So, ladies, please help me understand... I knew I was dealing with random rage and temper tantrums, itchy skin, heart palps, vibrating legs, anxiety, brain fog, forgetting my own name, forgetting "your" name, irrational behavior....but, to add insult to injury I am hearing that by the time I hit my mid 50s I will look in the mirror and will not recognize the face I am looking at, I will have aged overnight and to top it off my "V" will essentially start shriveling up like a prune.. Someone please tell me it isn't so!!! Good god I am terrified, lol. I would love to hear from woman who have navigated the impending doom of shriveling faces and "V"s. All kidding aside does this always happen or this there a chance in h#ll that these are two things I might be able to bypass in my peri meno journey. Thank you for listening to this rant.

YOU ARE NOT alone... in your fears...

I stay reading up on what I can do in intercept these impending uglies...

Nobody tells you jack, until you start cracking, itching or seating buckets...

Women in their thirties need to know this stuff....

Forties fly by, next stop 50 and all the crazy stuff hits the fan..

(some days I am thoroughly pissed about the cruel silence surrounding meno)

Suzanne Somers preaches a method that is supposed to slow/prevent all of these things, I am sure it comes with risks. I have ordered two of her books, hope they get here this week. I personally am going to give the bhrt a go. The shriveled up bits don't trouble me as bad as all of the other nasties that come with peri/meno.

Having had a hyster a few months back, I finally broke down and had a looksy at the ol'gal. Eeeeeek I can already see darkening of the flesh and more umm hrmm droopiness and I'm only 38!

Only 38, get outta here...

someone posted the name of company specializing in yoni cremes and such...

I'm ordering next week...(got keep things in shape as best I can)

Okay I have to look up yoni cream.

I am with you. I really had no idea about what to expect. I remember my gyno 10 years ago telling me I was in full menopause...huh!! I was 39 still getting periods (still am), I asked him if you could be in full blown menopause and still get a period, he said yes you could..I said every month, (I never ever missed one period got it like clockwork) and he answered "yes" again....I thought that sounded odd, but, heck, he was the doctor who better than he should know....certainly not the likes of me...lol....I was no where near meno based on the fact that I still haven't gone through it yet, ...I had some issues in the "V' area and my hormone levels were askew (I guess) so he came to that brilliant conclusion. I remember feeling ecstatic thinking heck if I am already through menopause this was a breeze I don't know what all the fuss is about, yeah, pretty cocky little thing wasn't I, lol.......well.....10 years later..I realize that was actually the beginning of peri for me.. most doctors just have no clue, at least mine didnt (I have since gotten a new dr.).

This site is a godsend, I have learned so much about what is going on with my body and I know I am not alone in my meri peri travels...

Thank you all!

Dear'michuganna'

Nice to meet you and stop worrying so much.I am 57,slim and have a good complexion.I inherited this from my grandmother.I exercise three times a week at the Gym,practise Yoga and go shopping. for pretty things for my apartment.I love plants and flowers so they are everywhere!

I was Menopausal at 39 and yes it was rough but with the proper treatment ,that I chose for myself along with my Doctor things got better.My vagina was in a state of mild Atrophy but that is now reversed.I still get some compliments from men so that is great.

I love to read and chat and have lots of energy.Attitude together with a proactive approach to your health and life stages helps a great deal.
The ladies on this Forum are awesome but we are only human so all our lives will have ups and downs but some of the most positive people are the ones dealing with a whole host of health,family and emotional problems

Just be happy that you have at hand resources that many of us did not when Menopause started.Remember too that a lot of ladies do pass relatively easily and naturally through Menopause.

Warm Wishes
Elizabeth

Thank you for responding....I don't know if it came through or not on my original post but I was coming from a more humorous/tongue in cheek sort of place. I have actually handled most of my peri meri symptoms with humor or at least I tried, lol. I agree that a positive approach and energy is something you must try and find in order to walk through this stage of your life. I am fortunate in that where I was once a serious sort of person I am now at a point where I laugh a lot....enough that tears come from my eyes (in a good way). In addition to the changes that are annoying there are also changes that are good. In many ways I am finally coming into my own. But, if I was to be honest I am not ready to look in the mirror and see someone old, at the top or at the bottom, lol. I will use whatever resources are at my disposal to slow that stuff down, lol. I am 50 years old and people think I am 40 or younger (I don't see it, but, I hear it enough so I suppose it is true), I probably inherited that from my grandmother as well, I will be vain enough to say I love hearing it, but, I am not vain enough to believe I will hear that for the rest of my life either. I will age, it happens, but, I want to feel good about myself inside and out for as long as possible. I want to be healthy which is the most important thing. Get fit, engage in the world around me. I don't want to lose that zest for life. All you can do is the best you can do and accept that life will throw what it will at you. Take care

Dear Friend

No had not read your other Post so good for you having a great sense of humour!Actually,I really do believe that women today are looking younger and more vibrant than ever before.

I wish you well

Best Wishes
Elizabeth

You know I started Perimenopause at 45 and its still going at 53. The best advice I can give you is WHAT I KNOW NOW, and what I WISHED I had known than. My fiance and I had broke up many years before, so I WAS NOT sexually active....for 5 years BEFORE I discovered I had Vaginal Atrophy. The old saying "USE IT, OR LOSE IT" they are not joking.....however if your not in a committed relationship what do you so(no I am not a Vibrating kind of girl(LOL).......After The worst pain of my life 129 days of burning, itching, and pain.....17 pelvics and 4 doctors....I was put on HRT...I also had severe heart palpitations....Boy the HRT really helped me......what a difference..however whenever i am super stressed, eat too much sugar or wear pants that are too tight....MY VA flares up. I had already tried preparin cream, estrace cream, Replenz and several ointment from several other countries, and the ONLY thing I swear buy is VITAMIN E SUPPOSITORIES...THEY ARE THE greatest THING SINCE SLICED BREAD. REASONABLY PRICED....I keep 4 boxes of 24 in my fridge at all times....what a difference it has made...especially after my almost non existent very drying periods each month. When you think about it..your Vagina is a MUSCLE..if it doesn;'t get exercise......it will atrophy./..just like other parts of your body./.......
I am 53, medium height and 117 lbs.....but I smoked for 26 years, I had a Teubal and I gravely overweight from age 9 until 25(312 lbs)....my major issues are the
VA
heart palpitations
My teeth kill me Before my periods
and I have MOOD swings from HELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My mom never even had PMS or change of life symptoms...........its just not fair!