Not much action on this board, has anyone survive peri- meno? I'm guessing your in happy land again and don't want to dwell on or maybe you forgot peri? Ohhhhhhhhhh let it be soooooooooo!

I survived!

I'm still peri, but you sounded so forlorn I had to say

YOU GO GIRL---ITS SOMETHING TO AIM FOR !

(oh, please, tomorrow!!!)

I am post menopause for four years (periods stopped at 55 and I am 59) I wish I could say that it will be easy sailing, and maybe for some it will be. For me, just another "can of worms" being opened. Unfortunately, many women will continue to have same symptoms, perhaps different symptoms or even worsening of symptoms. It seems never ending but I am sure there will be better days ahead. My mother was 10 years post before she started feeling normal. I have six more years to go. <_<

Although I'm not officially "post," my periods have slowed way down (only 2 last year, and I've had none since November). I am seeing improvement! Less fatigue, sleeping better. Moods are more level.

Not to mention how nice it is not to have sore breasts anymore, and NO PERIODS!

There ARE blessings in the world....

Jacquie,

I envy you. I wish I was "on the other side". I'm sure I have a ways to go - only been in this for 6 months. But I wanted to ask you if you weathered through peri without using NHRT or did you use hormones to get you through all this?

I have not started using anything yet but have seen the doctor and she has given me a prescription for a compounded formula.

Just wondering how you handled all this peri stuff.

Maeflower

Snowmoon,

Not on the other side yet, but looking forward to it. I have asked the same question many, many times - and recently it dawned on me that my ancestral women made it through or I would not be here - so I try to sustain myself with that knowledge and hope some of their wisdom got passed in the genes.

Good luck to you!

Maeflower,
Interesting question - so far I've been through 6+ years of peri without natural or synthetic hormones relying on herbal, homeopathic, and energy medicine to get through, although at times I really wish I could take something (hormonal replacement of any kind is not an option in my case). Everyone's experience and story is so different - this board is a lifesaver! All the best with your journey as you hopefully find what works for you.

Take good care and have a great day!
nj

I have been post menopausal for almost 5 years now and I will be 54 next month. I was on hormone replacement and doing well on it with regard to no hot flashes, no vaginal dryness, no dry skin, lots more energy but then when they came out with the HRT studies I went off of them. Hot flashes came back in a big way, vaginal dryness that really put a cabosh on our sex lives, dry skin, overwhelming anxiety and depression. But I do have high hopes that it will get better. I am considering trying the bioidentical hormones again but just haven't made a final decision yet. Everyone is different, even in the same families. My mother was on hormones for over 40 years so I can't really go to her for answers but I have two older sisters and one had similar symptoms like mine but the other one had a few hot flashes and that was it.

I haven't taken hormone replacement. The hot flashes, night sweats, fatigue, etc. were bothersome, but tolerable. All of these have eased with my periods slowing way down.

When I hit the wall with anxiety/depression, I got onto Lexapro, because it was truly necessary - it's been the only medication I've used for perimenopause. I had tried all the supplements (including progesterone creme) in the world, and never saw enough difference to keep with them. But I do want to point out that some women on these boards have been helped a LOT by a particular product.

I don't like medication, so have taken the "less is more" approach. But hey, whatever helps is OKAY. Each of us is dealing in her own way with a unique set of symptoms. It's ABSOLUTELY worth experimenting!

Best of luck to you!

Jacquie

Damn,damn,damn....47 weeks and last night I started my period!

I thought I was on the way to becoming a new member!

Oh Alice NOOOOO!!! I'm so sorry. You poor thing. After that long I can only imagine how you must feel. (((((((HUGS))))))))

OOOOOOOOOOOOH *%**%%* *&*^$ ALICE !!!!!!!!

FEEL FOR YOU .........

