My history:
A year ago I missed a couple of periods. Since then I have been having some night sweats (no sweats but I wake up, feel a wave pass through me and feel hot for a few minutes). Dr tested my estrogen late in my cycle and it was high and vagina seeemed fine. Went back a while later for vaginal discharge and different dr said vagina was dry and looking like I would enter menopause soon.
This month has been horrible. I had a 16 day cycle and then a 28 day cycle and bled, spotted, for 12 days, not uncommon with me this past year. Then I had some night sweats again every night for a week, up to 3 a night, and with a couple of them horrible palpitations that lasted a few hours, fast heartbeat, feelings of dread and thumpy heart. They stopped but then I had a second bout and now I feel it during the day off an on. I have been getting a bit of heartburn, depression and some other symptoms. I'm at day 28 now and feeling my breasts are a bit sore and maybe a period brewing down the track.
My question is I am due to see the dr again next week for results of blood tests and holter heart monitor. I think it is my hormones.
I am reluctant to start HRT unless neccessary.I don't like to take anything if I don't have to. I think it will make it more real if I am on HRT too, I'm a bit in denial as I feel too young! I can't take the pill because of migraine.
If every month is like this one though I can't hack it, it has been horrible and affecting my life. Remedies I have tried have been walking more cutting down on alcohol, I've also bought some calcium and fish oil. I am only 43 and I feel like hormones would be good not just for symptom control but as a good option for my bones and heart health as I am starting so (relatively) young.
Has anyone controlled symptoms with progesterone? Is this a good option? Does it help with dry vagina (Not sure if I have this or if it fluctuates during the cycle, and I have an estriol cream prescription but haven't tried that yet.) I did take it for 18 months years ago for endo (to preserve fertility) and tolerated it well though I lost a lot of weight and had no sex drive. I think that was a much higher dose.
I would love some advice from people who have gone the HRT route. I would like to have some info for when I see the doc and I really would like to try the least invasive route. I haven't discussed bios with her yet (she is a great doc but very forthright, I'm sure she will have an opinion). I worry too that I won't tolerate it as I don't tolerate the pill.
Thanks in advance for your help
whoops, managed to post this twice. if anyone knows how to delete one 
It does sound like your hormones. Welcome to the peri club! Depending on the results of your blood test there are several routes you could consider. Try the natural route and increase phytoestrogens in your diet ie. flaxseed (ground), soy etc. or even supplement formulas that include these and vitex angus castas (chaste berry) and see how you go. If diet and supplements don't work perhaps low dose bioidenticals to balance your hormones, depending if you are particularly deficient in any of them. I sympathise as you may have to experiment to find what works for you and it is'nt easy at this time as during the transition hormones can fluctuate quite a bit for some of us.
QUOTE (Rehma @ Sep 8 2008, 12:58 PM) 
It does sound like your hormones. Welcome to the peri club! Depending on the results of your blood test there are several routes you could consider. Try the natural route and increase phytoestrogens in your diet ie. flaxseed (ground), soy etc. or even supplement formulas that include these and vitex angus castas (chaste berry) and see how you go. If diet and supplements don't work perhaps low dose bioidenticals to balance your hormones, depending if you are particularly deficient in any of them. I sympathise as you may have to experiment to find what works for you and it is'nt easy at this time as during the transition hormones can fluctuate quite a bit for some of us.
Hi Rehma,
Thanks for your input. From reading here I can see that the fluctuations would make it hard to supplement. I understand more why some people have trouble with HRT at this time. The best I can see about the fluctuations is that maybe next month won't be so hard!! I will look into the natural alternatives too.
Thanks :-)
QUOTE (purpleflowr @ Sep 8 2008, 07:26 AM)
My history:
A year ago I missed a couple of periods. Since then I have been having some night sweats (no sweats but I wake up, feel a wave pass through me and feel hot for a few minutes). Dr tested my estrogen late in my cycle and it was high and vagina seeemed fine. Went back a while later for vaginal discharge and different dr said vagina was dry and looking like I would enter menopause soon.
This month has been horrible. I had a 16 day cycle and then a 28 day cycle and bled, spotted, for 12 days, not uncommon with me this past year. Then I had some night sweats again every night for a week, up to 3 a night, and with a couple of them horrible palpitations that lasted a few hours, fast heartbeat, feelings of dread and thumpy heart. They stopped but then I had a second bout and now I feel it during the day off an on. I have been getting a bit of heartburn, depression and some other symptoms. I'm at day 28 now and feeling my breasts are a bit sore and maybe a period brewing down the track.
My question is I am due to see the dr again next week for results of blood tests and holter heart monitor. I think it is my hormones.
I am reluctant to start HRT unless neccessary.I don't like to take anything if I don't have to. I think it will make it more real if I am on HRT too, I'm a bit in denial as I feel too young! I can't take the pill because of migraine.
If every month is like this one though I can't hack it, it has been horrible and affecting my life. Remedies I have tried have been walking more cutting down on alcohol, I've also bought some calcium and fish oil. I am only 43 and I feel like hormones would be good not just for symptom control but as a good option for my bones and heart health as I am starting so (relatively) young.
Has anyone controlled symptoms with progesterone? Is this a good option? Does it help with dry vagina (Not sure if I have this or if it fluctuates during the cycle, and I have an estriol cream prescription but haven't tried that yet.) I did take it for 18 months years ago for endo (to preserve fertility) and tolerated it well though I lost a lot of weight and had no sex drive. I think that was a much higher dose.
I would love some advice from people who have gone the HRT route. I would like to have some info for when I see the doc and I really would like to try the least invasive route. I haven't discussed bios with her yet (she is a great doc but very forthright, I'm sure she will have an opinion). I worry too that I won't tolerate it as I don't tolerate the pill.
