Perimenopause/Menopause- Let's Talk

[leahcar]

Surely I'm not alone on this island.... let's talk! 

[AmyG]

Whatcha wanna talk about?

I kept a Mirena iud thru perimenopause all the way into full menopause so I seemed to skip the hige amount of unpredictable bleeding like crazy my mom and sisters had.

I'm not happy that while I'm not as hairy elsewhere face hair is a bigger thing.

[leahcar]

I was definitely in the midst of perimenopause when I had a hysterectomy a little short of two years ago. I only have 1 ovary left; everything else is gone. I was warned that might hasten the appearance of full-blown menopause, but, without my cycle, who knows what's happening in there....

The "usual" side effects of peri have definitely been around for me including (increasing numbers of) hot flashes. I have a new rage that is just constantly simmering under the surface. Random annoyances can bring it all out. It's so outside my normal reaction to things that I'm shocked and, honestly, slightly horrified.

My doctor has been very anti- HRT since I've had a hormonal tumor. But my goodness- something has to give. This is no way to feel.

[GhoatMonket]

Let's see

Period changes- it's why I went on continuous BCP
Hot flashes- it's 70 in my house and I have a box fan on.
Night sweats- see above
Mood swings- people existing is sometimes pushing my limits
dry vag- yep
Trouble sleeping? Yep (low dose traz helped with this)
Weight gain? It's probably more my shit eating, but that has been worse since the rest ramped up
Itchy skin- specifically ears? OMG. Why.
Brain fog? I literally forgot my entire speech a month ago. It's fine. It was only for an election. Much convenient.

And then the face/neck hair can all fuck right the hell off.

[abs]

Yeah it sucks.

Constant low level rage. ✅
Weight gain basically over night. ✅
Hot flashes. ✅
Less than zero interest in sex. ✅
Itchy dry skin. ✅
Hair loss ✅
Bloating ✅
Did I mention the constant annoyance? I agree it’s pretty horrifying.

It’s fun having a teenager at the same time.

[Eagles]

Mood swings. Weight gain. Itchy skin. Insomnia. 21 day cycles. It's a BLAST.

Eta I already have brain fog and aphasia from chronic migraine but it's gotten worse.

[leahcar]

Oct 4, 2024 14:01:21 GMT -6 abs said:

Yeah it sucks.

Constant low level rage. ✅
Weight gain basically over night. ✅
Hot flashes. ✅
Less than zero interest in sex. ✅
Itchy dry skin. ✅
Hair loss ✅
Bloating ✅
Did I mention the constant annoyance? I agree it’s pretty horrifying.

It’s fun having a teenager at the same time.

Three teenager daughters in my house. THREE. And a prepubescent drama Queen.

My poor H 😅

[AmyG]

Oct 4, 2024 14:58:22 GMT -6 Eagles said:

Mood swings. Weight gain. Itchy skin. Insomnia. 21 day cycles. It's a BLAST.

Eta I already have brain fog and aphasia from chronic migraine but it's gotten worse.

Unfortunately even years in menopause the weight gain and insomnia is still here.
Health things don't help none of it.
I have to talk to dr about my anxiety.
And aphasia has been ramped up where I'm seriously searching for words. In common talking with dh no pressure situations can find the word for say apple and I'll say banana, thing in bowl, red whatever and eventually maybe get to apple.

[GhoatMonket]

Oct 4, 2024 16:19:19 GMT -6 AmyG said:

Oct 4, 2024 14:58:22 GMT -6 Eagles said:

Mood swings. Weight gain. Itchy skin. Insomnia. 21 day cycles. It's a BLAST.

Eta I already have brain fog and aphasia from chronic migraine but it's gotten worse.

Unfortunately even years in menopause the weight gain and insomnia is still here.
Health things don't help none of it.
I have to talk to dr about my anxiety.
And aphasia has been ramped up where I'm seriously searching for words. In common talking with dh no pressure situations can find the word for say apple and I'll say banana, thing in bowl, red whatever and eventually maybe get to apple.

Oh.

Well add that.

[Eagles]

Oct 4, 2024 13:37:51 GMT -6 GhoatMonket said:

Let's see

Period changes- it's why I went on continuous BCP
Hot flashes- it's 70 in my house and I have a box fan on.
Night sweats- see above
Mood swings- people existing is sometimes pushing my limits
dry vag- yep
Trouble sleeping? Yep (low dose traz helped with this)
Weight gain? It's probably more my shit eating, but that has been worse since the rest ramped up
Itchy skin- specifically ears? OMG. Why.
Brain fog? I literally forgot my entire speech a month ago. It's fine. It was only for an election. Much convenient.

