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Hi folks, I've been struggling for some time now and am at the end of my tether!
I'm 42 and have been menstruating since I was 11. I started off with occasional lower abdominal pain last year. It could come at any time and last for anything from a few days to a couple of weeks. It would then go and be gone, usually, for three months before returning. I had gynaecological investigations and all that was found was a samll fibroid. I also started getting PMS symptoms very badly too (irritability, weepiness, aching etc) So the gynae recommended the Cerazette progesterone only implant, which I didn't like the sound of. He said it would shrink the fibroid, stop my periods and, therefore, stop the PMS.
Well, I haven't taken his advice so far. Over the last few months things have got worse. My periods are erratic, having been a strictly regular 28 day cycle always, it is now never regular and can be as little as 23 days and as long as 32 and is slightly heavier and more painful. I am now getting muscle aches and weakness, horrendous neck tension, irritability, anxiety, depression and I feelings of doom and gloom - I keep thinking about death and dying and can't stop. I am a wreck!
Does this sound like perimenopause? I have googled it and found a list of the 35 most common symptoms and I seem to have about 14 of them. I have been using natural progesterone cream for two weeks now. It seemed to help for the first week but isn't now.
I am going to try the MagnoPulse Lady Care magnet and see if I can get some relief. Has anyone got any other suggestions of things I can try to avoid the synthetic hormone replacements please? I can't go on like this, it's affecting my life and my marriage.
Many thanks for reading and apologies for humungous post!
Lynda x
Hi,Lynda- I'm pretty much in the same boat as you - never used to get PMT but have been feeling really irritable,etc for ages now. Worse thing is the weepiness for no reason-can come on any time which is really scary. Have had loads of blood test,thyroid tests (which came back ok but would have actually preferred something found which could be treated) Last time I saw doctor I really opened up to him & told him how this wasn't like me & I find it really scary. He said 'well we all have our bad days'!!! & when pushed re possible hormone imbalance referred me for some more blood tests.
I've been looking into peri- menopause myself & was initially going to wait until result of latest blood tests before doing anything on my own-but got so bad I've started taking Starflower oil capsules. Too early yet to tell if beneficial.
Been wondering about the Lady Care magnet-please let me know how you get on with it.
Sorry not been much help apart from maybe the Starflower oil.
Yvonne xxx
ps has your memory been really bad too? I'm having to write everything down- & then try to remember to look @ notes!
There are several strategies used by nutritional therapists to help through perimenopause. Have a look at Marilyn Glenville's site - she is an expert on things hormonal and appertaining to women's health. She has books for self-help and for understanding what is going on, but seeing a nutritional therapist would make all the difference.
There are things like cutting out sugar and products made with white flour that cause blood sugar levels to fluctuate wildly leaving you on an emotional rollercoaster; low zinc levels - zinc is needed for hormone balance among other things; there are details like whether you are copper toxic; lack/imbalance of essential oils; and so on - it will be an individual cause that needs ferreting out and sorting. Find a therapist near you . There are many foods and supplements that could help and it is really worth it to get this sorted.
I remember as a student being astonished at the client's recovery from PMS and skin problems in 5 weeks, that neither the endocrinologist or the dermatologist had sorted!
I'm just pipping in with a few comments, rather than giving considered advice. My first comment is that natural progesterone cream is to be applied in a specific amount on specific areas of your body for a specific duration. 1/8 teaspoon, on a different area of soft skin each time (breast, buttock, inner thigh, inner arm), for the last 14 days of your cycle. Forgive me if you are already doing that. The progesterone cream is applied to boost the progesterone:estrogen ratio in the latter half of your cycle. You need a higher estrogen level in the first half (or is it the second quarter, sorry I should check). So taking progesterone cream all month messes up different symptoms. You can download a booklet which gives you more information.
The second comment is that progesterone, like any treatment for female hormonal disruptions, will take months to have an effect. At the earliest you'll notice the effects in your next period/PMT/ovulation... not this one.
The last comment is to perhaps try Agnus castus. I'm not a fan of taking herbs (they are a bit too similar to taking allopathic medication, for my liking) - however the exception I make is Agnus castus, since I've seen it resolve some terrible hormonal problems. Agnus castus is an hormonal regulator. [url]You can buy it from Holland & Barrett[/url] - and it's a perfectly acceptable quality. I'd suggest taking 2 capsules each morning - always in the morning since that's when your liver is most active. And continuing for at least 3 months.
Caroline is right, though, it'd be helpful to see someone and get a full assessment. You can get very good results with dietary and nutritional changes for female hormonal problems. They respond very well.
Ava x
Oh, taking a decent therapeutic dose of magnesium citrate sounds like it would help your symptoms. But, rather than suggest a dosage I'll reinforce that you'd be better to see a nutritionist and have a good appraisal of your health and history... and get the right recommendations for you.
Ava x
Great advice above. I would only add, that at the age of 42, a healthy woman is too young to have menopausal symptoms.
Having said that, lately in my practise I see more young women under 40, with premature menopause (also called Premature Ovarian Failure) . Some research show this can be due to stress, diet, nutrition and environmental factors, infection, long term contraceptive use ...
In my experience reflexology, diet and nutritional changes can make a difference
A
Thanks for the replies everyone. I will look into all of your suggestions. I should have said before that I'm very fit and healthy and eat a very healthy diet.
Yvonne, I will PM you. Yes, my memory has been bad too. I sold stuff on ebay and forgot to post it twice!
Ava, thanks for the information on progesterone cream. I was advised to use it daily for the first 2 months but I agree with you that I probably don't need it all the time and it may mess up my cycle even more than it is already!
Andre, I am not talking about menopause. I am still having periods. I am talking about which can start as early as the age of 35. So, at 42, I am definitely not too young.
I started using the Lady Care magnet yesterday and it's too early to make a judgment on it yet. So I will let you know how I get on with it.
Many thanks again.
Lynda x