The Menopause Thread

[lavenderbees]

This thread is for anyone (female) in her forties who feels like she is going through the menopause or the perimenopause. The main symptoms I have at the moment are depression and joint pains in my legs. Other symptoms include: hot flashes (or flushes), night sweats, cold flashes, libido changes, memory loss, heavy periods, etc.

The main purpose of this thread is to offer support to each other in a spirit of Christian compassion and empathy. The men are welcome to join in, in this capacity. (Maybe some of the men are experiencing similar hormonal problems - andropause? Or does that happen later for men?)

Yes, so, anyway, is there anyone else out there who feels as if they have lost their youth, like, forever?

 

[Auncy]

Yep, I am starting the menopause process. Night sweats, hot flashes ( I had to stick my head in the freezer the other day). I can tell this is going to be a lot of fun.

 

[lavenderbees]

 

[NorwayUnn]

Memory loss ..... and heavy periods once a month, that's me for the time being.
When is this going to end?

 

[MMXII]

Memory loss is a symptom? Shoot, I just thought I was going crazy

 

[NorwayUnn]

 

[kelco]

The thing I hate the worst are the mood swings. The least little thing upsets me and I cry at the drop of a hat.

 

[lavenderbees]

Memory loss ..... and heavy periods once a month, that's me for the time being.
When is this going to end?

I've got the most awful periods at the moment too. Really heavy and flooding. If it carries on much longer I might consider having Novosure.

The thing I hate the worst are the mood swings. The least little thing upsets me and I cry at the drop of a hat.

I've been like that too, recently. It's embarrassing, especially when the children don't understand why I am so upset. The next day, even I do not know why I was so upset. It's weird.

 

[Auncy]

Has anyone seen Menopause the Musical?

 

[country woman]

I don't think I've started this yet.

I just want my period to be gone.

 

[chunkofcoal]

I read this thread yesterday and I had to come back and read it again today.
The hot flashes are bad (I've had to stick my head in the freezer, too, a few times) but the mood swings are awful! I didn't feel too bad yesterday but today I'm nutty.

I started off today being frustrated about house cleaning. I felt like all I ever do is do laundry and wash dishes and it just got me upset. (I've been going through the extreme moods today - angry, frustrated and then weepy) And as I was thinking how badly I do not want to cook dinner tonight, I realized I've turned into my mother! I was the youngest child and I remember my mother complaining loudly, "All I ever do is cook and wash dishes!" I learned how to cook when I was young because Mom would be "sick" in bed and now I know what was wrong with her.
I wonder if certain menopausal symptoms run in families? It seems like some women are more weepy and some get angry. My mother would get angry and so did my sister. My sister said she really put her hubby through the wringer and everything he did got on her nerves.

Thanks for starting this thread!

 

[Diamantina]

I haven't had a period for at least six weeks. Since I'm not sexually active, I'm wondering whether skipping periods is an early symptom of perimenopause. Also, I had menarche at 10 years and three months -- do women who went through puberty early tend to have an early menopause? I'm too embarrassed to ask my mother or my older friends. Do you know?

 

[lavenderbees]

I started off today being frustrated about house cleaning. I felt like all I ever do is do laundry and wash dishes and it just got me upset. (I've been going through the extreme moods today - angry, frustrated and then weepy) And as I was thinking how badly I do not want to cook dinner tonight, I realized I've turned into my mother! I was the youngest child and I remember my mother complaining loudly, "All I ever do is cook and wash dishes!" I learned how to cook when I was young because Mom would be "sick" in bed and now I know what was wrong with her.
I wonder if certain menopausal symptoms run in families? It seems like some women are more weepy and some get angry. My mother would get angry and so did my sister. My sister said she really put her hubby through the wringer and everything he did got on her nerves.

Thanks for starting this thread!

That's OK! Re: the dishes and the cooking - get hubby to do it! I do. He does the cooking and the dishwasher does the dishes. I don't know how I would cope otherwise. I have terrible arthritis in my hips and legs. I cannot stand for long. But I know how you feel about the mundane aspects of housekeeping. I am still responsible for the cleaning. My husband resents me if he has to do the cleaning. I think he even resents having to do the cooking. I so much hate the presumption that cooking, cleaning and childcare is really my job and that my husband is doing me a MASSIVE favour for doing any of it.

