Peri menopause is proof that G-d is male!

I heard someone, once, that had a totally normal menopause. She said it wasn't bad at all and she didn't get hot flashes, sweats, weight gain or anything. She wasn't a man either. It was only one person, though. She just said her period stopped and that was the end of it. I thought that was cool and was hopeful. I was wrong.

I have friends that have gone through peri menopause without any problems or at least very few.

I on the other hand was not so lucky and every issue I had skyrocketed.

My touchy digestive system went to full IBS

My in check depression now requires daily medication and the occassional anxiety pill

My slightly quirky need to check things edged closer to OCD

I am now in menopause and things are quieting down. I managed to lose 20 pounds. The medication and IBS are still with me though.

Hopefully you are one of the lucky ones.

One doctor asked me about how the women in my family dealt with their transitions. Unfortunately all the older women in my family either had early hysterectomies or were flaming drunks and unreliable so I didn't have much to go on.

Really? I had an easy puberty. Cramps once (sounds crazy but just once), bleeding was heavy just once or twice...but the heat I am getting now is enough to make me insane. No mood swings. No irritability which is good. The weight gain is my own fault (if I would just stop eating...and I am talking cheesecake not vegetables and dip). 

But the heat...ugh the heat.

I'm 50 and I'm still getting regular periods. I've had a few hot flashes, but nothing intolerable. The fatigue and brain fog though? That can be really bad.

Sounds crappy. I was put on HRT years ago after my ovaries were removed and am still currently taking them at 54. Until the doc pries them from me, I will continue to take them. If the menopause my Mom went through was any indication, I am not in for a joy ride.

Yeah, it really sucks. Ugh. The nightmare periods for two full years, the bitchiness, the nightmare hot flashes and weight gain. While I was going through it, my hair turned really curly, but now it's over, it's pretty lifeless. One thing I hate is the stupid stray hairs on the chin. There will nothing in the morning, but when I get home from work, its 1/4 long! I now average between 4 and 4.5 hours of sleep per night. That's it. On a weekend, when there is nothing forcing me to get up (work), I might get 5 hours.

I'm 55 now, and I still get the occasional hot flash, but for the most part, it appears to be over (touch wood!!!!!) That is one thing I don't want to go through again.

I should add - I did not take anything. I did go to the doctor about 3 years ago and he prescribed something, but it made my heart race like crazy, so I quit them after a couple of months.

I guess I was one of the lucky ones. Skipped a period, had one more, and then no more after that. Hot flashes every now and then for about a year. Other than that, no big deal for me so far. After going through a lifetime of PMS mood swings and insomnia, it is a relief to feel like a normal person. Those issues are completely gone.

I'm sorry you're dealing with that.


Both my Mum and Grandma did this, I'm hoping this bodes well for me!

This thread made me realize that nearly all of my menopausal symptoms are gone. Perimenopause wasn't fun for me. I had some hot flashes for about 8 years (just every once in a while). I began to have issues with sleeping. I began to forget things. To top it all off, my period was horrific. I had a normal 28 day cycle (with it lasting 6 days), like clockwork, and then, BOOM, everything changed at about age 47. Horrific (crime scene) periods. They'd start and stop. I'd never know when I was getting it. I'd bring fresh panties just in case + tampons/pads, etc......... Every few months I'd swear I was pregnant--I was "late", bloated, irritated, etc... It was nuts. My ob/gyn warned me that this was an especially tough time to gauge your cycle and to be extra careful. Yeesh!

The good thing is that when you're actually in menopause, it's not nearly as bad. The only terrible part for me was the hot flashes. They began almost immediately after a hysterectomy (still had my ovaries in tact for that reason!). I had them round the clock. Makes you lose your mind! I lasted 4 months before going on a very low dosage of estrogen and I'm still on it, 3 years later.

I had 14 months with no periods.  14 months!  And then I got one fairly regular, albeit a little lighter, one.  Just the one.  Now it's been 21 months with nothing

I had early onset menopause at age 38 - right at the age where my children were driving me crazy enough I didn't need my hormones giving me fits as well! It ended up that like my mother, I had fibroids that required a hysterectomy (complete) at age 43. Dr. prescribed HRT patch but it ended up I was allergic to the adhesive in the patch so I just quit taking them. No problems (knock wood) and I'm almost 57.