Women and Perimenopause

In my early 30's I began experiencing an increase in emotional displays, mainly crying and rage. I was very scared what was happening to me because it was not common for me to feel this way so often. In addition to my lack of emotional control, I also experienced numbing and tingling sensations in my face and hands. Not too long after the beginnings of these problems I began having night sweats and a lot of hot flashes during the day. I was also very tired, physically and mentally. I had difficulty remembering things and concentrating. Doctors were not able to diagnose me with anything but depression. I was put on paxil, which did not eleviate my symptoms. I actually developed new problems from the paxil and actually had a mental and emotional breakdown while on that medicine. I was then put on zoloft. Again, my problems did not lessen or go away. The zoloft brought new problems with it as did the paxil.

After about five years of this, I finally decided that I was going to stop taking the zoloft and try and figure out what was wrong with me myself. In doing searches on the internet, I realized that I was suffering from perimenopause. This is the phase before menopause and women can experience this phase as young as their early 30's. Symptoms involve moodiness, including increased anger and sadness. A change in menstrual period is also possible, which would normally be more cramps, some clumps of blood, longer duration of the period itself, increased flow, and possible interruption, such as bleeding a few days, stopping for a day or two, and then continuing with bleeding for another day or two. Night sweats, which I think the term speaks for itself, in that you sweat at night, so much that you often have to change your clothes and sometimes bedding. Hot flashes during the daytime are another symptom and is similar to night sweats but the hot flashes aren't as constant or extreme, and of course they occur in the daytime. The hot flashes generally occur around the breasts, groin and face. Increased needs for peeing can also occur, especially during the night time. Weight gain is also possible, though I have not experienced that symptom. Joints can feel stiff and achy, especially in the morning. There can be an increase in cravings for sweets and carbohydrates. Headaches, insomnia, and disturbed sleep are also common. Vaginal dryness, bloating, gas and diarrhea can also be experienced. There can be a decrease in your interest in sex. One last symptom that I know of is that you can suffer from anxiety, meaning that you feel very anxious and may even have anxiety attacks.

These symptoms are difficult to deal with on an individual basis, so going through many of these at once is very overwhelming. I have read many varying "methods" for relieving symptoms caused by perimenopause. I have only tried one of them myself. I use the generic brand of Estroven. The kind I use is from Wal Mart and is the Equate brand. It's called Estroblend. A month's supply is a little under six dollars. It helps relieve almost all of my symptoms. The ones that it hasn't helped are the anxiety attacks, the disrupted sleep, the increased urination, and the problems with my period. I think that for all the symptoms the Estroblend has relieved it's worth six dollars a month. I have been going through perimenopause for about six years now. In developing a few new symptoms that at the current time are still minimal, I believe I am on the brink of going into menopause itself.

I have learned through this experience that doctors are not always the best answer. There are so many resources available on the internet and through books, and even just talking with other people. Sometimes self diagnosis is much easier because I feel most doctors have a dollar sign interfering with their work. Granted there are times when a doctor should be seen but for cases such as perimenopause, it can be self managed fairly well and for a lot less money.