You're hot..then you're cold....Ladies only

You're hot then you're cold
You're yes then you're no
You're in then you're out
You're up then you're down
You're wrong when it's right
It's black, then it's white
You don't really wanna stay, no
But you don't really wanna go....
I believe those words are from Katie Perry, who is waaaay too young to know what I mean!!! The good doctor say's I'm starting menopause, and that might be why my emotions are all over the place....any other ladies starting this season of life as well, and about to lose their minds? Any tips or ideas from women who are already there, or who have been there, on how to dull the edge, that you could share with me? Funny stories are more than welcome!
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Replies

  • _Waffle_
    _Waffle_ Posts: 13,049 Member
    I believe those words are from Katie Perry, who is waaaay too young to know what I mean!!!

    She's talking about being in a relationship with someone that constantly changes their mind. It's not a song about menopause.
  • CoffeeNBooze
    CoffeeNBooze Posts: 966 Member
    lmao, I'm gonna give OP the benefit of the doubt and say she knows that and was making a joke :-O
  • JustMissTracy
    JustMissTracy Posts: 6,338 Member
    LOL..obviously.....
    I was just using the words to describe my feeling...do you have anything to share that might help with that?
  • JustMissTracy
    JustMissTracy Posts: 6,338 Member
    TiaBia9 wrote: »
    lmao, I'm gonna give OP the benefit of the doubt and say she knows that and was making a joke :-O

    LOL..I was!! Maybe my age is affecting my sense of humour too!!! hehehe...
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    In to full-blown menopause now. At least I hope it doesn't get worse. I don't swing too much emotionally. At least I don't think so. If it's me, my loved-ones aren't talking.

    But the heat waves....god yes. The sheets get tossed all night. Then pulled back on. I think hubby makes up for it by sleeping during the day. I bring a scarf, a sweater, and light gloves to work in case I get cold, and I strip or cover up during the day depending. I have an electric blanket and several throws in the living room, and an electric heater in my home office.

    I could take estrogen replacement I guess, except I lost my stepmother to breast cancer. I won't risk it.
  • JustMissTracy
    JustMissTracy Posts: 6,338 Member
    edited September 2015
    Oh mon ami...I think we may be related...lost my step mom to breastcancer on September 9....Step dad isn't too far...I agree with every single point you've made!! I keep the air conditioner pumping all nite, to the point that hubby is freezing..lol...my hands are freezing all day while I type away, and I'm bundled up AS I TYPE THIS!! Hubs is snoring on the couch (works nites, lucky for us!!)
  • RoseTheWarrior
    RoseTheWarrior Posts: 2,035 Member
    Sadly, yes, I'm there, and I'm only 46. I've been taking estrogen (gel) and progesterone for about 6-7 months now. I do that because it helps my mood A LOT. I was so, so irritable. My poor hubby could not do anything right! And he's truly an awesome guy. So I knew that something was up. And yeah, the heat waves are gross. Night sweats. Yuck. Getting better now that I'm up to 3 pumps on the gel though. Other things I've learned: coffee can trigger a hot flash, as can a hot shower, especially in the mornings. My showers now are just on the warmer side of freezing. Oh, and central air is awesome! I have a small fan under my desk at work and crank it when I feel too warm as well.
  • noclady1995
    noclady1995 Posts: 452 Member
    This is all fascinating. I'm 43 and have no idea when mine will start. I don't really even know what to expect with perimenopause. I'm really nervous about how this will affect me because I'm a big wuss.
  • JustMissTracy
    JustMissTracy Posts: 6,338 Member
    Sadly, yes, I'm there, and I'm only 46. I've been taking estrogen (gel) and progesterone for about 6-7 months now. I do that because it helps my mood A LOT. I was so, so irritable. My poor hubby could not do anything right! And he's truly an awesome guy. So I knew that something was up. And yeah, the heat waves are gross. Night sweats. Yuck. Getting better now that I'm up to 3 pumps on the gel though. Other things I've learned: coffee can trigger a hot flash, as can a hot shower, especially in the mornings. My showers now are just on the warmer side of freezing. Oh, and central air is awesome! I have a small fan under my desk at work and crank it when I feel too warm as well.

