Only46
04-03-2004, 10:26 AM
Hello ladies,
I'm new to the board and symptoms of perimenopause. I have not had many symptoms to date. A few times I have woken up with night sweats over the past year and sometimes during the day I'm feeling warm and am unsure if it's my body temperature or the room temperature so check in with others about how hot it is. Most people confirm that they are warm as well.
I hate humid weather and dread the thoughts of feeling like I'm in a heat wave when it's the middle of winter. :rolleyes:
I have been having *very*heavy periods for the past year and sometimes they would be normal. I quit smoking over a year ago and gained considerable weight. When walking to catch the transit to work I would find myself out of breath. I was perturbed by the fact that I had quit smoking and found myself in worse shape from the weight gain. A yearly physical found my blood levels anemic. Good grief, I had no red blood cells carrying oxygen for me! :eek:
So, that's the story of my introduction to perimenopause at the young age of 46. I'm now taking high iron supplements and trying to increase my iron levels through diet. It's been 3 weeks and I'm still not feeling the return of my usual hi energy self. I found a Canadian (my home) site that talks about perimenopause and this symptom of heavy blood flow during menses. I'm going to try taking the ibuprofen as suggested and hope it helps. I feel like the life is literally draining out of me. :yawn:
My friends are either already finished with menopause or close to it, so i'm hoping to learn and commiserate with others in this stage. I'm just statrting to read and learn. Here is the Canadian site with a chart for flow etc.
http://www.cemcor.ubc.ca/articles/misc/very_heavy_menstrual_flow.shtml
Cheers
Only46
I'm new to the board and symptoms of perimenopause. I have not had many symptoms to date. A few times I have woken up with night sweats over the past year and sometimes during the day I'm feeling warm and am unsure if it's my body temperature or the room temperature so check in with others about how hot it is. Most people confirm that they are warm as well.
I hate humid weather and dread the thoughts of feeling like I'm in a heat wave when it's the middle of winter. :rolleyes:
I have been having *very*heavy periods for the past year and sometimes they would be normal. I quit smoking over a year ago and gained considerable weight. When walking to catch the transit to work I would find myself out of breath. I was perturbed by the fact that I had quit smoking and found myself in worse shape from the weight gain. A yearly physical found my blood levels anemic. Good grief, I had no red blood cells carrying oxygen for me! :eek:
So, that's the story of my introduction to perimenopause at the young age of 46. I'm now taking high iron supplements and trying to increase my iron levels through diet. It's been 3 weeks and I'm still not feeling the return of my usual hi energy self. I found a Canadian (my home) site that talks about perimenopause and this symptom of heavy blood flow during menses. I'm going to try taking the ibuprofen as suggested and hope it helps. I feel like the life is literally draining out of me. :yawn:
My friends are either already finished with menopause or close to it, so i'm hoping to learn and commiserate with others in this stage. I'm just statrting to read and learn. Here is the Canadian site with a chart for flow etc.
http://www.cemcor.ubc.ca/articles/misc/very_heavy_menstrual_flow.shtml
Cheers
Only46
Sponsor
carol24
04-03-2004, 10:41 PM
HI
i am also new to this site so nice to know we are not alone.
I also have heavy periods had them all my life, but now i am getting them every other week, somtimes i am so tired i cant stand it.i cant take iron as i am so constipated it would just make it worse. i dont have any answers. thanks for the website you submited it was very helpful.
carol
i am also new to this site so nice to know we are not alone.
