What does pre-menopause look like?

[AllisonR]

Ladies, if you have been there - how did it affect you? And how long did it affect you?

Since last November, I have had issues with wild, uncontrollable mood swings and really bad anxiety attacks. To the point that I took off 3 weeks from work and cut my hours down. And I have insomnia and am taking sleeping pills. And I also developed a horrible short-term memory. Because of the lack of sleep and the anxiety attacks, I then end up with no energy and maybe depressed - I just don't care. Seems I am fine for a day or week or even month, and then I get the anxiety again, and uncontrollable mood swings...

The reason I put all this together with pre menopause is I also suddenly am very dry and sore vaginally, get tingling hands and feet, have extremely heavy periods and iron-deficiency anemia, and these are signs of pre menopause. But I am only 43! Because of the heavy periods, I found out my blood count was 7, should be 12, and taking extra iron 2 months now, but it doesn't help with the anxiety-moods-insomnia...

Pre-menopause? Or something else? What is happening? How long do I have to live like this?

[AllisonR]

Moderators: can you move this to health and healing, as I've had 40 reads and no replies, and I think it may be pre-menopause anyway, not mental health. Thanks!

[mom0810]

I'm 36 and have all of these. I'm thinking perimenopause, too.

[KMK_Mama]

You can always go get your hormones checked (by an ND) and go on bio-identical hormones if needed. It can help with the symptoms.

[allnaturalmom]

I could have practically written your post. IMO, it is perimenopause. I'm right there with you and I'm only 40, turning 41 soon!

My mom went through menopause at 42 and her mom at 38/39 - Runs early in my family!

It is not fun and it seems like dh just doesn't *get* it, so no real support at home!

hth

[mom0810]

I live in a state where ND's are not licensed. How do I find a doctor that will take my symptoms seriously? I told my OB/GYN about them (his NP, actually) and she told me all of this is "normal" at my age. They checked my hormone levels and they fall within the "range of normal," but I can't believe they are normal for ME. I just feel awful. Weight gain, no sleep, dry skin, no sex drive, mood swings, my body just HURTS, I have no energy, my periods are so heavy and clotty as to be scary... the list goes on and on.

How can I find a doctor who will listen?

[allnaturalmom]

Originally Posted by mom0810

...my periods are so heavy and clotty as to be scary...

This is the scariest to me. I can only take so much of this. I can't tell you how many linens and clothes I've stained and/or ruined! It's just embarrassing!

UGH!

[mom0810]

I could care less about the embarrassing aspect... it's just scary to wake up in the night with blood all down your legs! (sorry for tmi) My mom said she had all of this with pre-menopause, too, but wow is it scary!

[AllisonR]

Well, now I am more confident it is pre-menopause. The pools of blood I don't mind (so much), what can I do about the uncontrollable mood swings?

How do you check for hormone range? My Doc said when in pre-menopause your hormone range jumps up and down so much it doesn't help to measure it - you can't use the measurements for anything. Only after the fact can you measure and see if the levels are "normal". Well, what the heck am I supposed to do in the meantime?

Does anyone know if estrogen therapy will help with the mood swings and anxiety? How long does this H-E-double toothpicks last?

[Ravenlunatic]

I have done some research into perimenapause (which I have read is the '10' year period of time surrounding menapause (which is your very last period).

It all sounds perim... to me too. I personally would try a great deal of natural things before investigating hormones... like don't drink ANY coffee. YOu would be surprised at how much of a difference this will make with all of your symptoms... food too. Try cutting out certain food groups to see if your moods change..

Good Luck.

[KimPM]

I'm wondering if you've been checked for adrenal insufficiency/fatigue - it's a salivary test. I'd also get the sex hormones tested too.

[KMK_Mama]

Originally Posted by mom0810

I live in a state where ND's are not licensed. How do I find a doctor that will take my symptoms seriously? I told my OB/GYN about them (his NP, actually) and she told me all of this is "normal" at my age. They checked my hormone levels and they fall within the "range of normal," but I can't believe they are normal for ME. I just feel awful. Weight gain, no sleep, dry skin, no sex drive, mood swings, my body just HURTS, I have no energy, my periods are so heavy and clotty as to be scary... the list goes on and on.

How can I find a doctor who will listen?

My mom's hormone doc is more than an hour from her and she has only seen him in person once. He mails her a blood work order and they send him the results and then he calls in her scripts and they get mailed to her home. He tweeks them when needed and has his nurse call her and tell her the changes based on her latest test results. I'm assuming you could do this with someone out of state?