I've been reading alot under this topic and I can't believe how much I can relate to everyone. I feel like I've lost my life since I've entered perimenopause. I wish all of you lived in my area and we could get togther regularly like an AA group or even talk on the phone. I've had so many horrible symptoms in the past 6 weeks they've been relentless. I'm barely functioning. Been to the ER last Oct with racing heart - had EKG then on Nov 4th had holter monitor on for 24 hours and for the last six weeks had a tension headache - been to the ER had a CAT scan - followed up with neurologist and had an MRI - he put me on medication and it's not doing much. I started FEMHRT yesterday and I'm hoping this gives me some relief. My other symptoms are tinnitus (I believe that's what it is), tired, weak, muscles ache, off balance, heart palpitations, crying constantly. I used to exercise 3 - 4 days a week now I struggle every day to go to work. I just got married for the first time last August (I'm 46 years old) and I'm feeling horribly guilty that my husband is going through all of this with me. I feel like I'm losing it most of the time. I know it the perimenopause and hormones as I've had blood work and everything checks out. My doctor wants me to see a therapist/psychiatrist for medication (I'm on some already for the headache situation). So, I guess we're just supposed to be drugged for the depression, anxiety, etc. I don't do very well on medication. I feel scared most of the time. I so appreciate all the posts here and wish everyone the best in their journeys. Thanks for reading. Karen

Karen,

I saw myself in your post about this time last year. Everything seems to fall apart at once and your healthy predictable body all of a sudden betrays you. It's hard to function let alone be there for anyone else. Be patient with yourself. You will get better. I'm still on my journey but I have gotten a bit better in the past year. I just had my yearly physical (after a ton of tests and doctors last year) and finished wearing a holter monitor because I reported the palps I've had.....so....yes....peri is still causing me some grief and worry but not as much as it was. It really has taught me to trust in God and just take things day by day. I'm sure you hubby will be patient and understand. Don't hesitate to be honest with him about what you are going through. I really hope you begin feeling better soon...God bless...

TeeJay

TeeJay
Thank you for you kind words. I hope this is over soon.
Karen

Karen...

You are not alone. I have been thru the same thing since a long time ago.. I posted today because I am having again scary symptoms... the only place or people who I told is it is here and my husband... none of my friends and family have had the same so they look at me as a crazy person...I had a friend of mine that I told all my symptoms and she has not talked to me anymore, thanks God my husband have learned what is happening to me and is by my side, but it is awful... hope you could go thru this thinking it wont last forever... wish the best for you...

I was so glad to read your post, TeeJay. I feel like a broken record on the boards, telling women it will get better. I'm almost four years post, and ever since that first complete year without a period, things have slowly but steadily improved. It's so slow that you can't keep track of it. I had actually accepted that I was going to feel awful for the rest of my life. Then it dawned on me one day that I had not had a particular symptom in a while. In a while?? I thought I'd have all 34 symptoms the rest of my life. But slowly and gradually, they do either go away or improve a lot. This year, I've noticed that even the hot flashes are better and I never thought I'd be rid of those! They used to make me dizzy and nauseated, not to mention soaked with sweat all day and all night. My clothing was damp all the time from flashing! Now, when I get an occasional flash, I still know it, but there's no dizzinees and nausea, and the flash is just not as intense (even the torpedo flashes). I'm filled with warmth, but it passes with much less sweating.

My energy level has returned and I feel like I'm back to my old personality again. For a while in peri, I didn't feel like myself at all and I hated doing everything that I used to love. I was lonely and I cried about anything. Now, I rather enjoy being by myself and can't remember when I last really cried, not like in peri when it was every day.

I have a friend who has tinnitus, and I can relate to this. I had a variation in peri, where I'd continually somehow get water in my ears and have infections. I don't swim, but when bathing or washing my hair, I'd get water in my ears and no matter how hard I tried to shake it out, I couldn't. I used cotton swabs even though you're not supposed to stick those in your ears. The crackling water sound deep in my ears drove me nuts, but I couldn't get it out, and after a few days, I got a painful infection called "swimmer's ear." I started keeping the prescription drops for it in my refrigerator for the next time, even though the directions said to discard the unused portion. I kept them because I knew I would need them shortly.

There is no change that would cause me to STOP getting swimmer's ear. I still bathe and shower the same as before. For some "mysterious" reason, I no longer get water trapped in my ears. I don't care what anyone says; I know it was from peri because that's the only thing that has changed now that I've moved into post.

