Hi, I'm 50. I started not having periods in my early 30s. Oh it wasn't so bad,, just every few months I'd not have one, No other problems so I put it down to stress. Then in my early 40s I went 4-5 months w/o a period. I fianlly went to have a yearly exam and realized it was over 9 months since my last period. Since I had my tubes tied at age 20 I didn't pay any attention to not having or having a period. I was feeling kinda smug about menopause, thinking I'm gonna skate thru since the only challange I had was a non- issue, no periods. Doc ran a few tests and told me I wasn't in memopause and gave me meds to start my periods regular. ok, they worked and I had 2 periods , on time. Then none. Went back, got more pills and they didn't work but by then I started having hot flashes so I figured the docs were wrong and since the hot flashes were no bad at all, no biggie. I knew if I could I didn't want any drugs, I heard far to much neg info about HRT. 'Sides, since t my hubby lost his job ( 3 yrs ago) I don't have medical insurance to afford them anyway.
The mood swings and the sleeplesness tho are driving me up the wall. I've had a lot of experince with depression caused from PTSD from a very bad childhood but in my early 30's I learned now to take responibility for my own actions and the depression and PTSD went out the window. Yet now the tools and tricks I learned aren't effective and untillI found this board I had no idea depression can be part of menopause. Found a lot of relief in the knowledge that my mood swings can be part of my hormomes! Not quite sure tho what I can do about it tho.. the boot straps only go so far. and I'm real tired of being depressed.... Maybe this is soon to be over right?

It's been 2 years now w/o a period I am sure hoping it's "over" soon and I can get my life back instead of being a slave to my hormones!

I am bothered by these 3 other symptoms as well, I had them all along but didn't know they were or could be part of menopause. First, I have dizziness, It feels like I swooped downhill on a rollar coaster for 5 to 10 secs... pretty scay when it happens when I am driving! Secondly .. tiredness.. been that way all my life, I have a slow metabolism ... ie borderline hypothroyidisum.....( my normal temp is 96.5 ... BP 95/ 75.. heart rate and resp are low too. ) And Thirdly... what I refer to as "bone cold"... so cold nothing external , like a blanket can warm me up. In fact during perim I used to sit in front of the forced air duct with a blanket tented over the duct and my body for hours on end and never feel hot. Last year I went and bought a hot tub and now I get in it 3-4 times a day and even when I wake up cold in the middle of the night I'll pop in it for a few minutes,,, so the hot flashes I get are welcomed LOL, I get warmed up naturally lol

I've made it this far,, I don't see any point in trying to get on any meds now.. so lonf as the depression and sleeplessness don't get any worse I'll mkae it thru......

Anyone out there who went thur this w/o any meds on this board? Love to hear from you and others too!

I am so sorry this post ended up here, I could have sworn I was posting in the newbie area under intorductions... Then I couldn't find a delete post option anywhere. Again, I'm sorry Pam

Hi WaPam and welcome to PS

I haven't taken anything either. And I don't see the point in taking anything now. I'm nearing the end of this.....I better be....been going thru this for 16 years!! But I've only had 3 years of really bad symptoms. Really bad for me was the anxiety and the spacey, unreal feelings. The stuff that messed with my mind. I'm handling the physical symptoms.

I wish I would have found Power Surge a few years earlier. I've only known about this site for a few months. But since then I feel so much better. Probably just knowing that other women actually feel the same way I do or did.

It sounds like you're another one where this peri stuff just hangs on forever! Just think of the menopausal ZEST we're gonna have when we're finally done with this stuff!!!

Take care and again welcome!!

WTF!!! &*%$#!!!

My post disappeared!!!!

wap...aka,..WaPam....Ill post ya another one Hun...

WaP....first of all, Welcome to PS hun, home of the Meno Manics....second, no need to ever applogize for long posts girl....rantin, ravin, frsustrations and just plain ole gabbin is diffinately allowed and welcomed here..(I learned that too.. ).The gals here are A1..Top shelf! Not to mention Dearest and with her labor of love and concern for women going through this ordeal, by creating and keeping this site running and updated with resources, and knowledge.(also by helpin men gain knowledge and hopefully learn how to support those women in their lives.)

I too have had my share of PTSD and depression, unlike you though, I still have times were the flashbacks and anxiety and depression gets the best of me. In finding out that there have been other situations that was burried and dint come out during therapy...(which is now aided by AD's)...not so many from my childhood, but alot still from my was abusive marriage. Been legally divorced now for 6 years, but have basically raised our kids from day one. I have 6 kiddlets, well, 5 i cant really call the kids, but anyways I have 3 boys and 3 girls ages 21,20,18,16,14 and 7.

I had experienced the dizzy, fog, hot flashes, night sweats, bone chill, fatigue, Tingling throughout the whole body, insomnia, irregular periods and the blasted* ringin and pingin and zapping in my head/ears, before I went on HRT.

I am not angry about taking them for I can look back and see if I hadnt, I would most likely not be here able to type this to you. I didnt know this though until 4 mos ago when using them , and when ya go off, everything is like being put on hold, and suppressin it. I am now using alot of the Vits., minerals, and some of the herbs to help me deal with this. This last month though Ill be honest with you, has been h*ll! Not only from my body being in the stage it is at, but because of death and bday anniversarys....so alot of the past and heavy soul searching, has caused a stir up.