Julie x

I've moved into the phase of real live menopause after suffering with peri-symptoms for about 7 years. I'm only 45 and I haven't had a real period since last July and only about 2 a year for a couple of years. I had a little tiny bit around New Years. I wish I could say that the symptoms get better after the periods stop, but mine have gotten about 20 times worse. I would have never even dreamed that was possible. I have to keep reminding myself that this is just a transition and it can't last forever. I had an appt. with my GP yesterday and she actually asked me "what makes you think you're going through menopause?" Uh, let's see .... No periods, hot flashes, night sweats for almost ten years now, memory loss, mental confusion, extreme fatigue, anxiety attacks, suicidal thoughts, homicidal thoughts, severe depression, growing chest hairs, mood swings, weight gain, etc... got all afternoon, doc? I was actually diagnosed 3 years ago by my Gyno who put me on the lowest dose of HRT for a short period of time. He retired and moved out of state so I've just been seeing my GP since then for annual physical stuff. It's really time to find another GYN who will listen. Thank God I've found you guys as an outlet to share information and experiences. At least I know now that I'm not a complete and total freak, and even if I am, it's only temporary.

Usd2B, you should have said "hot flashes, night sweats and vaginal dryness". and they would have said "Of course you are my dear". They seem to be the only symptoms that doctors are aware of!

Hi to everyone,

well, I am now about three years post and can say that I still have most of the symptoms, but much less severe >Physically, gerd, reflux aching joints and muscles, elbows wrists knees and shoulders seem to be the worst, absolute fatigue for a few days each month where I just CAN'T do anything, can't sleep, can't get enough air.
Emotionally, anxiety, adrenalin rushes, lightheaded, off balance, nausea, brain fog lots of tears, crying, wanting a hug, wanting my mum(desperately), (she died 20 years ago), feelings of intenses love for my daughter and all my animals, to the point it makes me cry.
Then, the depression for one week a month where I don't give a damn about anything, what I look like doesn't matter, don't care, try to forgive myself for not being perfect, cry lots, don't want anyone around me, try to hug myself, want my sister that I never met and never knew I had, sleep like a log through sheer exhaustion.

I have learnt to accept how I am now, with the help of everyone on this board and with Claire Weekes books, I think acceptance is the main word. I am not going to be the person I used to be, but the new me is wiser if nothing else, and that's OK.

Thanks to all for just being there.

Luv Jenniffer

I have gone 47 weeks and started a period. I forgot how yuk they make you feel. The last few weeks I could sleep for England and I wish I could be left alone to hibernate.

Oh Jennifer, that's sad. I was hoping that I'd be like Cinderella. Bang on 12 months period free I would turn into a new woman.


Oh dear!

Oh Alice - that s*cks! As you know - you posted to my Bleeding post here - I went 2 years then had a period last week. Nuns in convents have periods together - are we passing hormones via internet posts ?

I used to want to be 40, then I wanted to be 50 cuz 40's brought peri-meno - now... I'd say I wanted to be in my 60's but... i'm gonna try to weather this experience of the last week. I'm gonna tell you though - along with that period came back my old skin tone and some inkling of sexual desire reappeared. And that old chin zit the size of Texas reared it's ugly face again. So, parts of me celebrated - never thought I'd say THAT!

Read my post about my biopsy experience yesterday - I have to start counting from 0 again - sigh. I asked my BIL via email - "when oh when does it end - we have no fat ladies in the family to sing!" I think he is still recovering from the fact that I would discuss meno with him - no reply yet. Since we both write - i write poetry and short stories - he'd emailed something about his current work in progress and asked me about mine. I started me email reply with "if I was writing anything now, it would probably be cuss words..."

Hope all is well with you today - please let us know how it goes and if the bleeding has stopped. I'll be thinking of you till u post again - if I can find the post... still having a hard time navigating these boards.

Later ~

Liz

I just clicked track this post thinkging it would, by some miracle, let me know what replies are posted. Sorry, there were too many options and I didn't undersstand them so I'm left to my own navigational skills - this from someone who says 3 0'cock for right and 9 o'clock for left. I will try my best to keep up with ths thread.

Hi Everyone!

I'm 52 and guess still peri for the last 12 years. Have only had 2 periods in the last 2. The board has been very helpful and have even recommended it to my friends. Even after experiencing every sympton know to womankind, I still believed that someday I might return to normal. Anyone who has made it to the otherside--Do we get thru this with acceptance of what changes have taken place or do we actually go thru hormonal changes that take us to the other side. Hopefully to a better place.

