Is It Over Yet? The Perimenopause Thread

13233353738

Replies

  • Antiopelle
    Antiopelle Posts: 1,184 Member
    ahoy_m8 wrote: »
    Well, ladies... at long last, I am about 30 days out from the 1-year mark, so I am hopeful that “is it over yet” will be YES for me soon. I hear you guys on the hot flashes. Initially I only had them in summer and weirdly right before the AC kicked in so I always wondered: hot flash or just hot? But it did feel to me as leonadixon described. I also had cold flashes which came from inside my chest and I just couldn’t get my core temp up. Honestly, those were more uncomfortable and of longer duration than hot flashes for me. Some days it just feels like my temperature regulation isn’t working. I read some experience hot flashes years after menopause, so I’m not sure what to expect. Regardless it will be a relief to be done with periods. I can identify with everything andimicky says, too.

    Well, cold flashes. It's honestly the first time I've heard of them, but it explains a lot for me. :smiley: Although my obgyn still finds that I'm a long way from menopause the last time I went to see her. Maybe I'll have to go back again.
    Cold flashes are a real thing, wow who knew ! :smiley: A aha moment for me.
  • leonadixon
    leonadixon Posts: 479 Member
    I had a hysterectomy 11 years ago, still have ovaries. I don't have a period to gauge anything by, just these miserable moods and hot flashes and night sweats. It really helps to know others are experiencing this too and confirm I'm not (too) crazy!
  • lmf1012
    lmf1012 Posts: 402 Member
    I’m 48 and started peri around September 2019 (I had to look back at my tracker). Days between periods were 93, 188, 14, 204, and currently on day 114. I definitely had the night sweats, those are brutal on sleep! Dr. prescribed Terazosin and that has helped tremendously there. Thankfully no other symptoms but I saw someone posted earlier about frozen shoulder and I had that late last year, never thought to attribute it to peri honestly. Just figured maybe it’s just part of aging.
  • Tblackdogs
    Tblackdogs Posts: 324 Member
    lmf1012 wrote: »
    I’m 48 and started peri around September 2019 (I had to look back at my tracker). Days between periods were 93, 188, 14, 204, and currently on day 114. I definitely had the night sweats, those are brutal on sleep! Dr. prescribed Terazosin and that has helped tremendously there. Thankfully no other symptoms but I saw someone posted earlier about frozen shoulder and I had that late last year, never thought to attribute it to peri honestly. Just figured maybe it’s just part of aging.

    Well menopause is part of aging. But the connection to frozen shoulder seems to be fluctuating hormones. Glad yours is over (hopefully!).
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 27,843 Member
    dralicephd wrote: »
    Bumping this because it is an important topic.

    I'm 47 and dealing with all the usual: hot flashes, insomnia, mood swings, "crime scene periods", spotting, periods that refuse to end on their own... etc. And since I get migraines with aura, that's a no-go for estrogen for me. I just have to deal with it.

    Anyway, it's really important to realize that the bloating and water gain/loss that occurs at this stage is so much worse than a normal cycle. This is really going to affect what you see on the scale. Especially if you are in the "lose weight very slowly" camp, like me.

    I'm saying this as much for a reminder to myself as to anyone else reading this: Hang in there, ladies! Don't give up on your fitness/weight loss goals, just because your ovaries are giving up the ghost. :wink: Stick to the plan. You'll get there.

    I can so relate to "crime scene periods" LOL.

    Last year I had two periods that did not end on their own, which landed me in the ER due to crazy low iron (ferritin was 1.5). Since then I've been taking Prometrium, a bio-identical progesterone, and haven't had that issue since. I initially took high doses to stop it, and since have been taking 100 mg day starting a week after my period started.

    https://www.power2practice.com/article/continuous-bleeding-progesterone-challenge/

