Menopause Support Group

Menopause is the physiological cessation of menstrual cycles associated with advancing age. It normally occurs in women between the ages of 45 and 55, when the body begins to slow and stop the production of eggs, estrogen and progesterone production decreases, and menstruation diminishes, eventually stopping altogether.

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Severst 08/20/2017

I am 47 and for the past year and a half I have suffered from anxiety that came out of no where. I figured out that it was around my periods (hormones). My periods are irregular and were very heavy/flooding. Which left me with very low iron stores 7(5-225) being a vegetarian has not helped me. I had an ablation in May but my periods continued just not as heavy, but lasting 7 days. For the past month I've had debilitating nausea, mostly in the morning sometimes lasting longer if my anxiety kicks in. I finally went to a Naturopath to have some blood work done that my doctor wouldn't order. Turns out my cortisol high in the morning and remains high throughout the day. My progesterone is low. She put me on holy basil in the morning and evening, I have not noticed much of a change but I've only been on it a week. Anyone else suffering from this menopausal nausea? It is wreaking my life and I'm missing work because of it. My husband getting frustrated but trying to be supportive. I feel sad, useless, worried that it's more than just hormones, although evidence seems to point to this, so tired all the time. I've been told to stop googling because it makes my anxiety and other symptoms worse, just need to know I'm not alone. I see other woman and wonder all the time how did they get through it!!!????

ladykate 08/21/2017

I could've written your post! You are definitely not alone. I ask for forgiveness for worrying at the same time I'm asking for reassurance that my many symptoms are indeed hormonal realated. And I have to stop it with the Dr. Google thing, too...both the nausea n anxiety is from hormone fluctuations. We WILL get through this and become one if those women who seem to be so "together "... (or are they???)
These blogs help me to relax when I realize I am not alone..or in immediate danger of dying.
Feel better, hon!

Tolie 08/21/2017

Good Morning, you are certainly not alone. While I have not suffered from the nausa, I can completely relate with all of your other symptoms. I too got online to see if I could see if anyone else was feeling as awful as I was and validate the severe anxiety I have been feeling. I began to cry when I saw the majority of the comments I read said the same thing. It was a relief in many ways. I had posted earlier that I felt that the Venlafaxine I was taking during the day was making me feel better. It must have been a bit of a fluke, I have still felt very anxious, although, "breathing" through them to make myself feel better. It does keep me from wanting to jump off the nearest building. I don't feel like I am connecting with anyone on any level, especially my husband. It is very discouraging and disheartening. As I look back at women my age 54 and older that have gotten a sudden divorce or had issues in their marriages, that I thought were unbreakable. I would like to ask if this "season" of our lives had much or anything to do with their issues. I feel awful most of the time and make myself put one foot in front of the other and do what all is required of me, cooking, cleaning etc. This seems like an eternity. Just wish it would go away.

Severst 08/21/2017

ladykate thanks for your reply. I have been struggling with these changes. The anxiety first hit a year and a half ago at a time that was suppose to be good. We were in Cancun, after 2 trips to the hospital there we left 2 days early because I was convinced I was really sick. Something I still have huge guilt about because it was a much needed vacation for my husband who works so hard for this family. Than it resurfaced hard last summer at 2/4 camping trips! It was actually my husband who put it together with my periods. I was to focused on the anxiety to think of the why. I have made several trips to my doctor who keeps trying to put me on cipralex . I read up on antidepressants and they don't really help with hormonal anxiety and a side effect is nausea, I have enough of that right now ( fun new symbol

Severst 08/21/2017

Tolie I thank you for the reply. Be so thankful you have not had this nausea. I feel you , anxiety is horrible . For someone who never had it before this it has been difficult to handle. I have tried yoga but than my nausea started and I wasn't able to go. I have tried meditation /visualizing and breathing but it's hard to quiet your mind when your in freak out mode. My anxiety goes right to gagging and GI upset, super fun when I'm having this nausea symptom already. I'm trying this Holy Basil daily and GABA if needed for anxiety. When I look back I've probably been having symptoms for a few years (bloating, gas, irritability, muscle tension) But it was the onset of the anxiety, nausea , fatigue and sadness that I am struggling with. Every bit of support from others going through it helps. I hope that we all find comfort in knowing we are not alone.

MamaNikP 08/22/2017

I'm so thankful that this group exists. I think knowing you're not alone reduces the anxiety drastically. I'll be 48 next month and I am in the same boat with you, friend! We WILL get through this. Many have before us! We are better off sticking together as we weather it! HUGS! xoxo

Severst 08/23/2017

MamaNikP
Thanks it does help to know we are not alone. Still the struggle to feel not so anxious, trying hard to remember this is normal. We all will suffer from symptoms some worse than others . Not everyone will have the same symptoms , but can relate I think to feeling like we are not in our own "skin" and feeling not like themselves.

sarasummer 08/29/2017

Omg yes I'm 48 perimenopausal. Hot flash period today but went 5 months before this one. No appatite , nausea and five pound weight loss :( anxious too. Sounds we are similar

sonrisa9677 08/31/2017

I am 45 and have been suffering from severe perimenopausal symptoms for the past six months. I also get anxious out of the blue. I started taking 500 mg of Inositol twice daily (along with choline) and it has helped, thank goodness! My periods alternate from light to flooding. It seems like all of my emotions are heightened. Does anybody else feel this way? Sleeping has become so difficult. I was diagnosed with RLS/PLMD, but I can't help but wonder if it is hormone related. Anyway, doctors do not seem to be too concerned with these symptoms beyond recommending an antidepressant, which I am not interested in. I take a natural progesterone cream and decided to look for some perimenopause groups because I do not know anyone else having such a hard time with it! Thanks, everyone, for sharing your stories!

Severst 09/15/2017

I agree every time I went to my family doctor all she wanted to do was order an antidepressant. I finally went to a Naturopath and had a complete hormonal work up which my doctor would not order so I had to pay for. It turns out that I do have some fluctuations in my hormones, my progesterone is on the lower side, and my cortisol is remaining higher throughout the day instead of decreasing in the afternoon. We tried holy basil for a month and although it may of been working , when we tried to increase the dose I had some adverse effects. So now we're trying ProgestoMend for two months. My Naturopath highly suggest meditation which I've tried a couple times I really need to make myself try more because it has been proven to decrease cortisol levels and to help with hormonal balance and mood. I use DoTerra essential oil's , not the synthetic oils! Everything I have read about peri menopause says that it is important to decrease your intake of caffeine , alcohol and sugar and EXERCISE! Although I haven't joined any exercise clubs , I did try yoga this summer and I'm trying daily walking, and some biking. I know I know I need to do more.
Take care

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