How I am Coping - Menopause Message Board

littlejmb · 07-03-2005, 08:47 PM

I myself am in menopause. I am 51 and have been suffering with symptoms since I was about 45. I started out with skipping a period or two at first, started getting very nervous at times, very moody, etc. A few years later, the periods got farther and farther apart until one year - I went 9 months without one. This time I am 6 months without one. I didn't start having hot flashes and night sweats until last year, when I was 50. I started having periods of depression and anxiety then too that would last for a few months and then I would get better. It got so bad this year that I asked my GYN for help and he put me on Lexapro. I was at the point that I was not sleeping well because of the night sweats and was sinking into a deep depression, felt like crying all the time, hated myself and everyone else, everything seemed hopless and the empty feeling was scary to me. The Lexapro took all of that away and I feel wonderful now. I actually feel happy again, no more hot flashes or night sweats either!

Lots of ladies going thru this take HRT, but I was very scared of doing that, so opted to try the AD first, and it is working, so I will just stick with that and hope that I don't have to resort to taking HRT too.

Hugs to All,

Jackie

Hopefully · 07-04-2005, 12:25 AM

I started have symptoms in my mid to late 30's which my previous ob/gyn called PMDD. I call those symptoms mild compared to what hit me in August 2002...anxiety, vertigo, depression, panic attack, insomnia, crashing fatigue, memory lapses, derealization, etc.

Jackie, I know so well about the empty feeling of depression, the darkness, the loneliness. I tried various SSRI antidepressants during that time, but they all made my symptoms worst.

I've had many tests, sonograms, blood work, mri, c-scan, and seen many specialists. Finally I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and when through a series of antianxiety & antidepressant medications. All the while still not feeling "normal" and knowing that there had to be something else.

It wasn't until I started researching my many symptoms that I finally realized that I was going through perimenopause. I had never heard of that word or even knew that I'd have to cross this bridge before going into menopause. Why didn't someone warn me

!!!

So how am I coping??? With prayer, internet support groups, bcp, Wellbutrin XL, blood pressure medication, and two daily handful of vitamins

.

I'm now 44 and during these 3 years I've been through some ups and downs. I thank God for this site and the wonderful women who have shared their experiences which helped me to realize that I'm not alone and that this too will pass.

littlejmb · 07-04-2005, 08:01 AM

Hopefully, you started out really young with your peri symptoms! I can see why you would never have thought they could be related to that, because of your age. I'm sorry you have had such a rough ride with this thing. I too had tried prayer, had my Bible study group to pray for me several times when I was at my worst, but I just needed more help it got some bad. I still take alot of vitamins and supplements too. My anxiety was not as bad as yours (thankfully) but it was enough to really make my life a wreck. I worried about things constantly, if something upsetting happened, it got "stuck" in my head and I couldn't seem to turn it loose. I couldn't drive on the interstate without having panic attacks either. I had read a book about perimenopause some 10 years ago and saw the symptoms listed there and had written them down and the supplements they recommended for them. That helped me alot. I had taken calcium for years, but added magnesium at bedtime when my peri symptoms first started, and I truly think that's why I was spared with a lot of the bad symptoms for so long.

Last summer I got the heart palps and the internal shakes several times and that did scare me, especially the heart palps. I am glad that you have found an AD that does help (the Wellbutrin XL) - as dealing with the emotional side of it make the rest so much easier! Are you still having your periods regularly? I am hoping this is it for me - but I thought the time I went 9 months without one was going to be it too! We shall see!

Take care, and thanks for sharing

molly123 · 07-04-2005, 09:40 AM

I just made my 1-year mark so I guess I have to say I'm post-meno now. I am 52 and didn't start suffering with symptoms til the year I was 50. In my younger years, I had insomnia but didn't make any connection it being peri-meno. I too never heard of the word peri-menopause. My periods started becoming irregular when I was 49, but the year I turned 50, it was just horrible. My symptoms came on suddenly with a severe case of dry eyes. My eyes were bloodshot red, my vision was affected too. From there, I started feeling dizzy, lightheaded, spacey, anxiety, extremely fatigue - not sure if it was the dry eyes causing these symptoms or it was something else. I then started having these scary internal shakes, burning arms and feet where it would hurt so bad, heart palps, night sweats and hot flashes. The fatigue was constant. I would go to bed tired and wake up tired. I could never nap, had to stop working, couldn't drive, and I would freak out whenever I went out. I also started losing weight.

My suffering went on for 5 months only which is very short in comparison to many ladies. I went to so many drs. too, which was very stressful and the waiting for an appt. and results didn't help one bit. My dr. first put me on Wellbutrin XL which made me feel worse. It was recommended to me to try Paxil CR, so I asked my dr. for that. I felt better almost immediately. I didn't find this board until I started feeling better. Having dry eyes was another peri-meno symptom. I was under treatment for a year for that and my eyes are now back to normal.

What I went through really opened my eyes more on how important our health is, how horrible going thru menopause can be, and that nothing in the world if you don't feel good. I feel pretty good these days, am considering weaning off of the Paxil. I still continue to take Evening Primrose Oil, Flaxseed Oil, Magnisum, Calcium, Vit C/E/B6/B12, workout everyday. My only complaint these days are my stiffness/aches and pain - which is on the right side and has improved a zillion times better since I starting using light weights.

littlejmb · 07-04-2005, 09:48 AM

Hey Molly!

Hoped you find my thread. Don't see where you wrote anything?? How are you doing?