I haven't had a period for at least six weeks. Since I'm not sexually active, I'm wondering whether skipping periods is an early symptom of perimenopause. Also, I had menarche at 10 years and three months -- do women who went through puberty early tend to have an early menopause? I'm too embarrassed to ask my mother or my older friends. Do you know?

I've actually heard that it is the other way around. If women go through puberty early, their menopause will be late. But if they go through puberty late their menopause will be early. That's what I've heard, anyway.

I had delayed periods in my thirties with cycles of six weeks but when I reached my early forties, the cycles became shorter and the periods were much heavier. I've even heard of some women in their forties with a period every two weeks. So I don't think that having a six week cycle necessarily means that you are approaching menopause. There may be some other reason for it. (Maybe it would be wise to visit the doctor if your period does not come on soon.)

 

[chunkofcoal]

Lavenderbees,
I know about the hubby acting like he's doing you a MASSIVE favor if he helps around the house! LOL! Been there, done that.
Sorry to hear about your arthritis. I've had problems with arthritis, too and it can make you feel miserable.

Diamantina,
It seems like girls are starting their periods earlier, but they still seem to go through menopause at about the same age as their mothers and older sisters. That's just my observation.

 

[Captivated]

Plus points: periods becoming less frequent, only one so far this year!

Minus points: hot flushes, occasional night sweats and worse of all horrendous headaches! Just as I'm in my first year of a degree course - talk about bad timing!

I've had mood swings at various times in the past but am taking Rhodiola Rosa at the moment and they seem to have evened out. I'm also taking Menoherbs for the flushes and am on Propolanol from my GP to try and break the headache cycle. Keeping HRT in reserve!

But I have to say that I don't feel like I'm losing my youth despite clearly being of that 'certain age'. Maybe being at Uni with a bunch of 18 year olds is keeping me young!

 

[dizzydoll]

Brain fog uggggghhhhh!
dysfunctional bleeding
crampy achyness

oh my!!!!

moodieness
emotional
where's my devotional

oh my!!!!!!

I'm up
I'm down
turnin all round

oh my!!!!

this must be what it feels like to be phyco!
Lord have mercy
feelling little bit quirky!

OH MY!

gotta laugh a little at my self sometmes
Love Izzy

 

[Shesjr]

I'm there too. Before I started my chemotherapy a few months ago I was still getting my periods but the hot flashes were coming and going through the month. That started about 18 months ago...now my doctors told me that chemo will probably put me into full flown menopause. My last period was in January and the now hot flashes wake me up in the middle of the night and my entire body is drenched! I rarely get them during the waking hours.

I'm glad for no more monthly periods but also can't wait till all these other symptoms are over and I'm told they can last a few years!!

 

[edie19]

I'm there too. Before I started my chemotherapy a few months ago I was still getting my periods but the hot flashes were coming and going through the month. That started about 18 months ago...now my doctors told me that chemo will probably put me into full flown menopause. My last period was in January and the now hot flashes wake me up in the middle of the night and my entire body is drenched! I rarely get them during the waking hours.

I'm glad for no more monthly periods but also can't wait till all these other symptoms are over and I'm told they can last a few years!!

I have cancer too, one of my meds causes hot flashes (I look like a tomato at times). Then of course night sweats can be a cancer symptom - and one of the questions the doctors frequently ask is if I'm having night sweats. I just start laughing - exactly how am I supposed to tell if it's my perimenopause, my meds or cancer?

Just have to keep a sense of humor about the whole thing

 

[GritsnGrace]

Memory loss is a symptom? Shoot, I just thought I was going crazy

You are!!

I have had one period sine 2006, but no other symptoms. I had a blood test done last year to see what stage of menopause I was, checking my hormone levels. The nurse told me that my levels were normal, and that I should come in, and they could give me a shot to jump start my cycles!!!! Now why on earth would I want to do that???

 

[Captivated]

You are!!

I have had one period sine 2006, but no other symptoms. I had a blood test done last year to see what stage of menopause I was, checking my hormone levels. The nurse told me that my levels were normal, and that I should come in, and they could give me a shot to jump start my cycles!!!! Now why on earth would I want to do that???

Is she crazy? Why indeed would you want to do that? I hope you stay other symptom-free! And I will remain envious!