Menopause, peri-menopause????

[I'm not old, dam it]

I'll turn 50 () this year. My last . was in March. There are times when I feel like I'm going to start, but nothing.
I have night sweats, even during the day.
I live in the ice zone, haven't seen temps above freezing since December (for a day). I keep the temp in the house at night set at 68* and I lay there without the covers, damp from sweating. Once I cool down, I cover up then off they fly because I'm sweating.
I feel tired and run down 98% of the time.

Am I menopausal, peri-menopausal? What's the difference?

[Phoebee]

Menopause is one year without a period. I know 50 seems young (Its the new 30!) but thats about when it starts. I am just a year younger and have gone long enough that my doctor said I'm in menopause. Some women have a really hard time and others don't seem to notice! I'm in the "hard time" list. I spoke to a doctor about Hormone Replacement and ended up seeing a specialist who has had me using a compounded mix of Estrogen, Progesterone and Testosterone. Its a combo of body cream that I use most days and a Vaginal cream that I use on and off.

Anyway, Wow... No more hot flashes, no more waking up in a puddle of sweat. My sex drive which was zero is back. I'm really glad I did it and that its bio-Identical and not weird Horse Synthetics. DH is even more happy because as he put it I was angry at him for living. I also can "think" and remember things again...



Google Bio-Identical

[WildChild]

I'm hitting a little of this. But I work out regularly and watch my diet (lots of Dark chocolate is good for anything that ails you). I notice that if I slack on the exersize I do have more pronounced symptoms (but still not bad) Just like some women get cramps and pms (very rare for me) some have more trouble with the change. If you have a good doctor talk to her, maybee check out what Phoebee recomended.

[Phoebee]

I am all for all of that. In particular the candy part ;-) But... non of that really helps when your hormones really tank. I know some women seem to handle this better. Maybe they suffer better!??? Anyway I suggest reading a few good books on Menopause before you decide. There is a lot of fear mongering going on about HRT. In my opinion.

[UTgal]

I am 53 and just starting this stuff! I am not sleeping at night because I get so hot. I am interested in the body cream that was mentioned. What type of specialist do you see?

[pretzel]

My wife's will be 47 next month and she's been perimenopausal for a couple of years now. It's a process that if the men in your life aren't perpared for then they better start learning about it.

I've spent the last couple of years trying to learn about how to live with someone going through it. Some days it's not easy, some days even harder.

As to the bio-identicals I wish I could get my wife to think about them. She's pretty much in full denial (although within the last month she's re-evaluating that) because she believes that it isn't her time yet.

There's also many herbal remedies that can alleviate many of the symptoms if you're afraid of the hormones. Also, take note of any anti-depressants, alcohol and if you smoke. Those can many times enhance some of the symptoms and indicators of perimenopause.

[PJhavinfunagain]

I know everyone is different but here is my take... May be a bit graphic for some...

I'll be 40 this year and can not wait for this part of my life to be over. I wish I had an off switch when I was done having kids. Aunt Flo is nothing to me but an inconvenience. I don't look at it as an age thing just a stage of life. I am ready for the next stage, sex, swimming and letting it all hang out whenever without having to worry about a mess.

[WildChild]

don't look at it as an age thing just a stage of life. I am ready for the next stage, sex, swimming and letting it all hang out whenever without having to worry about a mess.

Let me tell you. It's Great!!!!

[pretzel]

Let me tell you. It's Great!!!!

I'll assume by that you mean post menopause. Cause even though I can't go through the symptoms with you doesn't mean I won't feel the effects.

[WildChild]

I'll assume by that you mean post menopause. Cause even though I can't go through the symptoms with you doesn't mean I won't feel the effects.

OK. A year ago October, I started having heavy bleeding, fairly consistantly and went in to the doc. Told her I thought I must be menopausal and that my primary symptom aside from the bleeding, was increased horniness, she thought stress (I'd had a ton for several years) was responsible for the bleeding and put me on premavarin or something of the sort. It put me into an emotional tailspin. I had crying jags, was irritable, spacey, just miserable. (never been a PMS person) I did some research and informed the doctor that I wasn't doing this and wanted a D&C and ablation. She agreed and did it. No periods since then. I can still sense a cycle but no bleeding - which has been lovely. No muss, no fuss.

Aside from that, for myself, until my recently having the rug jerked out from under me emotionally, I really had no symptoms worth noting. Since this recent stress I've started getting more hot flushes a few times a night and occasionally in the day. I note that when I work out and eat well, I do better.

Every woman is different and yes the men in our lives end up living through it too. But then you guys who hit the mid life crisis aren't much fun either. I could tell few stories on that, buying the sports car, running off with another woman, blowing through an inheritance, ending broke (that's just one freind). Back on menopause, two of my sisters are having similar experiences to mine, minimal. But another is having an awful time, she's always been PMSy a couple weeks a month and now it's like overdrive. I have some ideas on it but am just starting to really look at this. I don't know what to tell you, people can be unreasonable and unrealistic.

We still don't know a lot about menopause. Apparently in cultures that value the elderly, women report virtually no symptoms. Labs have measured chemical changes and definite physical responses in women. It's a real physical thing but how we respond to those hormonal changes really varies.