Karen, I wish I could fast forward you to when you will feel better, but that's up to your own system. Once you get used to the new hormone level, gradually things go back to normal.

karen-

I'm probably not the best person to offer advice because, like you, I'm in the thick of it. I am a totally
different person than one year ago and I'm struggling to find my way back to normalcy. I was desperate
enought to try Ad route, and am considering hormones. All these things we wouldn't dream of doing in the past become more attractive when we find that our lives have disintegrated. Like others have said, I don't know personally anyone going through this hell except for those on these boards. Maybe we are on the extreme end or maybe others just haven't made it public. I look at people my age and wonder why
they aren't going through this. I try to hold on to the hope posted by others who have come out the other end of this. Don't feel shy about posting your problems. You'll find support and verification from others as you can already see. This is so unfair and I pray you find relief with whatever route you choose.

Hugs
Lidge

Hi, everyone! I am 50 years old, and trying to make the right moves. I know I am in perimenopause and my gynecologist agrees. I still have regular periods. I had my FSH, LH and TSH checked. I got the results today as I was driving out of the garage after work, and didn't have my wits about me. I did not ask what the actual levels were, except the TSH. The gyn felt my symptoms might be related to my thyroid. I said, "Nope, not messing with my thyroid."

To back up, I had a hemithyroidectomy in August of 2000. By the beginning of 2001, I had put on 25 of the 35 pounds I fought to lose, was beyond fatigue, had exercise intolerance, had brain fog, hurt in strange places and generally felt like a lump and I was already morbidly obese). Of course, my doctor wanted to treat the symptoms - here is something for pain, you need to exercise more, eat less, blah, blah, blah.My doctor was willing to try a small dose of thyroid hormone to see if it helped. By a stroke of luck, I went to an absolutely fantastic endocrinologist, who put me on three times the dose my PCP was willing to try, and also looked at my insulin level (I happened to have asked to have that checked) and she started me on metformin for that (insulin resistance). In a couple of weeks, I was feeling better, my TSH was coming down. I had some bumps in the road - didn't tolerate Synthroid well, had gastric bypass and lost weight so had to have the dosage readjusted. The bottom line is that my thyroid has been stable for about 3 years, now, and I am slightly on the hyperthyroid side, (TSH .22) which is fine with me.

My current problems were really bad last month - rage, crying jags, irritable, totally out of control. I realized it was time to do something, so I made the appointment. So now I guess I am just pain crazy since my hormones are fine!

I was prepared for the hot flashes and night sweats - never had any (yet). As far as hyperthyroid symptoms - well, sometimes anxiety is a symptom. But I have no heat intolerance - I'm cold more often than not, I don't have palpitations, my resting heart rate is 68. Weight loss is s a symptom of hyperthyroidism and I can't lose a pound to save my life right now. I just don't believe my episode the past weeks was due to my thyroid. I've been stable for so long; wouldn't that have happened earlier, at a time when my TSH was even lower? So how can I be so emotionally out of control and still have "normal" FSH and LH?

Am I losing it? I'm in the process of getting a divorce (and I started this over a year ago). I work a full time office job, and also do some home care on the weekends (I'm a nurse). I take care of the house, the dogs and cats and until just last week, was still active in a high school organization doing volunteer work (twelve years was long enough!). I have two grown sons and an 88 year old mother that lives nearby and is in pretty good health. I have a lot going on in my life and have always been able to handle things.

So what do you all think? Am I losing it? Am I missing something? What do I do next? See another doctor and get another opinion? I already know I will ask my PCP to check some other hormone levels when I see him next week. I was such an emotional wreck I probably could have done someone bodily harm - luckily the boys were working and the husband was camping with the Boy Scouts. At least I had plenty of private time to cry my eyes out!

This site has been such a great source of reassurance, as so many women are going through the same thing only in more ways than imaginable. I just feel so alone and very confused right now.

Thanks for listening and any advice is welcome!

Sue

Are you losing it?

Honey, I'm exhausted reading the list of responsibilities you have!!!!! I'd say you're amazing in your capacity to keep going!!!!!

Lots of us have had the crappy horrible feelings of anxiety/rage/depression (all of these in the course of a single MINUTE at times!) , without any specific thyroid issues. Hormones can wreak real havoc for some of us!

Talking with your doc about all this wouldn't hurt, but keep in mind that checking hormone levels in perimenopause is iffy, as they can fluctuate even over the course of a day. There are things to consider, of course hormone replacement therapy, some of the over-the-counter approaches, too. I had to get onto an anti-depressant, but have resisted hormone replacement, only because depression has been the only "serious" symptom I've experienced in peri. I find the hot flashes, etc., tolerable.

Good luck, and do know that you are not losing it, LOL. Just riding the same ride as lots of others among us!

JJ

I too have had many of the same tests performed you have. I am very active and fit, can't seem to lose weight though, but lately, about the last 6 months I have been have a lot of pain - back, neck, legs, behind -and depression - my goodness!!! and I feel so out of control. My best friend said her doctor just put her on Cymbalta for depression and pain and it seems to be doing well. I think I am going to ask my doctor to try me on it as well. Will let you know how that goes. Hang in there.