And then the face/neck hair can all fuck right the hell off.

Oh the itchy ears are a thing! My friend has them. I follow this account and love her. www.instagram.com/reel/C9TCjh-yQAP/?igsh=dzNqOGdrZHN3MGdw

Oh, and body odor changes. I swear I smell musty even right after a shower. Like, sitting on the couch with wet hair out the shower. I keep trying new antiperspirants.

[leahcar]

Eagles the antibacterial soap they give you in the hospital- use that under your boobs and in your armpits. Has been a game changer for hormonal sweaty funk

[Eagles]

Oct 4, 2024 18:49:11 GMT -6 leahcar said:

Eagles the antibacterial soap they give you in the hospital- use that under your boobs and in your armpits. Has been a game changer for hormonal sweaty funk

Bless you.

[GhoatMonket]

Oct 4, 2024 18:49:11 GMT -6 leahcar said:

Eagles the antibacterial soap they give you in the hospital- use that under your boobs and in your armpits. Has been a game changer for hormonal sweaty funk

I've found vinegar baths can help with too. Couple cups in with a full tub (not super hot). Get the pits, underboob, and belly button involved. Soak a wash cloth and let it sit on those parts for a few minutes in your tub is shallow or unforgiving of actual adult sized humans.

[ellewoods]

My chin hairs are out of control and I used to be able to see them but with my eyes changing - I need reading glasses all the time and can no longer see the hairs. I have a deal with my friend that we will tell the other if there is an issue.

And I now get my period more often than before and I have an IUD.

[AmyG]

Oct 4, 2024 21:03:53 GMT -6 ellewoods said:

My chin hairs are out of control and I used to be able to see them but with my eyes changing - I need reading glasses all the time and can no longer see the hairs. I have a deal with my friend that we will tell the other if there is an issue.

And I now get my period more often than before and I have an IUD.

I told my people that if anything happens to me they have to take care of those chin hairs for me.
When I broke my humerous and was in too much pain to think about chin hairs and they failed me.
One day I was feeling better and looked in my mirror and omg what a sight!

[Eagles]

Oct 4, 2024 20:10:36 GMT -6 GhoatMonket said:

Oct 4, 2024 18:49:11 GMT -6 leahcar said:

Eagles the antibacterial soap they give you in the hospital- use that under your boobs and in your armpits. Has been a game changer for hormonal sweaty funk

I've found vinegar baths can help with too. Couple cups in with a full tub (not super hot). Get the pits, underboob, and belly button involved. Soak a wash cloth and let it sit on those parts for a few minutes in your tub is shallow or unforgiving of actual adult sized humans.

Even better, because my tub is for ants.

[leahcar]

Oct 4, 2024 21:03:53 GMT -6 ellewoods said:

My chin hairs are out of control and I used to be able to see them but with my eyes changing - I need reading glasses all the time and can no longer see the hairs. I have a deal with my friend that we will tell the other if there is an issue.

And I now get my period more often than before and I have an IUD.

I have a 10x magnifying mirror because I can’t use my glasses while plucking.

I have PCOS too so the combo is just a full fucking bears if I miss a day of plucking. It’s awful.

[leahcar]

Has anyone found anything for the ear itching? Also- WTF?! What does ear skin have to do with hormones?

[canteverremember]

I’m 45 and things have been crazy with my cycle and hormones since I got my Covid vaccine spring of 2021. At this point it comes every 6-8 weeks or so. It’s anyone’s guess. It’s been as long as five months without it then back. So I’m not sure what it actual perimenopause and what is leftover from that problem from vaccine.

I’m starting to notice I sweat overnight but it’s not a problem yet because I’m usually so freezing all the time that the sweating at night and sometimes getting waves of heat are welcome for now.

I’ve got no energy really. I used to do yoga every day and it’s been since like June that I’ve had the energy to do it.

I do get serious brain fog but I’m also under large amounts of stress due to a 14 year old child with serious mental health issues.

So I do feel symptoms just don’t know what is actual perimenopause and what is stress etc.

And with two 14 year olds, the hormones in the house are crazy ha.