    I contacted my GYN multiple times about these unending periods and she did nothing. I found the progesterone thing on my own and ran it by her. I'm very annoyed she didn't suggest it to me earlier.
  • COGypsy
    COGypsy Posts: 1,145 Member
    ahoy_m8 wrote: »
    Well, ladies... at long last, I am about 30 days out from the 1-year mark, so I am hopeful that “is it over yet” will be YES for me soon. I hear you guys on the hot flashes. Initially I only had them in summer and weirdly right before the AC kicked in so I always wondered: hot flash or just hot? But it did feel to me as leonadixon described. I also had cold flashes which came from inside my chest and I just couldn’t get my core temp up. Honestly, those were more uncomfortable and of longer duration than hot flashes for me. Some days it just feels like my temperature regulation isn’t working. I read some experience hot flashes years after menopause, so I’m not sure what to expect. Regardless it will be a relief to be done with periods. I can identify with everything andimicky says, too.

    The temperature regulation thing has been a problem I've noticed for the last several months. Hot flashes started regularly a couple of months ago. For probably the last year, I've had cold spells that last much longer. I've attributed them to blood sugar instability because it happens most often when I wake up and a few hours after intentional exercise. My gyn recommended taking Serenol for mood problems, but so far for me it's just been temperature regulation. Has anyone experienced changes in blood sugar levels with peri/menopause? I'm 47 and just had surgery to remove my Mirena IUD and excise some fibroid tissue, quit birth control pills I was taking for the fibroid bleeding, and am waiting to see what a "natural" period is like. I'm 7 weeks out from the procedure and nothing yet, so I'm dreading what will happen when it finally arrives :#
  • dralicephd
    dralicephd Posts: 401 Member
    kshama2001 wrote: »

    Last year I had two periods that did not end on their own, which landed me in the ER due to crazy low iron (ferritin was 1.5). Since then I've been taking Prometrium, a bio-identical progesterone, and haven't had that issue since. I initially took high doses to stop it, and since have been taking 100 mg day starting a week after my period started.

    https://www.power2practice.com/article/continuous-bleeding-progesterone-challenge/

    I contacted my GYN multiple times about these unending periods and she did nothing. I found the progesterone thing on my own and ran it by her. I'm very annoyed she didn't suggest it to me earlier.

    I've had the non-stop period a couple of times now. Each time, my GYN prescribed Prometrium for two weeks to stop it. I've seen the website you posted and this one (https://www.cemcor.ca/) that both promote the long-term use of cyclic progesterone. I'm intrigued! It sounds like it is working for you. If that continues to happen to me, I will run it by my GYN too. Have you noticed if hot flashes or insomnia have gotten better since you started progesterone?

    This month I took 200mg of ibuprofen at each meal and that calmed down the amount of bleeding, so I may have found a solution to the "crime scene" thing. I mean, it is still heavy, but it's at least manageable now. We'll see if that continues to work. Cross your fingers.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 27,843 Member
    dralicephd wrote: »
    kshama2001 wrote: »

    Last year I had two periods that did not end on their own, which landed me in the ER due to crazy low iron (ferritin was 1.5). Since then I've been taking Prometrium, a bio-identical progesterone, and haven't had that issue since. I initially took high doses to stop it, and since have been taking 100 mg day starting a week after my period started.

    https://www.power2practice.com/article/continuous-bleeding-progesterone-challenge/

    I contacted my GYN multiple times about these unending periods and she did nothing. I found the progesterone thing on my own and ran it by her. I'm very annoyed she didn't suggest it to me earlier.

    I've had the non-stop period a couple of times now. Each time, my GYN prescribed Prometrium for two weeks to stop it. I've seen the website you posted and this one (https://www.cemcor.ca/) that both promote the long-term use of cyclic progesterone. I'm intrigued! It sounds like it is working for you. If that continues to happen to me, I will run it by my GYN too. Have you noticed if hot flashes or insomnia have gotten better since you started progesterone?

    This month I took 200mg of ibuprofen at each meal and that calmed down the amount of bleeding, so I may have found a solution to the "crime scene" thing. I mean, it is still heavy, but it's at least manageable now. We'll see if that continues to work. Cross your fingers.

    I've taken Prometrium to regulate my cycles off and on for over 20 years, and have yet to have a hot flash. (I'll be 55 in a few months.)

