greekgirl
08-07-2002, 12:41 AM
hi i have just discovered this site and am glad to find so many with same symptons for menopause, i thought i was going loopy! my periods became less frequent, 28, 26, 25, 24 day cycles, then 19days with show and spotting in between then 18days then nothing. i was suffering from insomnia, mood swings, irritability, sore breasts, bloatiness, overactive bladder, depression, extreme fatigue. i had not associated all symptoms together for any one cause. the doctor put me on antidepressants and hrt. i was zonked out for one week with the antidepressants and because of hrt have not had a period for 28 days. i am nearly 52 years of age. is the end or just the beginning. it is unbearable to have to live like this. any comments greekgirl
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lsm2000l
08-07-2002, 06:53 AM
This sounds about normal to me. I experience all the things you are. I take antidepressant to help me sleep. I just take 100 mgs before I go to bed. I only took hrt for a month because it bother me and now with the reports coming out about hormones I'm glad I didn't tak any more. I had bladder problems in the beginning and I wore those pad for awhile but that cleared up too. It's been a year since I had my period so I guess I'm over it. I was told you have to wait until it's over for a year before you can be sure you're done with it. Boy was I glad to give away my pads.
DottieMae
08-10-2002, 05:20 PM
Oh, my!!! I felt I just had to do something to figure this stuff out ... shed tears when I found this site! It seems like most of the ladies here are a bit younger than me, except for greekgirl ... I'm almost 51 years old and this has come up on me very suddenly. My husband says I've been more irritable than my usual self for a while but just these last three months have thrown me for a loop!!! I went for a check up thinking I was having some anxiety disorder because I was so nauseated and nervous ... I had lost about 12 lbs. in just 10 days or so because I couldn't keep food down or didn't have an appetite. It seems the doctor would've noticed that I wrote down how these symptoms (dizziness, nausea, headaches, nervousness, fatigue, lack of focus, insomnia) had all started at the same time .... right before my three previous periods which went from 28 days to 22 days. I was hoping she'd go ahead and do the hormone tests but she seemed to be looking in another direction ... thyroid or intestinal related, which was all okay. From a chest x-ray they were sure that they had found a lung tumor, which turned out to be something they couldn't explain after I had the CAT Scan .... royal freak out there!!! They had me scared stiff for about a week until the final analysis.
What really amazes me about this is my inability to handle it all. I just can't seem to function!!! I have had 8 children (natural childbirth-no pain killers), helped my husband run a farm, home schooled all those kids, and have helped in all family areas including helping with elderly parents ... I've been a very strong person but now I find myself so entirely helpless. This is undoubtedly the most uncomfortable thing I've ever experienced!!!
I did notice that some of you have had to use some type of tranquilizer especially for help with sleep. I did manage to get my doctor to prescribe Xanax and that works for me even at the .25mg level ... most of the time I even cut that in half. First time I've ever used anything like this, but I must be able to function ..... sure hope this doesn't last too long!!!
I welcome anyone's input ... http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/bang.gif
What really amazes me about this is my inability to handle it all. I just can't seem to function!!! I have had 8 children (natural childbirth-no pain killers), helped my husband run a farm, home schooled all those kids, and have helped in all family areas including helping with elderly parents ... I've been a very strong person but now I find myself so entirely helpless. This is undoubtedly the most uncomfortable thing I've ever experienced!!!
I did notice that some of you have had to use some type of tranquilizer especially for help with sleep. I did manage to get my doctor to prescribe Xanax and that works for me even at the .25mg level ... most of the time I even cut that in half. First time I've ever used anything like this, but I must be able to function ..... sure hope this doesn't last too long!!!
I welcome anyone's input ... http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/bang.gif
DottieMae
08-10-2002, 05:35 PM
Sorry, Greekgirl ... I meant to add something in that last message especially for you. I was just doing some reading on this website www.menopauserx.com (http://www.menopauserx.com) and they mentioned something a little hopeful for women our age ... since you're about 52 and I'm almost 51, it would seem like we're kind of late to be in this perimenopause condition ... they mentioned that the later you start with the symptoms we're talking about, the sooner you get over with the whole process. Boy, I hope they're right about that because I agree with you 100% ... this is just unbearable!!! Hope you feel better soon, and feel free to write back to me any time since I think we both could use all the support we can get!!!