I also have heavy periods had them all my life, but now i am getting them every other week, somtimes i am so tired i cant stand it.i cant take iron as i am so constipated it would just make it worse. i dont have any answers. thanks for the website you submited it was very helpful.
carol
bobana10
04-04-2004, 10:25 AM
Dear Ladies, As I have just finished posting on the previous thread, Welcome to the board, and you are not alone by a long shot. Heavy periods has been a way of life for me for several, several years missed periods, spotty ones, hot flashes, depression, wieht gain, you name it I felt it. And I felt so alone as visiting many doc's for these symptoms over the years and not one ever mentioning per-menopause, I felt that I was doomed to loose my mind, and body forever. As Molly and others on this board suggested I purchased the book " Before The Change" by Ann Lousie Gittleman and I purchased her other book "The Fat Flush Plan" I have been taking the peri-zappers that she talks about in her book for over 2 weeks now and have felt SO much better already. Hang in there and maybe check out the book, you have come to the right place. Sincerely Dana
google2007
04-04-2004, 01:02 PM
Hi ladies, I am 34 yr old and had one ovary removed 2 years ago due to ruptured appendix. I have all so had all the symptoms of perimenopause: night sweats, hair loss, and most of all bleeding for a month at a time. I have been to gyn but they believe I am to young to be going thru meno. I was started on provera 10mg for 10 days out of the month. Now , I know all the bad rap on hormones but I'll give em a try . Any body else on Provera or progesterone?
molly123
04-04-2004, 01:35 PM
Hello Only46 and Carol24,
Welcome to the board! It's amazing what we women have to go through! You are not alone! I never had heavy periods (thank goodness!) but my sister had them. Now, get ready for this....she had extremely heavy periods for 3 years straight - EVERYDAY!! I know it is hard to believe-but it's true. She also had clots to the point where it was like giving birth to a liver, it would clush out (sorry to get so graphic), had to constantly wear both tampon and pads, almost every 15 mins. going to the bathroom. She went to her gyn regularly and all checked out. The gyn wanted her to have a hysterectomy. She didn't have it done but instead dealt with it. What's weird was that my sister wasn't anemic from all this. She had to be high in estrogen in order to bleed so much. There is a section in the book "Wisdom of Menopause" by Christiane Northrup that talks about heavy periods, so it is normal. She also put on a lot of weight suddenly too. It all settled mostly in the stomach area.
I also hate humid weather. I get occasional night sweats and hot flashes but they are very mild. I think the supplements that I've been taking as recommended from the book "Before the Change" by Ann Louise Gittleman has really helped. Another book to read is "What Doctors Do Not Tell You About Perimenopause" by John Lee. With all of these 3 books, you can put together a plan for yourself to help alleviate the symptoms you have. Do whatever it takes to make yourself feel better...don't rely on drs. (esp. men drs.) to help you. You can vent here .... there are some terrific ladies here who are friendly, fun and great motivators! :bouncing:
Take care,
Molly :wave:
Welcome to the board! It's amazing what we women have to go through! You are not alone! I never had heavy periods (thank goodness!) but my sister had them. Now, get ready for this....she had extremely heavy periods for 3 years straight - EVERYDAY!! I know it is hard to believe-but it's true. She also had clots to the point where it was like giving birth to a liver, it would clush out (sorry to get so graphic), had to constantly wear both tampon and pads, almost every 15 mins. going to the bathroom. She went to her gyn regularly and all checked out. The gyn wanted her to have a hysterectomy. She didn't have it done but instead dealt with it. What's weird was that my sister wasn't anemic from all this. She had to be high in estrogen in order to bleed so much. There is a section in the book "Wisdom of Menopause" by Christiane Northrup that talks about heavy periods, so it is normal. She also put on a lot of weight suddenly too. It all settled mostly in the stomach area.
I also hate humid weather. I get occasional night sweats and hot flashes but they are very mild. I think the supplements that I've been taking as recommended from the book "Before the Change" by Ann Louise Gittleman has really helped. Another book to read is "What Doctors Do Not Tell You About Perimenopause" by John Lee. With all of these 3 books, you can put together a plan for yourself to help alleviate the symptoms you have. Do whatever it takes to make yourself feel better...don't rely on drs. (esp. men drs.) to help you. You can vent here .... there are some terrific ladies here who are friendly, fun and great motivators! :bouncing:
Take care,
Molly :wave:
Only46
04-04-2004, 08:11 PM
Thanks for the warm welcome ladies!
