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.

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/ Menopause Support Group

Symptoms Starting Later Than Usual?

Janet7
Janet7
I am 59 years old, and my last period was 6 years ago, at 53. I went through the perimenopausal years with no symptoms, and thought that I was very fortunate to not have any problems.

I now find myself at 59 with intense heat around my face, really bad insomnia, and panic attacks and anxiety, which I haven't experienced in 15 years. (I have a panic attack disorder.) Is there anyone else here who has gone through this - starting menopausal symptoms way after the average age of 50 - and if so, why are we starting to havde symptoms so late?

I am guessing that because I have always been estrogen-dominant (I have more estrogen in my system as opposed to progesterone) I may have been able to "coast" along longer without symptoms, but not now. Also, I am overweight, and I have read that fat cells hold estrogen in the system, so overweight women have an easier time during menopause than thin women.

Any feedback would be welcome - thanks -
deleted_user
deleted_user
Hi. I too am overweight, thanks in part I believe to taking Cymbalta a couple of years ago. Two years ago, I stopped having my period, he hot flashes, insomnia, the anxiety and panic got so bad I thought I was going crazy or having a heart attack, or both. I was able to take Cymbalta which helped a lot for a year, tapered myself off and was fine for about a year in between. Now it has all returned with a vengeance. I am 54 and have started having all these symptoms again. I thought I was through with it but I guess not. My mother also started having menopause symptoms later in life. I was hoping to be done with this misery by now but I guess not. Maybe some day if we keep talking enough someone will come up with a cure.
Janet7
Janet7
Yes, I also packed on a lot of pounds using SSRI medications. The first one I tried was Luvox, which helped me enormously, but I gained a considerable amount fo weight, which added to my depression.

I'm thinking as I read about your having taken Cymbalta that I got only two years' relief from the Luvox (and I was told that most people get only one year, and then it stops working) -so maybe you have built up a tolerance to Cymbalta,and you might want to consider switching to a new medication. I started on Klonopin after the Luvox, and got 15 years of relief from panic while on this drug, but now it is finally wearing-off. (i have a panic attack disorder, which i believe is worsening because of menopause.)

Your symptoms aound awful, but I think there is hope for you, since you very well may find relief using another medication. I am weaning off Klonopin and plan to talk to my doctor about trying a new medication - Maybe Zoloft, which I have heard good things about, especially for people with anxiety and panic.