Hello to All,

I am so blessed to have found this web site but at the same time sad to have to be here.I am almost 32, I had a tubal ligation in 2000 and every since then my body has been not quite right. I began suffering from hot flashes about 2 years ago.I really didn't know what they were at first.I just thought I was having some kind of allergic reaction now I know exactly what they are.I went through several years of very heavy, clotty periods with terrible cramps in my stomach , back and legs,they came every 28 days just like clock work, PMS and breast so sore that just the shirt rubbing on them was painfull.For months I was up at least 7 times a night having to tee-tee,I'v been to the doctor thinking I have a UTI several times only to be told I'm culture free, no STD's either but all that has changed.Over the past 6 months or so I found my periods to be off, going from 28 days to 35 days than back to 28 than 40 and they have gotten incredibly lighter no more cramps, I spot the first day, lightly bleed the next day then it's all over.I haven't gotten sore breast in months.That in itself could have been a wonderfull thing.However I have a long list of terrible new symptoms that have been growing in ferioussness (sp?) every day it seems I have terrible anxiety, mood swing, off the charts irritability, starting getting night sweats during the nite about 5 weeks ago, I burst into tears over the stupidist things.I ahve nausea, bouts of diarrhea that I would normally have before my period but now last well until the middle of my cycle.I am so forgetfull and now INSOMNIA !! I can't make my brain turn off It's af if I have hundreds of dreams that only last for a few seconds and then I wake up right after each of them.I wake up so many times during the night, if I do sleep it's only for 5 hours at the most and then I'm up !! Last night I had terrible night anxiety which was like torture !!Sometimes I feel so tired yet my body feels so wired..it's freaking me out.Then I get these weird buzzing sensations it feels like I have my cell phone on vibrate and it's going off constintenly.I can't tell you how many times I have checked my phone thinking it was vibrating only to find out it wasn't !! I am in my second to last semester of nursing school and this is almost too much !! I worry all the time that I AM GOING CRAZY !! Like one flew over the coo-coo's nest crazy I swear I think my tubal I had done 9 years ago has thrown me into Pre-menopause !! I had my gyno run labs only to tell me my FSH and LSH are normal but that my Testosterone and DHEA are HIGH normal whatever that means.... She gave me some ORTHO-TRY CYCLEN LO and I am waiting to start the pill as soon as I get my period.....I just feel broken and lost..I am only 31 !! If this is not pre-menopasue than I must be going crazy !!! I am just so confused and scared..I'm scared to death !!!!!!! I have had all the blood work ran by my GP and everything is within normal limits..i JUST KEEP PRAYING PLEASE GOD LET THIS BE PRE-MENOPAUSE AND NOT ME GOING INSANE

Wow !! my post was very depressing ...anyhow I wanted to share something positive I had been suffering from crazy palpitations for months on end.I quit caffiene 6 weeks ago and since thenI haven't had hardly any ( except for sometimes during the night when my heart feels as if it's going to beat right out of my chest ) but other than that they have improved 95% and the added bonus of no sodas and no chocolate..I have lost 23 pounds since february 3rd Jutst wanted to share something good since there was so much bad....GOD BLESS

I am sorry you are going through so much trouble. It could very well be perimenopause. Sounds like it. Did your doctor run tests on your thyroid as well? I am assuming she did. A lot of times doctors give birth control pills for perimenopause symptoms. And they work well for some. There are other natural options as well. Like soy products and there are also bioidentical hormones. Just so you know all the options. You have come to the right place with this forum. There are plenty of women here who will walk you through this and give you sound advice. I wish you well.

Thank you so much and yes my thyroid was tested and it was normal, I wonder what could make my testosterone and DHEA run on the high end though, my GYNO had no explanation..hmmmmm

Welcome, Nikki. So sorry you are suffering such awful symptoms. You are so young, it's a shame. And to be going through nursing school on top of it, I'm a nurse, and nursing school was very stressful, so I'm sure that stress is making things worse.

A lot of your symptoms sound like low estrogen. I've had a good number of them and estrogen (bioidentical) helped. My concern for you taking that particular BCP is that I believe it has a higher % of progesterone to estrogen (someone correct me if I am wrong) which could make your symptoms even worse. I know there are other BCP that have more estrogen.

So if you are not liking how you feel on that one, let me know and I will check Dr. Vliet's book to see which ones she recommends. She says her patients do better with the higher estrogen bcp.