I guess I have been lucky with my new doctor. I had one family doctor until about 3 yrs ago and she was my age. My new doctor is very young. It's an odd feeling to be seeing a doctor that is not either my age or older! She is very good though and I feel more than confident in her abilities to care for my health and well being.
She talked about my starting perimenopause at this physical exam and when I quit smoking 1 1/2 yrs ago, she suggested the use of a Mindfullness Based Stress Reduction program as part of my stress management for quiting smoking along with Wellbutrin SR for 6 mths. The stress reduction program was excellent and I'm sure will be beneficial as I enter this phase of my life.
I still have to have an internal ultrasound (fibroids?) and she has suggested I speak with a gastroenterologist to see if I should have some testing done along that lines for blood loss. :rolleyes: If not now she said I will at least then know this docotor for the preventive measure of this test when I turn 50!
She has given me a great sheet of diet recommendations to increase Iron and I take Ferrous Fumarate 200mg 3x/day. For the iron to absorb I cannot take it within 2 hrs of any form calcium and I have to take a chewable vitamin C with each dose. Iron absorption is also disrupted by caffene
She also suggested drinking soy milk and taking Black Cohosh as well as 1200mg of Calcium and 800mg of vit D daily to decrease future problems. I have been taking evening primrose oil for quite sometime as well as vit E. She did mention that it is best to just see how symptoms go as I may not get many or they may be minimal and tolerable. She also suggested that since doctors no longer routinely recommend Hormone relpacement therapy as of the new research, that if symptoms did become unmanagable then this route would be considered. Hot flashes that are intense and/or frequent would be umanageble to me and I would be willing to do anything to stop them! Maybe I'll be one of the lucky ones and only have mild symptoms. My poor mother had an hysterectomoy at the age of 30 so I don't know what any family history could be.
Carol, the oils keep the constipation under control!
Molly, yes the large clots are part of my picture and can be distressing. It is almost impossible for me to work for 2 days as I am changing the heaviest of tampons with a pad every hour or so. I always do leak through to my clothes at some point. Ugghhh, I hope the ibuprofen works! You know, I have these small red marks on my skin that my family doctor told me were do to high Estrogen levels.
I now have some reading to do from the Gittleman books and the others by Lee and Northrup. Thanks for your thoughts.
Out of curiosity and maybe I should start a new thread....do men have physical menopause symtpoms?
Cheers :yawn:
Only46
I guess I have been lucky with my new doctor. I had one family doctor until about 3 yrs ago and she was my age. My new doctor is very young. It's an odd feeling to be seeing a doctor that is not either my age or older! She is very good though and I feel more than confident in her abilities to care for my health and well being.
She talked about my starting perimenopause at this physical exam and when I quit smoking 1 1/2 yrs ago, she suggested the use of a Mindfullness Based Stress Reduction program as part of my stress management for quiting smoking along with Wellbutrin SR for 6 mths. The stress reduction program was excellent and I'm sure will be beneficial as I enter this phase of my life.
I still have to have an internal ultrasound (fibroids?) and she has suggested I speak with a gastroenterologist to see if I should have some testing done along that lines for blood loss. :rolleyes: If not now she said I will at least then know this docotor for the preventive measure of this test when I turn 50!
She has given me a great sheet of diet recommendations to increase Iron and I take Ferrous Fumarate 200mg 3x/day. For the iron to absorb I cannot take it within 2 hrs of any form calcium and I have to take a chewable vitamin C with each dose. Iron absorption is also disrupted by caffene
She also suggested drinking soy milk and taking Black Cohosh as well as 1200mg of Calcium and 800mg of vit D daily to decrease future problems. I have been taking evening primrose oil for quite sometime as well as vit E. She did mention that it is best to just see how symptoms go as I may not get many or they may be minimal and tolerable. She also suggested that since doctors no longer routinely recommend Hormone relpacement therapy as of the new research, that if symptoms did become unmanagable then this route would be considered. Hot flashes that are intense and/or frequent would be umanageble to me and I would be willing to do anything to stop them! Maybe I'll be one of the lucky ones and only have mild symptoms. My poor mother had an hysterectomoy at the age of 30 so I don't know what any family history could be.