Thanks All, Jan

My estrogen level (21) indicated Post


I am worse that I have ever been

So if this is post - where do I go from here?


I give up - I can't do this anymore


Donna

Still going Lizi but only warrants a regular tampon unlike the similar size to the channel tunnel which I used to have to use! (And then I had to change within the hour) Thanks for asking.

Have you been to see your doc yet?

Hi everyone who has posted here!
I am post - no periods for 1 year and 3 months! Since I have always been mildly depressed, I have trouble figuring out what might be symptoms of menopause. But I hear you guys saying that fatigue, sleeplessness, crying spells, hot flashes and dry skin, etc are part of this. Oh and terrible foginess, memory problems...people laugh at me because I am so spacey. So thanks, maybe the increase in these kinds of symptoms really are related to the meno. So what do we do to weather these storms and have your physicians attributed your symptoms to other things (like depression, bipoar etc...and not acknowledged the mid-life/meno part?)

HANGING IN THERE!
Carolly

I haven't had a period for 10 years and I'm in post menopause hell right now. I was on HRT's and all that does is "stall" menopause. As soon as you go off the HRT you're in full swing. So you might just as well not take them to begin with and get it over with. There is no end in sight. Sorry

I haven't had a period for just about a year and a half now. Some things seem to be better, but some are worse--and of course, it seems like there's always something NEW coming along to worry about!

My constant dizziness and vertigo seems to be quite a lot better, though I am still bothered at times. My moods are MUCH more stable---I do not get anywhere near as angry/irritable/tearful as I used to. Most of the time I'm in a good mood, or at least good enough that I don't want to tear somebody's head off. (My dh really appreciates this feature, lol.)

I don't seem to have breast tenderness any more, though I still get the "bloat" every month right around the time it would be my period if I was having periods. I still get the "carb cravings" around that time too. In fact, the cravings are the only way I can tell what time of the month it is.

My hot flashes don't seem to be as severe as some. I'll get very hot for a few minutes, then it subsides. It's tolerable.

The vaginal dryness and lack of interest in sex I could do without, lol.
I do have various aches and stiffness, but I don't know if it's due to meno or just "old age" creeping up!

I was 48 when I entered menopause, and the only thing I've used during peri (except for vitamins) is progesterone. I've done well on that.

I'm glad some of these symptoms have improved, but there are still enough unpleasant and/or new ones, that I'm wondering when I'll feel back to my old self too.

Anyone postmenopause who is still taking antidepressants or mood elevators?
Will this be a way of life or does this balance out along with the physical symptoms? Thanks for your advice!

Jan

Greetings everyone, I am so glad to find this site! I am post menopause. I stopped having periods in Feb 1998 @ 43 yrs of age when my mother died. I have had trouble with doctors ever since. I do not want to take hormones and did try for 6 months about 2 years ago. I noticed nothing!
I am depressed, taking zoloft, I can never sleep, taking triazolam, and I have panic attacks, taking clonazepam. I am also high cholestrol, taking lipitor. Wow, that sounds terrible! I still have the occassional hot flash usually at bed time. I haven't had sex in 1 year, my last pap hurt so bad I ended up in tears and couldn't sit down for 2 days. I have just started vagifem for vaginal dryness (recommended by a friend). Hope that works!

Most of the sleeping drugs make me more hyper. I have just started the panic attacks about 3 months ago, heart paps. One night the left side of chest area hurt so bad I almost couldn't stand it. I constantly see my doctor. It seems he didn't understand, 'you need hormones - it will put a spark in your life.' So I wrote him a letter and asked for the previous medications that actually worked for me and the vagifem.

So basically I have self prescribed and I still feel terrible. When I get home from work I am sooo tired, and then when it is time to go to bed, I can't sleep. I do drink wine some evenings. It helps me sleep - but not with the triazolam! Does it ever get better? The depression comes from many factors but it just seems to get worse. I am extremely sensitive (always have been) and feel impending doom quite often. I laugh alot and have fun but then..............

