speedmom4 Posted October 23, 2014 Share Posted October 23, 2014 I hope someone can help me figure out what is going on with me! I turned 40 in August. My cycles seem to be getting closer together or they are just longer and feel closer together. My face is so broken out! How can I still be dealing with pimples at my age? :svengo: I am incredibly cranky. Everything is getting on my nerves. I've always had fine blond hair on my face but now it's more noticeable. My appetite for "tea" is much greater than normal. There are some days that I'm so distracted with thoughts of "tea" that I can't seem to focus. But at the same time my memory is TERRIBLE! I lose everything. Also occasionally I feel like I might be having a hot flash. I feel very warm in my chest and it spreads to my head. It isn't very regular and may happen a few times in day but then not be back for months. Ugh. I don't know if this is perimenopause or something completely different. I don't know if I should talk to my doctor or just suffer through it. Thanks! Elise in NC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted October 23, 2014 Share Posted October 23, 2014 Perimenopause Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kewb Posted October 23, 2014 Share Posted October 23, 2014 Perimenopause. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hornblower Posted October 23, 2014 Share Posted October 23, 2014 That totally sounds like start of going through The CHANGE (said in ominous voice :D ) I'd tell the dr. but wouldn't make an urgent appt. Some drs like to run baseline blood work just to see what's happening & give you a starting point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedmom4 Posted October 23, 2014 Author Share Posted October 23, 2014 Perimenopause Well, I guess that's better than some alternatives. I was hoping I was too young to be dealing with it. Thanks, Elise in NC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedmom4 Posted October 23, 2014 Author Share Posted October 23, 2014 That totally sounds like start of going through The CHANGE (said in ominous voice :D ) I'd tell the dr. but wouldn't make an urgent appt. Some drs like to run baseline blood work just to see what's happening & give you a starting point. I like the ominous voice! Maybe my family will let me go away for the next few years and I'll come home when it's all over. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharpie Posted October 23, 2014 Share Posted October 23, 2014 Yup, perimenopause. Welcome to the club. :) (I'm not finding it to be much fun!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted October 23, 2014 Share Posted October 23, 2014 Well, I guess that's better than some alternatives. I was hoping I was too young to be dealing with it. Thanks, Elise in NC just dont' think it means you won't get pg. . . . . .after years of infertility, then perimenopause, I thought I was done . . . bwawawa. oh, and I got rid of my crib, diapers, and cradle . . . . six weeks later . . . . if any symptoms are particularly bothersome, you can talk to your dr for suggestions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedmom4 Posted October 23, 2014 Author Share Posted October 23, 2014 just dont' think it means you won't get pg. . . . . .after years of infertility, then perimenopause, I thought I was done . . . bwawawa. oh, and I got rid of my crib, diapers, and cradle . . . . six weeks later . . . . if any symptoms are particularly bothersome, you can talk to your dr for suggestions. Lol! If I got pregnant now I would have a twenty year old and a newborn next year! Elise in NC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HollyDay Posted October 23, 2014 Share Posted October 23, 2014 Lol! If I got pregnant now I would have a twenty year old and a newborn next year! Elise in NC I actually know a couple families like this :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 23, 2014 Share Posted October 23, 2014 I actually know a couple families like this :) :seeya: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susan in TN Posted October 23, 2014 Share Posted October 23, 2014 That's my excuse for everything. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 Lol! If I got pregnant now I would have a twenty year old and a newborn next year! Elise in NC dudeling was four months old at his big sister's college graudation . . . . she was 22. (and if we had a dollar for the number of times the kids have been out with him and people thought he was their's . . . even 2ds, who is only 12 years older, has been mistaken for his dad. but hey, at 6' tall and 200lbs from behind . . . ) the kids don't even flinch anymore dh thinks it's hysterical to correct people who call him grandpa - and tells them proudly he's his son. (but he had an uncle he that was a new dad at 80 . . . he kept outliving his wives . . . ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trulycrabby Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 Usually, the answer to these " what's happening to me" threads is perimenopause or menopause. Here's menopause IMO: Take everything you know about yourself and your body, throw it out the window, then add ten pounds and insomnia. :o Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susan in TN Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 Usually, the answer to these " what's happening to me" threads is perimenopause or menopause. Here's menopause IMO: Take everything you know about yourself and your body, throw it out the window, then add ten pounds and insomnia. :o Also add the fact that nearly everyone around you has suddenly become completely clueless and will more or less turn into blithering idiots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datgh Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 I complained about the same symptoms to my nurse practitioner. She asked me if I remembered what it was like to be a teenager because that is where the hormones are back to in perimenopause. NNNOOOOOO!!!! It does explain the break outs and giant mood swings. :glare: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom in High Heels Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 SOB, I guess that's what's happening to me too. I'm 41, and I've been experiencing many of these things. Actually all of them. Sometimes I wake up at night completely drenched in sweat, and can feel it running down my back. Ick! Two weeks ago when I had my pre-op registration, the lady checking me in started fanning herself, and I commented on how hot it was in there. The lady next to her, looked at us both like we'd lost our minds, and said that it was actually quite chilly. The lady checking me in looked at me and said "Do you think we're hot flashing together?" Heaven help me. My family is making me so crazy. Of course that could be because James Bond has been home all week to "help" while I recover, and he's really done very little, unless I badger him (you know, like cooking for the kids!), and having him around all the time is just...annoying. Everything the boys do makes me want to run and hide for no reason. I had a mental breakdown last week over my weight. I'm not obese, but I weigh more than I've ever weighed, including my pregnancies. Granted, I only gained 14 lbs and 17 lbs during the pregnancies, but still, I now weigh more! I've always suffered from anxiety, depression, and apparently bi-polar disorder, but meds have kept it under control until recently. My doc upped my meds to see if it would help, but 2 weeks in, when I should start feeling any changes, there's nothing. Hormones suck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedmom4 Posted October 24, 2014 Author Share Posted October 24, 2014 Usually, the answer to these " what's happening to me" threads is perimenopause or menopause. Here's menopause IMO: Take everything you know about yourself and your body, throw it out the window, then add ten pounds and insomnia. :o Oh crap. I forgot to add that I'm having occasional fitful nights of tossing and turning. Insomnia is a symptom?? Elise in NC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedmom4 Posted October 24, 2014 Author Share Posted October 24, 2014 SOB, I guess that's what's happening to me too. I'm 41, and I've been experiencing many of these things. Actually all of them. Sometimes I wake up at night completely drenched in sweat, and can feel it running down my back. Ick! Two weeks ago when I had my pre-op registration, the lady checking me in started fanning herself, and I commented on how hot it was in there. The lady next to her, looked at us both like we'd lost our minds, and said that it was actually quite chilly. The lady checking me in looked at me and said "Do you think we're hot flashing together?" Heaven help me. My family is making me so crazy. Of course that could be because James Bond has been home all week to "help" while I recover, and he's really done very little, unless I badger him (you know, like cooking for the kids!), and having him around all the time is just...annoying. Everything the boys do makes me want to run and hide for no reason. I had a mental breakdown last week over my weight. I'm not obese, but I weigh more than I've ever weighed, including my pregnancies. Granted, I only gained 14 lbs and 17 lbs during the pregnancies, but still, I now weigh more! I've always suffered from anxiety, depression, and apparently bi-polar disorder, but meds have kept it under control until recently. My doc upped my meds to see if it would help, but 2 weeks in, when I should start feeling any changes, there's nothing. Hormones suck. I relate to so much of this. My boys are driving my crazy! Things I normally find cute are just plain annoying. Hormones do suck! I just hope I'm not crabby for the next 8-10 years! Elise in NC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nansk Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 Sometimes I wake up at night completely drenched in sweat... I'm having occasional fitful nights of tossing and turning.. Me, too! Only, I have these two things happening every night. :( I have started taking half hour brisk walks every morning and a little bit of melatonin every night. Is there anything else I can do to help with the night sweats and fitful sleep? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ILiveInFlipFlops Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 :lurk5: :glare: I turned 40 in June *sigh* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seasider Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 Oh crap. I forgot to add that I'm having occasional fitful nights of tossing and turning. Insomnia is a symptom?? Elise in NC My doc told me that it is often the first symptom, the one most reported by his patients, and the one least likely to be recognized as a sign of peri menopause. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz CA Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 I always recommend Maca. It may not alleviate everything but it sure has helped me a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reflections Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 just dont' think it means you won't get pg. . . . . .after years of infertility, then perimenopause, I thought I was done . . . bwawawa. oh, and I got rid of my crib, diapers, and cradle . . . . six weeks later . . . . if any symptoms are particularly bothersome, you can talk to your dr for suggestions. Here I was skipping along perimenopause lane...contemplating my mortality, wondering what will it be like to be a grandmother, thinking about herbal remedies, planning my mid-life crisis. And THEN...... I realized my period was 8 days late.... That line couldn't have been any pinker if it tried. It practically glowed! I too just gave away ALL of my baby stuff for our big move across the country. Sigh. Maybe it'll be a girl. I didn't have any girl baby stuff anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 Here I was skipping along perimenopause lane...contemplating my mortality, wondering what will it be like to be a grandmother, thinking about herbal remedies, planning my mid-life crisis. And THEN...... I realized my period was 8 days late.... That line couldn't have been any pinker if it tried. It practically glowed! I too just gave away ALL of my baby stuff for our big move across the country. Sigh. Maybe it'll be a girl. I didn't have any girl baby stuff anyway. :smilielol5: congratulations . . . . . :D look at it this way - you have built in babysitters. I'm still wondering what it wll be like to be a grandmother - or have one of my kids get married . . . . alas - someday . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reflections Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 :smilielol5: congratulations . . . . . :D look at it this way - you have built in babysitters. I'm still wondering what it wll be like to be a grandmother - or have one of my kids get married . . . . alas - someday . . . Thanks! Do you ever do the math... my oldest will be 36 in twenty years....the youngest 20, while I'll be.... too old to care?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LLMom Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 Yep, sounds like perimenopause. And yes, pregnancy is quite likely. I thought I was about done. Don't believe stats. I got pregnant at 48 (and miscarried) but most reports say it is virtually impossible to get pregnant naturally at that age. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZeeMommy Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 Periomenopause = reverse puberty. Hormones always suck! I'm pretty sure I was starting periomenopause last year (night sweats, overly irritable, etc). Now I'm pregnant with surprise number 4 at the lovely age of 43! And the lovely medical term in my chart is no longer "advanced maternal age"; it actually uses the term "elderly"! Wonder if I get my senior discount card now? All my kids are young though, since we got a late start at marriage and making babies. There's probably a Murphy's Law about getting rid of baby stuff that practically guarantees pregnancy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momacacia Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 Ok, what's with all the surprise babies? Are people open to more kids? Trying/hoping for a perimenopause surprise? Or is the bc not working? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seasider Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 Thanks! Do you ever do the math... my oldest will be 36 in twenty years....the youngest 20, while I'll be.... too old to care?? I totally get your math! I have to be careful, though, not to sum it all up as "and I'll be too old to do any of the things (that I really want to do in my life) I put on hold while rearing the kids." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharpie Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 Ok, what's with all the surprise babies? Are people open to more kids? Trying/hoping for a perimenopause surprise? Or is the bc not working? I'm curious about this also. My thought is that your cycle is really wacky and what used to work for bc doesn't, unless it was permanent bc?