Thanks in advance for your help
A year ago I missed a couple of periods. Since then I have been having some night sweats (no sweats but I wake up, feel a wave pass through me and feel hot for a few minutes). Dr tested my estrogen late in my cycle and it was high and vagina seeemed fine. Went back a while later for vaginal discharge and different dr said vagina was dry and looking like I would enter menopause soon.
This month has been horrible. I had a 16 day cycle and then a 28 day cycle and bled, spotted, for 12 days, not uncommon with me this past year. Then I had some night sweats again every night for a week, up to 3 a night, and with a couple of them horrible palpitations that lasted a few hours, fast heartbeat, feelings of dread and thumpy heart. They stopped but then I had a second bout and now I feel it during the day off an on. I have been getting a bit of heartburn, depression and some other symptoms. I'm at day 28 now and feeling my breasts are a bit sore and maybe a period brewing down the track.
My question is I am due to see the dr again next week for results of blood tests and holter heart monitor. I think it is my hormones.
I am reluctant to start HRT unless neccessary.I don't like to take anything if I don't have to. I think it will make it more real if I am on HRT too, I'm a bit in denial as I feel too young! I can't take the pill because of migraine.
If every month is like this one though I can't hack it, it has been horrible and affecting my life. Remedies I have tried have been walking more cutting down on alcohol, I've also bought some calcium and fish oil. I am only 43 and I feel like hormones would be good not just for symptom control but as a good option for my bones and heart health as I am starting so (relatively) young.
Has anyone controlled symptoms with progesterone? Is this a good option? Does it help with dry vagina (Not sure if I have this or if it fluctuates during the cycle, and I have an estriol cream prescription but haven't tried that yet.) I did take it for 18 months years ago for endo (to preserve fertility) and tolerated it well though I lost a lot of weight and had no sex drive. I think that was a much higher dose.
I would love some advice from people who have gone the HRT route. I would like to have some info for when I see the doc and I really would like to try the least invasive route. I haven't discussed bios with her yet (she is a great doc but very forthright, I'm sure she will have an opinion). I worry too that I won't tolerate it as I don't tolerate the pill.
Thanks in advance for your help
Dear purpleflower
What a pretty name!We have a rare flower here in The Middle East called The Purple Iris.
Anyway,can really empathise with what you are going through as started early Menopause at 39.I did go on HRT and am very pleased with results.However,it is not for everyone and there are a lot of herbs and natural supplements that maybe used instead and with success,according to many of the ladies on this site..I know it is hard when things begin to "Change" early on but come here and post often for advice or just comfort.We all understand.
Best Wishes
Elzabeth
Dear purpleflower,
I too can really empathize with what you are experiencing.
There is a lot of collective wisdom on this site. By day's end I am sure you will have many ideas for strategies to feel better.
I wish you relief from your symptoms.
Warm regards,
Marcy
I too can really empathize with what you are experiencing.
There is a lot of collective wisdom on this site. By day's end I am sure you will have many ideas for strategies to feel better.
I wish you relief from your symptoms.
Warm regards,
Marcy
Thank you both for your kind words, I really appreciate your answers.
purpleflower (I agree, very pretty name!)
I could never tolerate the Pill, it made me nauseas, gain weight and feel generally awful. Although admittedly the dosage in the Pill way back then was a lot higher than they are these days. I haven't taken the pill in well over 20 years.
I tried an OTC progesterone cream several years ago, when I was sure I was in peri, I would have been around 40 - 42. I really didn't notice it helped particularly, but nor did it hurt either. I used it for probably 6 months and then stopped as I didn't see a huge improvement.
I started having hot flashes when I was about 43, and started skipping period - when I did have a period they were very heavy. So much so I went to the doctor worried I was going to bleed to death!! I suppose I was "flooding" but didn't know much about that at the time (I had not found Power Surge back then). I was given Mefenamic Acid to control the bleeding, which worked great....I would take it for the first 2 days of my period, then things would be normal.
When periods stopped when I was 46, that is when my life went to h*ll!! After a few months of feeling worse and worse, and finally crashing completely (anxiety, panic, insomnia, depression, dizzy, lightheaded, loss of appetite, completely disconnected from reality, agoraphobic, totally non-functioning) I used Ativan (just to get thru the day) and Paxil (which helped a great deal) and finally bio identical Estrogel and Prometrium. I now function just fine. I haven't used Ativan more than 3 or 4 times in the past 6 months.
Good luck, I hope you find what works for you.
I could never tolerate the Pill, it made me nauseas, gain weight and feel generally awful. Although admittedly the dosage in the Pill way back then was a lot higher than they are these days. I haven't taken the pill in well over 20 years.
I tried an OTC progesterone cream several years ago, when I was sure I was in peri, I would have been around 40 - 42. I really didn't notice it helped particularly, but nor did it hurt either. I used it for probably 6 months and then stopped as I didn't see a huge improvement.
I started having hot flashes when I was about 43, and started skipping period - when I did have a period they were very heavy. So much so I went to the doctor worried I was going to bleed to death!! I suppose I was "flooding" but didn't know much about that at the time (I had not found Power Surge back then). I was given Mefenamic Acid to control the bleeding, which worked great....I would take it for the first 2 days of my period, then things would be normal.
When periods stopped when I was 46, that is when my life went to h*ll!! After a few months of feeling worse and worse, and finally crashing completely (anxiety, panic, insomnia, depression, dizzy, lightheaded, loss of appetite, completely disconnected from reality, agoraphobic, totally non-functioning) I used Ativan (just to get thru the day) and Paxil (which helped a great deal) and finally bio identical Estrogel and Prometrium. I now function just fine. I haven't used Ativan more than 3 or 4 times in the past 6 months.
Good luck, I hope you find what works for you.
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