Glad this board is here and thanks for listening

I really don't have an answer for you Aunty Q. For me, to stay sane, I needed (&need) the hormone replacement. I started in to peri at about age 34. I had a complete hysterectomy at age 42. And I was "losing it"! Hot flashes, night sweats, anxiety attacks, mood swings, feeling in a daze, sleep problems, high weight getting higher...and so on. After some trial and error, Estrace and testosterone cream have brought "me" back! Most of the time, I feel pretty normal - though I tend to get anxious easily - but not as bad and for real reasons, not unexplained! I'm now 50, almost 51 - so I guess I'm finally to the age doctors believe women can be in menopause! (After about 16, 17 years of it!!!)

Zelma

I am rather certain that I will no longer be getting periods. For me, the emotional swings were the worst, but once I got used to what was going on and why, it seemed much easier to cope. I used Dong Kwai and ginseng as I was in Aisa and those were readily available. By the way, I think Dong Kwai is great for incresing lubrication. Good luck.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA ~ sorry snowmoon ~ couldn't contain myself

Im postmenopause for the last 18months.....still not feeling well at all.
Still having panic attacks and somedays very lethargic. Sleeping way better is
the only improvement I have seen yet.
I think im in the new can of worms stage yet. I guess ive got at least another
six years of this yet.
Thinking about that and quality of life...........Bio-identical hormones sound
pretty good.
Im exhausted trying to get through this.......and I beleive you never ever get
through it you will always have symptoms as your body gets more and more
defficient of hormones. Just different symptoms. I have very very few what
I call good days.
I wonder how do women sail through this????? I've just barely made escaping
several nervous breakdowns. Im very think though so I suppose that has very
much to do with it. I've been so nervous through it that I have had trouble
even gaining weight. My depression seems not quite as servere but I still have
it lurking most of the time.
Evenings are the worst......the cloud of negative rears its ugly head and I have
trouble relaxing enough to enjoy much of anything.
Somedays I've slept the entire day away...and thats not quality of life. I take
vitamins.........and I really think primrose gives me a boost now and again.
I think if you can store alot of weight you feel much better when you get to the
other side for me I was not able to do to good at that. Thanks everyone for
your support and posts so glad I had somewhere where I could relate.
I wish you all well......this menopause stuff is not for sissys!!!!

I would have no quality of life without being on antidepressants or something.
So for me i guess it will be the only way i will survive any of this. If its a way of
life..........im taking it.
When I think of all the time.......I took nothing and have wasted six years of my
life...........................you better beleive Im gonna take whatever I can now
since im Post and still not feeling to much better.
Seems like i couldnt wait to get to the other side of this and now Im here....
what a big let down
Just a trade off of symptoms (or another can of worms ) which someone else
mentioned.
So Im not going to feel guilty even if I decide bio-identical hormones at this point.
I figure I may have another 7 years like this who really knows.
One thing I do beleive............................its 13years long no matter what way
you want to slice it. By that time I will be to old to care how I feel i guess.
Your in this till your old, grey withered and a full blown Crone.

I am four years post meno and most of my symptoms are physical; prior to that, the symptoms were mostly mental. Not a good trade off, I wouldn't think.

Frankly, I found the physical symptoms MUCH easier to take than the emotional ones. Hot flashes and night sweats are a total pain, but despairing in the bed, unable to face the day is the WORST.

I am much, much better! I went without a period for 11 months (oh, yeah, had the big party all planned and then had to put it off!). But there has not been another period since October, no hormonal fluctuations, and hallelujah - no sore boobs. Everything has eased. I've been off antidepressants for several months!

It's so encouraging, as perimenopause was so utterly HORRID, I feared there was no possibility of ever getting back to my old self.

Everyone is different, and it is very disheartening to come to the Postmenopause boards and read of women still struggling after years of not having periods. This used to make me so afraid! But for me, there really has been significant, sustained improvement.

And of course, let's pray it goes on, and that I'm not back here crying one day!

Oh, BTW, I am 53, and the worst part of the peri lasted about 2 years.

It felt important to share this! Hang in, my Sisters!!!

Love to you all,
JJ

JJ,

Thanks for the inspiration post. I have had a very awful week with head pressure,
insomnia, tinnitus (ringing in the ear), hot flashes, crying, etc...

Did you have any of the tinnitus, this is really bad and I don't think I have slept this past week. My period seems to starting, so hopefully the symptoms will be less intense.

