I,ve been post for 5 yrs after hyster with BSO past 3 yrs suffer with severe anxiety, crying, not feeling like myself, dizziness, internal and external shkes at times, severe flash,s, hardly laugh. I,ve posted before but never in the post menopausal site. Can any of you relate to these symptoms? When do we get our life back? I can,t take HRT or ADP due to sideeffects.

I'm not post but thought you might want to follow the link in my signature to see the results of our ongoing survey.

When you say side effects was that from one type of hormone replacement or did you try others?

I've been post 2 1/2 years and have the same symptoms and lately so irritable and down that I just want to lock myself in a room, by myself and forget there is a world out there. I do take Prozac, anxiety med but not any hormone therapy.

Dear "surreallife'
Since being Post Menopausal since age 39,an now 58 would be locked in that room with you if it weren't for my Prozac.Xanax and HRT.
Maybe if you looked into Bios it might help you.
Am very sad that you are suffering this way.
Search for help
Do not give up
Ask any questions,come back and we will all try to give you as much support and practical advice that we have
You are not alone,sweet friend.

Warmest Hugs
Elizabeth

I have tried 5 HRT,s including Bio, Scared to death to try ADP as sideeffects to those also

Dear 'little lil'
As you are unable to take certain Meds. bacause of bad side effects What about some natural Herbal Compounds>such as St.John's Wort great for depression and the shakes.
Try to see a Doctor practising Alternative Medicine.There must be something to help you
It hurts my heart to know you are suffering this way.
Please do not give up till you are able to find something that helps you.
Some ladies have also had success with Acupuncture.

Warm Wishes
And lots of Luck
Elizabeth

POST MENO BEEN HELL FOR ME!!!! ONE DAY AT A TIME MY DEAR SISTERS....
(((((((char)))))

DITTO!

I'm post nearing 2 years.

Still have the occasional hot flash and night sweats. Still suffering the palpitations but have been checked out and all is normal,,,,still hate it. I must have anxiety because it really scares me and bothers me. My waist is still thick and have not been successful at losing weight for many years.

My moods have been stable.

Post for at least 5 years (I am 59 this month) and oh please tell me when this will end!! Hot Flashes, Anxiety, sadness, headaches, and general tiredness. I am soooo fed up with it all. These feelings did go away for a short time, but now they are back and I am spending most of my time surfing the internet for help. I have tried so many *natural* remedies which aren't helping me at all. Perhaps I am not giving them enough time. I just want all this to go away *NOW*. I am on Synthroid for hypothyroidism, and BP meds. I take the occasional Xanax which really help to calm me down. I feel like I am just going round and round in circles with this. I don't care what they say about Menopause not being a disease....If I had a disease I would probably be able to get more help than is offered for this HORRID thing.

I,m in the same boat, and I,m sorry they say Meno is not an illness well if it makes us feel this bad it is an ilness!!!!

I'm not post, but I can relate to everything you say except for the hot flashes. I was on paxil when this started, tried cymbalta, and lexapro, now I'm on zoloft and it's been nearly three weeks with not much improvement. My heart hurts for all of us that have to go through this. I'm sure there would be a name for a menopause related disease if doctors had any idea what to do about it. Doctors don't tend to name, or even check for, things they don't know how to treat. I was just posting a few days ago that I wish there was a hospital or clinic somewhere that really specialized in illnesses related to female hormones.

I,m where you are send me a post we could give each other support Thanks

I'm your age also and these last few months have gotten worse. I have 3 days of surges and a lot of heat. I can feel my insides changing. I just hate how it effects the mind.
It's harder on you when staying in control is so important. The guilt of all the things going through your head is a pain.
Take care!!

i am 2 year post and things are just getting worse im in a really bad place at the moment

If you want to chat click on my name then hit send message

Hi Little Lil....tried to send u a post but I keep getting an error that say's I am not allowed to use this feature??? Any ideas?? What am i doing wrong??

Madhouse, I am 2 years post as well. There are days and even weeks and months I feel that the symptoms have subsided and then BAAM; here they come again. At the risk of sounding like gloom and doom, I have had it with hot flashes, anxiety, and sadness. I want my old self back; the person I was pre-peri, but I am afraid that person is gone forever. I just have a lot of trouble accepting this new person that now looks back at me from the mirror. Who is that old person; the one that can cry at the drop of a hat and can no longer handle work or daily life pressures? Where did that young, strong person go? I can't seem to find her anymore.

