Hi my name is robby i am a 42 year old female. I have a problem and not real sure what to do. I started having what i think to be pre-menopause symptoms, about 2 months ago. I am moody, i am so stressed out its unbelievable! My sex life sucks, and my periods have been almost completly brown the last 2 months, needless to say they lasted on and off the whole 2 months. this month theres nothing.Hot flashes like theres no tomarrow! My 1 sister went through it at the age of 43 my other said she went throught it in her 30s not real sure and my mother said it was in her 50s but i remember it in her mid 40s. I feel like i have no self worth, i cant do anything im depressed all the time, my mood swings have everyone around me crazy! Now heres the thing, my periods have NEVER been normal. But my sex drive was like i couldnt get enough, now i never want it and at the point i try my best to avoid it! Needless to say my fiance dont think its real funny. Hes wonderful but ya hes a man! Is this really pre or maybe just reg menopause? I really need to know if this is what i am going through or a nervous breakdown! I started a job first day next day i didnt go back! I felt like i was going crazy, i keep forgetting things, like i knew how to do the job, just freaked out and couldnt remember what i was supossed to do!Any way any one have anything simular please help! Anything on this right now would help so i dont think im going nuts!Thanx! Robby.

Boy can I relate to what you are saying!

I have a few websites to share. I know they are not even close area wise to where you are at, but maybe they will help you to know what to look for locally.
The first one is Women's Health America: Menopause, Perimenopause, PMS, Estrogen, Progesterone, Testosterone This one I have used myself and have had very good results. Most testing is done through the mail. (all of mine was)
The second site is one Iam currently checking out and the reason I am checking on a second site is because of the "adrenal gland testing" that they offer. (www.womentowomen.com)
I hope you will continue to search for answers, because they are out there.
So much new information is becoming available all the time, we just have to be willing to search and share what we find.

JMontonye

I actually started menopause at 40. Hotflashes and everything. I am 49 and have been on harmones for all this time. I started with a high dose, reduced over the years and am now on a low dose. My mother had breast cancer at 64. I know this is not the wisest choice, but I was literally suicidal. My sex life, figure, mood and skin took a big nosedive and I wasn't willing to deal with it at 40. See a doctor, preferably a female who will understand.

Hi, I'm new here, just found the site, and jumped into this
thread, because I'm trying to figure out if I'm normal or
just...weird.

I hated my period.
I had so much pain that I was actually proscribed codeine..
so you know it's a choice of pain or function...and I had to
chose function...
finally my doctor proscribed an arthritus medication 'froben'
which sort of kind of worked but took a while to kick in...and
mean while I was wondering why I was not pregnant and having
labour pains...

I also hated my period because it was a hemorage.
I went through a super tampon, a super pad, a panty
and a pair of tights...

I mean we are talking tsunami here...

And then...it started to stop.
Oh I was so happy.

I'm not sure exactly how old I was when I got my
very last period...I'd say about 52...

I had the hot flashes, no biggie, feel hot for a few
seconds, then normal...

I don't know if the mood swings...since I'm kind of
a mood swingy person...the insomnia now that's
the problem...

It's like I don't want to sleep. I'll be dead tired
and yet...I can't sleep...
then I'll fall asleep and maybe get six hours...

I never went to a doctor. I was afraid of getting
hormones...maybe i should of gone...cause it's been
about six years since my last period...
as to sex...
welll...
I don't find my libidio is effected...

What I find is my hair is thinning...
and that I don't like....

But...all and all...and considering how much I
hated my period...I loved my menopause.

I truly thought i was going crazy. I've also had thyroid problems and though i was in a thyroid storm. I am naturally a very happy upbeat person, i was having severe bouts of a deep depression, and look at me wrong and i'd cry. My pcp prescribed hormones. At this point i'd do anything to feel like myself again. as of today it's been three weeks. and i can get thru the day with only may 2 to 3 bouts of gloom and doom. the hot flashes are now bearable and i'm hoping that things will continue to get better. if not i can't live like this. teh spotting on the hormones is annoying. anyone elese out ther experiencing the sam. any suggestions or comments appreciated.