Hi all~
I was just wondering if any of you had a hard time with menopause? My moods are pretty stable but i`m having ALOT of anxiety.
Anybody else have this problem?

ANYBODY?

Hello,

I had a complete hyst 7 years ago. I know low estrogen is part of my anxiety.

Liz

doodlebug, and liz, regarding hormones, i'd like to share an experience with progesterone creme i tried last summer, having been told it would help me sleep since insomnia started after menopause. first off, my depression/suicidal wishes that happened the night before my periods had lifted when i went thru menopause, which took me years to put together. anyways, the first day i used the progeteron i woke up with renewed energy, and it sure felt good to get going on projects with my life i'd let slide. second day about the same..but without realizing it the downer thoughts were starting to bring me down (it always gets away from me before they have me in a spiral down). third day i was depressed! fourth day i was depressed and social anxiety was AWFUL!!!!! that night, i tried to think..what am i doing different..(which is incredibly hard for me to do when the negative inner critic becomes so strong)...Alls i could think of was the progesterone creme..I stopped it..nest day feltminimally better, but still awful. next day a wee bit better, but awful. third day off, better, still depressed. fourth day, better. hmmmm, that hormone has an awful affect depressing me, and bringing on full blown social anxiety. so, the moral of my own story, is thank god i don't have to go thru that every month anymore. we're all different, and i know some who progesteron has just the opposite help for, but my wish for all of us, is that each can discover just what it is they can do something about, and how to deal with the stuff they have no choice but to find skills/help to find better living. The rest of that stuff, the program skills are helping me alot. prior to the program, i felt i had to examine my belief systems..and that was a journey. you are not alone doodlebug..sending you best wishes for beneficial living, we are all on the path working towards.

I have found this website helpful. I am 35, but have episodes of having hot flashes, anxiety and tiredness. I know it is not my meds because I have been on the same meds before. I am thinking I am in premenopause.

http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com/menopausesymptoms.html

I hope this helps. Best wishes. LizB

Thanks ladies, The last couple months have been hell for me. I`m 41 and have been going through menopause for the last couple years now and I think it`s finally coming to an end. Hot flashes are getting better,but my anxiety is high and headaches are very consistent. I feel like I have this deep headache that usually only bothers me when I cough.Insomnia is horrible I`m a late nighter but 4 & 5 am
this has got to give. I will check out that website. THANKS

Hi,

I have used every form of Progeseterone and all it does to me is make me depressed and anxious.

I would have my Estrogen levels checked. A good book to read is any of Elizabeth Vliet's books.

Liz V.

Interesting topic. Maybe this is why I can't sleep past 4am. I am just going into Menopause. But all these meds you guys are talking about are scaring me. More symptoms coming my way, apparently. GEEZ

in this program. TG for this program! And, i guess TG for menopause cause it made me bad enough to look beyond my megadoses of antidepressants for relief. Im getting better every day! (except for all those 'personal summers').

quote:

Originally posted by doodlebug:
Hi all~
I was just wondering if any of you had a hard time with menopause? My moods are pretty stable but i`m having ALOT of anxiety.
Anybody else have this problem?

Doodlebug: My approach to menopause is all natural. I avoid caffeine, alcohol, etc., yoga, stretch daily, walk. Also, I decided to enjoy this new journey and embrace the change that is occuring in my body. Good luck!

I am in menopause as we speak UGGG! Originally I was on Prempro which helped until all the hype, then I weaned off. Did pretty well for about a year, then BAMM everything back again wrose than ever (hot flashes, anxiety/panic especially bad 1-2 weeks out of the month, waves of sadness for no reason, irritable and since I have Fibromyalgia too my muslce pain was also worse 1-2 wks a month. I was so miserable I decided to try bio identical hormones which were compounded for me at a pharmacy where they get your labs from your doctor and compound a formula exactly for you. I am now on my 2nd month of taking this and thank God I think or at least I feel like things are finally getting better. This is just my personal opinion, but I do believe it you can't suffer through the agony of menopause, bio identical hormones are the way to go. Good Luck!!!!!!!! Sheila

What happens with your periods when you start menopause? I know some of the other symptoms and have some of the other symptoms, but I don't know what to expect with my cycle. Do they become more irregular or do they just stop or does it vary from person to person? Does being on the pill make a difference?

Rica,
Everyone woman is different when it comes to menapause. I never took birth control pills so i dont know if they help. I never took hormones either. At the age of 48 my periods were just about constant, heavy and maybe one week a month i had no flow, the rest of the time it was awful. Even went to a doctor to get a hysterectomy. But with my family history of heart disease, he thought it wouldnt be a good idea cause i would have to be on hormones the rest of my life. So, i had a Uterine ultrasound and they found fibroid cysts and i had them taken out. I didnt bleed as heavy, but my periods were still irregular and then the day i turned 49 i stopped. Never had another period. Yes i had hot flashes but not to the extreme, and had a few night sweats. But,,, i was on celexa then for anxiety and the doctor told me anti depressents help with menapausal symptoms. So, i felt very fortunate. Because none of my symptoms lasted very long. So it just depends on the person i guess. Take careNelly

Interesting topic. I did the saliva test a year ago and it showed that my progesterone was very low, 19. It should of been above 100 if I remember correctly. I am 44. My doctor put me on a natural progesterone cream. I think it has helped me. It is so hard to know because there are so many factors such as cutting out sugar, exercise and other life issues that can cause anxiety etc...

I have noticed that I have gained weight too . I am tall and have always been thin however I have gained weight in my stomach and hips. I have never had an issue with that. I wonder if it is the progesterone cream o or maybe just age. I eat well and exercise five days a week. I have heard from some that it has made them gain weight but doctors would not agree with that. They would say that too much estrogen would cause weight gain, anxiety, mood swings etc... has anyone here had experience with progesterone cream and weight gain?

John Lee seems to be one of the leading authorities on peri-menopause and menopause. He has a few good books out. Also the website hhtp://www.womentowomen.com has been very helpful for me.

Wishing everyone good health

Coco

doodlebug,
my mom is going through menopause and has been going through it for years now. I am told that menopause can last up to 15 years !!!!!!!!!!!!
Woweeeee.

My mom has had bad anxiety at times, night sweats, stresses out easy and avoids crowds due to her fear that she may be confined to a small area and not have the ability to get cooler air when she needs it. LOL
However, she has handled it well and feels her symptoms are tapering now and they are happening less frequently. Yes, she's even used the air conditioner during the winter months ! Sounds crazy to me now but I'm sure my day will come....

At any rate, have you looked into the "Body for Life for Women" by Pamela Peeke ??
I've been reading this book because I plan on doing the program and they have an entire section on menopause, diet, exercise and shares examples of women who have done the program and experience much less hormonal fluctuations.

You may consider giving it a try !

Also.... soy drinks, shakes are supposed to be excellent !!!! One of the best tasing ones out there is Revival Soy. check it out on google. If you email them and ask for a free sample, they will get you one !!

There is an awsome book out by Christine Northrup, md. called "The Wisdom of Menopause". I watched her program on PBS a while back and was very impressed. Made me feel better as know I know I don't have suffer as many women do. Much of what you go through has to do with how you take care of yourself, etc.

Wishing you the very best !!