Hi all. I haven't posted on here in a long time as I have basically been in denial about even being in peri! Yes, it all started right after my beautiful son was born in 1998 when I was 38 (I'll be 48 in May) . I haven't really felt like ME since my son was born and have had the flashes, mood swings , depression, tiredness, off kilter feelings and so on and so forth. I have been having a really hard time this winter with all this cold, wind, snow! There are days I don't feel like doing anything and some of those days I have booked off work (which I can't really afford as I am a single Mom) and laid on the couch all day until it is time to get my son from school! I always tell myself on those days that I am staying home to "get my head together" and that this time it is really going to work--like POW instant cure and I will be ME again! Is this Winter Blues or peri or both? I just want to be ME again!!! I used to be easy going, fun-loving, calm, centered and so on. WHEN will ME return!? It has been 81 days since my last period but I feel like one wants to start -- have felt like this for about 2-3 weeks however. I have went longer than this before -ie- 123 days . I pray to God there is a light at the end of this horrendous tunnel and that ME will someday be here again! Thanks all.

Hi tmnt:

I am sorry you are feeling so blah. This winter has been a rough one for so many people. I am so ready for spring and the weather people just told us more snow tomorrow. EEE gads, when will it end. Anywho, it sounds like you have a combination of the winter blahs and peri. What I have done is get one of those sun lamps. Well, it is a lamp that mimics the sun. I am an artist so I need one anyway so I am under that all day and that helps alot. I also exercise every day. I do the treadmill and yoga and free style weights. I don't do that every day but mix it up some. I know exercise really gets the brain jumping and makes me feel better emotionally. It is rough this peri stuff and then this winter has been really bad. I do hope you start feeling better.

Mopsy

No matter how bad you feel, try hard to eat right and exercise a little bit every day. Everyone says there is light at the end of the tunnel, but sometimes I think my tunnel didn't pay it's electricity bill, and I'm on the highway to Hell. Other times I just keep going in hopes that there will be light. And sometimes I don't care what awaits me at the end of the tunnel, I just want a shorter tunnel so this damn ride can be over!!!

And since there is a huge penalty for stopping your car in a tunnel, you have no choice but to keep going. So turn up the air conditioner, put in your favorite CD, and blast the music while singing at the top of your lungs. It won't shorten your ride, BUT it just MIGHT raise your spirits, if just for the moment.

GREAT ADVICE MOPSY_____I AGREE 100%-----IT"S TRYING TO REMEMBER ALL THE REMEDIES THAT I NEED TO REVIEW.TURN UP THOSE LIGHTS.AND REMEMBER ,CHANGING THE CLOCK WILL BE A BIG BOOST OF SUNLIGHT.

What a great way of putting it. It's true; on the days you don';t feel like doing anything or you feel really bad, to do something positive. God, it's so hard right now. Like a fog and I get so into it that anything else doesn't seem real. Like I could just lose it all together.

I totally agree, a shorter tunnel and shorter ride would be nice. It's just too long. Honestly, I don't get why it takes this long; I know everyone is different and some people go through it quicker but.... I am so tired from exhaustion that I feel disconnected and just don't care about much. Depression too but more than that; I just want some calm; routine, normal. Ha!! Not for awhile.

Great post.

Janv

Tmnt,

I am sorry that you're feeling so bummed right now. I agree that this winter has been blah. I was talking with a co-worker yesterday about how this winter just seems to be hanging on for dear life!

Believe me, I understand how you're feeling because I'm still in peri, too. I guess we just have to hang on to the knowledge that someday we'll feel like ourselves again.

If you try to look on the bright side, though, spring is only a couple weeks away, right? The peri symptoms might stick around, but at least the sun will come out and the days will be warmer.....that's gotta lift your spirits some! Plus, you have that beautiful little boy, right!!

Anyway, I hope you feel better soon!

Take care and God bless,
Deb

Dear tmnt,

I am sick of winter too. If I see one more snowflake, it will be too many!
I am still in my pjs and robe and it is almost 10 am......I didn't feel like getting dressed so far today, so I
really have no advice to give you. The days I need to rest and do little, way outnumber the days I am
productive. Thank goodness for my part time job or who knows if I ever would get going.
Now the "being ME again" part. I hate to tell you, but you will redefine "ME" about a dozen times in the menopause
journey. And maybe you will come full circle back to "ME", but just possibly you will become a different "ME".
And that is okay.
You will probably never look at the world quite the same after this trip.
And that is okay.

Be gentle and caring towards yourself and your son. This is most important right now.

janeann

Hi janeann, it's so true that there is no returning to me as who I was. The whole process is to get to a different level and perception with more awareness. I've been feeling so ugly lately; lots of negative feelings; today I feel good and feel proud that I conquered some fears. I realize after I've gotten through the yucky stuff, that I have to go there and feel it in order to get to where I am. It's like the stuff from the past keeps coming up to be healed.

I have a hard time getting going; getting up is usually okay as the dreams scare me but then getting showered, going out, etc are hard. Routine helps. I try to rest a bit here and there. It's like I'm stressed out and then do something else and totally forget about what was bothering me.

Jan

It always amazes me how a change in the weather can cause such profound changes in our mood. We had a spell here that lasted for a couple of weeks for the temps were above freezing, the snow was starting to melt, the sun was shining brilliantly every day...and I just felt darn glad to be alive! I wanted to get out and do things, and enjoy the lovely weather. It was great! A short reprieve.

Then of course, winter returned, it clouded up, the temps dropped and the snow started falling. It really brings you down after seeing the first signs of spring being right around the corner. I look forward to daylight savings as I will enjoy the extra hour of sunlight in the afternoon and evening. I am sure I could use the Vitamin D!!

Quick note before I get going to work.
The sun is shining here today, but deceiving.....the temps are below zero. And will be for a couple-three days.

Sunshine does brighten the mood though.

I'm off to shower. dress and head to work.

May our days be good ones....may we feel a little bit better.....and may we be headed towards becoming the wonderful
"ME" we are supposed to be.

janeann

I just heard on the weather that we might hit near 50 degrees next week. Lets hope spring is actually coming now and we will get more and more nice weather. This winter has been one for the books and I hope we don't get as much snow this coming winter. I think Wisconsin got a total of 91 inches so far. Of course, that depends where you are in Wisconsin but where I live that is what we got. The good news is it is great for the ground water and the water tables for the lakes.

Ok, spring, we are all waiting.

Mopsy

We had an harsher than normal winter too this year. Today, however, the sun came out, it reached about 45F (8C) and it was sweater weather! No need for the heavy winter parka....granted it was a little messy as the snow was melting rapidly...but who cares!!! It was glorious to be able to be outside again!! Spring is definitely on its way!!