signs of menopause?

pegbord · 06-11-2008, 10:36 AM

I am just wondering if some of you would be willing to share your menopause experiences. I'm not sure if what I'm experiencing is related to menopause or not, but I think it may be.

I've been experiencing moments of extreme heat that resembles what it feels like when metabolism revs. I don't know if these are hot flashes or results from increased coconut oil affecting metabolism.

Also in the past several weeks or so I find myself ready to cry over things that would not normally affect me that way - I get so surprised at my response. Life has recently dealt me some emotionally challenging situations over the past several months, so honestly I don't know if the labile emotions are resulting from stresses of life or if they are more biologically (menopause) oriented.

I've noticed a very slight change in TOM, sometimes lasts longer than before and not quite as regular - but no really drastic changes.

I just feel slightly "off" and can't quite put my finger on what's happening - kind of like I'm just one notch off center. I think I'm walking around with a confused face more often than not.

Ideas??

macongagal · 06-11-2008, 04:49 PM

I m 46. I think Im starting the menopause.In April I just spotted for 2 days. Last month in May the Monthly lasted an entire week. Now, This month I was supposed to start around the 2nd of the month. Ive still havent seen anything of TOM.. Ive started to wake up around 2 to 3am each morning with nite sweats... Its lovely to wake up to these I might add.

jenna... · 06-11-2008, 06:27 PM

You're in for a bumpy ride... or at least a good 30% + of us are.

It started at 40 with peri-menopause, griefy/sad once in a while for no reason i.e. crying for all the homeless cats in the world (long story LOL), forgetful more and more, off and on for oh...about 8 years. On my 48th birthday I skipped my first period, second and so on for 7 months I started having periods every 7-11 months after that. But I digress, I tried to ride out the peri-menopause for two years before I went to my doctor for help at age 50. Hot flashes but only when I tried to sleep, my female general doc, who was about 60ish told me in my words to suck it up and take some vitamins for it. Then after off and on insomnia and all night long tossing and turning (forget about wearing a nightshirt of even a sheet) two years of not one full nights sleep I went to get some bio-identical hormones from another female doctor. It helped but she didn't really have a clue about how they work with a thyroid disorder and it made my thyroid worse and I still had lots of symptoms (something about the combination she gave me... I researched it all but I've forgotten the details) I went finally to a 'real' expert some 10 months ago and have been sleeping like a baby every since, still have a period once in a while, but no mis-emotion or any hot flashes... I take BHRT - didn't want any artificial hormones.

Sorry for the book. Good luck and get a good doctor. Oh btw, some of us get our thyroid knocked out by menopause too. Happened to me...

The nice part is no more monthly cramps.

about the only nice part until this is over.

pegbord · 06-19-2008, 11:40 PM

macangagal and jenna, thanks for your input

.
i am so ill-informed about the various options available to ease menopause. i hear and read about risk associated with various choices and try to combine information with what i know about family history etc. it seems almost overwhelming. . . and yet, inevitably this hormone thing is catching up with me. i am noticing the change in weightloss (more appropriately lack of!) as well. it seems that dropping weight is snail-slow no matter how 'good' i'm eating and staying very low carb. i'm also exercising but not to the degree i was a few years back (before I returned to school).

I am curious about supplements or changes that I should be making in order to improve weight loss. I eat about 1400 calories per day and exercise 3 - 4 days per week (reallly mostly 3 days). I make sure to get plenty of omega-3 oils, am careful not to over-do on carbs or protein, and consume mostly fat. I have a long history of yo-yo dieting, and the weight has always come off fairly easily in the past --- now it's just really holding on with stubborn might - refusing to grant me much reward for the discipline I'm giving it!

What do you do differently about losing weight now than you did before (peri)menopause?

jenna... · 06-20-2008, 12:12 AM

Keep working on building your Lean Muscle mass. This will keep your metab up and your bones strong. Sounds like you're doing good on the diet and vits.

What I do differently ... well not much... I worked out with weights for some years so I do have a good muscle mass and even though my thyroid went out my metab didn't crash. REMINDER: Must start working out again

Weight training is truly the 'magic aging pill'.

pegbord · 06-20-2008, 12:17 AM

oh cripes! okay (head hanging), i gotta get on the weight training band wagon. maybe just starting with using my own body mass as antagonist -- like doing push ups, leg lifts, squats, etc?

