How do I know if I might be starting menopause?

[Breeze54]

:shrug: I seem to be the same old me but more weepy.

I seem to 'tear up' more easily now and stress out more easily.

I'm not sure if that's it and if it is, am I supposed to be doing anything about it?

Like get estrogen pills or what. I don't have health insurance although I'm supposed

to be getting it in the next few months. How do I know if it's menopause?

What can I expect to happen besides the obvious?

[bliss_eternal]

1. Personally...

...I believe in a few tests (still seen as alternative depending on who you talk to). Which can help you get a handle on where you are and what your body is truly deficient in. Saliva tests are available through some compounding pharmacies or on-line--depending on the state you live in (only NY and CA you have to get them through a physician, pharmacist, NP, RD, etc.) Testing helps you to know exactly what your body is lacking in hormonally. Depending on what hormones you lack, that can say whether you are perimenopausal or not.

Also, check out websites like powersurge (for women in perimenopause and menopause)you can find it through a search engine. They have forums, articles, interviews with physicians that work specifically with perimenopause/meopausal women. Most if not all primarily recommend bio-identical hormone replacement therapy as opposed to the "estrogen" that was given to women as par for the course during perimenopause and menopause.

I'm going to pm you more from personal experience. I'll suffice to say here that it's been important for me to be an "informed consumer." Just because one has an MD behind their name, doesn't mean they ultimately know it all. Not every doctor is created equal. Some make an effort to stay abreast of the latest information available--attending classes, workshops, symposiums, continuing education, etc--so they can learn and grow and really help their patients/clients. Others are still doing what was taught in medical textbooks decades ago.

[Breeze54]

2. Thanks, bliss_eternal

I'll check out those websites. I appreciate the info you provided too. ;)

[bliss_eternal]

3. No problem.

Hope you are feeling better soon, and find the answers you're seeking.
:hug::hi:

[Breeze54]

4. Wow! That website is phenomenal!

I'm still exploring it but so far it's impressive! :D

[bliss_eternal]

6. Amazing, isn't it....?!

...I don't post there, but have lurked from time to time. There seem to be some wonderful people sharing there. I love that the internet is helping to bridge the gap for so many.

For so many, menopause was/is the thing that no one would talk about. Many women enter it in silence and confusion. Where there is silence, there are prey--those that take advantage of what people don't know. :( I'm thrilled that there are resources available now that weren't for prior generations.

[Sparkly]

9. I picked up on your tip, too! :)

Interesting! I must be starting menopause, but don't have a lot of symptoms EXCEPT I was really interested in the forum on "internal shaking." I don't know if it's the same thing, but I have a tendency toward low blood sugar (and low blood pressure) that's gotten worse, and causes "the shakes" mid-morning. I've cut out sugar at breakfast but it still happens. HATE that!

I'm also losing weight rather than gaining it. A couple of months ago, it seemed like all of a sudden my boobs 'deflated' or something! Yet the side talks about breast swelling... Go figure!

[bliss_eternal]

5. Resources...

For others seeking such information, here's a few I'm aware of (in no particular order):

Before the Change Taking Charge of your Perimenopause
by Ann Louise Gittlman phd, cns.

(Ann Louise's background is nutrition--so her book shares solutions to symptoms from that standpoint--what and how we eat can heal. Also shares information on finding a suitable physician, nutritionist, etc. Big advocate of people becoming their own expert--so they can find professionals from an "informed" perspective.)

Feeling Fat, Fuzzy or Frazzled?
by Richard Shames MD and Karilee Shames PhD, RN

(Discusses the high incidence of thyroid issues for women and men at this point in life. How to find a qualified professional as well as symptoms, tests to request, how to find them, etc. Seems very well versed in thyroid treatment and how it affects other issues such as hormones, perimenopause, etc.)

The Hormone Survival Guide for Perimenopause : Balance Your Hormones Naturally
by Nisha Jackson, Ph.D

(Basic primer on perimenopause--what it is, when it can occur, symptoms. Provides some natural recommendations and solutions reader can take to alleviate symptoms, as well as how to find a physician well versed in such issues.)

What Your Doctor May not Tell you About Menopause
By John R. Lee MD
(Considered by many THE BOOK on all things menopause--see the reviews on amazon.com. Informative, honest, enlightening.)

Ageless: The Naked Truth about Biodentical Hormones
By Suzanne Somers

(Yes, I know she's a celebrity NOT a physician, she's just an actress. But she's also a woman that entered menopause and took the time to share her experience with the rest of us. What REALLY helped, what's dangerous, etc. If not for her efforts, I wonder how many women would still be taking "horse urine". Thanks to her book and the information w/in it getting to the masses, more and more physicians are offering women bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.)

All of the above are available on amazon.com's search engine--so you can check out the book and comments on them. :hi:

Websites:

powersurge.com
(Great resource w/message boards, articles, interviews w/physicians, nutritionists, book recommendations, etc.)

thyroid-info.com
Resource on all things thyroid, overactive, underactive with articles, interviews, resources, etc.

Some of the authors listed above also have websites. Placing their names in search engines will provide addresses (if interested).
:)

[femrap]

7. When I went thru perimenopause,

the traditional medical community in the 'heartland' told me to take Prozac and Horse Piss! It was an awful time. I threw a fit in one doctor's office...and later the Doctor had to apologize to me because I was right about what Pre(pregnant)-Mar(Mare)-In(urine)...Premarin and how it is bad for women.

The medical community has done little to study menopause...still don't know what causes hot flashes.

I feel that the biggest change is in the levels of progesterone...as does Dr. Lee. I used Progesterone Cream from a compounding pharmacist with very good results. From what I understand, our progesterone levels go to zero where we always produce estrogen...at 20% levels. But of course everyone is different. Some women have physical symptoms and others emotional...and still others both.

One thing for sure: the 'veil of estrogen' lifts.

[defendandprotect]

8. My description of it and as I've heard from others is . . .

Somewhere around 40-45 ... you may find your menstrual flow increasing ---
This is a symptom evidently ---

and I would say that between 45 and 50, it can happen ---

Are you generally healthy?

I was very lucky --- I had heavy flows which concerned me --- but once I understood what it was
about, I had an easier reaction to it.

Watch ASPIRIN --- don't take any kind of a blood thinner if you are menstruating ---

AND, if you experience hot flashes, experiment with eliminating "meat" from your diet ---

in my case, they stopped immediately ---


I had a very easy time of it --- and in fact found menopause a great HIGH ---
joyous time of self-discovery and finding answers ---


Good luck!!

[The empressof all]

10. When you get your insurance you can get a blood test.

One thing you can be sure of is that the process will start sometimes in your 40's. It took me about 10 years of mood swings, hot flashes and overall crankiness to finally having the periods end. For me it probably was far easier than surviving my teens and early twenties when I had horrific cramps, pms, and heightened emotionality.

I don't know any woman who doesn't have some symptoms that are uncomfortable at times but I made it through without a great deal of distress. I found eating a sensible diet, taking some of the recommended supplements and reminding myself that it would pass helped a great deal. I hated the hot flashes the most. ( I still get them on occasion )but they don't last very long and frankly a little complaining about them with women my age went a long way in making them easier to take.