Yes, it sounds just like you are starting menopause. I'm glad you found this site early on. It's full of kind, caring women who know just how you feel. You can learn so much here too. Good luck to you:)

Cis1988: I too am on meds for anxiety and depression. Tried the natural way and felt like death would be a relief.

I simply refuse to listen to the holistic women who dis-credit drugs. I sometimes feel as if they find us weaker. I tried!
I am better now and the day will come when we are over this and off meds--like I mentioned my mom in earlier posts. She is stronger, more confident, upbeat and self reliant now at 68 than I've ever seen her. Got off drugs too :-)

We are in peri meno, so I suppose it's the beginning of the end--and god let it end soon. A spark left me 18 months ago and I sooo want it back, but I muddle through and act--as so many of us do. In reality, I am scared to death. I honestly somedays feel like I am losing my mind.

A friend is in a similar situation and of course you gals are soooo great. I try to go day by day and sometimes simply hour by hour. I break down in front of the kids about once a month, otherwise I cry alone or on phone with friends and sister in law--they get it. Hubby does not. He chalks it up to worry, but truthfully the thing I am most worried about is myself!!!

I am off to bed now, at least I sleep a good 7 hours, some of these poor women are up all nite. Hugs to all!

Pamsbird..I know how you feel. We each have to find what works for us. Sometimes the holistic approach just doesnt work at times. For those it does work for, thats great. Some women have it worse than others in peri or meno and it is extremely difficult. So, no one should really fault anyone for taking drugs or holistic forms for relief. If you are better now with the help of drugs then it works for you and you and only you is the one who has to live in your body. I tried the natural route. Taking GNC Vita Pak that had good vitamins, fish oil, primrose oil, and black cohosh/soy. It didnt hurt but it also didnt relieve the symptoms I was having. I tried and am still on synthetic hormones. I would like to try bio-identical but the cost of office visits is too expensive where I live. So Im on synthetic. I got relief at first. Seemed my hot flushes subsided, the mood swings subsided, and I generally felt better. But now, after having been on them 3 months I dont feel good. I feel nauseated sometimes, have headaches, diarrhea, and feel fatigued. Dont know if its from the hormones or if its my thyroid or adrenal glands. Seeing a doctor for all of this but lately most days I just feel downright yucky. It's a roller coaster ride for sure. May have to get off the hormones. May have to increase thyroid meds because hormones affect thyroid, and one doctor who saw me thinks I may have adrenal insufficiency but have to go back to my primary. So...I understand how you feel.

I am also on meds for depression and a mood disorder. Menopause or mental pause as I call it on top of the mood disorder is not in the least fun to deal with.

I am 47 and in full blown menopause. I chose to be on Enjuvia (I have no uterus) which is pure estrogen. Due to the way I react to progesterone (suicidal tendencies)I can't take it so estrogen was basically the only choice I was given.

I feel so much better on the Enjuvia and the hot flashes have mostly disappeared. HRT isn't for everyone and far be it for me to judge anyone's choices however, Enjuvia has done the trick for me.

Just wanted to mention that there are plenty of bio-identical hormone products available through retail and mail-order pharmacies. You don't need to go the compounded route to go bio-ID. Some options are pills (Estrace and its generic), patches, gels, vaginal rings. Any doctor who will prescribe synthetic should also be willing to prescribe bio-ID.

cls......you're not alone sweetie! We are all in the shits here :-) I am relatively new as well and finding out that this "condition" is very isolating. Until I found this forum I thought I was going mad. Turns out that's normal!! We are all going mad and trying to blunder our way through menopause. This can be a very awful time but do not lost hope. Us girls are tougher than we think. We start out as innocent little children, then we start to bleed!! After that come the body racking cramps. When we finally get through that and mature we get pregnant and have to deal with all the fun times associated with yet another hormonal change. Then we are mothers - more struggling because, let's face it, even if our husbands are just wonderful (mine is) we are by nature, born nurturers and take over the bulk of child rearing. Now, when we finally get through all that and see the light at the end of the tunnel, there is one more obstacle to overcome and that brings us here.

Think about everything we women endure in our lives. Hell, we are FREAKIN SUPERHEROES! We can do this! And......have earned the right to complain our way through it!

Do what you have to do to get through the day and remember how strong you are!

Def

Thank you ladies :) I was sure I was not alone in this. It is tough but I have fought a lot of battles and I am still standing. I am sure I will make it through this one as well. Just need a little help every now and then. Take care all and have a safe holiday.
Cindy