    Previously, I had really long cycles - regularly six weeks and up to three months, and the Prometrium helped shorten them, which reduced bleeding since there was less time for my uterine lining to build up. As I got closer to menopause, my cycles shortened on their own.

    Prometrium is somewhat helpful for sleep, but I have so many challenges with insomnia that it alone is insufficient.
  • justanotherloser007
    justanotherloser007 Posts: 578 Member
    ahoy_m8 wrote: »
    Well, I learned something new in the menopause symptoms department: frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis.
    https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/frozen-shoulder/symptoms-causes/syc-20372684

    Orthopedic surgeon said it is triggered by hormone imbalance: insulin (diabetes), thyroid (hypo- or hyper) or menopause (!). He said most of his patients are postmenopausal women. I'm not, but I'm hoping to reach the 1-year mark within a year. 166 days is my longest stretch, and I'm presently approaching that for the 3rd time. Bright spot is nothing is torn or requires surgery, but it is very painful and takes 1-2 years to be back to normal. So depressing. Ceased all strength training 2 months ago. Have dozens of tedious exercises for it, and they HURT. Inflamed ligaments deep in the joint won't stretch, and that is what restricts range of motion. The only thing that speeds recovery, he says, is a steroid shot deep in the joint. That sounds pretty unpleasant, too. It's my next step if insufficient progress after 2 month of exercises. I asked if there were other joints that experience ligament "freezing" due to hormone imbalance, and he said no. He is a shoulder specialist, though.

    Anyone else experience this?
    I realize that I am a couple years late or whatever, but this totally happened to my Mom! We assumed it was arthritis, and I helped her dress everyday. It went away in 10 months, and she started being able to move. I thought she might just be in some sort of arthritic remission... but it never came back! I would have never guessed until you wrote that.

    Also, 48 I have cycles and I thought last year that I might have dementia real bad. I also have fibroids, I also got melanoma.. but that is unrelated. Or it would have been if the cancer dr. didn't top me up on some nice cushy IV iron! Best thing ever! Seemed to help some of the dementia, which made me wonder. Then I started have vengeful night sweats with an incapacity to get back to sleep. Now I know that even though I had incredibly long painful crazy periods - I was definitely and still am going through peri. Since I have had short cycles, and long periods. So much bleeding, I am about to check ferritin levels again next week. Also, checking hormones - but I don't really know what the purpose of checking my hormones are. I mean, I know they are full on crazy and I am in peri - what exactly is the point of going.. yep, hormones are crazy lady!!

  • justanotherloser007
    justanotherloser007 Posts: 578 Member
    ahoy_m8 wrote: »
    I also had cold flashes which came from inside my chest and I just couldn’t get my core temp up. Honestly, those were more uncomfortable and of longer duration than hot flashes for me. Some days it just feels like my temperature regulation isn’t working.

    Now that I have an idea what is going on, I have had momentary hot then sometimes 6 hours of deep freeze! So since I live in Houston, Tx. I couldn't tell if it was a hot flash - but now I know. Then I also felt super hot and super cold at the same freakin time!! Yep, at the time I didn't know what it was about or what was going on.. but now I am thinking, I am in full peri and it is just part of the broken thermometer syndrome.

    For the night sweats, which have just started a month ago - that is when I knew something was up. Even though I had the hot and freeze and all that. I got a waterproof sheet, but I am having some pretty severe issues sleeping.

    I have decided when I am sweating, won't stop and cannot sleep - I work out. Yep, after a few deep freeze workouts during the day, when I literally couldn't sweat... I just was like, maybe if I do the night sweat thing - get my workout going, I mean I am already halfway there... That is what I decided to do this week. So far so good. Nothing odder than sweating all night in bed, then being unable to sweat when you workout! I really wanted to yell at Jo with her sweating everywhere self! I drink a gallon of water a day, but for peri - should I increase that?? Where is a freakin chart people!!

  • dralicephd
    dralicephd Posts: 401 Member
    I've had a few months of manageable symptoms. The ibuprofen on my bleeding days really does work to take the edge off the super heavy bleeding, and bring it into a "heavy but manageable" area. I wasn't having any hot flashes and very little trouble with sleep. And then March came....

