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How do you know if you are going into menopause?
Posted: Jan 2, 2011
I'm 46 and I think it's too early for full menopause, but can you start going into premenopause much sooner? What's the average age for that?
The reason I ask is that for the past year, I've been having some weird symptoms and am just now wondering if it has anything to do with hormones/menopause symptoms; the worst of which was an episode where I woke up with the room spinning around me. It was terrifying. Then right afterwards I got really nauseated. I went to the doctor and they did MRIs, a CT, and couldn't find anything. So they sent me to ENT, found nothing. Still don't know what THAT was about, but for about 2 months after, I'd get this severe anxiety/nausea, kinda difficult to explain but it was like I felt I was going to go insane or die. It got so bad at one point that I called my mother and had her take me to the ER. I don't even like going to the doctor and had never been to the ER before in my life, so she knew it was something.......Anyway, did more tests and found nothing. They gave me valium and meclizine, which I'm not so sure really do anything. Still, to this day, still have occasional, maybe once a week, maybe once every 2 weeks, symptoms, similar to the early horrible carnival show ride ones but milder, though still worrisome. I will get a tad dizzy, nauseated, fatigued, and just have this panicky feeling. I'm really getting sick of it.
Just wondering if this is some kind of premenopausal symtpom? Kinda hoping it is so I at least know it's not life-threatening. Anyone else have ever the kind of symptoms I describe above? I'd love to hear from you!
TIA
;
Actually, umm . . . - sm
[ In Reply To ..]You're at an appropriate age. Have your doctor check your hormone levels to see where you are.
I was well into premenopause in my early 40s. One of my first symptoms was vertigo. The next was night sweats, the next was recurrent UTIs, and then . . . and then . . . really incredible irritability. I could hardly stand being in my skin. It came on so gradually that I didn't really notice just how irritable I was. (I had noted that the cashiers at the grocery store hid when they saw me coming, but didn't really make the connection.)
After my gynecologist and everybody else missed this, and after my employer canned our health insurance, I developed a UTI and someone recommended that since I was a veteran, I should go to the VA. Everyone there was so unbelievably nice that I began sobbing in gratitude. I related my frustration over the recurrent UTIs and mentioned the vertigo that nobody could explain. I was sure it was something awful, if not deadly.
The very nice doctor peered at me curiously and inquired about menopause. I denied it. She then asked "Ah, would you be having any irritability, by chance? Perhaps you noticed people acting as though they think you might get upset? Has anyone complained that you have been cranky?" Well, that stopped me. The cashiers. Hmm.
It was a great relief to find out what it was. That alone relieved the anxiety that accompanied the vertigo and night sweats--I no longer had to fear that these were symptoms of something worse.
I can't thank you enough for your reply..... - Kiki1
[ In Reply To ..]Just knowing that is what it probably is is a Huge relief. The symptoms are still annoying, but maybe the anxiety will go away since it's probably not serious. Oh what fun. I just can't wait for the hot flashes. Unless I have already had them. Not sure. Well, I get hot and then cold and then hot, like I can't regulate my body temperature, but nothing too annoying. Don't tell me it's only gonna get worse. I do wake up a lot at night and can't get back to sleep as easily I used to.
I think I will make a trip to my GYN while I still can, might lose insurance soon. I wonder if birth control pills would minimize the symptoms of perimenopause?
Great, this is NOT a good time for me to be going thru this (is it ever??, ha ha).....And it lasts apparently forever? Just swell.
premenopause - sm
[ In Reply To ..]Ahh, the joys of perimenopause, as my doctor calls it. I have had irregular periods for the last 6 years, I am 52 now. First I had 2 or 3 a month, then 1 every other month, now I have one then go 6 or 8 months without one. I have night sweats, which are now becoming daytime hot flashes. Oh yes, the crawling out of skin agitation. Have been having that for awhile now too. Vertigo, yep. Sounds like it to me. I have not had a hormonal test, but my doctor says those are not really accurate and just by the symptoms that is what I have. He says if I go a year without a period, I should be done with them, not necessarily all the other symptoms, but the periods. I make it 6-8 months and then have 2 a month. Darn! Actually having a hot flash right now.
Losing the periods is probably going to be the ONLY - Kiki1
[ In Reply To ..]good thing about this menopause thing. I have a feeling I'm in for a long and bumpy ride ahead.
I'd like to keep this subject going and have anyone who has already been thru it give those who havent' some hope and maybe some tips on how to maybe minimize the symptoms. Birth control pills? Supplements? Even estrogen replacement, though I think that probably causes more problems that it solves, but who knows, I'm open to anything......