As far as the bone chills,..the tub is the place for me too..no hot tub though sure would love and benefit from that I know...where did you say you live at ????!!!!

I strongly suggest to any woman, to go the natural route and use the vitamins...etc...you will find a wonderful area here on PS..in the reccommendations area out in the main menu....if they are not enough then try the NHRTs and lastly, if all else fails..HRT...

Oh I forgot, Im 42 now, and have been "bonified" peri since I was 38, but now I think I had started earlier like at 36, 37 even...just from the symptoms, but because of the other issues with depression and anxiety, pstd and stress...it can get complicated in tryin to figure out what is what...

Keep a posting, jump in and encourage others...even if its" ya me too," ..or "sorry I dont",..etc...EVERY and I mean EVERY tiny bit of validation helps each other..and even those that dont post but just are out there lurking!

Again welcome Hun!!

I meant to add also, that I have/had experienced so far 32 of the 34 symptoms listed...

Of course I'm not in a position to diagnose your problems, but your symptoms sound exactly like what my husband was going through before I hauled him off to the doctor one day.

The most striking things about his demeanor at the time was that he was totally t_i_r_e_d all the time, and even though we lived in Texas (!!) he couldn't seem to get warm. I looked at him one day when it was about 60 degrees, he was bundled up in a blanket on the couch, his skin looked greyish, his eyes were kind of sunken and hollow, he looked totally drained and tired--for no real reason.

I made an appointment for him with an endocrinologist pronto (after talking about his symptoms with my mother. She's the one who recognized them). The doctor said just looking at him, he had a classic case of low thyroid. They did all the tests and he's been on thyroid meds ever since. It has made a big difference.

Your symptoms sound VERY similar. Thyroid problems are fairly easily treated and are not uncommon as we age. The meds are cheap and effective. The thyroid gland is the master gland for all the other hormone systems. If it goes haywire, everything goes with it.

I strongly recommend that you see an endocrinologist and have your thyroid levels tested. It's a fairly easy fix as medical problems go, and the benefits to treatment are large. Go get this checked, you really need to see an endocrinologist. Once you're on the program it's easy maintenance and not expensive. Do it.

wow, thanks all what a wonderful warm reciption!

Tots, Menopauls zest? . never heard of it.. but from the sounds of it I've something to look forward too lol

DaMomma,, thanks for re-posting.
I have a long history of medical interferance. So when I learned I was mis-diagnoised with a certian disorder and wasted 7 yreas on thier drug therapy I knew I had lost faith in our medical community. I'll be glad to share the whole story if anyone asks ... don't want to bore ppl . Some of the things I discouvered about myself might help the he** yr going thru. I'm in Wa State ... hince the Wa in my name, Vancouver Wa to be specifi,, come on over anyting if you can. ! That goes for any of the othe ladies here who need a hot tub to soak away stress and the bone chills. ((((( hugs ))))

Ms_Mom,
I went and had my T levels tested 3 times while I had insurance. My doc said I was borderline low, not low enough to qualify for meds.. but you know it might not be a bad idea to get an outside opinion. I had Kaiser HMO *sigh* If I had insurance I'd do it again in a heartbeat but the funds are not there now. Last april I cracked my femer. Still havn't paid off the ER. I couldnt afford to have the leg casted and just went home with the soft cast and wraps .. took it very easy unitll it healed. I'm amased at what the body can do if left alone.

My thyroid is peachy...

wap...drop me a pm anytime hun...

WaPam

Tell us what you took their drugs for for 7 years of your life. I'm interested in the story. I have been misdiagnosed a few times but for minor things, nothing I had to spend 7 years of my life on. I'm like you, I think our bodies are amazing....they are made to heal themselves (sometimes)!!

Take care.

