I am a rather ambition adventurous person, a life long learner (a career student :) ), with a list of reasonable attainable goals that I've had to put on hold since the worst part of perimenopause began (back in 2002).

Does anyone else feel that they've taken a slight detour and had to put things on hold because of their symptoms? I'm really not whining, I'd just like to hear from others who understand and maybe some who are now back on track.

Thanks!

Hi Hopefully

I can totally relate! I don't lead much of an exciting life but I wasn't able to function at all when I was at my worse. I had to stop working which was very unusual for me esp. working F/T for almost 30 years. I left things undone - my house, laundry, walking the dogs, haircuts, dental cleanings, etc. It really wasn't even a choice - I had to b/c I just couldn't.

In several books, it has been recommended that we (at menopausal age) have to make changes, start thinking and taking care of ourselves. I never thought it would be all that true but it is! I think it's absolutely OK after years of being a superwoman to take time for yourself! Others will manage just fine w/o having to have your constant attention! You'll probably be amazed (and hurt even?! LOL). Find some quiet time for yourself, go for walks even if you have hardly any energy, take long baths, have a good cry, listen to music, read, learn to meditate. If you can, take a med leave from work for a while. I personally think every employer should allow meno leave for all women (with pay!) LOL! All this will help soothe you away some of the anxiety and stress that are contributors to why you're feeling so crappy. Throw out your "to do" lists - I'm sure that list has been around for years anyway! When the time is right, you will get back to the groove of things and you'll meet the goals you want to accomplish in your lifetime.

Be a strong, confident woman - and you'll get back on track real soon! :bouncing:

when i was on the hormone patch i found i didn't have energy for anything and didn't care about much at all. me or the house. now i am on bio-identical hormones and i feel more like myself and i have an interest in me and keeping my house. it makes a difference, but at the time i didn't know what was wrong with me.

I am a rather ambition adventurous person, a life long learner (a career student :) ), with a list of reasonable attainable goals that I've had to put on hold since the worst part of perimenopause began (back in 2002).

Does anyone else feel that they've taken a slight detour and had to put things on hold because of their symptoms? I'm really not whining, I'd just like to hear from others who understand and maybe some who are now back on track.

Thanks!


Hopfully, I'm right here with you. Like you, I was adventurous and a career student; now I do nothing but hypernate and grow flowers. And that scares me. For now, I'm alright with this because that's what I need right now. On the other hand, I'm scared to death that I'll be like this forever. As I'm sitting here sweating, shaking, buzzing, and panicking (all for no reason), I'm greateful I don't have to go anywhere. Talking about double standards for myself. :angel:

CAT

Hi Hopefully

I can totally relate! I don't lead much of an exciting life but I wasn't able to function at all when I was at my worse. I had to stop working which was very unusual for me esp. working F/T for almost 30 years. I left things undone - my house, laundry, walking the dogs, haircuts, dental cleanings, etc. It really wasn't even a choice - I had to b/c I just couldn't.

Be a strong, confident woman - and you'll get back on track real soon! :bouncing:

Molly, thanks for sharing this. Now I don't feel so alone and lazy. I tell you though, it's hard to stay strong and confident when the hormones whip the heck out you :). If someone would tell me that I feel like this until a certain date and then everything would be alright, I could deal with this better. It's the uncertainty that makes it so hard. Thank you. :angel:

CAT

Hopfully, I'm right here with you. Like you, I was adventurous and a career student; now I do nothing but hypernate and grow flowers. And that scares me. For now, I'm alright with this because that's what I need right now. On the other hand, I'm scared to death that I'll be like this forever. As I'm sitting here sweating, shaking, buzzing, and panicking (all for no reason), I'm greateful I don't have to go anywhere. Talking about double standards for myself. :angel:

CAT


CAT, tend to your lovely flowers and realize that this will pass. You are not lazy...hey, maybe we can start producing bumper stickers that say "I'm Not Lazy, I'm Going Through Perimenopause", or "Honk if You've Been Through Perimenopause" :D :D :D .

Thank God that I've not lost my sense of humor during this time, because laughing at myself has been therapeutic.

Cat,

Ok - January 10, 2005...


If someone would tell me that I feel like this until a certain date and then everything would be alright, I could deal with this better. It's the uncertainty that makes it so hard. Thank you. :angel:
CAT

Cat,

Ok - January 10, 2005...

Thanks Molly, I already marked the calendar. Tomorrow I'll book a nice long adventurous vacation. Oh how I need something like that. :wave:
Thanks for the good laugh, you are a doll.
CAT

I, too, have asked myself .....what has happened to me??? I have
never been a lazy person, yet some days, the I want tos, or
ought tos are gone!! Four years ago I began working out at the
gym, I am not over-weight, but did want to try to improve
my health before it was too late! Religiously I went 4 days a week,
then beginning last year, I started losing motivation! Got down
to only once or twice a week! The gym closed so I do walk
one of our dogs almost every day, but the toneness and firmness
and strength I had developed is slowing going away!! I get
really aggrevated at myself......same thing with house work, some
days, I really clean, other days I just do what I feel I have to....
I keep telling myself this too shall pass!!!!!! What does make it
easier for me, is we are self-employed, I work in the afternoons
at the business. Sometimes I think that maybe I should have find
some other part-time job, then think how would I go to work
when I feel so rotten or sluggish?? At least my husband can see
when I am not at my best!!! So I live by the one day at a time
philosophy.....maybe I wont get it done today...but there is always
tomorrow!! :)

Hi Happysmom,
I think a lot of us are going thru what you described. I'm sure it is normal, but just hard to accept. As much as I hate to admit it, I'm older now (soon to be 52), but feel and want to be 28 (think that's a good age :D ), and there's nothing I can do to stop time. And time often means there are changes too. I've never been a lazy person either but I also noticed I'm not as gung-ho about things like when I was younger. Lots of things I used to do, I'm not interested anymore - been there, done that! LOL!

