Fighting peri belly

[Leonana]

My mother also had a hysterectomy around age 52. She said it was because she peed when she sneezed! Back then, many doctors treated menopause with surgery. Thank goodness we know more now.

I’m 62 and went through menopause at age 50. My periods started becoming irregular around 42. The only symptoms I had heard about was hot flashes and irritability, and I didn’t have those, and thought I was lucky. Little did I know! My anxiety became really bad in my late 50’s. Estrogen controls anxiety. The reproductive system controls our brain. Estrogen reduces Alzheimer’s, dementia, along with heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis, it affects the whole body. I never had a ob/gyn mention any of this.

I watched a you tube interview of Dr. Louise Newson about menopause. It hasn’t been researched much because it doesn’t affect men, to be blunt. That’s starting to change, but it’s still hard to get proper information and care. There are menopause specialist ob/gyns in the US, but not many yet.

[toaster]

Sherry, I was talking about menopause with 2 of my co-workers yesterday. Both are post-menopausal, and both said that they only symptom they knew anything at all about was hot flashes.

Even the terminology is screwy - e.g., do "in menopause" and "post menopausal" mean the same thing? And why did my doctor declare me to be in menopause based on bloodwork (last period had been about 5 mos before) when "1 year of no periods" is supposed to be the standard? And I would have never even heard of peri-menopause if it wasn't for VF!!!

[Leonana]

Beth, it is a terrible situation for women, especially those who really suffer.

[Lori_Michigan]

I had no idea what perimenopause was until I was suddenly putting on weight in my midsection at 45 and I thought it was a million different things. Not one doctor told me it could be perimenopause.

Even though my mom was completely done at 45, it never even crossed my mind. She had zero issues, and it seems I have had every symptom over the past now five years: anxiety out of nowhere, terrible digestive issues (incl gallbladder surgery), cyclical migraines (and still have [these started about 10 years now]), rage out of nowhere, driving anxiety, health anxiety, injury prone, sleep issues/insomnia, cyclical nausea, periods lasting 10 days (and very heavy for a few of those), now somewhat irregular cycles but still ovulating according to temperature (I have tracked my cycles for years), sometimes overwhelming fatigue, brain fog, trouble finding words, hair loss, increased facial hair, bra size up at least two sizes, pant size up two sizes, concentration issues, nervous system issues, allergies out of nowhere, you name it, I've got it. And I still have regular cycles at nearly 50! UGH!

But you know what I rarely get: hot flashes! Instead, I get all over body chills at certain days/times of my cycle where I can't warm up at all, even in the summer.

[Vantreesta]

Originally Posted by Vantreesta

I have asked my doctor the last couple years what to expect in the next few years in this regard and she hasn't really given me much info. My mom had a hysterectomy I think in her 30s or maybe early 40s so other than hot flashes I don't know if she had any other symptoms. I will be asking my doctor for info again next month at my annual visit.

Quoting myself, feels a little weird.

I have been on birth control continuously for at least 10 years, probably closer to 15 by now, so I haven't had a period in all that time. That's the biggest reason I keep asking my doctor. Without changes in that I don't know how to know where I am in the transition!

[toaster]

Originally Posted by Vantreesta

I have been on birth control continuously for at least 10 years, probably closer to 15 by now, so I haven't had a period in all that time. That's the biggest reason I keep asking my doctor. Without changes in that I don't know how to know where I am in the transition!

Vanny, I was on continuous pills too, but my GYN wanted me to stop at age 50. So then after over 20 years of no periods, suddenly I was getting them again! They did start to become spotty for the next 2 years, and then my GYN declared me in menopause and started me on HRT.

And here's the kicker - no one tells you that you get periods with HRT!!!

[Vantreesta]

Originally Posted by toaster

Vanny, I was on continuous pills too, but my GYN wanted me to stop at age 50. So then after over 20 years of no periods, suddenly I was getting them again! They did start to become spotty for the next 2 years, and then my GYN declared me in menopause and started me on HRT.

And here's the kicker - no one tells you that you get periods with HRT!!!

I was surprised that it was fine to keep taking the pill. The commercials make you think once you're over 35 it's bad! I'll be 48 later this year so we'll see. I think I'm on about the lowest dose of BCP there is but not sure. She put me on that one a few years ago. I so do not want periods again! They were always painful and made me so anxious and self-conscious. In HS they were so painful I basically missed a day of school every month on the first day. I had no idea you get periods on HRT!

[toaster]

Vanny I don't think everyone gets periods with HRT, but it's definitely common and something that my GYN didn't tell me about in advance.

I stayed on BCP until age 50; my GYN wasn't worried b/c there's no family history of strokes or other vascular disease. But he was pretty firm about me stopping at age 50.

[Vantreesta]

Originally Posted by toaster

Vanny I don't think everyone gets periods with HRT, but it's definitely common and something that my GYN didn't tell me about in advance.

I stayed on BCP until age 50; my GYN wasn't worried b/c there's no family history of strokes or other vascular disease. But he was pretty firm about me stopping at age 50.

Thanks for sharing, Beth! It will be interesting to hear what my doctor says about the pill at 50.

I think I have maybe had hot flashes but not sure. I can't imagine what else it would be!

[Vantreesta]

Sherry, that's awful that your mom had to have a hysterectomy bc of pelvic floor issues!