I am far from menopause, but my mother is 42, and I was wondering when women start to go into menopause. She has become a complete cow in the last year or so. She has lost all sense of humor, and is constantly sick or tired. She told me that she is in a pre-menopausal state, and that she is taking all of the supplements to help her grumpiness and "weird feelings". But to me she isn't back to normal. Is there something that she should be taking that maybe she isn't, that will allow her to have a more relaxed outlook. I hope there is, however I have no idea how I will approach her with any information I find. Thanks in advance. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/tongue.gif

Your mother is right. She is in the stage,
at age 42, before menopause, known as peri-
menopause. Believe me, the grumpiness and
feeling of being tired will increase. I began going through menopause at age 48 and
am 49 now. Some doctors say it can happen
from ages 45-55, others say it begins from
48-55. I've just started with it and am
seeking natural measures, since I am chemical
sensitive and cannot take prescription meds.

Tell your mother to stay close to her gyne
and hang in there. Perhaps black cohosh
herbal preparations might help. It is worth
checking out once menopausal symptoms begin.
Yes, she is experiencing a few at this point.

Sincerely

Well I'm 48 and I've been going through it for the last 2 years. When I start getting hot I eat ice chips. Hormones are suppose to help but when I tried some they even made me crabbier but at the time I had a lot of other stress in my life so it may not have been the hormones anyway. At 42 I don't know if a doctor would even prescribe them.

I'm 48 and I started menopause 2 years ago. I turned into a cow. Eating the things that I never used to eat regularly like sweets,chips ect. I got so crabby with everyone too and I cried a lot. I didn't realize all this was from menopause. I just realized the crabbiness and over eating was due to menopause. I picked up a book in the grocery store and realized I was going through menopause a year ago. Try to see if you can find a book about menopause and leave it around your place. If you mother asks you why you have it tell her a friend left it at your place.

Hi, I'm 47 and just found out I'm now going through it, overnight I turned 47 in Oct and that was my last period and then I started with all these "can't-explain-feelings" moody, crying, bloated period-like, cold feet and hands symptoms. I think you need to be honest with her and tell her to read this web site, it's been so enlightening for me, I don't have a mother to tell me what it's all about. everyone has different symptoms. And YES, one could start as early as 38 yrs. old. I am taking Celexa (antianxiety/antidepressant} because of other tragedies in my life and a 20 mg. dose really takes the anxiety out of life and another plus is weight loss, I just lost 10 lbs. this past 6 months, I think maybe it's changed my metabolisom. Tell her you came across this site by searching the web for the symptoms she had told you about and came up with this. It's a great feeling to hear other woman and know you're not nuts or alone. Good luck let me know. Mag