I'm sure many of us have been working years at our jobs, raising kids, maintaining a good home, etc. etc. and maybe now is the time to kick back a little and not beat ourselves up if we're not doing exactly what we THINK we're suppose to be doing. Pat yourself on your back for doing what you've done - think of all your accomplishments! Be grateful - being not overweight is a big plus! Having a good supportive hubby is another!

As with your toneness/firmness - I have been doing the Slim in 6 DVD at home and it really tones me up. Check it out and see if you can get yourself (and hubby) into working out with it. Stretchie bands are used in one of her segments. I really notice a big difference in my legs/arms - my tummy could improve be better (she has a 10-min. segment of just situps) - but, hey, I figure I look pretty good for an old bag of 51-3/4!

I was asleep at 12:30 a.m. New Year's day....bet most of us didn't go out partying...

molly

Molly..
You are always such a BIG help to everyone!! I will be 52 the 18th of
this month.....I think you said your birthday is March?? So. see I can
be slower, because Im older!!! :-)

I have always been a very high energy person. This past year, I many times had to come home, unplug phone, and lie down for at least an hour or sometimes more. I would be a nonfunctioning entity for long periods of time. I just got into the rhythm. That was my first year of menopause (no periods). It was like a trip to the underworld. It still is but not as intense now.

Hey happysmom53,
Guess we're the same age! Happy early Birthday by the way! Yes, my birthday will be in March - boy! what a good memory you have!! When did your symptoms start with you? I started at age 50....geez...being in my 50's sound so old now. :eek: :eek: I remember when I turend 30 and thinking -yikes! 30 is old!

Have a good day,
molly


Molly..
You are always such a BIG help to everyone!! I will be 52 the 18th of
this month.....I think you said your birthday is March?? So. see I can
be slower, because Im older!!! :-)

I just had to post and say that things are not moving along. My blood work came back from the doctor and my estriodol is listed as <15, the range is 19-500! Not just low, but almost zero. I still think that range is ridiculous, but anyway my ovaries are about to completely shut down. I've been on a low dose bcp for months and had moments where I felt good, but the last couple of weeks I've had many of my symptoms return. My doctor said that my body must not be utilizing the hormones in bcp and that happens to some women. She suggested trying Ortho Evra (I'm going to post another thread asking about this birth control patch), but I opted to add the Vivelle along with the bcp. Well, 30 minutes after attaching that patch to my rear :)I felt like a new woman! What a difference some estrogen makes. Not normal, but more peaceful. No mood swings, doom & gloom feeling, feeling like bursting into tears and lack of energy...and I'm taking one of the lowest dose. The dr. wants me to work my way up in dosage. I'm scheduled for a vaginal sonogram in a couple weeks and I suspect that she won't find a trace of my ovaries. Thank You Jesus, I'm moving along.........

I know how you feel because I felt the same way for about 2 years. Those are the 2 years in which I didn't have a period. While I was going through irregular periods, I had some peace for about a week a month. After they stopped, all hell broke loose. I had just about every symptom that is listed and they seemed to rotate. The anxiety was a horror to deal with along with the fatigue and muscle aches, bladder irritation, itchiness, etc.

Currently, two years after the last period, there are many more good days than bad. I have hot flashes but they are not as bothersome. I don''t cry all the time and most of the time I have energy. The aches and pains are there but I can work through them. There is hope for you. At times, I felt as if there wasn't any hope that I would be normal again but I'm getting there.

Hi Hopefully,
I am so happy to that the patch on your rear is making you feel like a new woman! :bouncing: :bouncing: I'm sure you are jumping for joy, dancing around feeling good!!! Got lots of questions for you: If the patch is working, why would you need to up it? Also, why are your ovarious about to shut down - thought this happened if you had a hyst? Or is that something we are all going to have to deal with? Also, what goes with the Wellbutrin then?

molly :wave:

Hi Hopefully,
I am so happy to that the patch on your rear is making you feel like a new woman! :bouncing: :bouncing: I'm sure you are jumping for joy, dancing around feeling good!!! Got lots of questions for you: If the patch is working, why would you need to up it? Also, why are your ovarious about to shut down - thought this happened if you had a hyst? Or is that something we are all going to have to deal with? Also, what goes with the Wellbutrin then?

molly :wave:

Hello Molly! Yes, I felt wonderful yesterday and today I felt almost "normal", but I can tell that I need to do some tweaking, that's why my doctor an I decided to started with the lower dose patch and I will slowly increase until all my symptoms are gone. According to my last sonogram my ovaries haved drastically decreased in size they have "shriveled up". According to the RE they look like the ovaries of a woman in menopause. I am not sure about the Wellbutrin, yet, but I'm going to give it time. I thought the Wellbutrin was causing my insomnia, but after applying the patch yesterday I slept fairly well last night. So I guess the insomnia is caused by the hormones.