Bye, :angel:
Bye, :angel:
action
08-10-2002, 08:29 PM
I'm an oldie too - now 53! I guess I started with the hot flushes around 50/51 and pottered around with lots of other natural alternatives (Promensil worked well for a little while there) before opting (with eyes wide open) for HRT. I am a totally different person!!!! The occasional insomnia is probably more work related than menopausal, my periods come on the dot and are thankfully getting shorter (thanks Primolut), I dont have creepy skin, hot flushes, rabid mood swings (just the normal female ones!), palpitations etc any more. I am a human being again:lol I guess I am lucky that it is working for me because I know that it doesnt do the job for lots of people.
Dottie I was thrilled to see your comment about us late starters getting it over and done with quicker! Cant wait:lol
Angela
Dottie I was thrilled to see your comment about us late starters getting it over and done with quicker! Cant wait:lol
Angela
greekgirl
08-16-2002, 04:09 AM
thank you for reply, i need the support! i just had my first period 28 days after hrt and so far so good. no heavy bleeding, not much cramping, and lasted 7 days and then stopped. however i am suffering greatly from anxiety and panic attacks which seem to be getting worse. i feel i am not in control any more. can't be bothered to do the housework, cooking, etc. everything seems to be a big struggle. i do meditation and read the bible alot. i have a lot of stress around me. my mom is 82 a dementia sufferer who is in care and no longer recognises me,i spend alot of time with her, a husband suffering from depression, and still 3 grown up sons at home.
however i just try to take one day at a time and hopefully i will be able to look back at all this and have a good laugh bye noe
however i just try to take one day at a time and hopefully i will be able to look back at all this and have a good laugh bye noe
greekgirl
08-16-2002, 04:14 AM
[i understand exactly how you feel!! i have had 4 children, coped with a husband suffering from depression, my mother is in a nursing home with dementia and i spend alot of time with her. now after always being strong and in control, i feel i can no longer function. even the household chore,and cooking are a major struggle. i can't think straight, my husband says i am so cranky all the time, and also i can't stop crying! i am on antidepressants which help me sleep but i also suffer from panic attacks. i meditate, try to relax and find time for myself, and read the bible. jus t take one day at a time.good luck
DottieMae
08-17-2002, 02:24 AM
Oh, boy!!! ... my dear greekgirl ... do I have a lot in common with you right now?!!! I can so sympathize with what you're going through because it sounds so much like my life at the moment. First of all, as I said before, we're going through this at the same age. What you said today, about being unable to function around the house ... that's exactly what's happened to me lately. I get better after my period, though. I even had one day last week when I managed to get so very mad about everything and actually forced myself to go outside and mow the grass with a push mower!!! Then I showered and cooked supper before everyone got home ... finally, I had an appetite that evening!!! Those days don't happen very often, though. Most days go like you described; no housework can be faced ... luckily I have children at home who are helping with everything but my office work since I'm the only one who can do that job. My husband and I farm a very large rice farm, we're in the middle of harvesting 600 acres of grain and getting it put up into our new rice drier we bought this year. Poor timing for this to happen to me right now; very hard on my husband because he'd like to stay near me for support. I run the farm office, pay all the bills, schedule things for him, and do all the tax work, too. There's just a lot of paperwork to do when you run a 2,000 acre farm like ours. Having me in this condition, not able to focus or cope with much, is putting big time stress on everyone!!!
I hope you have help from your sons, too. Out of our seven children, we only have three left at home. One is an adult son who works here on the farm (he's 25) another is our 19 year old daughter who does triple duty lately (laundry, cooking, and she frequently runs a rice combine for her daddy) and then there's the 11-yr. old son who is so very worried about me. I had him when I was 40 years old, which was a joyous thing in one way but left him sensitive to the things he has to watch as the family ages. I worry about him.
Sorry to hear that your husband suffers from depression, too. That can't make your anxiety or depressions any easier to bear. What I wondered about was why you're still having so much trouble with all the anxiety if you're taking HRT ... I thought that would help the anxiety, or at least I was wishing it would. I'm only on the anti-anxiety medication Xanax for the time being ... that does seem to calm me down some (especially to get me to sleep), but I do the same as you with the meditation. I do a WHOLE LOT of meditation. Sometimes I think it's the ony thing keeping me sane right now. Requesting strength and understanding from God helps, too.
