Perimenopause. Suffering badly

Posted , 30 users are following.

Hi everyone.

I stumbled across this site a week ago and I must say how helpful and knowledgeable some people are.

Well I'm 46 and I'm suffering really horrible symptoms as I know all of you are.

Looking back now I've probably been going through peri for about 3 years.

Lately I honestly have thought I'm going mad.

Symptoms have changed from just headaches and fatigue and slight anxiety.

They are pressure headaches every day,weak legs (like jelly)I feel as if I'm not here in this world sometimes,horrible sadness and doom and gloom which comes on me in a flash. Panicy when I go certain places so I am always trying to stop panic attacks. Feeling hot and some nights hot sweats which I know is very common.

I've lost interest in everything and don't want to go anywhere and that's not the real me.

How do you deal with this ? Anyone on HRT ? If so does this help ?

Thankyou.

9 likes, 64 replies

64 Replies

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  • Edited

    Hi, I'm new to this forum and am having horrible perimenopausal symptoms ( or I think that's what they are). I just turned 49 and these symptoms started about 3 years ago during a burn out. I feel like I'm going crazy most days, don't feel like myself, have lost interest in activities that used to interest me and have lost a love of life. I feel depressed, very anxious and my hormonal times are the worst ( ovulation, pms and period). Any body else feel this way?  I've seen a naturopath and she has me on a low dose progesterone and I recently tried an estrogen but it made me teary and feel awful for the 4 days I was on it. I'm afraid to try it again.  I wonder if this will last until or after menopause?  I feel bad for my family because I just don't feel well most of the time. Anyone else feel this way?

    • Posted

      Hi Momto6,

      I've had so many of the same symptoms and especially around those times of the month you indicated. Find it difficult to cope many days. My blood pressure has also been affected. Do you or anyone else have this issue too?

    • Edited

      Same here. 49 too. Also taking progesterone from naturopath. It’s been several years now of extreme symptoms and lots of new ones being added every few months. I’m just resigned to accept it’s going to be this way for few more years til post-meno and pray to God that it’s better afterwards. Although reading some posts on here about issues after periods stop has me worried. I’m trying to not have any expectations about it. Just gotta take it as it comes. So hard though as can’t even plan vacations or anything really. Just gotta do things on days that symptoms are not so bad...
    • Edited

      Hi,

      I haven't had any blood pressure problems. My issues seem to be mostly mental in nature with depression, anxiety and feeling insane. I also fatigue very easily and it's hard to plan family outings or vacations or visiting because I just don't know how I'll feel. I was referred to a psychiatrist about 3 years ago and he's been helping me with medications and seriously, I'd be lost without them. I just dread thinking of the next few years and wondering if this will get worse. I wouldn't be able to work right now because of how I feel and not knowing from day to day if I can even get out of bed or function properly but with kids I have to and they are my motivation to keep moving. It's just so hard but I'm so glad to hear that I'm not alone in this.

    • Posted

      Hi, I really hear you on the not being able to plan vacations or anything because you just don't know how you'll feel. It's so hard. Hubby is a great support but he obviously doesn't understand so has a hard time knowing why I can't do certain things or why I don't want to socialize. It's not because I don't want to, it's because it takes so much energy and I don't feel well. Hopefully this ends with menopause but I also have heard of women whose symptoms carried on past it. Yes, need to do things on days when symptoms aren't as bad.

    • Edited

      HI sounds like me, I am on 10mg prozac, 5 weeks but not helping yet, very bad tiredness, I don't feel I can go away this year at all, we have a camper van, I am menopausel age 58 no HRT, going to updose to 15mg to see if it helps, just waiting to feel normal again no tiredness that's my biggest problem, trying to get though day with it, brought B12 yesterday, plus multi vits,,

    • Posted

      hi i'm in same boat as you was two yrs ago have you got any advice for me atm as feeling like i'm lossing it so draining me mentally & need some helpful advice!...tiredness & feeling so guilty that i can be myself over this xmas period with my family too!

  • Posted

    Michelle, have you finally made the transition into menopause or are you still in Peri?
  • Posted

    Oh ladies, I feel like I've found my people. My problems all started a long time agl, but never put 2 and 2 together until I turned 48 last October and about lost my damn mind! I had my first panic attack in Sept, ran scared to my gp who.put me on Wellbutrin. That was aweful, so he switched me to Zoloft. Suffered for 8 weeks on rhat, desperately praying for relief, or death, whichever came first. Found a fantastic psych who got me off the Zoloft, but I was also put on Xanax while adjusting to the Zoloft. Off the Zoloft, I finally felt like myself again . Fast forward to now...tried to stop the Xanax only to realize the withdrawal was hell, so my psych put me on Mertazapine to help. I'm now on Mitazapine and Xanax, but still losing it around my period. It is awful!! Im.scatrd to try hrt because I have dense breast tissue, which hides cancer cells. Looking back, I've had what felt like a yeast infection every month right before my period, for about 5 years. Had no idea this was perimenopause. Have had super heavy periods (not typical for me), spotting before, hot flashes (just a few), and the worst anxiety, mood swings and crying jaga. I've never ever had any of these symptoms until now. My psych agrees that it's probably hormones, but my gyn says no. He won't even test my hormones, but does agree I'm probably "going through the change". Change??? What I'm going through is pure HELL!!

  • Edited

    I totally hear you. It's nice to be in a group of ladies who "get" it. The mood swings, the anxiety, the depression and being anti social are all part of what I'm experiencing and esp feeling as if I'm going or have gone insane. It's hard to explain that part but I don't like myself and cry a lot when I have that crazy feeling. Sometimes the release of tears helps but I just have to fight through it. I agree.... it's more than hormones, I am going flipping crazy!  I just hope this gets better before worse. I tried antidepressants and they didn't work for me but I do take benzos for the anxiety and a sleep med. I've discovered NAC and 5-htp to help with the depression and I think that's helping after being on it for 2 months. I'm not having as many depressive days now. My hormonal times are the worst but now in between those times I am feeling really bad on and off on some days. I don't understand that except that maybe this is reaching it's peak now at 49. Hang in there. I think this is all "normal" as awful as it is!

  • Edited

    hi michelle i've just been told that i'm going through early stage of menopause clueless to it all as every bit of information i've come across is mind boggling i've been getting pins & needles in both my legs & been getting like virtigo when trying to go to sleep jerking movements that wake me up during the sleep too feels like there something wrong i've not been put on any medication as yet i'm feeling very weak having a tough time crying,not eatting & just pure lack of everything going on around me slight headaches too!..honeslty feel like im going through a mental break down just want to feel normal but how do i do that without avin the treatment at!

    any advice plz ?

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