Full Version: perimenopause or am i going crazy?
I'm not sure if i am going through peri-menopause or not. I am a 40 year old woman and my periods are fairly regular but not the way they used to be. I used to be right on the button and I could even give you a time of when i was getting my period but now it's either 3 days early, 2 days late, lasts for 8 days rather then 4. Last year i had a 16 day period. My biggest sypmton is that i cannot concentrate. I have no ability to focus on anything. It feels like i have cotton brain and no matter how hard i try and can't get out of it. Yesterday i made a huge mistake at work that cost my boss $3500. Now i don't worry about getting fired but i feel horrible about it. It's getting worse and worse. I was tested for my hormone levels last February though a blood test. The first one, my Estrogen was extremely low as were my LH and FSH levels (not sure if that's what it is called) were very low. The doctor had me go for another one 1 month later, my estrogen was normal but again those other 2 levels were low. She kept telling me i was a candidate for depression but I seriously don't feel depressed. Yes I feel down sometimes and things become very overwhelming but I am not depressed. I am overwhelmed because I can't think straight. I went on anti-depressants because I was desperate. It affected my sex life pretty bad... didn't have the ability to have an orgasm. She referred me to a woman's clinic... i finally had an appointment last Wednesday after waiting for 8 months. She said I was probably going through the very beginning stages.. This gets worse? I dont' think that I can handle it. Anyway she sent me for all sorts of blood tests... iron levels, LH and FSH hormone levels etc... the only problem is that i don't get to see her until May! I can't function anymore and certainly not for that long without some kind of relief. I am so frustrated. I just made an appointment for the doctor again and am thinking about going back on the anti-depressants only becuase i have heard that they do help with the hormone levels somewhat. I have tried all the natural stuff.... i drink soy milk everyday, eat plenty of fiber, vegetables and was exercising 5 times a week. I haven't exercised in a while becuase i feel so bone tired that i can barely get off the couch some days. Anyone have any ideas.. HELP!
Hi Subby--
Welcome! I'm 45 and I am starting peri--last fall I freaked out as I was having trouble with word retrieval. I would say the wrong word--pasta for pencil--from time to time. There are some incredibley reassuring threads here on estrogen's effetct on the brain--a drop in normal levels can cause all kinds of cognitive glitches. I would read up on estrogen and the brain here....
Why on earth do you have to wait so long for an appointment? That seems cruel...Can you call and squeaky wheel in earlier.
I have found going on a low dose birth control very helpful, even tho I never had my levels tested. Its not the answer for everyone, but you can read all about it, pro and con on these boards.
Hope you feel better soon!
Sissy
It sounds like things are starting to shift.Just because you may be at the begining doesn't mean they will get worse.It's like a roller coaster it will come and go.Get some good peri books and start taking care of yourself.Sometimes doctors suggest AD's because they don't know what to do,They should be taken seriously and I've never herd of them taken for balancing hormones.You have a lot of support here,be patient and take care. Lumz
QUOTE (Subby @ Oct 9 2009, 10:32 AM) 
I'm not sure if i am going through peri-menopause or not. I am a 40 year old woman and my periods are fairly regular but not the way they used to be. I used to be right on the button and I could even give you a time of when i was getting my period but now it's either 3 days early, 2 days late, lasts for 8 days rather then 4. Last year i had a 16 day period. My biggest sypmton is that i cannot concentrate. I have no ability to focus on anything. It feels like i have cotton brain and no matter how hard i try and can't get out of it. Yesterday i made a huge mistake at work that cost my boss $3500. Now i don't worry about getting fired but i feel horrible about it. It's getting worse and worse. I was tested for my hormone levels last February though a blood test. The first one, my Estrogen was extremely low as were my LH and FSH levels (not sure if that's what it is called) were very low. The doctor had me go for another one 1 month later, my estrogen was normal but again those other 2 levels were low. She kept telling me i was a candidate for depression but I seriously don't feel depressed. Yes I feel down sometimes and things become very overwhelming but I am not depressed. I am overwhelmed because I can't think straight. I went on anti-depressants because I was desperate. It affected my sex life pretty bad... didn't have the ability to have an orgasm. She referred me to a woman's clinic... i finally had an appointment last Wednesday after waiting for 8 months. She said I was probably going through the very beginning stages.. This gets worse? I dont' think that I can handle it. Anyway she sent me for all sorts of blood tests... iron levels, LH and FSH hormone levels etc... the only problem is that i don't get to see her until May! I can't function anymore and certainly not for that long without some kind of relief. I am so frustrated. I just made an appointment for the doctor again and am thinking about going back on the anti-depressants only becuase i have heard that they do help with the hormone levels somewhat. I have tried all the natural stuff.... i drink soy milk everyday, eat plenty of fiber, vegetables and was exercising 5 times a week. I haven't exercised in a while becuase i feel so bone tired that i can barely get off the couch some days. Anyone have any ideas.. HELP!
Welcome to PS Subby,
I think you hit the nail on the head by saying you aren,t depressed BUT overwhelmed,by all these crazy things going off.