[bart]

I can relate to SO much of this. I'm 39 and I feel like I don't understand my body anymore.

I've had an IUD for 2+ years now, but over the last 6 months, my cycle has become erratic - my period will be a week late, or last for 7 days, or I'll bleed for 2 days, it stops for a couple days and then starts again.

Weight gain/impossible weight loss - I cleaned up my diet, did 8 months of therapy, started working out again... and continued to gain. GLP-1s are the only way I've been able to lose lately.

THE NIGHT SWEATS. WHAT THE ACTUAL F. They're worst the week before my period, but I wake up drenched in sweat at least once a week.

Skin and hair changes - my skin just feels thinner and itchier. Scratches leave marks for months, and my scalp is so dry. My hair has also started getting random curls in certain spots. A solid mustache and rogue chin hairs will pop up overnight.

I hate it here.

[leahcar]

bart my hair is straighter than it used to be. So bizarre

[klw]

Definitely not alone here. I have no idea what can be a symptom or not anymore, but here are some things that I am dealing with right now:

Irregular periods are my big one right now. I recently made a post about an ablation. Have an appointment to talk to GYN but not til November. I am also wondering if it is endometriosis? But I am currently on day 16 of bleeding which is so much fun.
Weight gain/ unable to lose weight and the bloating around the middle
Joint pain (hip)
Mood changes: can become very irritated very quick
Insomnia, yet so freaking tired
Brain fog
Hot flashes/ Body odor: Like I feel like my deodorant isn’t working as well anymore

[byjove]

I am 41 and had a hysterectomy (kept ovaries) 3 years ago. I'm statistically very likely to reach full menopause by 45, and I have no doubt I'm in peri. I have some confounding health issues at the moment, so like others it is sometimes hard to say what is what, but yeah. It sucks.
-body odor (the boob sweat! I feel like I smell like I'm nursing)
-hair loss
-mood changes
-brain fog
-insomnia
-skin that is even drier than normal
-THE ACNE
-zero sex drive
-I'm running really hot at night, but no hot flashes yet.

[byjove]

I've been meaning to read "The New Menopause"- I think jaygee recommended it?

[byjove]

klw, I had/have endo, and had adenomyosis too if you have questions.

[klw]

Oct 8, 2024 7:04:54 GMT -6 byjove said:

klw, I had/have endo, and had adenomyosis too if you have questions.

Appreciate it! I don’t have any of the typical symptoms. I’ve had surgery for it 2x from the RE before TTC. But the first time, I had no symptoms. The RE was shocked at what she found. The 2nd time I figured it came back the 2nd time because I had worsening pain each month. So I have no idea what to expect this time if that’s what it is.

[byjove]

Oct 8, 2024 8:08:47 GMT -6 klw said:

Oct 8, 2024 7:04:54 GMT -6 byjove said:

klw , I had/have endo, and had adenomyosis too if you have questions.

Appreciate it! I don’t have any of the typical symptoms. I’ve had surgery for it 2x from the RE before TTC. But the first time, I had no symptoms. The RE was shocked at what she found. The 2nd time I figured it came back the 2nd time because I had worsening pain each month. So I have no idea what to expect this time if that’s what it is.

Gotcha! I had to go on BC for several months shortly after my surgery for chronic ovarian cyst ruptures (like didn't have a choice), but I worried it would encourage endo to grow back after my excision, and I am pretty sure it has, so I get that.

Before my surgery (and not having an endo/adeno diganosis- not even on my radar), I had to have a D+C with a polyp removal, and that put me into a tail spin that led me to my diagnosis because I struggled with the recovery so much. Absolutely exquisite pain. The ablation definitely could have flared something.

[FlightView]

I'm 37 and have not experienced any of these symptoms, yet. But I have an IUD and have had one since 2015, so hopefully that helps since Im not planning on taking it out anytime soon.

[clucky]

Ended up getting a full hormone panel done and my free t is well lower than the acceptable (?) range. The way my obgyn's office manages this is now and off label use. Then added tests 2/year, which then puts it out of my very measly budget. She did say with my other hormones that I may not quite be in perimenopause, sure does feel like it, but without the hot flashes. Though I don't handle temp swings very well.
Insomnia, hair loss, moody, dry skin, itchy ears, brittle nails, no sex drive, tender breasts, weight gain, no/low appetite and then I am just generally achy.