Perimenopause can begin years before menopause. And both of these states can herald in a myriad of perplexing symptoms. No two women are the same.
"Perimenopause is that (usually several year) time around (just before) the final menses. It is frequently punctuated by the classical symptoms of peri-menopausal/menopause including but not necessarily limited to: Hot flashes/night sweats, poor sleep quality, mood and memory dysfunction, vaginal dryness, heart palpitations, joint stiffness, 'crawly skin', depression, etc."
Is my weight gain from too much cake, or from menopause? I'm tired all the time. Do I need to take vitamins, or is it the change of life? I'm struggling with mood swings. I'm not interested in sex anymore. I'm getting migraines.
Wondering about hormone supplementation? And if so, should it be estrogen or progesterone? Looking for herbal treatments to bring some relief to distressing symptoms?
Lots of questions. And Minnie Pauz brings you some answers with her Midlife F.A.Q. Sheet.
http://www.minniepauz.com/drgoodman5.html
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I know without a doubt that much of my depression was caused by hormonal imbalance (and it got worse after a hysterectomy) as once I got on bioidentical hormone replacment therapy, I was able to get off all antidepressant/antianxiety medications (along with five other medications). I take progesterone and testostererone cream, along with a bit of estriol cream (locally for vaginal dryness) and have never felt better. This went way beyond menopausal symptoms, the hormones alleviated my seasonal allergies, acid reflux and restless leg syndrome, as well as signicantly improved my ADD. Please feel free to contact me at [email protected] if you would like a list of resources to help you find a bioidentical hormone doctor and/or compounding pharmacy in your area. Best wishes to all for hormonal health!
May 3, 2010 - 11:32amThis Comment
I believe that sometimes menopause gets the bad rap for a whole host of changes/symptoms/signs that occur at midlife, when in fact it isn't really menopause that's the culprit, but the life changes that come with midlife and aging.
I wonder how many women have blamed their depression and/or moodiness on menopause when in fact, their children are leaving the nest empty and lonely, or their children are having physical, emotional or behaviour problems, their spouses are having a nervous breakdown and/or their aging parents are- to no fault of their own-putting immense pressure on them. These events are enough to make anyone miserable! Add falling and surging hormones to the mix and you have one nasty cocktail. But there is good news: most women report their postmenopausal years as their happiest and most fulfilled.
Glenda de Vries
April 27, 2010 - 2:02pmIf you want to have a fabulous menopause visit www.nursingmenopause.com
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