I agree overwhelming is so apt for this stage in our lives.
Have been offered AD,s also after my tests came back ok,think because when the Dr said everything "normal??" I promptly dissolved into tears. Relieved that they were "normal" but just made me think well what the heck IS wrong with me then,because I feel anything BUT "normal"
I wish I could offer some words of wisdom and advice but I,m still looking myself.
However these boards have been my best medicine and got me through many a bad day,just knowing others are suffering similary does make it a little easier to bare.
So hang in there Subby,your amongst good company
Take care of yourself
Kath S (43yrs)
QUOTE (Subby @ Oct 9 2009, 05:32 PM)
I'm not sure if i am going through peri-menopause or not. I am a 40 year old woman and my periods are fairly regular but not the way they used to be. I used to be right on the button and I could even give you a time of when i was getting my period but now it's either 3 days early, 2 days late, lasts for 8 days rather then 4. Last year i had a 16 day period. My biggest sypmton is that i cannot concentrate. I have no ability to focus on anything. It feels like i have cotton brain and no matter how hard i try and can't get out of it. Yesterday i made a huge mistake at work that cost my boss $3500. Now i don't worry about getting fired but i feel horrible about it. It's getting worse and worse. I was tested for my hormone levels last February though a blood test. The first one, my Estrogen was extremely low as were my LH and FSH levels (not sure if that's what it is called) were very low. The doctor had me go for another one 1 month later, my estrogen was normal but again those other 2 levels were low. She kept telling me i was a candidate for depression but I seriously don't feel depressed. Yes I feel down sometimes and things become very overwhelming but I am not depressed. I am overwhelmed because I can't think straight. I went on anti-depressants because I was desperate. It affected my sex life pretty bad... didn't have the ability to have an orgasm. She referred me to a woman's clinic... i finally had an appointment last Wednesday after waiting for 8 months. She said I was probably going through the very beginning stages.. This gets worse? I dont' think that I can handle it. Anyway she sent me for all sorts of blood tests... iron levels, LH and FSH hormone levels etc... the only problem is that i don't get to see her until May! I can't function anymore and certainly not for that long without some kind of relief. I am so frustrated. I just made an appointment for the doctor again and am thinking about going back on the anti-depressants only becuase i have heard that they do help with the hormone levels somewhat. I have tried all the natural stuff.... i drink soy milk everyday, eat plenty of fiber, vegetables and was exercising 5 times a week. I haven't exercised in a while becuase i feel so bone tired that i can barely get off the couch some days. Anyone have any ideas.. HELP!
Dear Subby
Am sorry you are going through such a rough time.
You are definitely starting Peri but please stay calm.The reason that you get different Hormone readings is because the hormones fluctuate during this time.
You are not feeling depressed so probably ADs are not needed but have you thought of discussing Bio-Identicals or HRT with your Gyno.They may be very helpful to you.
Anyway, you made a great start by joining this Forum where you will find lots of support and great information from ladies going through the same thing.
So Welcome and hope to see you around often.
All the Best
Elizabeth
QUOTE (Subby @ Oct 9 2009, 08:32 AM)
I'm not sure if i am going through peri-menopause or not. I am a 40 year old woman and my periods are fairly regular but not the way they used to be. I used to be right on the button and I could even give you a time of when i was getting my period but now it's either 3 days early, 2 days late, lasts for 8 days rather then 4. Last year i had a 16 day period. My biggest sypmton is that i cannot concentrate. I have no ability to focus on anything. It feels like i have cotton brain and no matter how hard i try and can't get out of it. Yesterday i made a huge mistake at work that cost my boss $3500. Now i don't worry about getting fired but i feel horrible about it. It's getting worse and worse. I was tested for my hormone levels last February though a blood test. The first one, my Estrogen was extremely low as were my LH and FSH levels (not sure if that's what it is called) were very low. The doctor had me go for another one 1 month later, my estrogen was normal but again those other 2 levels were low. She kept telling me i was a candidate for depression but I seriously don't feel depressed. Yes I feel down sometimes and things become very overwhelming but I am not depressed. I am overwhelmed because I can't think straight. I went on anti-depressants because I was desperate. It affected my sex life pretty bad... didn't have the ability to have an orgasm. She referred me to a woman's clinic... i finally had an appointment last Wednesday after waiting for 8 months. She said I was probably going through the very beginning stages.. This gets worse? I dont' think that I can handle it. Anyway she sent me for all sorts of blood tests... iron levels, LH and FSH hormone levels etc... the only problem is that i don't get to see her until May! I can't function anymore and certainly not for that long without some kind of relief. I am so frustrated. I just made an appointment for the doctor again and am thinking about going back on the anti-depressants only because i have heard that they do help with the hormone levels somewhat. I have tried all the natural stuff.... i drink soy milk everyday, eat plenty of fiber, vegetables and was exercising 5 times a week. I haven't exercised in a while because i feel so bone tired that i can barely get off the couch some days. Anyone have any ideas.. HELP!
peri menopause or am i going crazy?