Ailuros · 06-20-2008, 01:45 AM

Just as I reached my 45th birthday I had a couple of months of spotting mid-cycle. For the next year or so, any time I was stressed or not well I'd get spotting, and a couple of times an extra long cycle. Sometimes the stress was external, like when my MIL was dying, but it also happened when I decided to trim off a few pounds I'd regained, and dropped my carb levels down to around 30g per day - don't know if it was the carb reduction or the weight loss that did it. Often the spotting went along with feeling depressed and exhausted - I'd spot for the first half of the cycle and feel terrible, then stop and feel OK for a week or so until PMS started

. I tried various supplements, and nothing much made any difference until I started black cohosh recently. About a month ago I had a few days of alternating wildly hot and cold every quarter of an hour, but mostly it's just a bit too hot or too cold sometimes, nothing drastic. I'm 47 now and have just missed two periods. I'm also feeling better than I have for a while. I'm not sure if it's the black cohosh, or the fact that my hormones are settling down a bit now they're not fighting quite so hard to maintain the cycle. I still feel there's a bit of a cycle going on (just a little bit of PMS) even though I haven't bled.

I don't feel happy with trying to lose weight at the moment. I feel as if my body needs all the nutrition it can get - but I'm already at an OK weight, maybe I'd like to lose five pounds, but it's nothing major. I've also had to take it easy on the exercise front. I have continued to exercise, but working very hard has just wiped me out, so I've to stay with moderate to mild work. I'm just beginning to feel I can increase the intensity again.

I also felt when this started, that I just had no idea what to expect. And it seems that everyone's experience is different. Lots of reading can help you be prepared for the possibilities, and think about whether you want to pursue HRT. I decided that I'd rather not, but I haven't ruled it out if things get too bad without.

Bonnieabc · 06-24-2008, 09:08 PM

My only symptom of peri menopause was really the irregular cycles- I would have a day or two of spotting here and there, months of none at all. I was only 39, but early peri runs in my family.

I guess I should warn you- you can get pregnant while having perimenopause symptoms, apparently.

I am now a 40 year old with a newborn.

Good luck to you- it's so frustrating. Do you have a good doctor you could go see?

Su11 · 06-24-2008, 09:24 PM

I went a couple of years thinking, "Is this it? Is this it?" Reality... if you ask, it probably is starting. Peri can go on for 10 years or so, so don't think you are about to go into menopause right this very minute.

I only had the flashes as I started peri, and haven't had them in years, but I've had a number of other fun things. Not!

Anyway, a doc can take your hormone levels and tell if you are going into peri and that will help to know what actions if any to take.

Evening primrose oil can be helpful, but YMMV in so many ways.

pegbord · 06-24-2008, 10:17 PM

Your responses are so helpful. Honestly I never imagined I would have a difficult time during these years - and comparitavely maybe it's not all that bad. I haven't gone to a doc in many years (and I'm a health care provider - go figure - tsk!) so I'll be the first to say I'm long over due. I need to find someone who is knowledgable in women's health and in particular menopause. I have my homework cut out for me just in finding a provider for crying out loud.

I seem to get so tired lately and the whole weight loss thing is slower than a snails pace - both issues being new to me. I'm used to having lots of long-lasting energy and dropping weight fairly easily. One of the other threads mentioned something about part of the problem for such slow weight loss may be connected to yoyo dieting - which I've done all my life. It makes a lot of sense to me that that could very well be contributing to the slow weight loss. I have also read so many experiences from others regarding hormone fluctuations being a possible cause for the snail-pace loss. Put them both together and I have a snail on crutches pace loss!

I really appreciate all the feedback. With information comes power and I am prepared to embrace this perimenopause full steam ahead!

(All the while trying to be a little graceful in the doing of it.)

06-11-2008, 10:36 AM	#1
pegbord Senior LCF Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Washington state Posts: 483 Gallery: pegbord Stats: 174/165/110-115 WOE: atkins - induction Start Date: may 2008	signs of menopause? I am just wondering if some of you would be willing to share your menopause experiences. I'm not sure if what I'm experiencing is related to menopause or not, but I think it may be. I've been experiencing moments of extreme heat that resembles what it feels like when metabolism revs. I don't know if these are hot flashes or results from increased coconut oil affecting metabolism. Also in the past several weeks or so I find myself ready to cry over things that would not normally affect me that way - I get so surprised at my response. Life has recently dealt me some emotionally challenging situations over the past several months, so honestly I don't know if the labile emotions are resulting from stresses of life or if they are more biologically (menopause) oriented. I've noticed a very slight change in TOM, sometimes lasts longer than before and not quite as regular - but no really drastic changes. I just feel slightly "off" and can't quite put my finger on what's happening - kind of like I'm just one notch off center. I think I'm walking around with a confused face more often than not. Ideas??

