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I can't take it anymore!! Perimenopause horrible..HELP!

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jennifer85396
jennifer85396

I am 48 years old, stay at home mom with two children.  They are in school, I try to keep myself very busy.  I have had OCD and anxiety, I have been fighting it for years. But, now the Perimenopause is really terrible..depressed, mood swings, tension headaches, dry and itchy skin.

I have spoken to my sisters who are all past Menopause, they tell me their stories but I just cannot believe that hormones can cause all this havock.  I do not feel myself at all, my PMS is worse and the week of my period I actually feel like I have a disease and I am dying.  Feel like I am going crazy!! Please tell me if this is normal to feel this way at this time, because I am obsessing and cannot get my mind off of it.  Need Help!!!!

32 likes, 739 replies

739 Replies

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  • jill_73742
    jill_73742 jennifer85396

    Posted

    Hi all,

    i have been reading all the reports on here and it is really helpful to know you are not alone.

    i am 51 and the premenapause have totally taken me by surprise, i didn't realise how bad it could be.

    my main issues are serve weight gain, lethargy , I'm constantly tired because my periods are so bad I'm constantly anemic. 

    The week before my period I'm so angry and snap at the slightest thing. The rage just fills up and then I feel remorseful and guilty if I have snapped at someone.

    im also noticing bouts of depression the week before I'm due on my period. So if anyone has any tips I'd appreciate it.

    i don't have hot flushes yet but I'm always warm and I do get hot on an evening in bed.

    Because my weight has become bad ( im 4 stone over my normal weight) I'm now depressed about that also and I'm finding it hard to get motivated to sort it out which I've never experienced before.

    this site has been a god send so thank you to all the ladies who are supporting it.

    if anyone has any advice on how to get my eating back under control I'd appreciate it.  I've noticed again before my period I get really bad cravings and can't stop munching which isn't helping with my weight!! 

    I think my husband thinks I've gone crazy and my sex drive has declined and I dont feel sexy anymore !! 

    Need any help or advice 

    • herobed_95697
      herobed_95697 jill_73742

      Posted

      Hi jill,

      Regarding eating and weight... change just one thing first that might be causing weight gain. You would be surprised. I was drinking Starbucks mochas venti size mind you. I decided to stop cold turkey and have been down 20 pounds for over a year and a half now. Also I was eating late during my quiet time and slowly stopped that for good over several months. Lost another 5 pounds. Look at your diet carefully. Also I cook all my dinners maybe eating out only less than once a week.

      HARO

    • amy341731
      amy341731 jill_73742

      Posted

      Hi Jill- well I don't have much advice to offer other than saying I can relate. I'm 46 and have a lot of your symptoms..the moodiness, craving junk food and just so exhausted! I do know these are all the symptoms of perimenopause but it just seems so awful and unfair! My doctor prescribed me an antidepressant and it was so horrible, I stopped it after 3 weeks..been trying to walk more and eat better but when these times hit (like they are right this minute!!) exercise and healthy food choices seem impossible! Well, we will survive. I suppose and it helps to know we aren't alone! Take care. 🙂

    • julie39600
      julie39600 jill_73742

      Posted

      Not sure about eating as I’m same 2 of meds I’m on increase appetite and if don’t get sugar fix want to kill someone. As I’m awake until 4-5 in morning some nights I then get the munchies. It’s hard as already have weight probs due to other health issues. Keeping hands busy or reading takes mind off it. Taken up knitting which rubbish at but keeps me out of fridge. 🙄 could try herbal things for mood etc just have to experiment really.

    • amy341731
      amy341731 jill_73742

      Posted

      Hi there- I have so many of the issues you mentioned..I’m 46 and my case practically overnight last winter..I thought I was going crazy or dying, or both!!! After a hellish year I’ve found a few things that help a bit..(my Dr. just shoved some lexapro at me, and that was the worst thing ever, added even more anxiety, head zaps, dizzy, nauseous ugh) So I discontinued meds and find that walking a mile or 2, a few times a week helps, plus staying hydrated (I’ve never been one to drink enough water so this does help me feel better) . I’ve recently reluctantly started diffusing essential oils at night at night and I’ve noticed I sleep better and may be a bit more relaxed.. just knowing we are not alone is very helpful too. I hope you feel better..oh and I do find just about the time a certain symptom is about to push me over the edge, (say after like 3-4 weeks), it goes away..and something else will pop up but at least, that makes me realize it’s just hormones/perimenopause stuff.  Have a good day.
  • tammy45904
    tammy45904 jennifer85396

