Perimenopause: how do ya know???
re-awakening this thread to ask if my experiences are common.
irregular periods. sometimes it's a 4 week cycle, sometimes 3 and this month....2 weeks.
along with my period now is this insane anxiety. have always had anxiety issues but this is just terrible.
i wake up at night with my heart pounding and racing, and drenched in sweat.
trying to determine whether this is just anxiety or perimenopause! and if so, what do i do about it?
irregular periods. sometimes it's a 4 week cycle, sometimes 3 and this month....2 weeks.
along with my period now is this insane anxiety. have always had anxiety issues but this is just terrible.
i wake up at night with my heart pounding and racing, and drenched in sweat.
trying to determine whether this is just anxiety or perimenopause! and if so, what do i do about it?
Jun 13, 2013 at 11:06am Edited
Yes to all of the above...anxiety was 4+ becasue I was divorcing my husband at the time.
I went on HRT for a couple of years and it did help, don't know if they are still prescribing it anymore. You might want to see your GYN, blood work can tell where you are in this. Your anxiety is likely even more high than usual because of you son, in Turkey. Hang in there. Mine started at age 45.
I went on HRT for a couple of years and it did help, don't know if they are still prescribing it anymore. You might want to see your GYN, blood work can tell where you are in this. Your anxiety is likely even more high than usual because of you son, in Turkey. Hang in there. Mine started at age 45.
Oh, yes, that's quite common. All of it. Mood swings are part of it, so why not anxiety? Also, be on the lookout for extremely heavy periods ... the word "hemorrhage" came to mind when I was getting to the end of my cycles. Used to scare the daylights out of me. I went through that maybe five times before it all stopped.
Sounds like it. I would suggest speaking to your doctor as there are many things you can/might do. Or maybe none you would choose. There are not a lot of answers. Not a lot of knowledge. The Menopause Center at Morristown Memorial Hospital is the best and only resource of it's kind I've found.
Also, I found this interesting:
http://www.34-menopause-symptoms.com
Most of the time, you only ever hear about the same 4 or 5 "typical" symptoms. But this is the only place where I've found this amazingly comprehensive list.
From WebMD:
"If menopausal symptoms occur, they may include hot flashes, night sweats, pain during intercourse, increased anxiety or irritability, and the need to urinate more often." The end.
Before I knew about the increased anxiety, I was sure I was losing my mind. Finding out it was a "normal" symptom was a relief, and lessened the level of anxiety!
Also, I found this interesting:
http://www.34-menopause-symptoms.com
Most of the time, you only ever hear about the same 4 or 5 "typical" symptoms. But this is the only place where I've found this amazingly comprehensive list.
From WebMD:
"If menopausal symptoms occur, they may include hot flashes, night sweats, pain during intercourse, increased anxiety or irritability, and the need to urinate more often." The end.
Before I knew about the increased anxiety, I was sure I was losing my mind. Finding out it was a "normal" symptom was a relief, and lessened the level of anxiety!
meandtheboys said:
Bloodwork. I got my results on a day when I was sure I was losing my marbles--I was an absolute emotional wreck. They called in the afternoon and told me and said I "might be more emotional than usual!"
THANK GOD there was an explanation!
Tom_Reingold said:
That's it. I'm clearly perimenopausal. Or I guess in my case, periwomenopausal.
I thought it was funny.
I'd like to recommend a book:
http://www.amazon.com/Female-Brain-Louann-Brizendine/dp/0767920104/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1371156465&sr=1-1&keywords=female+brain
Jun 13, 2013 at 11:20am Edited
meandtheboys said:
http://www.34-menopause-symptoms.com
#7 Fatigue
The past few months I have been feeling incredible fatigue. Like, exhaustion-after-3-cups-of-coffee kind of fatigue.
I'll chalk it up to menopause :-(
The fatigue one lasts for years. So does the whole hot flash thing. And the anxiety. What a PITA.
i'm particularly distraught because my anxiety symptoms have been almost nil for the past 3 years, even after going off lexapro.
i feel like this has come out of the blue, and i'm having panic attacks again, brought on by some odd physical sensations that mimic panic. (racing heart, wobbly legs)
really, i feel kind of hopeless right now.
i feel like this has come out of the blue, and i'm having panic attacks again, brought on by some odd physical sensations that mimic panic. (racing heart, wobbly legs)
really, i feel kind of hopeless right now.
Ugh. This should be a fun experience. To get to stop having your period every month after 30 freakin' years should be a big wooohooooo. Why the hell does it have to come with all this other crap?
Talk to your doctor, Leighan. They can help with that.
It's not to do with menopause, but I had been feeling really frantic from time to time lately (lots of BIG stuff going on in my life and with family) and I began having symptoms of Meniere's Disease again: vertigo, nausea, anxiety through the roof. She put me on one kind of pills to help specifically with the Meniere's symptoms, but she also put me on Xanax. It's only for a little while, until we move, but GOD, what a difference.