Hang in there, there are ways to alleviate your symptoms. Meanwhile, be sure you take a high dose b complex every day and extra magnesium. Both are good for anxiety and palps. And drink plenty of water, I found being even slightly dehydrated started the palps again.

Bless you Sariah !!
ANd you are so right about Nursing School !! It is tough and stress is off the rickter scale for me =] I would love to know which BCP has a higher estrogen level.I should start next week and I would greatly appreciate it if you could find that out for me so I can ask her to call in the script for me so I can start on that one instead of the ORTHO !! THANKYOU SO MUCH..your response means more than you know

Sorry you are going through so much at such a young age. Yes, you can be pre/peri meno at a young age. Unfortunately docs in this country do no take hormone levels BEFORE doing a tubal or hysterectomy. BOTH procedures compromise the blood flow to our very delicate ovaries and can send you into peri/meno sooner than normal. The bloodword being done only shows arbritrary lab values/ranges that a a normal range for women. That may not be the "normal" that is optimal for your body.

Since your dhea and testosterone is high you need to be on a low androgenic bcp. I also think the one you doc gave you has a high P to e ratio (P's are androgenic hormones.) Check the pharmacists copy of the prescription PDR, there is a chart with bcp's listed and their androgenic values (ie, high, low, etc.) Or, call your doc and ask her. (I find it easier to look this stuff up myself and tell them what I want.) Several (4 years ago) my previous gyn gave me a very high P to e bcp and I was miserable on it. I only was able to take it for 2 weeks and discontinued due to the side effects. I wish I knew then what I know now. There are MANY options in bcp, the ratio to p to e is very important, the amount of E, AND they type of progestin is VERY important too. Just because one bcp isn't Right for your body doesn't mean another one won't be helpful.

I would also suggest looking at Vliets books, or Redmonds "The Hormonally Vulnerable/Sensitive Woman. I will try to look up some of the bcp info for you tomorrow. Everyone here is very helpful but you might also consider looking at the earlymenopause site. Some women there have experienced POF (premature ovarian failure/decline) as you seem to be experiencing. (POF is typically the diagnosis given for a women under 40 yo rather than peri or premeno). Hope this helps. Best regards, J.

Hi t-nikki:

You are not going crazy. It sounds like perimeno to me. I am so sorry this is happening to you.

I have all the symptoms you describe and find it easier to understand and tolerate now that I have found PS. You will learn tons here and get a lot of support from the very smart and sweet ladies here.

Hugs to you,
Jeaninne

Welcome Nikki.
It is a shame that you are going through all this at nearly 32... You have come to the right place to gather all information and wonderful advice from knowledgeable ladies here on this wonderful site.
Hopefully you will find a treatment that will work for you . I wish you all the best Nikki with your nursing career.

gizzie

Hi Nikki,

I just wanted to welcome you and tell you how sorry I am that you are going through this. Your post sounded like it could have been me. I am 41 though. I am very sorry you are going through this at such a young age.

I think just knowing you are not alone and that you are not crazy helps.

I can't take hormones because of a family history of cancer..so I try to just take good care of myself. I am just starting magnesium..so I will see how that goes.

Also, I am sure the stress of Nursing school is compounding what you are going through.

Take Care,

Sunny~

t_nikki,
Welcome to PS!

It sure sounds like peri to me......you are quite young but that's not unheard of. If you search the boards you'll find others your age, I'm sure.

Keep coming here and someone's always here to listen!

Blessings,

Deb

t nikki

I'm around your age and also beginning to have the noticable symptoms. I went from regular, very predictable 28-day periods with no PMS to cycles ranging from 18-24 days. At the same time that my periods changed, I started experiencing multiple daily hot flashes, night sweats, terrible cramping from the last day of my now spotty flow owards, what feels like stabbing pains in both ovaries (that has, thankfully, lessened in the last month) and constant breast pain. Then there's the sudden insomnia, and the crying...oh, and the feeling I've lost my mind, there's that too! Unlike you though, I'm getting fat for the first time. I've always been underweight so gaining out of nowhere has come as a bit of a shock. In my case, it all started a few months ago during a severe case of the flu. I've just had my blood tests done and it's seemingly official, I'm on my way to menopause. My next stop is an ovarian ultrasound to see if the pesky things have shriveled or not. My doctor's trying to find a reason for my out-of-nowhere hormonal changes, but what I've read points to most cases being labeled idiopathic.

I know how it feels to be glad you've found the site but also sad to need this information. I'm still coming to terms with what for me is a major concern,confirmed infertility, along with feeling very, very old overnight. It all feels too soon.