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 My doc told me that it is often the first symptom, the one most reported by his patients, and the one least likely to be recognized as a sign of peri menopause. Also becoming more of a homebody. That hit me at 35 even before the insomnia and freaked me out when I pathologized it as "agorophabia", "social anxiety", and "I'm turning into some nutcase who wishes she could move to a desert island or spend the rest of her life in a Cold War style bombshelter and have her groceries delivered", but you know, a lot of really cool old ladies are homebodies and I never thought it was weird that they enjoyed their pets and their antiques and their gardens and their needlecrafts and novels and memories when I was a teen or a twentysomething. I also wanted to reassure you that the distracting thoughts about "tea" will pass. That was so miserable for me and it's such a relief that it's in the past now, but I will never look at 17 year old boys the same way again. Which is a good thing because my "caboose" baby is a boy. I don't want to sound like an anti-homebirth type who says, " Aren't you ready to call the ambulance so you can go to the hospital and get your epidural yet?" but you might want to reconsider everything you ever thought you knew about HRT while you're reconsidering everything else you thought you knew about life and yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reflections Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 I totally get your math! I have to be careful, though, not to sum it all up as "and I'll be too old to do any of the things (that I really want to do in my life) I put on hold while rearing the kids." This is my deep dark secret worry. I don't even voice it to my dh. Although I'm positive it's one of his too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reflections Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 In my case of surprise pregnancy... Yes, yes we were using a barrier method of bc. It says right on the box it's only 85% effective with "perfect" use. And I thought that the other 15% would be the perimenopause. I blame it on the fish and coconut oil combined with becoming a gym rat. Beware of a healthy lifestyle!!! :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raindrops Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 I just turned 40, too, in September. I have the insomnia and mood swings. And now, suddenly it seems, problems with fibroids/ heavy bleeding. ugh. I swam five days per week, and now I'm too tired (anemic) to swim at all until I get my girl problem fixed. I, too, gained 10 lbs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doodlebug Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 BCPs that work by lowering your FSH levels (which stimulates egg growth) will sometimes fail for women in peri. Your FSH levels generally get higher in peri, and the bcp may not bring that level low enough to prevent ovulation. This is how it was explained to me... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 Ok, what's with all the surprise babies? Are people open to more kids? Trying/hoping for a perimenopause surprise? Or is the bc not working? we'd wanted another one - but gave up. I had NOT used any BC for NINE YEARS! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom in High Heels Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 I always recommend Maca. It may not alleviate everything but it sure has helped me a lot. What is Maca? I feel so uncool not knowing! The only Maca I know of is Paul McCartney. Ok, what's with all the surprise babies? Are people open to more kids? Trying/hoping for a perimenopause surprise? Or is the bc not working? We had a surprise baby! Han Solo was soooooo not planned. There are just under 9 years between Indy and Han Solo. I turned 41 this year, and HS turned 3 a week and a half later. I forgot how much work babies and toddlers are! James Bond got the big V after that, because this ride was officially closed until he got that taken care of. I had an IUD put in a few weeks ago because my periods had gotten so heavy it was ridiculous. We are now double protected. If I get pregnant, there are two doctors I'm going to hunt down and have serious words with. None of them will be nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wheres Toto Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 We definitely won't be doing the surprise baby here, my tubes were tied, cut and burned during my last C-section. :D I've had the insomnia, hair loss (although I have a ton of thick hair so no real result except finding hair everywhere), agoraphobia (that actually got better when I returned to work), super heavy periods, moodiness/crankiness, extreme tiredness. I also have a swollen tender gland under my chin right now with absolutely no other signs of illness, well at least except for those listed above. It happened at least once before that I noticed and went away after a week or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saddlemomma Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 Yup. Finally, at 50, I've started the same thing. I had one wonky cycle that lasted 3 weeks and my memory seems to have lost itself. I have periods of insomnia which I've never suffered before and may have had one or two hot flashes...not sure. However, other than that, I have no real conclusive clue that it's PM. Why, you ask? Because my wonderful doctor refuses to do any