I want my old life back!!!!! The one I had 4 years ago before all this started. I can not find a way to accept that it is gone and that this is my life now. I guess if we accept this new life it would be admiting that we have given up. I guess that is why there are so many of us out here looking for answers. I hope we find them.

I am also 2 years post...am 49 (hurtling towards that big number here soon).......I have had a lot of anxiety, depressive episodes (which I must say have not been helped by circumstantial situations) insomnia and erstwhile hot spells, because of overworked adrenals.......but....I have had some periods of feeling much better, unfortunately they come and go and I too just want to get to a place that I can be happy in. I have tried a lot of alternative things, but am now trying just a good old positive attitude, meditation, vitamin C, D3, Omega's and an adrenal support....hopefully I can keep it up and can report that all is well...or should I say dream!?

...heard someone say on a radio show this morning that they are glad to be a man.......well, sometimes I wish I was one too!!!!!!

Dear Ladies
Was Post at 39 and am now 58
I still use HRT and it works well for me.My Gyno. is not amused so I tell him to try 20 years without Testosterone and report back
I know a lot of ladies prefer to transition naturally but I have found nothing natural about it.Wish I had the choice of Bios. but they are not available in The Middle East.
The dose I take is moderate and I exercise,stay away from alcohol and junk food.Yoga helps too.,but no-one can convince me I would have made it this long without my Hormone supplement
A year or so ago,I had the bright idea to slowly wean down.Big mistake!Insomnia,sweats,mood swings all back with a vengence.So back on them I went.
Am well read,do my research and know all possible health risks but I can safely say I am more of a health risk without them.
I wish all of you find peace in comfort no matter what you decide for yourselves.
All the best
Elizabeth

I am 2 1/2 years post and things are better at times and then it goes back to ground O. Maybe it's not getting better, maybe I am just getting use to it !! And what's the deal with that big blob of fat around the middle above my waist ? When I sit down it rolls over my pants no matter what size they are. I miss being 49, even then I had a child 2 years old and had my figure and could still wear a swimsuit, now I have on a tent and still uncomfortable. I will be 58 in Nov and I don't even reconize myself anymore !!!
To better days

Please anyone going thru this post-menopausal hell, give me a pm. Would love to have friends to talk to about it. I thought it would be better by now 56 in a few weeks , 3 years post in Dec. Whats going on!

(((((((((Hugs))))))))) to all

Is there anyone out there that is doing better since post????? This post is bumming me out! I've been in peri for about 7 years now with anxiety, panic, etc.....I thought once I hit post it would get better. Maybe I'll be one of the lucky ones.....it could happen!

I don't like to say it but in some ways I think you ladies who have a normal menopause have a more prolonged one than someone like myself, who had a surgical one at 54. I am not saying worse, because I think surgical menopause can be more severe, but here is the difference. Once the ovaries are gone-they are gone. There is only one way and that is down. The going down is ghastly and terrifying but once you reach the bottom that's it. You can level off and then hopefully the only way is up!

In a natural menopause, I believe the ovaries can mess about for years. So you may get a whole year of everything stopping, no periods, not many flashes and then hey-your ovaries decide they will push out a little spurt and of course it sends the body back into symptoms again.

I have bottomed out now and after 3 1/2 years I am feeling so much better! The only time I feel rough now is if I play with estrogen-even a little bit of cream makes me feel really ill. So obviously my body has adjusted pretty much and there are no more surprises for me.
Having said all that-I wish I still had my ovaries (sigh.....)

janet c

Janet, I think you're right. I read that in natural menopause, the ovaries continue to produce estrogen in "fits and starts," while all the time there's a lessening amount, which is what causes the ongoing symptoms. I'm glad you have gotten used to "life without estrogen," as I have. I'm about seven years post and I feel great. I was finally able to get my weight down lower than it was when I was young. I've been running now for two minutes at a time, and slowing to a fast walk if I have to "rest." But then I force myself to run again for two minutes. I've always wanted to be a runner, but I couldn't do it when I was younger--too many distractions and somehow I didn't have as much tenacity as I seem to have now. I do it for an hour every day and get up to over four miles in total distance. When I was younger, I seemed to have a much more emotional relationship with food (maybe just a neurotic relationship). I was forever trying to lose weight and then gaining it back again; always fighting with myself about whether or not to go off the perpetual diet I seemed to be on. Often I would go off, for a long time, like years, and I was always overweight. Another good thing about getting rid of estrogen is no more migraines. I used to have horrible migraines when it was time for my period, and they got really bad in peri when my periods became irregular and I didn't know when I'd get one. I work full time and was always in fear of one of those hammering headaches because I was rendered unable to do anything but go to bed and try to sleep. If I could do that, sometimes the headache would go away, but it was the only thing that worked and having to go to bed in the middle of the day could be pretty inconvenient if I was at work. I don't have the mood swings anymore, either, thank goodness. I feel the same every day; it's an even keel now, and I'll take it. When I was younger, I could feel great when the estrogen level was right, but there'd be a crash and then I felt awful, so it wasn't worth it.

I'll take post meno any day; life is calm now and I feel the same every day. I used to have to plan things around my period sometimes, but now any day is good and I no longer have to buy feminine protection products or bring them with me if I travel, etc. It just seems like life is free. I do think there's menopausal zest, too. I don't have that crashing fatigue that I had in peri. I never thought I'd feel good again, but I do--better than before. Life without estrogen is freedom!!

It is good that you are feeling so well! You will be an inspiration to anyone here that thinks it will never come to an end!

I like the fact that I usually feel the same every day too.
I have been playing around with a little estrogen cream lately (necessary) but honestly-it makes me feel dire! The other day when I was getting all anxious and worked up over something, it reminded me of how I felt when my hormones were out of balance-which was for most of my life actually
Estrogen really feeds my anxiety and insecurity and I start being a hypochondriac again.
I therefore don't use ERT (unless I really must use the cream for dryness) but I do supplement regularly with a little testosterone. As I don't have my ovaries I need it for MY post menopausal zest which ladies who keep their ovaries will have naturally. It works for me. I swim three times a week, cycle and walk. I am always on the go and have lots of interests.
I agree-life without estrogen is freedom

janet c

I was interested to read about your experience with the ERT. A couple of years ago, my doctor prescribed Premarin cream so I used it twice a week for about a year and then it seemed like I could get by without it, so I did. Went for my routine check after not using it for a long time and the doctor mentioned that I needed to use it, so I tried again but keep forgetting, and don't care too much for the feeling of moisture the next day, if you know what I mean. I never noticed any other side effects, though. I didn't realize that the post-meno zest was due to testosterone; interesting! I was hoping I didn't have any more testosterone because when I was younger I had problems with very light facial hair (which I HATED) and sometimes when I got really angry, I wondered if it was from the testosterone. I'm glad you're doing so well; you, too, are an inspiration.

Thanks sweetie

Apart from anything else we need testosterone for our sex drive as well as energy. It becomes more dominant in post menopause because estrogen levels drop so that accounts for the zest !

I am so very sensitive to all estrogens. A dot of Premarin cream makes me depressed for about a week after use and estriol makes me sob. Estradiol causes me extreme anxiety AND sobbing. I can use my testosterone though-it makes me feel good

I also have the same reaction to estrogens now.
I stopped BHRT over a year ago and do feel happier and more balanced emotionally.
I have tried to reintroduce it on a few occasions for the benefits of bone health, elimination of hot flushes/sweats etc, but it makes me feel terrible - sad, weepy, dizzy, fuzzy headed and emotional (to name a few), even at low doses. It makes me oversensitive and I start rehashing old hurts. I also feel irritated with my husband when I am on it.
It is not always the 'happy' hormone as sometimes touted, and in my case it has the opposite effect.
I think the 'merry dance' between all hormones comes into play and it can be hard trying to find that right balance, because sometimes the goal posts change and what may be working for you at one stage, may not necessarily work for you further down the track.
So just go with what feels right for you at any given time and sometimes that does mean adjusting the formula and coming up with a new equation.