I am so scared I will continue to get worse. I am 48 years old and I think my symptoms started to get really bad the beginning of this year. Something have settled down.

I am considering taking the bioidentical hormones but I really don't want to prolong this process. I'll have to really discuss this with my doctor.

Take care and thanks again,

Plumeria

Hi Plumeria and all you ladies

I wanted to say that I too am a tinnitus sufferer and its a very unnerving condition to have, especially when it first begins. I first got it 20 years ago, after the birth of my third child, had three under three years at the time, so was pregnant most of the time previous to this. I had all the scans, tests etc available, and nothing helped, and I thought I would go mad with it. I was convinced I had a tumour or something really bad, nothing showed up at all.

However, as time passed, it eased, and I would only hear it occasionally, when very tired or stressed, or in an exceptionally quiet environment. It faded into the background. Now at menopause it has come back with a vengence! Which makes me realise it is hormone related, or maybe stress related, as before it appeared after childbirth. I have also read somewhere that it can be related to iron deficiency anaemia, which is interesting and you should get your iron levels checked.

What I want to say is that there is a way of coping with this, and somehow the brain learns a way to shut the high pitch noise out. It takes time, and an effort to stay very busy if you can, and then out of the blue you will realise that it has ceased to bother you, and is on its way to being gone. There are various help groups but I have never joined any of these. I find a ticking alarm clock in the bedroom ( they are hard to find nowadays) helps, also a walkman with some nice relaxing music by the bed. But the best advice I can give you is not to concentrate on it, just find anything at all to absorb your interest, and that will help the most. Good luck with this and know that it will fade away again in time.

Alfreda,

Thanks for your reply. The other problem besides the tinnitus is that I have become very sensitive to noise (hyperacusis). So what seems like normal noise to others maybe extremely loud to me that at the end of the day, my ear hurts.
I know this is hormone related because when I have a hot flash, the tinnitus kicks in. You are right, sometimes it is slight and other times really loud.

I have trouble sleeping because it really kicks in at night. I have checked my iron levels recently and it is normal.

Thanks for responding, I really appreciate it. The scarest thing for me is that I am only 48 years old and in peri but seem to have developed this.

I don't know if Natural HRT will help? Are you taking any hormones at this time?

Plumeria

Hi Plumeria

Yes I had that noise sensitivity too, very badly at first, years and years ago, as I said, after the babies. I couldnt bear the little high pitched voices of the children, and the odd shrill screech of the new baby!!! I thought I would never get through it, but that sensitivity did fade away, and yours will too, I am sure of it.
I noticed it also prior to periods, in the intervening years, a type of pms I suppose, but nothing like it was when my hormones were adjusting back, and my stress levels were high. I was 29 when I first got tinnitus, and am 50 now, but as I said, it faded for long periods of time, and I had almost forgotton about it, until it made a reappearance just recently. Even now I notice that if I make myself very busy with something, it dissappears,or I cease to notice it as much.
I am not taking any hormone treatment whatsoever, as I have a family history of breast cancer (mother), and I take some ordinary painkillers from time to time for osteo arthritis, although I try to take as little of anything as possible. I take the occassional Lexitan 1.5 (usually half it), when sleep fails me. It is a benzodiazapam, but it helps and I take very little. Also fish oil, but thats about it at the moment. My doc wants me to go on BP meds, which I am resisting at the moment. I do not think the tinnitus is related to high blood pressure though, as I didnt have raised BP when I got tinnitus at 29.
It is a horrible complaint, but be reassured that you will cease to notice it soon.
love Alfreda

Sorry don't want to bring you down but actually our ancestors tended to pop their clogs from hard work and poor health care before menopause. It's really our generation who are 'lucky' enough to go through it. Having said that I came through the other side (now 62) with more energy than for a very long time. I dreaded not being firtile, no more babies but no more periods has to be good.

I can just about live through all the horrid symptoms apart from one. I am noticing that hair that once grew in abundance where only those VERY close to me could see it, is now dissappearing and coming out of my chin!!

Other people have commented on how they've lost their pubic hair - I for one won't miss it! Despite keeping things clipped pretty short, I'm constantly having to go in search of hair that's managed to crawl up the urethra - ouch! And because my eyesight isn't as good as it used to be, it requires the use of bifocals and a magnifying glass!