baseline work. NOT EVEN A BLOODY BASELINE BONE DENSITY TEST. I asked about getting hormone levels -- nope, they don't believe in that. I asked if they thought I was in PM. Could be; sounds reasonable; I'm at the right age; but since they don't do testing, she couldn't say for sure. Seriously, that's the line I got! So my response to her was, "Why did I bother coming to see you?" Her reply, with a straight face, mind you, "I don't really know." I get better service from our dog's vet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom in High Heels Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 We definitely won't be doing the surprise baby here, my tubes were tied, cut and burned during my last C-section. :D I've had the insomnia, hair loss (although I have a ton of thick hair so no real result except finding hair everywhere), agoraphobia (that actually got better when I returned to work), super heavy periods, moodiness/crankiness, extreme tiredness. I also have a swollen tender gland under my chin right now with absolutely no other signs of illness, well at least except for those listed above. It happened at least once before that I noticed and went away after a week or so. Hair loss! OMG, the hair loss! I've got enough hair for about 3 people (seriously, hairdressers are always shocked by how much I have), but it is falling out like crazy lately. There is hair everywhere! When I wash my hair it's even worse! My hands come away with clumps of hair. Yikes. I am always so tired I can barely function most days. Further proof that the interwebs are always watching: I pulled up my home page, and the second story was about they symptoms of perimenopause. Nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 I hope someone can help me figure out what is going on with me! I turned 40 in August. My cycles seem to be getting closer together or they are just longer and feel closer together. My face is so broken out! How can I still be dealing with pimples at my age? :svengo: I am incredibly cranky. Everything is getting on my nerves. I've always had fine blond hair on my face but now it's more noticeable. My appetite for "tea" is much greater than normal. There are some days that I'm so distracted with thoughts of "tea" that I can't seem to focus. But at the same time my memory is TERRIBLE! I lose everything. Also occasionally I feel like I might be having a hot flash. I feel very warm in my chest and it spreads to my head. It isn't very regular and may happen a few times in day but then not be back for months. Ugh. I don't know if this is perimenopause or something completely different. I don't know if I should talk to my doctor or just suffer through it. Thanks! Elise in NC Those are all symptoms of peri for me, except the increased libido thing. That is the one dh wishes would happen, but I have the opposite issue. I just want every-freakin-body to LEAVE ME ALONE! :O I am reading (slowly) "The Hormone Cure" by Gottfried. The things I have done so far do seem to have helped some of my issues. I am taking Vitex, Fish Oil, Vitamin C and I am doing yoga and meditation most every day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 That's peri, alright. Start beefing up your iron, because you will have Aunt Flo visiting for longer and with much more, um, volume. And for the irritability, similar to a male moose in heat (they charge trees. And parked cars. Because they are THERE.), try borage oil. (It's not one of those new essential oils. It's a nutrient found at normal places like Whole Foods. Honest.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 Usually, the answer to these " what's happening to me" threads is perimenopause or menopause. Here's menopause IMO: Take everything you know about yourself and your body, throw it out the window, then add ten pounds and insomnia. :o I dislike you based upon that last sentence alone and I think you picked the right screen name. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 Dp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mergath Posted November 11, 2014 Share Posted November 11, 2014 Spam reported. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wintermom Posted November 11, 2014 Share Posted November 11, 2014 And for the irritability, similar to a male moose in heat (they charge trees. And parked cars. Because they are THERE.), try borage oil. (It's not one of those new essential oils. It's a nutrient found at normal places like Whole Foods. Honest.) :lol: Perhaps, for the safety of my poor family, I should try some borage oil. My dh just mentioned the other day, "Wow! That's the first time I've seen you smile in 3 weeks." I was too shocked to think about charging at the man. ;) "Cranky" just becomes a state of being, sadly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angie in VA Posted November 11, 2014 Share Posted November 11, 2014 There are at least 7 dwarfs of menopause. My list varies slightly. http://friendfortheride.wordpress.com/2013/08/25/encountering-the-seven-dwarfs-of-menopause/ Menopause. It is not for wimps. Angie The Wimp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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