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.
I'v been told I might be going through perimenopause, I don't know. I know I feel like I'm dying. And it is horrible. I have many symptoms but still having reg periods. I have severe anxiety and depression. It also feels like I have adrenaline running though my body. I'm shaking and can't breath sometimes. I have high blood pressure and and many other problems. What worse than that , is there are no good doctors here in Fresno California. This is a nightmare.
"adrenaline running through my body"
I began having migraines, long before that and so I therefore kept a symptom diary , which is how I came to figure out what I was going through. I also have endometriosis , so lots of "female" issues and pains. For me, it helped to jot down my symptoms every day and compare from month to month so I could at least tell myself I was not crazy, but my goal was to show my doctor what I noticed with patterns in my cycles. But in peri-menopause, patterns go out the window sometimes. I was all over the place with periods and too much bleeding, not enough bleeding...omg.
I would get so dizzy & nauseated , I thought I was dying. Drink lots of water, and do whatever you can for stress, such as walking, swimming, baths, deep breathing, whatever you can do.
FYI, I am 55 and am post menopausal (thank God) but believe it or not, I still have some monthly symptoms, like facial breakouts, some dizzy feelings, bloating, occasional cramps..mild. I have been post menopausal since about 2008 or so. I had had some procedures to help it along. Long story.
Hyperventilating (breathing too fast and too shallow) can cause that. I know, b/c I did it all the time. I had panic attacks terribly, when I was in peri menopause. If you breathe in slowly and deeply, expanding your tummy, instead of your chest, and do that for a few minutes, you can actually reverse the physical cause of that feeling as well as the feeling itself. I promise this is true ! :)
Well, I just wanted to let you know that you are not alone. This time of life is very strange and I just hope that I can climb out of this darkness eventually. I really would love to get more than 4-5 hours of sleep...it's making me crazy. I have no energy other than to sit on the computer dwelling on this BS. Now the kids are home for summer (10 and 14) and we are all stuck in the house together all day (it's hot here - we're in CA valley too). It definitely is a nightmare because we are supposed to be the adults and take care of our families but when this happens you feel kind of helpless. I feel like my IQ dropped, brain fog (partially from the sleep meds, partially from lack of sleep), just plain apathy toward life. My kids need more from me as does my husband which then starts the rampant thoughts of guilt. I have joined and exercise group (Jazzercise) which is wonderful...boosts my mood and there are ladies of all ages. I hope to become friends with some so we can support each other through this crappy time.