I NEED SOME ADVICE FROM YOU GIRLS WHO'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS. A BRIEF HISTORY OF MY SYMPTOMS: ANXIETY, MIGRAINES, HAD A NOVASURE FOR SEVERE BLEEDING, BODY ACHES, TMJ, ACID REFLUX AND ULCERS, SEVERE PMS. ACNE, INSOMNIA (I"M 39). I HAD SALIVA TESTING THATS SAYS I'M ESTROGEN DOMINANT, WHICH I FIND HARD TO BELIEVE BECAUSE MOST OF MY SYMPTOMS ARE WORSE THE TIME OF MY MONTH WHEN MY ESTROGEN IS LOW. I WAS ON PROGEST. CREAM FOR 7 MTHS WITH NOT A WHOLE LOT OF DIFFERENCE. MY OB GYN TOOK ME OFF THE PROGEST. AND SAID I WAS JUST DEPRESSED AND GAVE ME A PRESCRIPTION FOR LEXAPRO. WELL, I HAVE PRETTY BAD HEALTH ANXIETY AND DIDN'T TAKE THIS BECAUSE I WAS SCARED I WOULD FEEL WORSE. MY NEURO DOESNT REALLY WANT ME ON BIRTH CONTROL PILLS WITH MY HEADACHES (HE SAID NO NEURO IN HIS RIGHT MIND WANTS SOMEONE TO BE ON BCP.) BUT I WAS CONSIDERING YAZ FOR THE PMS AND THE FLUCTUATING HORMONES. I ORDERED ST JOHNS WORT THINKING I WOULD TRY THAT FIRST, BUT IM SCARED OF THAT ALSO. WHATS A GIRL TO DO: SUFFER EVERY SINGLE DAY OR RISK A STROKE WITH BCP OR HAVING A MAJOR BREAKDOWN ON ADS. I JUST WANT TO FEEL GOOD AGAIN. I HONESTLY HAVEN'T FELT "NORMAL" SINCE THE BIRTH OF MY FIRST CHILD AND HE'S 12. WHAT WOULD YOU GIRLS TRY FIRST. IM AT MY WITS END. I'M TIRED OF DRS, AND ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT MY HEALTH PROBLEMS AT 39. JUST SOME ADVICE PLEASE?

Hi Shelby, I don't really know where to start with all your questions. But, I'll try. First 39 yo is not to young to be experiencing peri symptoms. At 39 I was already naively experiencing new bouts of insomnia, nights sweats, pms, and anxiety. I was told to "relax and take valium". lol

Menopause only means you've gone one year without a period and the fsh has climbed (and stayed over 20). All of my docs do not rely on saliva testing (although many women have good results with that testing method). My docs claim that blood serum levels are still the "gold standard" for accuracy in testing. However, if your saliva was only tested once, without interpretation being done in regard to Where you were in you cycle - then it means NOTHING. So, you are correct in saying that your "symptoms were worse at the time of the month when my estrogen was low." (My docs take a once weekly blood level, 4 weeks in a row, at the same lab and at the same time of the day. They do this for infertility patients inorder to see what their ovaries are producing and feel that a peri/meno woman is afforded the same testing methods.) I have had this done 3 times and it DOES show a correlation to how I'm feeling.

Progesterone cream (and other forms of progesterone/progestins) can cause many of us (myself included) to feel depressed or in a foul mood. My gyns have seen me after a trial of Prometrium and agreed it put me in a bad mood (among other things). I guess a psch. would diagnosis it differently. But, western medicine is "fractured" and they don't take a wholistic approach to our healthcare. Some women however, do very well on the progestins. We are all so very different.

I have 2 gyns and consulted with 2 different neuro's (all four docs are from different practices.) Anyway, they know I have had a past history (long time ago) of migranes. They do not have a problem with me supplementing with hrt or if I want to change to bcp. However, some studies have said that bhrt (specifically 17beta estradiol is beneficial for cognitive health, along with the body). My mood and funcionality is greatly improved when I am on the estradiol. I have experienced some headaches (not migranes) when my estradiol levels are low during a "trial without hormone therapy". Once back on the bhrt the headaches are alleviated.

Sometimes I wish I could just switch to the bcp (Yaz and Yasmine was also recomeneded to me) but my gut instinct, docs, and research, keeps me on the bhrt. (Would really like some relief from the cramps and bleeding)

If I remember it correctly the Novasure is one of several methods of endometrial ablation. The ovaries aren't always to the sides of the uterus and can be sort of "tucked" behind the uterus. Some women, on other sites, have experienced peri and or meno related symptoms after having this procedure done. My own feeling is that these types of procedures can somehow affect the ovaries (which are very close to the uterus.) If it stops the bleeding problems I hear it can be very helpful to many women.

Since you are so young I would suggest you also check out the earlymenopause website and see what they have to say. Everyone here is very helpful too.

Re: St Johns Wort. Herbal remedies can also have a therapeutic value upon the body. But, just because it's considered "natural" doesn't mean it will be any safer than a standardized fda approved drug.

I'm not condoning one approach over another. Just trying to throw a whole lota info at you and not let you feel so alone. If you need more info please feel free to PM me. Regards, J.

I had the Novasure procedure. It was great at stopping the heavy bleeding, but I am convinced that it did bring on my perimenopause. It's good to hear you say that other women agree.

If you decided to try the SJW and then switch to the Lexapro, make sure that you wait six weeks in between to avoid seretonin syndrome. ADs can be lifesavers, or very problematic. They are powerful drugs with some pretty significant side effects and can be difficult to discontinue. Are you in clinical depression? Is it dark; are you sad and crying all the time? Then by all means take the life preserver of AD. If not, try some anxiety counseling and cognitive techniques first. Possibly diet changes would help with physical symptoms. Excercise and fish oil can also help with the anxiety. I think everyone in peri should try estradiol with bhrt first before trying ADs. If you are truly estrogen dominant, then that might not be good. However these hormones really do fluctuate a lot, and a single snapshot in time doesn't tell the whole story.

I AM DEFINITELY NOT CRYING OR IN A DARK PLACE. IM JUST FRUSTRATED AND UPSET THAT I NEVER FEEL GOOD. SOMETIMES JUST ANGER THAT EVERYONE AROUND ME SEEMS TO HAVE IT ALL TOGETHER AND I FEEL LIKE I NEVER WILL. GRRR!!

I'm sorry, but I just turned 40 and I've been on BCP pills for about 5 years now and was on them when I was younger between having children so I've been on them more years then not since starting my first period. I have a Dr.'s appt. in April and am going to talk to her about switching to YAZ or Yasmine to help with all the other lovely peri symptoms I have. I just don't understand all the fuss and concern about being on BCP...I don't have high blood pressure and I no longer smoke, but did for awhile and I was taking BCP at the time also. I have a girlfriend that has also been on them more often then not and has smoked the entire time, she too is now 40 so please share with me the big concern so I can address this issue if I need to.
The biggest problem I find with being on BCP is trying to treat everything elswe without interferring or counteracting the BCP and I have no interest in having more children at this time. I also have no interest in having my tubes tied either. I had a c-section with my first and I'd be happy to never have surgery of any kind again.

I don't think you're "depressed" with a chemical imbalance that needs AD. I am so I know the condition well. You are suffering, truly suffering with your physical sickness. I don't think you are mentally ill but miserable from physical illness. Have you considered a reputable naturopath or alternative medicine doctor to help you with your illnesses? Sometimes there are things that can be done with diet and supplements to correct migraines, stomach problems, etc. There are these type of doctors who do in depth testing and find food sensitivities, absorption problems, endocrine imbalances, toxicity, etc. If you try a trial run of estradiol bhrt, you could see if it helped. If it's wrong for your body, the worst case scenario would be temporarily feeling worse, but no permanent damage since you would discontinue it. Some women find relief from anxiety with estrogen replacement. I hope you find what you need!