Remy

I am post now. My last period was April 2007 so does that mean I'm over 1 year post or 2? I got really ill during the peri stage over 3 years ago and I am still suffering with a daily headache (first I got diagnosed with Tension/Migraine Headaaches then I got diagnosed with New Daily Perisistent Headache). I also felt like my ears were covered over and eyes sight was constantly blurry and I also developed tinnitus. I thought I was going insane. It felt as though I was looking through distorted glass. I have terrible hot flashes still and I sweat all the time now doing the smallest things. Just 2 days ago I could not cool off, I My anxiety was really good until 3 years ago too, as I had the problem all my life. I've tried 10 ad's over the eyars, just 2 in the last few years, and I got weird side effects from all the ones I've tried. I also tried HRT, BHRT for short periods of time. So I have to take anxiety medication daily to make it through the day. Even on my medications, I experience extreme derealization. I walk around feeling like my head isn't attached to my body. I also have bouts of sinus tachycardia in the middle of the night. Thank God nothing to terrible since April. I've also developed some health issues in the last 3 years too and I thought I had been taking care of myself but probably could have done a better job. So there you have it. I'm better than I was 3 years ago but I am not the same and it's scary feeling so bad every day. I'm a person in a recovery program for 26 years and I'm grateful that I didn't go that route to help me with this pain I've been in with all of this. I take it a day at a time. I sit here with a migraine headache on top of my daily headacehe. I try and remember that there are other who are so much worse off than I am and try to be grateful every day for something...and that's not easy. I just started easing back into working out....slowly. I'm gonna add some yoga to my schedule to see if it helps with this anxiety. Praying for all of you who are suffering so much.

My anxiety and depression, and panic also got worse. I'm 7 yrs post and 46 yrs old. I can't get any relief....

Your post has touched me, I am so sorry that you are having such a hard time. April 7th was my date also and I too am still having a difficult time with anxiety, pain ect. I will be praying for you.
Glenda

Hi Ladies, Its been awhile since I posted.

I am post-meno 3 years now...I will be 53 next month. None of my complaints have been severe on their own...but when they all add up...ugh. I still get some night sweats once a night and upon waking, but the Simply Sleep I take to get a good night's sleep has really helped. I get about 3 hot flashes a week. My moods are more low and negative internally (I put an outward positive face) and I am prone to worry and overthink.

My major complaint --weight gain. From January 2008 to May 2008, I put on 10 pounds. Felt fat (I was 25 pounds over what my max should be) But then in August I put on 20 more pounds in one month!. It seemed every day my clothes were tighter and I was doing nothing different! From that point despite effort to the contrary, I gained another 15 pounds.

My max weight should be 140 and I found myself weighing 200 pounds. I did not even ever weigh 200 pounds pregnant! I began a weightloss and workout plan 5 weeks ago. I have lost 13 pounds. I have 47 moreto lose

I am going to be speaking to my dr. about having my hormone, thyroid levels and adrenal functions checked. I believe I may need testosterone, but I want my dr to check for other deficiencies too.

I take a multi-vitamin, 1000 calcium w/ 800 Vit. D, Flax seed oil capsules, Glucosamine Chondroitin, 81 mg aspirin and a sublingual 2500 B-12 daily. I started taking the B-12 for memory and it worked so well and quickly.

I just had my yearly. I have my referral for my mammogram and DEXA. Two years ago in my "baseline" DEXA I was diagnosed with Osteopenia. I refused to take Fosomax (or any other similar med). That is why I went on the calcium/vit. D supplement. I am in generally good health.

If I could only get the weight off!!!!

Keep in mind that the women who are sailing through post menopause feeling great probably aren't looking for answers on the internet. People with problems will be the ones looking for relief and support and will find this place. So don't get discouraged.

I had very few peri or menopausal symptoms. Felt warm sometimes, had a few years of "early waking", nothing very bad. My last period was 8 years ago (I'm 57), and I've had a natural menopause - no surgery. But as time went on I lost more and more of my libido and my "zest for life". The couch became my favorite place to be - especially the last 6 months or so - and I was always very active before. I would say I'm doing worse "post meno" and I think it has to do with extremely low testosterone. The doctor I went to doesn't seem to believe in supplementing just testosterone, so I'm on estrogen, testosterone and progesterone in compounded form. He did do full testing of many things - both blood work and saliva tests. We'll see how it all goes. :-)