    Posted

    Hmmm... Ok so I've been going thru this crap for a little over 5yrs-the past 2.5yrs I've been having HORRIBLE cramps-like labor pain cramps for the first full day and a half of my period-which was a flood! I settled into the routine of that and planned on a day doing nothing but choking down ibuprofen by the handfuls (which then aggravated my ulcer but it was the only thing that would help the cramps for only 3hrs). Period was pretty much done in 4-5 days. So in comes my last period-I could tell it was coming and was waiting for the pain the next day but it didn't come. My period did but NO pain-none... My period was also not even close to being a flood-it was very light and did last a few days longer. I'm thinking "Excellent"! Then about 2wks later I get it again(to date my periods have always been like clockwork). Same thing this time-no cramps and a very light flow, like just a pantiliner was needed and this lasted about 10days. My hormones have been almost comical-they change literally almost every hour. One minute I have the sadness, then the euphoria then anger-but honestly within a very short time period they change. I can tell it's happening. If I weren't so intune with my body and this whole thing I would think I was going crazy. I'm praying this is maybe nearing the end..?? There are phases of this and I'm hoping I've entered the last one. For now I'll just be thankful I don't have the cramps, but if the trade-off is a period every other week, hmmm....

  • susan83520
    susan83520 jennifer85396

    Posted

    I know this is an old post but I wondered if you have gotten any relief. 

    This all just started for me 3 months ago after an endometrial ablation. 

    Awful. 

    Thank you 

  • janita35990
    janita35990 jennifer85396

    Posted

    mine is worst i cant sleep
    • patrice82793
      patrice82793 janita35990

      Posted

      Hi Janita,  if you are referring to the heart palpitations happening at night, I had those too. They can be scary and make sleeping hard. I had one night that was so bad, I called my sister at 3am to help calm me down as I live alone. The palps would just happen at random times which would cause my anxiety to get worse. I often had to leave work as I couldn't focus. Please take heart that they are menopausal related and will subside in time. The magnesium did help a lot. You can even soak in the tub with Epsom salts as your body can readily absorb the magnesium. Take care and remember that these are very normal symptomes. 

  • patrice82793
    patrice82793 jennifer85396

    Posted

    Hi Jennifer, I totally understand the craziness of this time. I battle anxiety and depression everyday now. I've tried different medications but haven't gotten much relief. I just take it one day at a time and pray that things will improve. Take care and be kind to yourself. 

  • theresa06691
    theresa06691 jennifer85396

    Posted

    Last night was a bad night for me...I woke up with a headache and sweating. I felt like my head was exploding. I was worried it was my blood pressure but the machine confirmed that was ok. Doctors cant find out whats wrong. I've been to the ER 3x becuase of heart palpitations and chest pain. EKG, CT, Stress test all come back normal.

    I figured peri since I'm 41. I couldn't go back to sleep and ended up finding relief on the cold tile floor.

    I was hard not to let anxiety take over, I just kept saying..."this will pass"

    • patrice82793
      patrice82793 theresa06691

      Posted

      Hi Theresa,  I had the heart palpitations on and off for a couple of years. After all the medical tests had normal results, the female cardiologist said they were definitely related to menopause and suggested  magnesium as it is very calming. I have decided the best type is Magnesium Citrate which you can get in a powder form online. It really helped with the palpitations. Now if I could just find the answer to the almost daily anxiety I am now having;(. 
    • mary27278
      mary27278 patrice82793

      Posted

      Hi Patricia

      Are you still having the heart palpitations? I have been having them and it's driving me nuts. They are worse around ovulation time and before period time. I have had a EKG , xray, and ct scan. All was normal. Today I got a new sympton with it . As I was sitting because of the darn palpitations, the heart started beating really really fast with a flutter type. I never experience that one before. I did have a deficiency in magnesium so im taking magnesium. It helps somewhat . It calms the palpis down some. I'm taking the powder form (Calm) at night and the capsule during the day. The powder seem to work much better. Lord knows I am tired of this peri stuff....

      Will the magnesium stop it completely?

    • patrice82793
      patrice82793 mary27278

      Posted

      My pattern was to have them almost daily for several weeks, then they would stop for a few months. Then repeat the pattern. I know how frightening they can be , but be assured that they are harmless. Mine felt like the fluttering too. I am now 56 and haven't had a period in 2-3 years. The palps did eventually stop only to be replaced with anxiety that makes my stomach feel like it's in knots. I've tried a couple of AD but not much help.  I am with you in praying for an end to this craziness. Your symptoms are very normal at this time, please know they will get better. 

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