06-11-2008, 06:27 PM	#3
jenna... Senior LCF Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sunny SoCal Posts: 978 Gallery: jenna... Stats: 248/212/148 - 5'7.5" & 52yrs WOE: LowCal - LowCarb Start Date: 06/02/2008 Mid Yr 2008 Challenge	You're in for a bumpy ride... or at least a good 30% + of us are. It started at 40 with peri-menopause, griefy/sad once in a while for no reason i.e. crying for all the homeless cats in the world (long story LOL), forgetful more and more, off and on for oh...about 8 years. On my 48th birthday I skipped my first period, second and so on for 7 months I started having periods every 7-11 months after that. But I digress, I tried to ride out the peri-menopause for two years before I went to my doctor for help at age 50. Hot flashes but only when I tried to sleep, my female general doc, who was about 60ish told me in my words to suck it up and take some vitamins for it. Then after off and on insomnia and all night long tossing and turning (forget about wearing a nightshirt of even a sheet) two years of not one full nights sleep I went to get some bio-identical hormones from another female doctor. It helped but she didn't really have a clue about how they work with a thyroid disorder and it made my thyroid worse and I still had lots of symptoms (something about the combination she gave me... I researched it all but I've forgotten the details) I went finally to a 'real' expert some 10 months ago and have been sleeping like a baby every since, still have a period once in a while, but no mis-emotion or any hot flashes... I take BHRT - didn't want any artificial hormones. Sorry for the book. Good luck and get a good doctor. Oh btw, some of us get our thyroid knocked out by menopause too. Happened to me... The nice part is no more monthly cramps. about the only nice part until this is over. __________________ jenna... I hereby name this Whoosh Week!

06-24-2008, 09:08 PM	#8
Bonnieabc Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: SC Posts: 398 Gallery: Bonnieabc Stats: (164)161/152/135 WOE: Atkins:) Start Date: 6/19/08	My only symptom of peri menopause was really the irregular cycles- I would have a day or two of spotting here and there, months of none at all. I was only 39, but early peri runs in my family. I guess I should warn you- you can get pregnant while having perimenopause symptoms, apparently. I am now a 40 year old with a newborn. Good luck to you- it's so frustrating. Do you have a good doctor you could go see? Last edited by Bonnieabc : 06-24-2008 at 09:11 PM.

06-24-2008, 09:24 PM	#9
Su11 Big Yapper!!!! Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Outside Perimeter Atlanta Georgia Posts: 9,076 Gallery: Su11 Stats: Total loss- 50 (since Sept 05) WOE: General lower carb	I went a couple of years thinking, "Is this it? Is this it?" Reality... if you ask, it probably is starting. Peri can go on for 10 years or so, so don't think you are about to go into menopause right this very minute. I only had the flashes as I started peri, and haven't had them in years, but I've had a number of other fun things. Not! Anyway, a doc can take your hormone levels and tell if you are going into peri and that will help to know what actions if any to take. Evening primrose oil can be helpful, but YMMV in so many ways. __________________ Su "A friendship that exacts oneness of opinion and conduct is not worth much." (Mohandas Gandhi) "Children today are tyrants. They contradict their parents, gobble their food, and tyrannize their teachers." (Socrates) "You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough." (Mae West) "Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened." (Theodor Seuss Geisel, a.k.a. Dr. Seuss)

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06-11-2008, 04:49 PM	#2
macongagal Senior LCF Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Southern USA Posts: 405 Gallery: macongagal WOE: Somersizing Start Date: Im down 25 pounds now from 7-27	I m 46. I think Im starting the menopause.In April I just spotted for 2 days. Last month in May the Monthly lasted an entire week. Now, This month I was supposed to start around the 2nd of the month. Ive still havent seen anything of TOM.. Ive started to wake up around 2 to 3am each morning with nite sweats... Its lovely to wake up to these I might add.

06-19-2008, 11:40 PM	#4
pegbord Senior LCF Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Washington state Posts: 483 Gallery: pegbord Stats: 174/165/110-115 WOE: atkins - induction Start Date: may 2008	macangagal and jenna, thanks for your input . i am so ill-informed about the various options available to ease menopause. i hear and read about risk associated with various choices and try to combine information with what i know about family history etc. it seems almost overwhelming. . . and yet, inevitably this hormone thing is catching up with me. i am noticing the change in weightloss (more appropriately lack of!) as well. it seems that dropping weight is snail-slow no matter how 'good' i'm eating and staying very low carb. i'm also exercising but not to the degree i was a few years back (before I returned to school). I am curious about supplements or changes that I should be making in order to improve weight loss. I eat about 1400 calories per day and exercise 3 - 4 days per week (reallly mostly 3 days). I make sure to get plenty of omega-3 oils, am careful not to over-do on carbs or protein, and consume mostly fat. I have a long history of yo-yo dieting, and the weight has always come off fairly easily in the past --- now it's just really holding on with stubborn might - refusing to grant me much reward for the discipline I'm giving it! What do you do differently about losing weight now than you did before (peri)menopause?