You should have seen hub and I last month, me spread-eagled on the floor saying "ouch, ouch" while he tried to pull out a hair with the tweezers, me holding the magnifying glass because he can't see for **** these days, either. We roared about it afterward!

Oh, and how interested to see my post of just a few weeks ago about how great post-meno is. Here I am, back with the blues again! Guess it comes and goes in its OWN time.

Sorry, Sisters!

JJ

JJ......I thought I read somewhere that you said you began to feel yourself slipping again and went back on the Lexapro? Or am I just having another moment where I have all my facts/info wrong. If this is indeed so and you did go off the Lexapro, how long were you off it before you noticed yourself slipping back into the depression?

Gramz

I am 60 years old and have been post meno for four years. I am feeling so good. I had a heck of a peri-meno so it's nice to be able to sleep again, not have mood swings, bleeding has stopped, no brain fog, etc. I can't say that everyone will "come out" in post but I sure have. I tried hormones for three months during peri and that didn't work for me. The one thing, above all, that seems to really "work" for me is exercise. I didn't exercise for a year and gained 20 pounds. I have now lost the weight.

Hang in there all surgettes....

SusanC

skc..........thank you so much for your post! God bless you. I am so glad you feel so good now. You are tasting that menopausal zest. I want to taste that all the time. I had a taste of it in October when I skipped a period. No cycle...no symptoms...felt great....felt normal. Unfortunately, since then, I have had periods 20 days apart. Symptoms are back. Not bad symptoms, just the anxiety and shakiness. I have had nearly every symptom on that list. I love to read stories from women on here who feel so good now and normal.

I know everybody is different, BUT, how long after your last period did you feel good and normal on an ongoing basis? For about 5 weeks when I skipped that period, I felt great. I will soon be 49 years old. I have been going through this since the age of 32. I have had symptoms on and off for nearly 17 years. I know there is light at the end of this tunnel, I've seen it, I've tasted it....I know it's there. I have never taken anything but vitamins. I didn't want to mess up my already messed up hormones.

Please continue to post. I know there are a bunch of us on here who will find encouragement and inspiration in your posts. There are a few other "post" gals that I just love reading their stories.

Take care and I'm so glad you're "there".

Ladies,

Can anyone who has made it to the other side tell me how long symptoms hang on? I have gone a year now with NO periods........yahoo! Certainly is a change from the last 12 years of my life. Is it possible that I'll find the new me, soon?

Jan

Ladies....For me there is life after peri. Peri meno putting it nicely was the *&*# pits. I became post meno late, e.g. 56. My mom was a "late bloomer" too. If I remember correctly, it took about two years of off and on symptoms to level off. I was on an anti-dep for four years and have been off for almost a year. I do know that once in a while I seem to go into a cycle of insomnia. It doesn't last more then 3 days or so. I also seem to have pseudo sporatic PMS but that goes away within a couple of days and doesn't happen all the time.

I have found a new zest for life. I wrote a fiction book and am now editing it. I am also starting back to work part time in February helping other women over fifty find work. For so many years my lack of sleep was debilitating and I don't believe I could have handled a full time job. Also, I am not afraid to drive the freeway anymore. I had ten years of being absolutely terrified of driving the freeway and I am a Los Angeles girl now living near San Francisco. I also lived in Houston TX for 7 years. I am completely free of that phobia. My husband and I have transferred because of his job 4 times in 14 years. Stress can really aggrevate and amplify "the change" as my mom calls it. Things have simmered down for me and we are here to stay in California. No more transfers....Phew!

Love you ladies,
SusanC

Is there a correlation between late bloomers and early menopause and vice versa. You say skcintexas that your mom was also a late bloomer also.

I did not start my period until I was 17 years old. I will be 39 in April and I have had peri symptoms for the last year. My periods have been irregular just in the last 3-4 months, sometimes a week early sometimes a week late. I was just wondering if there was any coorelation between starting your period late and then entering menopause early. Although my mom was fully through this at age 41 she started her period at age 12 so i guess I just answered my own question. There must not be a coorelation.

Jill~