Carol, the oils keep the constipation under control!
Molly, yes the large clots are part of my picture and can be distressing. It is almost impossible for me to work for 2 days as I am changing the heaviest of tampons with a pad every hour or so. I always do leak through to my clothes at some point. Ugghhh, I hope the ibuprofen works! You know, I have these small red marks on my skin that my family doctor told me were do to high Estrogen levels.
I now have some reading to do from the Gittleman books and the others by Lee and Northrup. Thanks for your thoughts.
Out of curiosity and maybe I should start a new thread....do men have physical menopause symtpoms?
Cheers :yawn:
Only46
molly123
04-05-2004, 01:23 PM
[QUOTE=Only46]I have these small red marks on my skin that my family doctor told me were do to high Estrogen levels.
Hi Only46,
You seem to have a good doctor and you are on top of it with the supplements too! You are ahead of this game already!! But I don't think it would hurt for you to read the books too. Also, congratulations for stopping smoking! That is a big accomplishment! I am taking Revival soy which comes in shakes and bars. One serving of this is equivalent to 6 glasses of soy milk. Something you might want to check into. It has helped other women with their hot flashes. I don't know if there's a sigificant difference between hot flashes and night sweats :confused: but I tend to get 'sweaty' in the face and so warm at night while sleeping that I toss the covers, only to get cold a minute or two later. I noticed it is less frequent since I started the soy product about a month ago.
Re the small red marks - my sister has these skin thing too. What do your small red marks look like? Are they itchy? She has them mostly on her back.
Molly :wave:
Hi Only46,
You seem to have a good doctor and you are on top of it with the supplements too! You are ahead of this game already!! But I don't think it would hurt for you to read the books too. Also, congratulations for stopping smoking! That is a big accomplishment! I am taking Revival soy which comes in shakes and bars. One serving of this is equivalent to 6 glasses of soy milk. Something you might want to check into. It has helped other women with their hot flashes. I don't know if there's a sigificant difference between hot flashes and night sweats :confused: but I tend to get 'sweaty' in the face and so warm at night while sleeping that I toss the covers, only to get cold a minute or two later. I noticed it is less frequent since I started the soy product about a month ago.
Re the small red marks - my sister has these skin thing too. What do your small red marks look like? Are they itchy? She has them mostly on her back.
Molly :wave:
ainfante
04-12-2004, 08:55 PM
Is anyone having more that one period a month with spotting also. My periods are so light now all of a sudden and I started these body flushes surging from my navel and then sometimes I'll spot. Any info here? Going to gyne tomorrow.
caryn46
04-17-2004, 12:37 PM
Hi - I'm 46 and didn't get a period for 3 months. Went to the dr this past week. He gave me a prescription of provera for 5 days (10mg) didn't want me to go that long without a period. My periods have been basically normal but in the past few years, sometimes they got off schedule. I've had 2 surgeries and 1 c/s in the past 7 years.
Anyhow, he took b/w on Tuesday - everything... Thyroid, Prolactin, FSH you name it... and the result... FSH - 77 (Abnormally high) meaning POST menopause. Can't believe it. He told me to continue the pills which tonite is the last one. He highly things that there will be no period but may get one down the road.
So far, no effect from the provera.
Good Luck.... caryn
Anyhow, he took b/w on Tuesday - everything... Thyroid, Prolactin, FSH you name it... and the result... FSH - 77 (Abnormally high) meaning POST menopause. Can't believe it. He told me to continue the pills which tonite is the last one. He highly things that there will be no period but may get one down the road.
So far, no effect from the provera.
Good Luck.... caryn