questions about menopause

[seanymph]

Hi all,

Would appreciate any insight you can give about personal experience or knowledge about menopause.

I think I have started per-menopause, but not sure and have questions.

In January of 2005 i started having hot flashes and night sweats that were absolutely terrible. I was 41yrs old then, know it can be young for menopause, but not sure when my Mom when through it. She never talked about those kind of things and she has since passed away.

Have continued to have the hot flashes and night sweats off and on, but started to take a product I found at GNC and it sems to have helped alot. My cylces have gone from being spot on every month to maybe skipping a month or two. This recent cycle I had I thought I was getting my period after not having one since June, but it is not like my normal period (heavy flow where I use 1 1/2 packs of the overnight pads per period) to more like spotting. This has been going on for 3 days now.

I feel silly asking these questions, but have no older woman in my life to ask these questions of and since i have been doing travel nursing I don't have a regular physician I see to ask, only see one if i need refills on meds.

So is this normal for perimenopause? Is this what happens?

I know I am not pregnant, no chance of that. Stress has never effected my cycles, always have had them no matter if my life was in total disaster.

Thank you in advance for your insight and patience.

[jmgrn65, RN]

Hi per TOS we are not to give medical advice. A moderator will probably come and close this thread. sorry, but there are plenty of places on line to get info check out web md.

[seanymph]

I do not want medical advice on what to do. I just want to know if this is similar to what others have gone through. If I thought there was something seriously wrong or wanted help with my hot flashes I would consult a physican. I have already read numerous articles on hormaone replacement therapy vs. natural ways to help and have made up my own mind in regards to this.

Like i said I just want others insight into their own personal experience with perimenopause and menopause.

[Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN]

If you are taking black cohosh, be warned- it has been linked to liver failure and damage in many women.

It sounds very much like you are going through menopause. I'm 41 and went through early menopause. I'm also a traveler and don't have a regular doc.

Feel free to PM me.

[HARRN2b]

I started peri menopause in my mid to late 30's. I only wish someone would have warned me about it!! I was never ever depressed, but the peri made me somewhat sad and I did not even know why. I had very minor hot flashes. Now, I am in my 40's, I do not have the hot flashes, but I know that my personality has changed. I used to be happy go lucky. I find myself somewhat sad sometimes (I think it is because I am seeing my parents and their friends get older) That really bothers me as I cannot imagine my life without them. I think hormones fluctuate at this time of life as well. Periods are never when they are supposed to be, If only someone would have warned me of this!!!! There is an excellent website called power-surge.com that has web boards where you can post questions. Hope this helps!

[Haunted]

Hot flashes totally SUCK!!!! I have been on again, off again for about 3 years. Due to fibroids, my periods are very heavy with lots of bloating and back and leg pain. The worst is the new fat pad around my gut.

Oh and those bat wings that used to be my arms! It's also a chuckle to see that my FACE IS BREAKING OUT and since my short term memory is gone I can forget what I'm doing in the vitamin aisle since, OH YEAH, I'm having what feels like heart attacks every 5 minutes and some aspirin might be in order.

Not to mention the thinning hair on my head but sheesh !!!! I could CORN ROW the stuff growing along my chin and jawline. I really do adore my Gyn but she's a little too chipper for my liking. She just that happy.

I have found some relief with the occasional use of a low dose estrogen patch and some atenolol for my heart and new onset of HTN. I also obtained some sleepers which help with my insomnia. Next month I am having my uterus relocated to a toxic waste dump after I ritualisticly stomp it, set fire to it and heckle it after it is removed. I hate that thing! It has become my sworn enemy and the root of all evil, unless you own stock in Tampax.

And the mood swings!!!! Oh my goodness. My poor husband has developed a furrow between his eye brows that really wasn't there 3 years ago. It's no wonder that we have stopped going out in public unless he carries a fresh hankie, I can sob at a red light. One other note that another poster remarked regarding the black cohosh, I was told it can also cause some high blood pressure. If someone has any other ideas on how to get thru menopause and still be an effective nurse and not a homicidal maniac, spill it.....