The doctor who's taken care of my other medical problems for several years now wants to go ahead with tests for peptic ulcers next week. So, Monday I go in for an abdominal ultrasound and an upper GI series. I am having so much nausea, appetite loss, and stomach discomfort lately that I'm continuing to lose weight ... maybe there is something else wrong in that department, we'll see next week. I'm still placing my bets on the hormone changes, though. The doctor wrote me up as possible perimenopausal and says it's a good idea to see an ob/gyn to let her check that out completely ... she even told me that at 45 years old she's already been put on HRT and that it has made a new person of her. She admitted to having all the anxiety, depression, irritability, hot flashes, and even had a peptic ulcer herself last year!!! The HRT has been wondrous for her life. So, with everyone's help, we'll get to the bottom of this stuff ... like you, I hope it gets over really soon because life is hard enough without having to add this kind of torture for us!!!
Keep hanging on. One day at a time is all we can do and that's a fact. Keep writing to us if that helps; it seems to be helping me, too.
Wishing you better days, Dottie
I hope you have help from your sons, too. Out of our seven children, we only have three left at home. One is an adult son who works here on the farm (he's 25) another is our 19 year old daughter who does triple duty lately (laundry, cooking, and she frequently runs a rice combine for her daddy) and then there's the 11-yr. old son who is so very worried about me. I had him when I was 40 years old, which was a joyous thing in one way but left him sensitive to the things he has to watch as the family ages. I worry about him.
Sorry to hear that your husband suffers from depression, too. That can't make your anxiety or depressions any easier to bear. What I wondered about was why you're still having so much trouble with all the anxiety if you're taking HRT ... I thought that would help the anxiety, or at least I was wishing it would. I'm only on the anti-anxiety medication Xanax for the time being ... that does seem to calm me down some (especially to get me to sleep), but I do the same as you with the meditation. I do a WHOLE LOT of meditation. Sometimes I think it's the ony thing keeping me sane right now. Requesting strength and understanding from God helps, too.
The doctor who's taken care of my other medical problems for several years now wants to go ahead with tests for peptic ulcers next week. So, Monday I go in for an abdominal ultrasound and an upper GI series. I am having so much nausea, appetite loss, and stomach discomfort lately that I'm continuing to lose weight ... maybe there is something else wrong in that department, we'll see next week. I'm still placing my bets on the hormone changes, though. The doctor wrote me up as possible perimenopausal and says it's a good idea to see an ob/gyn to let her check that out completely ... she even told me that at 45 years old she's already been put on HRT and that it has made a new person of her. She admitted to having all the anxiety, depression, irritability, hot flashes, and even had a peptic ulcer herself last year!!! The HRT has been wondrous for her life. So, with everyone's help, we'll get to the bottom of this stuff ... like you, I hope it gets over really soon because life is hard enough without having to add this kind of torture for us!!!
Keep hanging on. One day at a time is all we can do and that's a fact. Keep writing to us if that helps; it seems to be helping me, too.
Wishing you better days, Dottie
Karon
08-23-2002, 11:09 AM
I am also feeling all of the above. I have been taking femhrt for 5 weeks and I only feel somewhat less irritable. Should I be feeling the full effects of it by now?? I notice some people go on antidepressants - does this make all the symptoms go away??? Help. Tx Karon
greekgirl
08-24-2002, 07:09 PM
[QUOTE]Originally posted by DottieMae:
[B]dear dottie may, well finally i am starting to feel a bit better and able to cope with life! i have been going to counselling and have a better understanding of myself and learning new ways of relaxation and stress management and how to deal with panic attacks. also the medication must be kicking in, i can now sleep more, without waking up in a state of panic, and my periods are back to regular 26 day cycle. i am still meditating, and listen to a relaxation tape, read the bible and trying to start walking as an exercise. also had a chat to my sons and they are now more understanding and are being more helpful. my husband is going through a very bad patch but i have also learned how not to stress over this as much. hope everything is getting better for you too. you have much more responsibilities with the farm and all, you are very courageous , may god bless you
[B]dear dottie may, well finally i am starting to feel a bit better and able to cope with life! i have been going to counselling and have a better understanding of myself and learning new ways of relaxation and stress management and how to deal with panic attacks. also the medication must be kicking in, i can now sleep more, without waking up in a state of panic, and my periods are back to regular 26 day cycle. i am still meditating, and listen to a relaxation tape, read the bible and trying to start walking as an exercise. also had a chat to my sons and they are now more understanding and are being more helpful. my husband is going through a very bad patch but i have also learned how not to stress over this as much. hope everything is getting better for you too. you have much more responsibilities with the farm and all, you are very courageous , may god bless you
DottieMae
08-25-2002, 05:33 PM
Dear greekgirl ... Was looking at the posts today and decided to try the topic of anxiety/menopause ... saw your post there, too. It's amazing that the topic of anxiety seems to get more posts that other topics; but it just goes to show how the psychological effects of all of this are far more damaging to our lives. I'll take hot flashes any day over this anxiety stuff!!!
