But when does it START???? - Menopause Message Board

angel_bear · 12-30-2004, 11:19 PM

Hi all ....

My statement then question today: and some of you will think I'm mad .. but ..

I CAN'T WAIT for menopause!! To know these damn awful periods will END .. is worth every anticipated hot flush, mood swing and hormone surge !!!

So ....

I'm 43 .. ALWAYS had heavy periods, pain earlier, but childbirth fixed that (fortunately) .. They're still heavy where I need to use TWO super tampons and a super pad every 2 hours for 48 hours (it's exhausting). I got my periods a few weeks before I turned 12. I'VE HAD ENOUGH !!!!

I also have an underactive thyroid, and am on oroxine. High blood pressure is becoming an issue (but it's my lifestyle at the moment). I'm overweight (thyroid issues here) but normally a 'big' girl anyway ... the Gyn put me on some tablets that only made me put on weight and didn't change my periods, and he's been 'ordered to leave town', so I'm a little stuck there.

My local doctors resident nurse suggested I am in 'perimenopause', but I'm not sure what that is, because according to it's symptoms, I've been there for like 30 years now (LOL)

Any ideas? Any solutions? Any HOPE ??????

cheers
Sally

kittenlover · 12-31-2004, 08:32 AM

It really "starts" when it ends, LOL.
Perimenopause is also called the climactric...this is the process leading up to menopause. Menopause is defined as NOT having your periods for ONE FULL YEAR. It's sort of like hind-sight. You don't know you're in it, till you're in it

Marimac · 12-31-2004, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mustang_sally

Hi all ....

My statement then question today: and some of you will think I'm mad .. but ..

I CAN'T WAIT for menopause!! To know these damn awful periods will END .. is worth every anticipated hot flush, mood swing and hormone surge !!!

So ....

I'm 43 .. ALWAYS had heavy periods, pain earlier, but childbirth fixed that (fortunately) .. They're still heavy where I need to use TWO super tampons and a super pad every 2 hours for 48 hours (it's exhausting). I got my periods a few weeks before I turned 12. I'VE HAD ENOUGH !!!!

I also have an underactive thyroid, and am on oroxine. High blood pressure is becoming an issue (but it's my lifestyle at the moment). I'm overweight (thyroid issues here) but normally a 'big' girl anyway ... the Gyn put me on some tablets that only made me put on weight and didn't change my periods, and he's been 'ordered to leave town', so I'm a little stuck there.

My local doctors resident nurse suggested I am in 'perimenopause', but I'm not sure what that is, because according to it's symptoms, I've been there for like 30 years now (LOL)

Any ideas? Any solutions? Any HOPE ??????

cheers
Sally

I was in your shoes at 43. I am now 53. The thing that worked best for me was to lose the weight. I was fortunate in that I had surgical help. When I lost my weight, the first thing to go was my monthly period. I had about 4 light ones per year for about 3 more years after that. The excess body weight is often and over production of estrogen that the body really loves to use to make all kinds of aggravations and discomfort. As for the hot flushes and mood swings. I have a short hot flush one time per day around sunset, it is not bad, I do not take ANY hormones, and my moods are more stable than they have ever been in my life. My appetite is normal, but I do not feel compelled to pig out either, which was another thing that the estrogen caused me to do. I found out it did not take much of a weight loss for me to start feeling the benefits of the hormones becoming regulated. I hope this will help you some. Otherwise, you may really want to consult your gynecologist for some more assistance regarding the heavy bleeding which is not good. You can be over weight and still not have enough iron to properly run your body.

molly123 · 12-31-2004, 11:10 AM

Hi Sally,
Welcome to this board! Well, before you are in menopause, you have to go thru peri-meno first which can be a very difficult road! You are at the age where it is normal to be in peri and if you're lucky, you won't have any unbearable symtoms, but girl, let me tell you, it can be be h*ll !!

For starters, read the posts that are on this board and see what some of the ladies have to go thru - they are in peri and many are suffering everyday. I think I was one of the luckier ones, I didn't have a bad time at all in my 40's - I don't know what it was

but maybe it is b/c I didn't smoke/drink, exercised regularly, ate fairly healthy but didn't take any vitamins but still when I was going into the transition from peri to meno it was horrible! I don't wish it on my worse enemy! LOL!

Now, my sister who is the total opposite of me - is a big girl also and also had heavy flooding periods for years, didn't have any symptoms at all except insomina and some skin problems. She ended up getting a hyst in Sept. but she was already very close to menopause anyway (age 52) and isn't even taking any HRT right now and feels fine. She claims it is probably b/c she has a lot of fat cells which is producing estrogen.

Hope to see you continue posting here to keep us up-to-date...

Happy New Year!

molly

Hangin in There · 12-31-2004, 12:09 PM

Since women LOSE estrogen during menopause and often have to take HRT, isn't it good then to have your own via the "fat"? Wouldn't that cut down on some of the uncomfortable symptoms that thin women might get because they're low on estrogen?