    Oh Rose, I'm 46 too...This has been going on for about a year, but the worst since June.....I find the same thing with the hot flashes...sometimes they'll happen while just sitting at my desk too, and they get so unbearable, it feels like Im on fire. Hubby hasn't a clue how to handle me, but we've been together for 21 years, he's learned the best form of action when I'm in "a mood" is to just be quiet...lol. It works!! (yup, great guy too!!)
  • JustMissTracy
    JustMissTracy Posts: 6,338 Member
    The very worst thing I'm finding is the periods.....they don't want to go away!! They leave for maybe a week, two TOPS...then BOOM!! I feel like a teenager at the beginning of her cycle, except with wrinkles!!
  • JustMissTracy
    JustMissTracy Posts: 6,338 Member
    This is all fascinating. I'm 43 and have no idea when mine will start. I don't really even know what to expect with perimenopause. I'm really nervous about how this will affect me because I'm a big wuss.

    All the "older" women I talk to (older meaning anything my age and up!), say this is all normal....they laff and do the whole "welcome to the club" thing....I personally can do without being in another club..lol...but they say it gets better eventually!!
  • JustMissTracy
    JustMissTracy Posts: 6,338 Member
    jgnatca wrote: »
    In to full-blown menopause now. At least I hope it doesn't get worse. I don't swing too much emotionally. At least I don't think so. If it's me, my loved-ones aren't talking.

    But the heat waves....god yes. The sheets get tossed all night. Then pulled back on. I think hubby makes up for it by sleeping during the day. I bring a scarf, a sweater, and light gloves to work in case I get cold, and I strip or cover up during the day depending. I have an electric blanket and several throws in the living room, and an electric heater in my home office.

    I could take estrogen replacement I guess, except I lost my stepmother to breast cancer. I won't risk it.

    Even if you were "swinging" badly, your peeps prolly love you enough to let it slide xo
  • RoseTheWarrior
    RoseTheWarrior Posts: 2,035 Member
    LOL, I think issues with house temperature are the worst. My hubby works in a warehouse, so in the winter he gets cold all day and cranks the heat when he comes home. I'm hot, so I'm cranking it back down and adding A/C. I guess the gas and electric companies are the only real winners right now! However, it's easier to put on a sweater than it is to cool off from a hot flash. One thing I have tried that helps is to set my hair dryer on the cold setting and max output, and aim it at the back of my head/neck. It still takes a few minutes, but works faster than anything else so far.
  • mysticlizard
    mysticlizard Posts: 896 Member
    edited September 2015
    I went through the craziness for four years then one day I wondered here the hot flashes went and realized that I hadn't had TOM for a year and a half. I have been great ever since. :)

    Edited to add I will be 50 next month.
  • gothchiq
    gothchiq Posts: 4,590 Member
    edited September 2015
    I'm pausing. I have a small dose of RX estrogen to stop those bloody hot flashes and to keep my memory from vanishing entirely. Before that, I kept forgetting things at work and the boss yelled at me. So I made an appt to see the doctor and I said HELP ME BEFORE I GET FIRED. so yeah. I do that, it works :D However I do still have trouble sleeping even without the hot flashes. But that's because my circadian rhythm is all messed up and probably unrelated to female hormones.

    edited to mention that I am 47 years old. the changes began at age 42.
  • urloved33
    urloved33 Posts: 3,323 Member
    For me it marked a point in my life where I was not going to take CRAP from anyone any more. period.
  • RoseTheWarrior
    RoseTheWarrior Posts: 2,035 Member
    @urloved33 LOL, that is awesome! I had already reached that point well before I hit menopause :wink:

    @DiracDrynx I think it's good advice to at least take some extra vitamins. I just went through my drawer and found some multivitamins that expired ... so I'm planning on picking some up tonight. I think there are some made specifically for "older" women that probably have increased vit B and iron, etc.
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,551 Member
    I was experiencing all sorts of hot flash, and menstrual issues for almost a year (like bleeding 3 weeks out of 4). I figured it was just perimenopause and because I cannot take HRT, I'd have to suffer through it.

    Then, I finally got fed up and went to the Dr early last December. She checked me over, got me into an ultrasound about a week later, I saw the gynecologist in a special appointment they squeezed me into on Dec 23, and I was in surgery at the beginning of January.

    I had a very large polyp, which wasn't cancerous, but showed signs of that possibility. They also confirmed that I'm in perimenopause. I need to go for follow-up ultrasounds every 6 months for years to monitor the situation.

    Nevertheless, when they removed the polyp, my cycle returned to a normal 7-10 days every month. I signed on here shortly after all this, started losing weight, and within a few months, my hot flashes vanished. :) I'm not sure if they were being triggered by the extra weight, the polyp, or if the fact that they are gone is just a normal part of the process.

    And I am also taking vitamins ... especially B12, folic acid, and magnesium.
  • JustMissTracy
    JustMissTracy Posts: 6,338 Member
    LOL, I think issues with house temperature are the worst. My hubby works in a warehouse, so in the winter he gets cold all day and cranks the heat when he comes home. I'm hot, so I'm cranking it back down and adding A/C. I guess the gas and electric companies are the only real winners right now! However, it's easier to put on a sweater than it is to cool off from a hot flash. One thing I have tried that helps is to set my hair dryer on the cold setting and max output, and aim it at the back of my head/neck. It still takes a few minutes, but works faster than anything else so far.

    I will be trying this trick!! I feel you, my hubby works in a Frozen food warehouse....lol...you can imagine the rest....
  • JustMissTracy
    JustMissTracy Posts: 6,338 Member
    urloved33 wrote: »
    For me it marked a point in my life where I was not going to take CRAP from anyone any more. period.

    This. I love. This is how I feel, and I've actually said those exact words twice in the last week. For me, losing a friend to cancer was all it took, now I don't want anyone's BS, not hubs, not kids, not jerk parking in two spaces...lol
  • JustMissTracy
    JustMissTracy Posts: 6,338 Member
    DiracDrynx wrote: »
    Just out of curiosity, how much prescription estrogen are you ladies taking? I would imagine like 2 to 4mg estradiol / day. Personally I'm taking 6, but then my situation is quite different.

    Nothing here...Doc M said he could prescribe, but we have many instances of cancer in our family, so I'm going to try to just bite the bullet for as long as I can..
  • JustMissTracy
    JustMissTracy Posts: 6,338 Member
    Machka9 wrote: »
    I was experiencing all sorts of hot flash, and menstrual issues for almost a year (like bleeding 3 weeks out of 4). I figured it was just perimenopause and because I cannot take HRT, I'd have to suffer through it.

    Then, I finally got fed up and went to the Dr early last December. She checked me over, got me into an ultrasound about a week later, I saw the gynecologist in a special appointment they squeezed me into on Dec 23, and I was in surgery at the beginning of January.

    I had a very large polyp, which wasn't cancerous, but showed signs of that possibility. They also confirmed that I'm in perimenopause. I need to go for follow-up ultrasounds every 6 months for years to monitor the situation.

    Nevertheless, when they removed the polyp, my cycle returned to a normal 7-10 days every month. I signed on here shortly after all this, started losing weight, and within a few months, my hot flashes vanished. :) I'm not sure if they were being triggered by the extra weight, the polyp, or if the fact that they are gone is just a normal part of the process.

    And I am also taking vitamins ... especially B12, folic acid, and magnesium.

    Your situation sounds very similar, and I think I need to give that more thought...I also went for an ultrasound, as I'm getting two and three periods every month, ruined our entire summer...he found 3 fibroids on my ovaries...but said they weren't precancerous, and that unless it gets too much to bear, I can just deal....which I've been doing...he offered surgery, called an ovarian oblation I believe....Spell check wont let me type it correctly, sorry...but by the end of the appointment we decided to do nothing for now. Wondering if that surgery would have done the same for me, getting tired of being tired, if you know what I mean!~ xo
  • JustMissTracy
    JustMissTracy Posts: 6,338 Member
    DiracDrynx wrote: »
    I hope you don't mind if a trans woman who is a biologist and also on estrogen chimes in here. ;>

    Suffice to say I'm pretty knowledgeable on the monthly cycle and problems like PMS and menopause.

    Basically, if you're on menopause or post-menopause, my advice is:

    a) Take a daily B-complex supplement
    b) Make sure you're getting enough iron - take an iron supplement if necessary.
    c) Eat plenty of foods with phytoestrogens (The two highest are licorice and flaxseed), and avoid foods that either increase T or disrupt estrogen in other ways - biggest culprits: Red meat, pomegranite, and maca).
    d) See your doctor for some prescription estradiol (which is what I'm on)

    Interesting note: 5 grams of raw flaxseed = One 2mg estradiol tablet.

    Good luck!

    Everyone with positive messages is more than welcome!! No barriers here. I'm going to try that flaxseed trick...and try to remember to take the multivitamin I bought months ago!! Thankyou for chiming in!! xo
  • JustMissTracy
    JustMissTracy Posts: 6,338 Member
    I went through the craziness for four years then one day I wondered here the hot flashes went and realized that I hadn't had TOM for a year and a half. I have been great ever since. :)

    Edited to add I will be 50 next month.

    Thankyou! I'll be waiting for that day, can't wait!!
  • morning_joy
    morning_joy Posts: 1,063 Member
    Those words totally described me for 6 months. Make Doctors threw out the menopause word but never tested my hormones. Turned out when a female doctor did my estrogen was at the level of a 14 year old girl. So no menopause. However, I had almost no progesterone in my body. One little oral pull a day and I am so much better!!
  • JustMissTracy
    JustMissTracy Posts: 6,338 Member
    gothchiq wrote: »
    I'm pausing. I have a small dose of RX estrogen to stop those bloody hot flashes and to keep my memory from vanishing entirely. Before that, I kept forgetting things at work and the boss yelled at me. So I made an appt to see the doctor and I said HELP ME BEFORE I GET FIRED. so yeah. I do that, it works :D However I do still have trouble sleeping even without the hot flashes. But that's because my circadian rhythm is all messed up and probably unrelated to female hormones.

    edited to mention that I am 47 years old. the changes began at age 42.

    I totally hear you...I forget things said hours ago, or important things the kids will mention that I need to remember....."I already told you!!" get said in frustration often...My sleep is a mess, has been for ages...it's nuts! xo
  • JustMissTracy
    JustMissTracy Posts: 6,338 Member
    edited September 2015
    Those words totally described me for 6 months. Make Doctors threw out the menopause word but never tested my hormones. Turned out when a female doctor did my estrogen was at the level of a 14 year old girl. So no menopause. However, I had almost no progesterone in my body. One little oral pull a day and I am so much better!!

    My dear, you are gorgeous at 48! I just read your profile, and anyone would be lucky to find a woman as desirable and loving as you appear to be!! 10 lbs or not! I will mention this to my doc when I go back next week as you just never know, right? I love that you say the words describe you as well, I feel like no one understands the craziness that drives me right now, lol!
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,551 Member
    Machka9 wrote: »
    I was experiencing all sorts of hot flash, and menstrual issues for almost a year (like bleeding 3 weeks out of 4). I figured it was just perimenopause and because I cannot take HRT, I'd have to suffer through it.

    Then, I finally got fed up and went to the Dr early last December. She checked me over, got me into an ultrasound about a week later, I saw the gynecologist in a special appointment they squeezed me into on Dec 23, and I was in surgery at the beginning of January.

    I had a very large polyp, which wasn't cancerous, but showed signs of that possibility. They also confirmed that I'm in perimenopause. I need to go for follow-up ultrasounds every 6 months for years to monitor the situation.

    Nevertheless, when they removed the polyp, my cycle returned to a normal 7-10 days every month. I signed on here shortly after all this, started losing weight, and within a few months, my hot flashes vanished. :) I'm not sure if they were being triggered by the extra weight, the polyp, or if the fact that they are gone is just a normal part of the process.

    And I am also taking vitamins ... especially B12, folic acid, and magnesium.

    Your situation sounds very similar, and I think I need to give that more thought...I also went for an ultrasound, as I'm getting two and three periods every month, ruined our entire summer...he found 3 fibroids on my ovaries...but said they weren't precancerous, and that unless it gets too much to bear, I can just deal....which I've been doing...he offered surgery, called an ovarian oblation I believe....Spell check wont let me type it correctly, sorry...but by the end of the appointment we decided to do nothing for now. Wondering if that surgery would have done the same for me, getting tired of being tired, if you know what I mean!~ xo

    It was making me very tired all the time ... but it also really put a damper on swimming. My husband loves to swim and kept asking me to go swimming with him ... and I couldn't. During the summer we like to spend time at the beach in the water (we live on an island surrounded by beaches), but most of the time I would just wade in the waves and not go in.

    Much better now ... we've actually been able to go swimming on a whim!

  • JustMissTracy
    JustMissTracy Posts: 6,338 Member
    Machka9 wrote: »
    Machka9 wrote: »
    I was experiencing all sorts of hot flash, and menstrual issues for almost a year (like bleeding 3 weeks out of 4). I figured it was just perimenopause and because I cannot take HRT, I'd have to suffer through it.

    Then, I finally got fed up and went to the Dr early last December. She checked me over, got me into an ultrasound about a week later, I saw the gynecologist in a special appointment they squeezed me into on Dec 23, and I was in surgery at the beginning of January.

    I had a very large polyp, which wasn't cancerous, but showed signs of that possibility. They also confirmed that I'm in perimenopause. I need to go for follow-up ultrasounds every 6 months for years to monitor the situation.

    Nevertheless, when they removed the polyp, my cycle returned to a normal 7-10 days every month. I signed on here shortly after all this, started losing weight, and within a few months, my hot flashes vanished. :) I'm not sure if they were being triggered by the extra weight, the polyp, or if the fact that they are gone is just a normal part of the process.

    And I am also taking vitamins ... especially B12, folic acid, and magnesium.

    Your situation sounds very similar, and I think I need to give that more thought...I also went for an ultrasound, as I'm getting two and three periods every month, ruined our entire summer...he found 3 fibroids on my ovaries...but said they weren't precancerous, and that unless it gets too much to bear, I can just deal....which I've been doing...he offered surgery, called an ovarian oblation I believe....Spell check wont let me type it correctly, sorry...but by the end of the appointment we decided to do nothing for now. Wondering if that surgery would have done the same for me, getting tired of being tired, if you know what I mean!~ xo

    It was making me very tired all the time ... but it also really put a damper on swimming. My husband loves to swim and kept asking me to go swimming with him ... and I couldn't. During the summer we like to spend time at the beach in the water (we live on an island surrounded by beaches), but most of the time I would just wade in the waves and not go in.

    Much better now ... we've actually been able to go swimming on a whim!

    Thank God for getting to the other side! Glad you're doing what you love again! xo
  • bonitasuet37
    bonitasuet37 Posts: 21 Member
    I'm 44. No period in 6 months. Have hot flashes all the time. Poor husband is a great sport. He's constantly adjusting thermostat. Lol