appreciated.I don't mean eating ice cream.Thanks

I'm very concerned. I used to laugh at that saying, "Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most." Now I don't think it's funny.

Forgot to mention one thing I am doing to try and regain my sharpness--I do the puzzles in the paper every morning. The crosswords are the hardest for me. I usually get them Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs. But Fri, and Sat are a crap shoot. Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't (they get harder as the week goes on.) I rarely get Sun but at least I keep trying.

When I first started doing this, I was terrible. Sometimes I couldn't do a Monday puzzle. Since then I have improved and we started subscribing to the NY Times mainly so I could try harder puzzles--but the news coverage is good too--much better than our local paper--and of course all of the Arts stuff is fun to read about. I haven't gotten so I can read a book again, though. I can't concentrate--forget what I've read--it isn't fun anymore--it's more like work.

I often wonder why I have improved. Is it me? or is it the estrogen? Perhaps I would have improved anyway when I went on HRT.

Miss Tibbs

hi--have you read my message ,I think it was on novemer fourth?You can check it with my name on it.I was also told to do crossword puzzless,etc to keep my cognitive systems goingand to keep sharp,When I don't get theanswer I go into a frenzy.Now I know why there isspell check,Any other ideas from anyone to help keep us sharp.?I recently made a batch of holiday cookies,I really did follow the recipe,but I would not dare share them with anyone,Bakery here I come,If someone would have told me this could happen I would never have believed them.The fact that I cannot do many of the things to help me keep my mind off it---do you really thing meni is the reason?

Dear Deb
Thanks so much for your encouraging words. It is good to know there are women out there who have come through this and eventually had improvement in their symptoms. I think I would cope much better if only I could be sure that this was a temporary condition. I was also given an oral test by my doctor to reassure me that I wasn't going crazy, but the doubts still keep on in the back of my mind. At the moment I am trying to be a bit more proactive and learning various yoga and relaxation techniques to calm myself and help my cognitive processes. I am also considering acupuncture. I would be interested to hear of any other useful alternative treatments as I will try ANYTHING at this point to get some relief.

Thanks again and I hope you continue to feel better.

Capricorn Dancer

Hi Miss Tibbs

Thanks for that advice. It is very encouraging to hear of any treatment that has worked. How long were you on the patch before you started to feel better? I have only been taking my current HRT for a few days and the doctor said to give it at least 6 weeks. If things don't improve after that I will definitely ask about a patch,as I have heard that this does help a lot of women. Trouble is we all seem to be so different and what works for one seems to have no effect on someone else.

How come our mothers never told us about all this?? Mine certainly didn't - she reckons she had no symptoms at all. Funny though I remember her being pretty loopy at times. I remeber once she complained that she couldn't get an audio cassette into the slot in the cassette player. It didn't occur to her that she needed to take it out of the box first!!!

Might be useful if Hillary was going through meno. She might advocate some extra funding for research - it is sorely needed!

Hope you continue to improve.

Cheers

Capricorn Dancer

Hi Miss Tibbs

Thanks for that advice. It is very encouraging to hear of any treatment that has worked. How long were you on the patch before you started to feel better? I have only been taking my current HRT for a few days and the doctor said to give it at least 6 weeks. If things don't improve after that I will definitely ask about a patch,as I have heard that this does help a lot of women. Trouble is we all seem to be so different and what works for one seems to have no effect on someone else.

How come our mothers never told us about all this?? Mine certainly didn't - she reckons she had no symptoms at all. Funny though I remember her being pretty loopy at times. I remeber once she complained that she couldn't get an audio cassette into the slot in the cassette player. It didn't occur to her that she needed to take it out of the box first!!!

Might be useful if Hillary was going through meno. She might advocate some extra funding for research - it is sorely needed!

Hope you continue to improve.

Cheers

Capricorn Dancer

My favourite topic, I have had all this although i have had the crappiest year ever so far.... my mother used to pass out, with hers, i was so glad it never happened to me, then the other night, ok I did a stupid thing, i had a curry then ontop of the curry i had a chocolate bar, not a good combination i realised soon afterwards, my stomach hurt, then i felt sick , i worked myself into such a frenzy as i hate being sick i thought i would pass out, the sweat was pouring of me, the funny thing was when i relaxed it all went away, and i havent touched a bar of chocloate since. I did worry myself to death all week incase i had it again,
Why do we get so anxious all the time, i am turning into a total hypercondriac i havent spelt that right either, but you know what i mean, its like i am looking for things wrong that others wouldnt have noticed, people say i need to stop worrying and looking for things wrong and enjoy life, a vicious circle here, how can you enjoy life when you worry,
An example: For a year I worried I had a brain tumour caused by a bang on the head, wasnt knocked out but convinced here, then i start to worry less about that, and find something else to replace that.
My son had a chest infection and bad cold he drank alot of ribena is that how you spell it, anyway coughed up in the loo and didnt flush i went to the loo never looked then noticed it was in the toilet after i had been convinced then i have blood from my bottom. after checking daily for two weeks, convinced myself it isnt me, instead i notice my poo sorry to be graphic, has a bit of mucus in it, so what do i do google it until i am sure i have cancer, i dont have it all the time, but what i dont tell myself is, i have been under alot of stress lately, i havent been eating properly, so of course it will reflect there also, my father died i had money worries, christmas is coming need i go on, why do we torture ourselves over every health issue available, they are right i am looking for things, my husband was like how did you notice that, maybe i am just going plan old mad, or maybe i was always mad, i wish i could just relax more and stop it, this i hope goes soon,
take care sorry to be so graphic here but i feel so much better airing my stupidity
x

