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.
So, I'm getting fed up. I just turned 43 and was told a in March that I am perimenopausal. After looking up symptoms, I realized I had been experiencing a few of them for awhile. The one that seems to be bothering me the most at the moment is the memory lapse and just general fuzzy thinking. I used to be able to handle several tasks at one time and now I feel completely out of control. I'm not at all happy about this. First I had to come to the realization that I have reached the next step in my life and I didn't expect this for a few more years. I know that this is a part of life and is normal, but between the mood swings, fits of crying, fuzzy thinking, itchy skin patches, memory lapses and just a feeling of complete doom, I feel like a loser...how do other women deal with this and not just want to curl up in a ball??
I keep looking up treatments, something to help alleviate some of them and haven't really found much. I don't want to do hormone therapy, I would like something more natural. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Also, everything I have read states that your periods will gradually stop. I was consistent and very regular with my periods until last October. Then 2 weeks of spotting in December, a day or 2 of spotting in January and bam...that's been all. Even my doctor was a bit puzzled. Anyone else experience this??
Thanks for reading my rambling :-)
I keep looking up treatments, something to help alleviate some of them and haven't really found much. I don't want to do hormone therapy, I would like something more natural. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Also, everything I have read states that your periods will gradually stop. I was consistent and very regular with my periods until last October. Then 2 weeks of spotting in December, a day or 2 of spotting in January and bam...that's been all. Even my doctor was a bit puzzled. Anyone else experience this??
Thanks for reading my rambling :-)
I think I fought with the forgetfulness the most at the beginning too.
I've always been the hold the family together on top of it all mom,
daughter, sister, wife, friend etc.... Now I find myself leaning on
everyone else. Can't remember much at all any more. It doesn't
scare me like it did before, I actually quite like the fact that I don't
remember all the stupid stuff that's going on with me at this time.
I also used to dread the shakiness/trembling inside for hours at
a time. Now I enjoy it and make pretend I'm on a ride at the
carnival I was always afraid of going on.
I'd be scared to death when I got hit with a monsterous panic
attack. Now I envision that this is how I'd feel if I hit the lottery.
Of course now the panic attack doesn't last as long because I
turned it into a very good thing. When I was scared, it would
last for hours. (figures)
It's going to be what you make of it. Bottom line. Some things,
needless to say aren't going to be that easy to turn around
into a positive and that's where you'll have to find a friend, relative
or us here to help you through. I think we all just need to find
what's right for us. I wish I could help you out with suggestions
but unfortunately I can't. I've developed a huge sensitivity to meds
so I can't take any and I'm even afraid to try natural things so I've
been doing it on my own for close to 3 years now. Parts of it
have gotten better and some worse. Since we're all so different
no one can say for sure where your headed with this. By the
sounds of your cycle though maybe you'll be one of the lucky
ones and go through it real quick. I haven't had just spotting yet.
My cycles are off for sure and I think only 1 of them was for one
full day, most of the time 3 or 4 but that's my usual.
Sorry for the long read. I hope you find what's good for you and I'm
sure others will jump on and give you some good advice. Just
hang in there and be prepared for the unexpected.
Have a great week ! ! ! Donna