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.
Hi All,
I just had blood work to see if I had a hormonal imbalance (due to recent symptoms of fatigue, depression, anxiety). My Doc said all blood work was within normal levels. From all of your experience, does that mean that my symptoms are definitely not perimenopausal? I am turning 45 next month. I'll appreciate any advice.
Julie
I just had blood work to see if I had a hormonal imbalance (due to recent symptoms of fatigue, depression, anxiety). My Doc said all blood work was within normal levels. From all of your experience, does that mean that my symptoms are definitely not perimenopausal? I am turning 45 next month. I'll appreciate any advice.
Julie
It could be that you are just beginning to enter perimenopause and so your hormone levels maybe withint a "normal" range, but could be fluctuating or deviating from a normal for "you".
Remember, the "normal" ranges that doctors look at are an aggregate number. My normal is not your normal. But, if you take ALL of our normals then you come up with a baseline from which to work and call "normal" for the average woman.
I began perimenopause at 41. But, my blood work did not show anything unusual. In fact, I conceived a child, carried her to term and delivered at 43. But, it was the whacky period I got that reset my ovulation cycle that enabled me to get pregnant when I wasn't expecting that I would.
After my daughter was born, I went into perimenopausal hell. But, even then my hormones were not THAT out of whack.
How does your doctor feel about perimenopause? Does he or she think it's a ghost term that doesn't mean anything? Some, shockingly, do.
Is there a professional you can go to that specializes in menopause issues? You can also purchase books and begin to read up on it.
It took several doctors for me to find one who actually knew what she was doing and the ones prior to her were women also.
Magnolia
www.theperimenopauseblog.com
women in the perimenopause and premenopause age group
can have thyroid problems and not even know it. I had the
same symptoms that you are having now and my gynocologist
did a lot of blood work, including a T3 and T4 (TSH) to see
if my thyroid levels are normal. Mine are but some women aren't.
I also had my liver, my kidneys, and my potassium levels
checked as well. Everything for me is normal!
I'm on hormones because I had a hysterectomy in 2008 and
now I need to be on estrogen for as long as I need to be on
it. I can be on it forever according to my gynocologist.
Good Luck!
joanieg2006