You Are Not Crazy….Just Perimenopausal
Did you ever get old overnight?
Where did these wrinkles come from? How come I can’t read without squinting? Why does my family think I am a bi&*@? Is it hot in here? Why can’t I sleep? When is my period going to come .. or stop? Why do I eat the same but gain weight?
Am I crazy? No, you are just in perimenopause, my dear.
The really crazy thing is when you go to talk to your doctor about it he tells you, ”There is nothing wrong with you” or “You just have to live with it.”
That is simply not true and I think part of the reason why Susan Somers and bioidentical hormones have become so popular. The doctors are not listening, so patients are going to what appears “safer and more natural” which I hate to say, is not necessarily true.
First, what is perimenopause?
Perimenopause may begin as what appears to be increasing moodiness and irritability and is often accompanied by erratic periods, some of which can be quite heavy. The ovaries will also start to wind down in a sporadic manner producing normal estrogen one month and low levels the next. Low levels of estrogen account for most of the symptoms of menopause.
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I have thought about that -- about getting off the YAZ and onto bioidenticals. I only hesitate because 1) I need the birth control aspect of YAZ -- do not want to get pregnant right now, and 2) since I feel so good on YAZ, I hate to make a change (why fix something that's not broken). But, I do worry at times about the fact that I'm taking a "one size fits all" drug, and not really taking the time to figure out my exact hormone needs..... I guess I feel that if at some point I start experiencing perimenopausal symptoms again, I'll have to make a switch then.
Btw, I want to add that I think advice for women to take antidepressants during perimenopause and after menopause is horrendous! The problem is lack of hormones, most notable progesterone and estradiol. Antidepressants do nothing to address that problem and only mask it with a mental fog. Is this much better than what used to happen to women decades ago, being committed to asylums?
I, too wish that I'd had more information about perimenopause before I was smack in the middle of it. The good news, though, is that I think we're the last generation that will feel like that. My sister, who's 43, has been aware of what to expect with perimenopausal changes since she was in her late 30s. I think it's like everything -- with better science comes more information, and with more information comes better science, especially as we keep asking questions and being determined to find the answers.
One of the reasons that it is so difficult to manage perimenopause and menopause is, however, that so much of the information is conflicting. Even if one trusts only medical doctors who deal regularly with these conditions, the information can be radically different. Do nothing. Use hormones. Use synthetic hormones. Use bioidentical hormones. Use natural treatments only. There are books upon books, philosophies upon philosophies, and testimonials upon testimonials. Even allowing for the fact that every woman is different and needs individual treatment, the philosophies still can seem in direct opposition to one another.
Let's hope that one thing we do for the next generations is smooth out the rough spots in the science, especially where hormone replacement is concerned.
What do you think?......
I'm 48yrs old, on birth control and thinking about going off because of estrogen and history of breast cancer in my family.
As of this month, I have break through bleeding. My periods are OUT OF CONTROL.
So, my gyne wants to put in a Mirena, IUD. She stated that this should control the bleeding.
Right now, I can't go without a pad, because of the break through bleeding.
Before I can get the IUD inserted, I have to have my thyroid checked, and a mammogram. These are scheduled within the week.
Hopefully, this will take care of the problem.
Has anyone gone through this?
I have a Mirena IUD and love it. Don't even know I have it in me and it totally stopped my "hemoraging". Barely have periods anymore. I've had it for 3 years now (only lasts 5 yrs. as opposed to a regular IUD which last 10). Well worth it. No pain during insertion, just some pressure. I think you'll be happy you did this. All the best.