It's not to do with menopause, but I had been feeling really frantic from time to time lately (lots of BIG stuff going on in my life and with family) and I began having symptoms of Meniere's Disease again: vertigo, nausea, anxiety through the roof. She put me on one kind of pills to help specifically with the Meniere's symptoms, but she also put me on Xanax. It's only for a little while, until we move, but GOD, what a difference.
Ugh. What PeggyC just said....and with me, no warning signs or symptoms!
I wish I knew that anxiety, etc. were symptoms! I do now.
I wish I knew that anxiety, etc. were symptoms! I do now.
leighan, sorry you're going through all that. Have you seen your GYN about your symptoms? It does sound like perimenopause, but since you have a history of anxiety, it's worth looking into both physical and emotional causes and possible treatments.
I'm perimenopausal, or at least I assume I am, because my periods have become very irregular--I can go months without a period and then have two that are three weeks apart. But because I'm a chronic depressive, it's hard for me to tell if I have any other symptoms. If my anxiety, moodiness, or irritability flare up, I talk to my shrink about adjusting my antidepressant dosage, and that's been working so far. But I do sometimes wonder if I'm having a bout of depression or just experiencing symptoms of perimenopause.
I'm perimenopausal, or at least I assume I am, because my periods have become very irregular--I can go months without a period and then have two that are three weeks apart. But because I'm a chronic depressive, it's hard for me to tell if I have any other symptoms. If my anxiety, moodiness, or irritability flare up, I talk to my shrink about adjusting my antidepressant dosage, and that's been working so far. But I do sometimes wonder if I'm having a bout of depression or just experiencing symptoms of perimenopause.
Yes. The fatigue is killer. I've been suffering from "crashing fatigue." It's really horrible. But finding out it is a symptom was a relief. Also had a period of persistent heart palpitations. It was a relief to do a stress test and find out my heart is OK. So, even though sometimes it feels like it, I'm in no immediate danger of dying! That, and the GI symptoms, etc., etc.
Have I mentioned menopause is really kicking my ass! And the woman I saw the Menopause Center believes the level of stress I was under last summer went above and beyond my body's ability to handle, and it started "cannibalizing" itself (if that makes any sense). It's been a real bitch trying to come back from that while also being hit with a good bunch of those 34 symptoms!!!
@Leighan, get back on the lexapro. Or something else. If you need it, you need it.
Have I mentioned menopause is really kicking my ass! And the woman I saw the Menopause Center believes the level of stress I was under last summer went above and beyond my body's ability to handle, and it started "cannibalizing" itself (if that makes any sense). It's been a real bitch trying to come back from that while also being hit with a good bunch of those 34 symptoms!!!
@Leighan, get back on the lexapro. Or something else. If you need it, you need it.
Cannibalizing? Oh, great. Something else to look forward to. I've known for awhile now that if I started totaling up my "stress points" for the past year, I would never stop counting, so I'm trying to ignore it. But I know it has to be taking a toll on my health. 
Varies a lot from person to person, Campbell. For me, late 40s. Other women don't start until they are 50, but some can start much younger. When did your mother go through it?
I think Mauras made a good point in recommending you see your GYN about it. You never know, and it could be worth getting checked out rather thoroughly to make sure there's nothing else behind it.
My mother hit menopause at 55, and I assume I'm going to be similar, since she also started very early and so did I. Thanks, Mom. :-(
PeggyC said:
Varies a lot from person to person, Campbell. For me, late 40s. Other women don't start until they are 50, but some can start much younger. When did your mother go through it?
My mom was really late, like almost 60. She used to have menopause envy, and videos, but she was the last in her crowd. I thought the sleepness, fatigue and anxiety were all related, but not to anything menopausal.
Then you might also start very late; but you can never be sure. Really, you just know when you start to sense symptoms. At first you probably won't even realize it, but sooner or later the light in your head will go on. Then you'll go: "Oh, fcuk," and get on with life.
If you are having sleeplessness, fatigue and anxiety, see your doctor. Whether they're related to menopause (or each other) or not, it would help you to ask a doctor some questions and poke around a little.
If you are having sleeplessness, fatigue and anxiety, see your doctor. Whether they're related to menopause (or each other) or not, it would help you to ask a doctor some questions and poke around a little.
Jun 13, 2013 at 11:55am Edited
campbell29 said:
At what age does this start?
I'm 43. My mother went through it really young, so this is no surprise to me. My symptoms have been creeping up for 2 years. Started 2 years ago with my cycle changing. Then GI issues and anxiety. Now, night sweats and fatigue. The GI issues went away and the anxiety is greatly reduced, but I am a moody SOB.
campbell29 said:
Alas, i have lost all interest in poking.
:-D But not your sense of humor, fortunately.
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At the very least, two of us get a bit of a chuckle out of it. :wink: