Hugs for you. it is no fun. Are your symptoms constant or worse at different times of the month. I find that mine are the worst during what should be ovulation and just before my period, and I try and remind myself that that this to shall pass. I also try to decrease my stress and be kind to myself during those time. For me that means spending 15 minutes alone doing laundry :).

Just remember to Breathe and try and have a good day,

Hi, MshoneyB - love your screen name! You aren't alone, and you've come to the right place. Everyone is different, and most of the "cures" for menopause symptoms, or perimenopause, take weeks and months to take effect. There is no quick fix, and God knows, we could use it! I'm feeling lower than low today, myself. At least PMS was predictable.
See my profile pics for the hormone chart from hell - it's real, not a joke. Gives you some perspective of what our bodies are going through.
***Hugs and cool breezes!***

Ms HoneyB Is there a trigger for you feeling awful? I try to avoid situations that irritate me and remember that "this too shall pass" Do things that make you feel good and be with people who are supportive and positive. I am sending my positive vibe your way. Feel better!

@Mslearner: Thanks for the reply. I find that I feel this way particularly around that time of the month for me. It is becoming more difficult to deal with this as each year passes. My bones feel like I'm 90 years old! I ache, I'm depressed and I'm just a crying wreck. I'm crying and don't even know it. I stay at the gym. That's only solace is to work out regardless of how much pain I'm in.

@KimsMom: Yes Kim I belong to a gym and I'm there 6 days a week for 2 hours. I spend 2 of those days with a personal trainer. This has to do with my cycle as I am ok the rest of the month. But the week before my cycle is crazy.

Girl I have the SAME thing around my period! I do so "good" the rest of the month then shabam UG. Emotional, brian fog, forgetfull, depressed, anxiety, insomnia I mean you know the drill. Maybe you should check out the PMDD support group. Sending you well wishes honeyb. God bless.

I too have days where the old me returns--then out of the blue I am crying in a ball with an anxiety attack.
Fortunately I have good docs but sometimes I think that I just have to ride this out--still have period but very light, fairly regular.
Between losing my dad, losing my part time job and now peri, my mid 40's have sucked!
Good luck to all; this is a great place to vent.

I am 55 and the last 2-3 years have been Hell! I still have a period every 3 months, tho it is getting lighter (finally!). I have not had any hormone replacement.

Recently the body aches and depression got so bad, the doctor put me on a low dose of Celexa (antidepressant). I have been on it for about 3 months. The improvement in both my mental state and body aches has been pretty dramatic. I am not experiencing the severe mood swings and crying spells. I am sleeping MUCH better and my energy is coming back!! Life is starting to look good again.

I am feeling so much better, that a week ago, I bought a new bike and have been riding every day. The exercise is helping things improve as well. I still get a little PMS right before my quarterly period, but it is MUCH less than what it has been the last few years.

Seriously . . . I never had any idea that an antidepressant could make such a huge difference in my body pain!! I am still a little stiff in the mornings, but I no longer have the constant all day, all over body aches! I am finally starting to function again.

Both my primary doc and gyno told me that if I can get through all of this without hormones, that is preferred. They also both told me that hormones do little for the depression that comes with menopause. The all over body pain is apparently connected to changes in pain signals between nerves and brain (I assume related to the hormonal storm that is going on inside me.) That is why the Celexa helps with the physical pain as well as the emotional stuff.

Talk to your doctor to see what options are right for you (everyone is different). If you are not satisfied with the treatment or it doesn't work . . . go back to the doc or find a new one! Keep trying. There are things that can be done and you can and will feel better. Sometimes it feels like it will go on forever, but my friends and my own experience tells me that it DOES get better . . . hang in there! You are NOT alone! :)

@Lakeside: Thanks for the encouragement. I go to my primary on the 2nd and I am going to ask her about an antidepressant. Currently I'm just doing the supplements, working out like crazy, walking miles every day, drinking plenty of water and trying to get enough sleep. At this point, with the knee and joint pain I'm willing to try them.

@ A Wreck - It sounds like you are on the right track.

Before the doctor put me on the antidepressant, he did blood work to rule out any rheumatoid type conditions (arthritis, lupus, etc.) All of that came back normal. So since there was no physical cause for the pain, the next step was the antidepressant. It has done wonders for me, but the effects are not immediate. It takes a month or two to REALLY feel the benefits.

I think it's fabulous that you work out! It sounds like your work out routine entails a lot of cardio training. I'm wondering if maybe you might try something more relaxing like yoga or palates for say a half hour instead of the additional 30min on the treadmill. It might help with the joint pain and you may find that it relaxes you.
I used to LOVE to run, but now I walk fast with a heart rate monitor, only trotting for short bursts when I want to get my heart rate up. I know that when I did palates it was a great workout, and my knees and shins weren't in pain.
Hope this helps. Hang in there, I know it's not easy, I'm having a lot of the same issues as you.

You're a step ahead of me...I can't even make myself put on my running shoes and step out the door...so feel good about yourself for that! To me that is quite an accomplishment! :)

I'm sure your trainer has mentioned this, but have you tried adding glucosamine to your vitamin regime? As a runner or rather a runner who is currently on hiatus, I find it really helps the knees.

And like you...OMG the week before and the week after my period...look out. Anxiety become my first, middle and last name. I'm on pamelor for my migraines, but it hasn't seemed to help my mood.

Anywho..I just wanted to say Kudos to you for workout routine in tack - be proud! :)

@saucyb: Thanks for the encouragement. I have my physical on Friday and I'll see what she says about the bad knees. However, I think it's the cycle and the perimenopause though.

i hope you are feeling better and know you are not alone. as long as we dont get homicidal i feel we can over come this. hope you weekend is going better..

I am 52, Im postmenopausal, no periods for 2 yrs. except for breakthrough bleeding on Prempro, which I got off of. No more hormones for me. Tried a low starter dose of bio-identicals before I took the saliva test. Didnt feel good when on it so got off. I now take Lexapro 20 mg, I also take GNC Menopause Vita Pak with black cohosh, soy, and fish oil, plus Klonopin at night for anxiety. I feel like my old self again, well kinda. My old self is the person I was BEFORE this meno thing came along and threw a wrench in it! LOL Hang in there ladies!