"TECHNICALLY" - menopause is supposed to be "signaled" by no period for 1 yr. However, that's "textbook" and not life. IN REALITY, menopause is determined (or can be) by a blood test to check hormonal levels. That's the only SURE way to know.

However, my hormones are "FINE" and I'm in menopause with all the mood swings, hot flashes, insanity, forgetfulness, etc.

I suppose if you feel like crap, think you've lost your mind, range between solar sun flare to Arctic Iceberg, you got menopause. LOL

Dear FIC,

Thank you for the info! From friends and this group, sounds like it's not unusual to still have a period at a later age. I do see my gyn regularly..who does not find it unusual either. Would be helpful to know what stage I'm inthough with the help of a blood test.

PAULIE - As I said, my hormones are "FINE" and "NORMAL" yet I am so full blown menopause or maybe it's multiple personality or heck, maybe demon possession of some sort (LOL) No, my head hasn't spun around or green goo out of my eye sockets but close. LOL

Thank you ladies! I'm so proud to know I'm crazy either (too). I have seen myself in so many of your posts. I think my biggest deal is denial. I don't want to go to the doctor and admit that this is happening to me. I didn't get the birds and the bees talk, we didn't talk about our bodies and what was going on. It is like a subject that isn't discussed and I think that is why I feel so alone right now. Thanks for your help.

I just found this site after reaching the desperation point. I am 50 and have been perimenopausal for 4 years, mostly intermittent hot flashes. I began skipping every 3rd period about a year ago. I have now skipped 2 and this past week I feel like I'm going insane. I have a man in my life who cares enough to have researched the subject, but his attempts to help have only caused me to fly off the handle and yell at him, which is so against my normal behavior that I hate myself for it. I won't do HRT, and I started Estroven about 2 weeks ago. It seems to help the hot flashes, but my mood goes between locking myself in the bathroom and crying to yelling and screaming at my loved ones. This morning I got so frustrated that I threw and egg on the floor (which made my dog happy, but not anyone else). Just trying to sign up for this website frustrated me because every time I hit enter or tab, it started me back at the beginning.

I am having so much trouble focusing, sleeping, and coping in general that I really feel like I'm losing my mind. I tried to "fake it til I make it," but sometimes all reason goes out the window.

It is somewhat encouraging to read all of your posts because I know I'm not crazy. It also helps to watch the episode of "All in the Family" where Edith goes through menopause :)

I am glad I found this group, we are all going thru this crazy menopause and it helps to know that you are not alone with this. Yes some days I think I am going insane. Like I am in the shower, wash my hair and a minute later I forgot if I washed my hair or not, or I have to make a plan to run errands, and a list for the 3 things I need at the store. I can not believe how scatter brained I am. Also not getting the sleep that we need probably has a lot to do with that. No we are not going insane, even some days I feel like it. You are not alone with this, just try to do one thing at a time. Multitasking is not my thing, can barely concentrate on one, try to take some time for yourself. Sometimes when I have time during the week I go to the spa, I only go for the hottub and steam room, can not affort facials etc, but I can spend $16 to use their hottub and relax for a couple of hours.

I have found that multi tasking no longer works for me either. I used to be able to talk on the phone at work and type something on the computer and have someone asking me a question in the background. I try to tell myself to be good to me and concentrate on doing one thing.....after all who cares if you're no longer super woman.....all I do is frustrate myself because I can't be the person I used to be......this is the new me and I can only focus on one thing at a time......everyone will just have to deal with it. I also make it a point to reward myself at work.....I'll get a cup of tea after I'm done writing a report whereas the old me would finish the report and dive into another project.

I am so there with alll of you. Crying, pissed off, anxiety, depression, insomnia and a million other moods. On top of it I have to look for work in this"condition" while sleeping in a freinds store on the floor at tnight...................praying for a miracle relief for all of us.!!

Nancy-your post touched my heart-prayers that all improves and soon. All the best to you.

Never feel like your going insane! My wife worried about the same thing but over time (still ongoing actually) she has allowed me to convince her that it's just the same thing that brings on the night sweats etc. She always had a high hormone level and difficult PMS so the doctor said it's natural for the menopause to follow the same patterns (she used to wonder if she was going insane durring PMS too). We're getting there slowly but surely, with occasional big bumps in the road, but we get through it. It gets better!

ALL YOU SEEM TO EXPERIENCING IS PERFECTLY NORMAL TO ME! IVE EXPERIENCED LACK OF CONCENTRATION AND FOCUS, FATIGUE, ANXIETY, MOOD SWINGS, HOT FLUSHES, AND THAT AWFUL "UGH" FEELING IN LIFE. I WENT ON BIO-IDENTICAL HORMONES AND IT HAS RELIEVED THE HOT FLASHES, HELPED THE MOOD SWINGS AND SLEEP, BUT I STILL HAVE SOME "UGH" KIND OF DAYS AND SOME FATIGUE. ONLY BEEN ON THE BIO'S ONE MONTH SO IVE GOTTA GIVE IT TIME. MANY TRY A LOT OF DIFFERENT OVER THE COUNTER PRODUCTS, SOME TRY ANTIDEPRESSANTS, ITS REALLY HARD TO SAY WHAT TO TELL YOU TO TRY. IM SURE OTHERS WILL COME ALONG WITH WHAT'S WORKED FOR THEM. IT'S A TOUGH TIME I KNOW. HANG IN THERE. YES, IT DOES GET BETTER. ONE DAY YOU WILL JUST WAKE UP AND REALIZE YOU FEEL BETTER THAN YOU USED TO BUT ITS THE KIND OF THING THAT CREEPS UP ON YOU AND DOESNT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT. IT'S BEEN THREE YEARS FOR ME AND IM FINALLY STARTING TO FEEL LIKE I CAN MOVE FORWARD BUT ITS NOT PERFECT AND NOT ALWAYS EASY, IT IS JUST GETTING BETTER, DAY BY DAY. BEST WISHES! JUDY

I have returned to HT after giving it a rest for two months. I am feeling really good! I have no idea the reason, except that maybe my ovarian function has flatlined and thus, not much fluctuating. When I first began HT, I felt I had more fluctuation, not less...

I saw a video on UTube today about MenoP and the Dr said that during menopause, estrogen levels can go up and down as much as four times in an hour! It can drop and surge over and over. This has ramifications for our brains, which "love" estrogen according to this Dr. When the estrogen drops, the brain over stimulates in order to send a message to the ovary to get cracking with the estrogen supply.....and that can cause problems with our neurotransmitters, etc, thus the depression anxiety etc...

I must admit I did have an off day today.....I was thinking about something a friend did, a minor irritation really....but within minutes I had blown it up into a major major insult. I do have issues with this gal and that is part of the trouble with so much at this stage of our lives....we get into trouble holding onto relationships that are better left to die.

But lately I have had more days of feeling like the self I was in the past. I feel I will get thru this. I have stuff I want to do and this cannot go on. I want to return to school and get a good job etc....so many my age are ending their careers and I want to begin a new one!

Just that last sentence indicates how meno is lessening its hold on me. A year or two ago.....I felt so hopeless, I would never make plans like that....now at least, I feel I can look ahead and see something good...

Good luck to all of you! Daisyc

Good for you Daisycrone that you have plans to go back to school. Life can be very difficult at this time in our life. I have to say I want to do things, but when it comes to doing it I have low energy or other things discourage me, like flying is a big problem, just thinking about it. Also our friends, or so called friends can bring us to a boiling point. I had a neighborhood "friend"(10 years younger than me) who would absolutely drive me nuts, I had to break all contact with her; I think she thought I was her mother and downloaded all her problems, which she created herself. She would come over constantly, sometimes 3 times a day, or call me; housephone first then my cellphone, then texting if I did not respond. I am glad I broke up this "friendship", I feel so free now. Somedays we may think we go insane, but it is just this time in our life, thats what we have to remind ourselves; it will pass and we gonna be free and strong, and nobody is gonna step on our toes.

Oh my Dear Lord.. How long does this last??? My symptoms started 3 months ago. Periods are further and further apart. I have severe fatigue , little or no interest in anything, my husband and I don't speak, I am the evil witch I never wanted to be :(

When will it end?

HEY, HERE'S AN IDEA, ask if your Dr will put you on Thyroid medicine. Come to find out, I wasn't in menopause I was suffering LOW THYROID. Am I normal? No, but more so that I was before. So, some of it may be menopause but thyroid decreases with age. Also began SUB LINGUAL (under the tongue) B12. I've seen a huge help!