YES to BOTH! LOL! Hi there and welcome. I wish that I would have found this board years ago. It would have saved me much heartache and wasted days. I am in peri, but am on bio-identical hormones. I take Estrogen, Progesterone, and testosterone. I feel great now. I used to think I was going crazy, too. My short term memory was shot, and I felt like I live in a brain-fog. You don't need AD's, you probably just need hormones. I am on continuous BHRT, so my hormone levels stay stable. I feel great again. When you are in peri, your hormones go up and down...If the natural stuff worked, I would have felt fine. Make sure you get your testosterone checked. This is an important hormone to supplement if you are low.
You can ask for a trial of bios and see how you feel. Even though you test might be normal on paper, that does not necessarily mean that these levels are normal for you. The test should only be a baseline. You should be treating for symptoms.
Shebee
Hi Subby.......
Yep, sounds like hormone chaos to me........I was 31 when I started peri.......but my blood was very covert in its findings!
Ad's are a good med for depression and some forms of chronic pain.......however, they do not effect the sex hormones as such. The fluctuations in sex hormones do impact on the hormones in the brain released from the pituitary(which is why it is also good to get tested for adrenals and thyroid when going in to peri, just to make sure) which include serotonin, dopamine, and others......AD's can help regulate some of these neurotransmitters......however(and this is just my theory), the body is making its own rules, so AD's can work against the natural want of the body.......so it tries to level serotonin and other hormones only to come up against rampant sex hormones interrupting the uptake by neurotransmitter receptors in the brain.....
This is my theory why some people benefit from AD's and some feel worse on them........everyone is individual and has different levels of chemicals in the brain.......so some AD's may work better than others......and most AD's have good anti-anxiety agents in them to help with the dreads and anxiety......serotonin also effects memory and cognitive function.......so if those levels can be evened out, well, it may help. But these levels may be evened by HRT of any form.....in my research I found that there was a decrease in the incidence of Alzheimer's for women who took some form of HRT through meno, than those that didn't.......not to cause panic, for those who do not take it......all research should be taken in its context......but it is interesting when we think of how bad our memories or recognition are.......I have also found papers that support the theory that peri sufferers have bad cognition and memory problems due to stress and that it has nothing to do with hormones.......yep, go figure.......the endocrine system is infinitely complex.......
If you are really struggling with anxiety or fog.......a good benzodiazepine may help every once in a while(diazepam(valium), Xanax, Temazepam(for sleep) or Ativan) some are long acting, some are short acting........Try the AD's if you want to.......and there are all different types.....SSRI's, MAOI's, SNRI's, TCA's and the list goes on.......I find that benzo's work well for me, and tried AD's but made me suicidal.......funny that.......I had been on AD's for years and they helped a treat for a mental illness, but not for peri, not for me......
So take good care babe........keep talking.......and yep, find out if you can get in to your doc sooner.......and whatever happens, don't take no for an answer.....if you feel like poo, there is ALWAYS a reason.........
Hugs,
Michah
Yep, sounds like hormone chaos to me........I was 31 when I started peri.......but my blood was very covert in its findings!
Ad's are a good med for depression and some forms of chronic pain.......however, they do not effect the sex hormones as such. The fluctuations in sex hormones do impact on the hormones in the brain released from the pituitary(which is why it is also good to get tested for adrenals and thyroid when going in to peri, just to make sure) which include serotonin, dopamine, and others......AD's can help regulate some of these neurotransmitters......however(and this is just my theory), the body is making its own rules, so AD's can work against the natural want of the body.......so it tries to level serotonin and other hormones only to come up against rampant sex hormones interrupting the uptake by neurotransmitter receptors in the brain.....
This is my theory why some people benefit from AD's and some feel worse on them........everyone is individual and has different levels of chemicals in the brain.......so some AD's may work better than others......and most AD's have good anti-anxiety agents in them to help with the dreads and anxiety......serotonin also effects memory and cognitive function.......so if those levels can be evened out, well, it may help. But these levels may be evened by HRT of any form.....in my research I found that there was a decrease in the incidence of Alzheimer's for women who took some form of HRT through meno, than those that didn't.......not to cause panic, for those who do not take it......all research should be taken in its context......but it is interesting when we think of how bad our memories or recognition are.......I have also found papers that support the theory that peri sufferers have bad cognition and memory problems due to stress and that it has nothing to do with hormones.......yep, go figure.......the endocrine system is infinitely complex.......
If you are really struggling with anxiety or fog.......a good benzodiazepine may help every once in a while(diazepam(valium), Xanax, Temazepam(for sleep) or Ativan) some are long acting, some are short acting........Try the AD's if you want to.......and there are all different types.....SSRI's, MAOI's, SNRI's, TCA's and the list goes on.......I find that benzo's work well for me, and tried AD's but made me suicidal.......funny that.......I had been on AD's for years and they helped a treat for a mental illness, but not for peri, not for me......
So take good care babe........keep talking.......and yep, find out if you can get in to your doc sooner.......and whatever happens, don't take no for an answer.....if you feel like poo, there is ALWAYS a reason.........
Hugs,
Michah
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