Here's to hoping we all get thru to the other side!!! :)
Menopause...sm - Priscilla
[ In Reply To ..]My response isn't going to be very well received; however, I will risk it if it will help others. I went through menopause 3 years ago at the age of 55. My ONLY "symptom" was the cessation of my period. I had no irritability, hotflashes, pains, etc. Nothing out of the ordinary except I longer experienced a period every month. I kept waiting for the axe to fall and it never did. Three years later and I still have not experiened any "symptoms" of menopause. I eat very little meat, really none except for a little fish occasionally, and no dairy whatsoever. I am convinced that the added hormones in meat and dairy products are the cause of so many symptoms of menopause. My mother and both of my sisters experienced symptoms but they never changed their diet. I became more health conscious about 20 years ago and started giving up some of the foods I was raised on. I strongly believe it helped me avoid the ravages of menopause. But...this is just one woman's opinion and experience. Menopause??? What's that?? LOL
Meant to say...sm - Priscilla
[ In Reply To ..]I no longer experienced a period every month. One tiny word...no...can sure make a big difference in a sentence. LOL
lucky - sm
[ In Reply To ..]My mother had the same thing happen to her, though she ate lots of red meat and dairy. I just think we are all different and have different symptoms. Though, eating healthy is something we should all do anyway.
Me lucky...sm - Priscilla
[ In Reply To ..]when my mother and sisters had no such luck?? I understand that age of menopause and "symptoms" are usually inherited. I did inherit the age at which menopause happened. My mother was mid fifties as well but, to me, it seems too odd that out of all the females in my family, I managed to escape these symptoms and the only difference was diet. Just my thoughts/ideas and I'm sticking to it. ; )
Me too, - LK
[ In Reply To ..]I'm 54, almost 55 and just about through menopause. I haven't had any symptoms either. I do eat red meat and dairy, although I can also say I eat a good diet and exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight. You may be right about your diet working for you, but there are also people like me who eat meat and dairy and don't have menopausal symptoms, so who knows? One thing for sure, it's essential to try to adopt healthy habits at this time of life, as it can only help.
You could be right...sm - Priscilla
[ In Reply To ..]it might just be genetics but I think I would have had some problems like my mother and sisters had I not changed a few things in my diet. And...I agree wholeheartedly that a good diet and exercise certainly can't hurt a thing. : )
Premenapause - SDM
[ In Reply To ..]This is a cool posting. I actually know a lot about this one! I went in to what my doctor called 'early menapause' (yay me!!)
I started those very same symptoms you guys are talking about, when I was about 39. By the time I turned 42 I had completely gone through the whole menapause transition.
My choice of relief was/is 'Estroven' OTC, all natural. Helps with the hot flashes/irritability and etc. It's a bit expensive depending on which one you buy, but well worth it. Isn't it just awesome to be a woman?!! LOL!! (actually, yeah).
perimenopause - sm
[ In Reply To ..]I think men go through it too. LOL I think they call it midlife crisis.
PremenOpause - SDM
[ In Reply To ..]Wow, I wrote that word several times and was wrong each time!! And I'm supposed to be an MT?? LOL!!
Try Estroven (OTC) - sm
[ In Reply To ..]I've been going through the menopause stuff for years and refused to take hormones. The hot flashes have become a longstanding irritation and then I finally decided to try Estroven. (from Walmart, a drug store or Amazon.com) It has a little black cohosh, and some proprietary blend and it works! The extra strength version works best for me, but I am almost feeling normal again!
menopause - Kai
[ In Reply To ..]Sounds like you are going thru some anxiety symptoms. Menopause can occur anytime in your late 40s to the 50s, guess it depends when your mother went thru it. I would check with your gynecologist. Perimenopause symptoms can be fatigue, dizziness, feeling a little off around your regular menstrual cycle and changes in your menstrual cycle. Best thing of all is seeing a doctor who can give you the best results/treatment if needed. Good luck!
I'm 45 and my last period was December 2009. sm - jmn
[ In Reply To ..]At first I thought I was pregnant because I certainly did not think I could be going through it so early. After several pregnancy tests over several months of time, I finally accepted it was menopause as did my physician. I have hot flashes and irritability but that is about it. I have not had anything too bad from it. I did experience a little nausea every now and then but no vertigo. I am also having a problem with weight. I used to weigh around 105-110 and have now climbed up to 120-125. I have tried eatig fewer calories but to no avail. I am now on a diet and vigorous workout to see if I can change my metabolism. Also been doing some reading on insulin resistance to see if this is a possibility for me and trying to reverse that as well if this is the case. My friend went through what I have at age 49. Her periods just stopped without warning as mine did. She is now 68. The hot flashes are not as intense but still have them. When I first started having them, I thought I was going to spontaeously combust they were so bad. I hope I don't experience that again. Both my mother and grandmother had hysterectomies so have no one to go by as far as what age I could have expected to go through menopause but from some reading I have done anything after 40.
Same here - MT
[ In Reply To ..]My last period was when I was 44, but I also started at 10, so not that unusual. Mom also had a hysterectomy and grandma had 13 kids and never had a hot flash!
I too struggle with weight (I weigh a bit more than you do). I considered myself prediabetic and knew I had to do something. I had success with the paleo diet a couple of years ago (lost 20 lbs) then got tired of it and gained it back. Now back on it again and have lost 5 lbs in 10 days and I am feeling great and sleeping better than I have in a long time. No hunger, very little exercise so far, but feel like I want to again. Just meat and veggies. It really is all about insulin resistance. See Robb Wolf's book or website for more info.
I followed some advice from this board about supplements and they do help the hot flashes. I take vit E, D, magnesium and fish oil.
thanks for the book info, I am going to check it out, nm - jmn
[ In Reply To ..].
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