06-20-2008, 12:12 AM	#5
jenna... Senior LCF Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sunny SoCal Posts: 978 Gallery: jenna... Stats: 248/212/148 - 5'7.5" & 52yrs WOE: LowCal - LowCarb Start Date: 06/02/2008 Mid Yr 2008 Challenge	Keep working on building your Lean Muscle mass. This will keep your metab up and your bones strong. Sounds like you're doing good on the diet and vits. What I do differently ... well not much... I worked out with weights for some years so I do have a good muscle mass and even though my thyroid went out my metab didn't crash. REMINDER: Must start working out again Weight training is truly the 'magic aging pill'.

06-20-2008, 12:17 AM	#6
pegbord Senior LCF Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Washington state Posts: 483 Gallery: pegbord Stats: 174/165/110-115 WOE: atkins - induction Start Date: may 2008	oh cripes! okay (head hanging), i gotta get on the weight training band wagon. maybe just starting with using my own body mass as antagonist -- like doing push ups, leg lifts, squats, etc?

06-20-2008, 01:45 AM	#7
Ailuros MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 2,697 Gallery: Ailuros Stats: Maintenance (since 2003) WOE: Controlled carb, real food Start Date: 2003	Just as I reached my 45th birthday I had a couple of months of spotting mid-cycle. For the next year or so, any time I was stressed or not well I'd get spotting, and a couple of times an extra long cycle. Sometimes the stress was external, like when my MIL was dying, but it also happened when I decided to trim off a few pounds I'd regained, and dropped my carb levels down to around 30g per day - don't know if it was the carb reduction or the weight loss that did it. Often the spotting went along with feeling depressed and exhausted - I'd spot for the first half of the cycle and feel terrible, then stop and feel OK for a week or so until PMS started . I tried various supplements, and nothing much made any difference until I started black cohosh recently. About a month ago I had a few days of alternating wildly hot and cold every quarter of an hour, but mostly it's just a bit too hot or too cold sometimes, nothing drastic. I'm 47 now and have just missed two periods. I'm also feeling better than I have for a while. I'm not sure if it's the black cohosh, or the fact that my hormones are settling down a bit now they're not fighting quite so hard to maintain the cycle. I still feel there's a bit of a cycle going on (just a little bit of PMS) even though I haven't bled. I don't feel happy with trying to lose weight at the moment. I feel as if my body needs all the nutrition it can get - but I'm already at an OK weight, maybe I'd like to lose five pounds, but it's nothing major. I've also had to take it easy on the exercise front. I have continued to exercise, but working very hard has just wiped me out, so I've to stay with moderate to mild work. I'm just beginning to feel I can increase the intensity again. I also felt when this started, that I just had no idea what to expect. And it seems that everyone's experience is different. Lots of reading can help you be prepared for the possibilities, and think about whether you want to pursue HRT. I decided that I'd rather not, but I haven't ruled it out if things get too bad without.

06-24-2008, 10:17 PM	#10
pegbord Senior LCF Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Washington state Posts: 483 Gallery: pegbord Stats: 174/165/110-115 WOE: atkins - induction Start Date: may 2008	Your responses are so helpful. Honestly I never imagined I would have a difficult time during these years - and comparitavely maybe it's not all that bad. I haven't gone to a doc in many years (and I'm a health care provider - go figure - tsk!) so I'll be the first to say I'm long over due. I need to find someone who is knowledgable in women's health and in particular menopause. I have my homework cut out for me just in finding a provider for crying out loud. I seem to get so tired lately and the whole weight loss thing is slower than a snails pace - both issues being new to me. I'm used to having lots of long-lasting energy and dropping weight fairly easily. One of the other threads mentioned something about part of the problem for such slow weight loss may be connected to yoyo dieting - which I've done all my life. It makes a lot of sense to me that that could very well be contributing to the slow weight loss. I have also read so many experiences from others regarding hormone fluctuations being a possible cause for the snail-pace loss. Put them both together and I have a snail on crutches pace loss! I really appreciate all the feedback. With information comes power and I am prepared to embrace this perimenopause full steam ahead! (All the while trying to be a little graceful in the doing of it.)