Nice to hear that you have the help of your sons, and that the HRT is doing its job. As for myself, I go to see this new ob/gyn on Tuesday ... hoping for help from her. I'm most interested in her use of natural means when indicated ... I really want to learn more about this compounding others are talking about.
So, keep us up to date on how things are going for you. By the way, what does your doctor have you on?
Nice to hear that you have the help of your sons, and that the HRT is doing its job. As for myself, I go to see this new ob/gyn on Tuesday ... hoping for help from her. I'm most interested in her use of natural means when indicated ... I really want to learn more about this compounding others are talking about.
So, keep us up to date on how things are going for you. By the way, what does your doctor have you on?
greekgirl
08-25-2002, 06:27 PM
[QUOTE]Originally posted by DottieMae:
[B]dear dottie may hi originally i was taking valerian tablets as a calmer and to help me sleep, but they werent strong enough to help. the doc put me on deptran antidepressants and trisequens for hrt. also am taking evening primrose oil, vitamin b formula, and vitamin c. i don't know if i could be taking any natural or herbal supplements as well, especially for pms. i have not discussed with doctor. bye now
[B]dear dottie may hi originally i was taking valerian tablets as a calmer and to help me sleep, but they werent strong enough to help. the doc put me on deptran antidepressants and trisequens for hrt. also am taking evening primrose oil, vitamin b formula, and vitamin c. i don't know if i could be taking any natural or herbal supplements as well, especially for pms. i have not discussed with doctor. bye now
DottieMae
08-28-2002, 08:50 PM
Dear greekgirl ... Thanks for telling me about the meds. It helps to know what others are having help with. Right now, I'm off of everything ... the Xanax was helping with sleep but I'm convinced it was the trigger for the vomiting in the mornings, since I don't throw up when I'm off it. My gastroenterologist took another of her patients off for the same reason and gave her a smooth muscle relaxant instead; it's hard to find the right pill when you have gastro problems, I guess. Anyway, I'm off for about 4 days and trying to handle the anxiety best I can ... I hate the jittery feeling I have most of the time!!! Went to the new gynocologist yesterday and she suggested I take a low estrogen birth control pill ... I was on one before this perimenopause thing started, so I know I tolerate them well. This time, it'll be for the same reason my doctor takes them ... to keep from going crazy!!! That's exactly what she said. She also said that we could go another route and use a progesterone cream but likes the added advantage of the low estrogen for good measure instead. This is a doctor who headed up a mid-wife clinic and has a very conservative/natural mentality about everything. I hope she's not being cavalier about the estrogen controversy, though ... still, it seems if she uses it on herself ... what does anyone out there think about this route? Glad to hear that a lot of us are feeling at least a bit better. :wave:
PS to greekgirl ... thanks for the previous comment about my being courageous!!! Most of the time, I don't feel that way at all ... but, hey, at least I've been eating again. Not the way I used to because my system feels so delicate, but the evening meals are better than mornings... that's usually just a glass of soymilk for me. Thanks for the feedback.
PS to greekgirl ... thanks for the previous comment about my being courageous!!! Most of the time, I don't feel that way at all ... but, hey, at least I've been eating again. Not the way I used to because my system feels so delicate, but the evening meals are better than mornings... that's usually just a glass of soymilk for me. Thanks for the feedback.