Hi all. It's been a long time and I wanted to see how everone was doing. I still have the woozy, fuzzy, dizzy-like feeling, along with headaches and I'm very tired. I haven't worked in a while. Since this is not an option, I applied for a job the other day that I think I can do like this because it is sitting a lot more than regular nursing.

Anyway, I have had every test, blood test, etc. If you look at me and read the tests, you will find that no one in the world is healthier. HA! I feel awful most of the time. I also get PVCs a bunch. Yesterday I finally went to the movies. I enjoyed the first 3/4. Then I had PVCs so bad I had to scootch around in my chair the rest of the time. And they don't usually scare me much!

The head thing is letting up a bit. I find I have ups and downs. Before it was constant, now it is sometimes okay. That is a good sign. When I get stressed, it definitely comes on full force so I KNOW stress hormones are playing a big part.

I started seeing a doc that uses applied kinesiology. I'll try anything. I get my plan of care on the 2nd. I am hopeful. I also talked to a guy friend who went through these symptoms and swears by a certain product. That is another reaason why I sometimes wonder if this is menopause or menopause just makes it worse. We'll never know, but I am determined to get better. I want my life back!

I can tell you this: As bad as I get cognitively, I still am a great test taker and inteviewer. I don't get it.

Hi Rita, good to hear from you! I am checking in here...I don't know if you read any other threads but I have been going through some very tough times for the "head" problem....today, after about 4 weeks or more of really, really, really (one more) REALLY awful head, I am feeling a bit better now at 11:00pm...if I do feel a bit better it is usually around this time! If you find anything that works for you let us know...I don't know what the kinesoliogy is but I bet I can't get that where I live!

The holidays are hard...added stress even when it is good and fun stress is still stress...and yes, as you noticed, any little bit does make the symptoms much worse...sometime I am sooooooo discouraged....I am so thankful for this board....it does really, really help to know that I am not alone in this...it is an awful feeling to think that you are the ONLY one experiencing this and that there is no hope...but this board helps take that fear away...and one day...all will be better....Honelty, I don't ever want to minimize anyone's symptoms...we all suffer in many different ways, But I often wonder if hot flashes or anything else might be preferable to this awaful head....hope you get good treatment! Joan

i have been taking ginko biloba and ginseng for the past... umm.. i think it's been a year now, or thereabouts... either my own problem with vagueness, forgetfulness, and general all round 'fog' has resolved itself with a better diet and dedication to exercise, or the ginko is working... i am also playing more puzzle games, words games etc on the pc.. 'use it or lose it' !! i am definitely better than i was. the days of getting into the car and sitting looking at the open garage door and wondering what was wrong with that, is over... i know to close and lock that garage door without thinking about it now!

no... sorry... i would prefer a foggy head to the constant hot flushes i have been having lately... really.

I wish my foggy head was just a matter of forgetting things or just not thinking too clearly...unfortunately it is not...for me it is like waking up from anethesia or beingDRUNK ALL THE TIME....it is like TV snow in my brain ...it is very, very very, very PHYSICAL in my head physical.....drunk all the time is not a great feeling....on the other hand I am a very cheap date as I don't need to drink..............you can see that today I am feeling a bit better or I would not be able to joke about this at all! Happy New Year everyone!

joan,

we are sisters in the fog. i am having some clearance today, at least for the moment. hoping we sail into the new year in clear heads.

ellen

A mystery to me, is why I had that problem for 6 months pre meno and for about a year afterwards but now the memory is back to normal. I used to get into my car outside the house, purposefully and confidently, put the key in the ignition..then have to go back indoors until I remembered where I was going. Couldn't often remember own phone number. I have one friend who when the memory problem was at it's worst, one day was very glad that her daughter was with her, because she had forgotten her address and how to get home. Her, memory is back to normal now. . .no problems at all. So..why does it all go weird..and then return to normal ? Does anyone know ?