    O.M.G. I have had the WORST hot flashes of my life this month. They've been coming in clusters. Just when you think, "yay, that's over", here comes another one. During the day they are annoying, but it's been really rough at night. They start at about 3 or 4 am and wake me up. From about 3-4-ish until I have to get up (~6am), I'm doing an endless cycle of: wake up, throw off all blankets and sweat, pull blankets back on because now I'm cold, doze for about 30 minutes to an hour, repeat. I'm surprised I'm even remotely functional during the day.

    @fatty2begone My aunt claims to be one of those "I just stopped one day" women. We can't all be that lucky, I guess. :/
  • dralicephd
    dralicephd Posts: 401 Member
    edited March 2022
    I have decided when I am sweating, won't stop and cannot sleep - I work out.

    That's an interesting strategy! Do you find you sleep well after that?

    I don't think this is an option for me as the elliptical is in my bedroom. My husband might be more than a bit annoyed if I suddenly fired it up at 3am. Lol! :D
  • justanotherloser007
    justanotherloser007 Posts: 578 Member
    dralicephd wrote: »
    Do you find you sleep well after that?

    I don't think this is an option for me as the elliptical is in my bedroom. My husband might be more than a bit annoyed if I suddenly fired it up at 3am. Lol! :D

    I do this in the living room, since I have a sleeping hubby. I just put in a youtube video with no sound, and so far I can sleep 4 hours and feel like a rock star because I got my workout in!

    But, I am having trouble with sleep anytime after that. You would think after four hours of sleep, and a workout I would sleep like a baby. I might doze here and there, but I am working out the "second sleep" part of the equation. I will see the ob/gyn sometime in the next two weeks. Until then, as long as I can get 4 hours I am pretty sure I won't go Kafka insane. That happens with no sleep!

  • justanotherloser007
    justanotherloser007 Posts: 578 Member
    edited March 2022
    Hmm also, for those evidently really brave peri-menopause ladies who decide to lose weight during this time of life, I have a little help! Milk Thistle (silymarin) has been very helpful for the super water fluctuations that I think are at least one reason so many find this time of life difficult to lose weight... I remember one weigh-in I had night sweats all night, got up at 5am slammed 1/2 gallon of water (maybe more) before I realized it was weigh-in day!!

    Water fluctuations can make it difficult to see what sort of weight loss is actually happening. I was actually on milk thistle for other reasons.. spring cleaning of liver.. but it works great for balancing water.
  • claireychn074
    claireychn074 Posts: 1,311 Member
    A little tip for those “burning up inside and sweating like I’m running in 100 degree moments” - I’ve started keeping Biofreeze gel and spray by the bed (the stuff you put on aching muscles). I use it when I wake up boiling and it seems to help a bit. No idea if it’s psychosomatic but I also don’t care - anything which helps me to cool down enough to get back to sleep is good.

    I have also told the people in my office In case I start stripping off (to acceptable limits I hasten to add) as I thought it best just to get it out in the open!
  • COGypsy
    COGypsy Posts: 1,145 Member
    My gynecologist recommended some supplements to me that have finally started to kick in. They say you need about 3 months for them to really be effective and they were right on the money with that. The company is Bonafide and the supplements are some kind of Swedish flower. I’m about 4 months in taking them and probably having hot flashes and night sweats about a third as often as I was before and are significantly less intense when they do happen.
  • dralicephd
    dralicephd Posts: 401 Member
    So... a crazy update. I said earlier that I had crazy hot flashes in March. Guess what? I haven't had a period since then. As someone that has ALWAYS been super regular, it is absolutely not normal for me to skip periods. And now I've skipped two. Was the March craziness the last gasp? A farewell hormonal party? Or are my ovaries just messing with me?

    The downside is that I've still had PMS symptoms and a ton of bloating. The scale is all over the map. It's a little frustrating, especially since I was within a couple of pounds of goal weight. :/ Oh well...