ok , here goes. Gonna warn you this is LONG
my mother is an alcoholic and my father in a workaholic. When I was 4 they got a divorce and we went to live with mom as dad was too busy. I remember the fights, the screaming the works. I most remeber being told by mom it was all my fault her life was a wreck, that if I had never been born she'd not have to drink. I also rememeber hearing over and over that she wished I was dead. When I was 5 mom was straight jacketed into an ambulane and my brother and I spent 5 days in juvy until dad had time to come get us. I didn't see my mom untill age 16 after that. Growing up with dad I was told over and over again I was crasy like mom, that girls were worthless and my only job in life was to find a man to support me. My brother on the other hand was the apple of dad's eye and did it all and got it all. I was sexualy abused by various men from age 7 on, at least thru them I felt love and acceptance.
I was 15 when I treid to kill myself the first time. I was eventually taken to the state mental hospital where I spent my 16th birthday nakid in lockdown. Through the summer I learned to do as asked in exchange for outings /swimming /tv normnal life activities. Again I found a man who would bring me treats in exchange for sex. I treid to commit suicide again and woke up after a 4 day drug induced coma. I was told if I didn't straighen out shock thereapy was next. I watched men and women go to and come back from shock theray. THAT frightned me so much I buckled down and did as told. 8 weeks later I was relased, told I was cured and now I can go back home.
I was home 4 weeks and left to live on the streets. I hitch hiked to San Fransico and found my mom, all I knew was her first name, the street she lived on and that she had red hair and was an artist. When I got there she wanted money from me, didn't want me to stay again she told me how I ruined her life and after a couple of days I hitch hiked back to Portland Oregon. When I got back I went to my dads office to say hi and he told me he had a place for me to stay. My dad had a dumpy old house converted to apartment. He let me be the "manager" my job was to swep the halls and dump the trash. I got a job, bought a car. At this point I was still only 16. I met my hubby and was married with 2 kids by age 20. I was 22 when I treid to kill my self again. By then we had health insurance and I was hooked up with a psychiatrist who decided I was a manic depressive. I was placed on Lithum, and a varity of anti depressents and met with him each week for 7 yrs. I fought really hard to "get better" and took my drugs faithfully. Towards the end of that 7 year period I tried to commit suicide again. It was the most seriouse attmpet to date. I took myself off in the woods and I was found by accident before I died. My Dr. had me get a book called Self-Talk by Dr David Stoop. WOW, it opened up my eyes, I learned I had complete control over all that happened to me, all my thoughts feelings actions were under my and only my control. That no one can make me feel or say or do anything without my allowing it. Self-Power is a heady thing. I worked really hard with the princples in the book and made great strides. Of course as I got better my marriage got worse. In fact myhubby started to beat me and one day threw me up against the wood stove and broke my arm. I refused to press chagres I was so scared of him and of being alone. My Dr made my hubby come in and told him if he ever hit me again he'd press charges on my behalf as my dr. A few weeks later I kicked my hubby out. By this time dad and I got a lot straigtend out and we were close friends. (He died 4 months later of complications related to polio he had as a teen.)
When I kicked out hubby was only allowed medical insuance for 6 months. towards the end of that time frame my dr said he could see me any more a I had no way to pay him. I got all my precroptoins filled and went to our mental health clinic in our area. I was shocked at the cost even on a sliding fee scale and deiced to try it on my ow w/o the drugs. I put all my drugs in a mayo jar and stuck the jar under the sink. Yes I went off ALL drugs, after 7 years, cold turkey. I never got sick, never felt any different, never got depressed. I was too busy working and rasing my 2 pre-teens. I was too busy trying to live the principles I read in the book Self-Talk. I won the house in the divorce and I made sure every house payment was made, that we had food and lights. A year went by and I was cleaning and found the jar. It was then I relaized I didn't need the pills I was my own person.and altho I wasn't where I wanted to be, life was good. I put them back under the sink tho.. parltly just in case and partly out of pride that I could look at them and relaize how far I had come.
The last time I tried suicde was on the 1st anni of my dads death. I took those pills and a 6 pack and drove to the parking lot of the hospt. Parked in the doctors lot , took all the pills and washed them down with 6 wine coolers. I woke up and for some reason decided I had to let my kids know about something before I died so I wobbled in the ER room asked to use the phone. The nurse asked me if I was alright and I looked up at the clock, said not bad for someone who had taken enough pills to kill a horse about hour or so ago and then I passed out. I woke up I was in the phcy ward. I spent the 72 hour hold analizing the past year and what it was that led me to this current state. Got sorted out what I needed to sort out. The docs wanted me to go back on the meds and I refused. I knew what went wrong, took responsibilty for it. When I got back home I dug a lot deaper into myself and I've never been suicidal again. Thats been almost 20 yrs now.
today.. I LOVE life and love my "pollyanna " optimistic attidue. I make a joke of my past.... If it wasn't for poor self-esteem I'd been a junkie or an alcholic but I didn't think enough of myself to spend the money on myself to get there. *grinning*

Got tired fingers now, but I'd be happy to answer any questions anyone might have.
Pam

Pam

God Bless you for sharing your story. You have way more strength than you probably imagine. At times, I used to think I didn't have a normal childhood but mine was a walk in the park compared to yours.

Please stick around here...you are an inspiration!!

Hi Pam,

Bless your heart

I am so glad you found PS,this will be a safe haven for you.

On this site you will find comfort from many women from all different backgrounds .The women here are very supportive and give advice from there hearts

Welcome,we are glad your here

Thanks so much for sharing your life with us I know it must have taken all of the strength you had to dig deep into your past again,for that i commend you i can imagine how painfull that was.

Keep posting and reading posts it will put your mind at ease.

NEVER forget how special you are.Always remember to tell yourself that EVERY DAY.

The things our parents do,positive or negative effect us for a lifetime.Its hard when left up to us to pull ourselves up and out.Thats why caring people are so important in our lives....and the best thing is WE get to pick now.We can chose whom we want in our lives.


glad you PICKED ps,

BIG HUGS,

Lynda

Thanks Totos,
the thing is everyone has just as much inner streagnth as I have. It not a question of smarts, luck, postion or anyother external factor. Its all from within . When the pain of change is less than the pain of remaining the same people change. When one learns that happines is born from attitude one is happy

Pam

I know exactly what you are saying!!! I have read many, many books just like that.