The Emotional Rollercoaster of Menopause

[Biciclista]

my doctor told me that they considered 2 years of HRT to be the max, i did that several years ago now. So i delayed my bones from thinning for two years, now they are thinner. My hair has never been great, but i haven't noticed any big difference. where I HAVE changed drastically, and I am telling you guys this despite the fact that i am shy and embarrassed. but the girly bit parts have lost the natural padding that used to be there and the actual quality of the flesh there has changed as well. i tear and bruise there so easily that it is ridiculous. It sucks.

[Crankin]

Mimi, did you try the Estring? While it hasn't removed all of the problems, it has made it 95% better.

[Biciclista]

I was on hormone stuff for 2-4 years. How long am i supposed to take drugs that might cause cancer later? My grandmother lived to be 92. do the math!
(she didn't take hormones)

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Isn't there a topical (cream) form of hormones that can help with this specific issue without having to taking oral pills, without having to be 'on' anything? In other words, it just treats a certain area topically and does not effect the whole body. I'm not sure but isn't there? I seem to remember it was developed for post-menopausal dryness or something.

[Crankin]

Yes, that is what I am talking about. The E-string is a ring like used for BC pills. You get 2mg of estrogen over a 3 month period, locally in that area. It's such a low dose that it actually takes almost the whole three months to feel the benefit at first, although I noticed improvement after a couple of weeks. Of course, that's not saying that some doesn't get into your system, but the dose is so low that it is even prescribed for people who have had cancer. I was still having hot flashes when I got it and it certainly wasn't enough estrogen to stop those! I like it because you just put it in and leave it for 3 months and then get a new one.
Not only did it improve my sex life, but also cycling. I was at the point where I could barely sit on the saddle and the saddle wasn't the problem. When I went for my annual exam, my doctor was shocked that I lesions! She couldn't figure out why, until I told her right away, I knew they were from cycling with my thin membranes. She had never seen this before. Now she's a tri-athlete, so she's much more aware of this stuff.
I would not take HRT for this, but this has been a good alternative for me.

[OakLeaf]

I'm sure localized applications are way safer than oral hormones, but there's going to be some systemic effect from any hormones. There's a thread going on right now about someone who had systemic side effects from cortisone injections in her joints. Most of the OTC "bioidentical" hormones are applied on the skin and meant to have systemic effects.

The whole thing scares me, especially after this summer. I'd used the progesterone cream on and off during perimenopause, and now I don't know whether that caused the cell proliferation, slowed it, or had no effect. Osteoporosis is one thing, but menopausal symptoms would have to be really, really awful for me to consider hormones again.

There are also some homeopathic preparations that don't contain hormones, but are meant to stimulate the body to produce more of its own. I don't know anything about those, but it's maybe something to consider.

[Biciclista]

when i do my next appt i will talk to my dr. thanks

[Tuckervill]

I'm only 47 and have only mild symptoms of perimenopause (no hot flashes, just trouble sleeping and an extra period a year). But I have been wondering about the problem Mimi described...I was thinking it was because I lost those 45 lbs., but I never had the "abrasion" issue when I was young and thin. I rode my bike last week and my Brooks really hurt when I "forgot" how I was supposed to sit on it for the first few feet! yi-yi-yi.

I'll have to ask my doc about it when I go.

Karen

[Crankin]

Tuckerville, don't put it off, like I did. I had about 3 years of suffering with the thinning and dryness and i suffered like heck. It was right when I started riding over 2,000 miles a year and it almost stopped me from riding, let alone the sex aspect...

[DebTX]

Deb, we sound very similar. I'll be 48 in April. I'm still having regular periods (sometimes closer together than they used to be). I have the same peri- symptoms you do, along with some forgetfulness.

I found this article on hair loss on the Power Surge website posted above by ccnyc (thanks!) We are not alone...but it still sucks!

Thanks for posting the article - it's always reassuring to see you're not losing your mind!

I'd never seen the Power Surge website before so it was quite an experience to poke around a bit. Funny thing is, I didn't feel "better" after reading it (as I often do at TE). I actually felt a bit worried

In some ways, I liked thinking, "Oh, its just a bad day," (or a bad couple days...) But to read those posts, I'm starting to see that there could be a real 'change' going on these last few years that I'd been assuming was just a series of 'bad days.' I read posts from women discussing symptoms beyond the physical on that website (short temperedness, career uncertainty) - and I recognized many of them! And even here, it wasn't until someone mentioned it - but I realized, "yes, things ARE thinning out down there!" I think some of the fat pads, collagen, whatever is missing! I actually thought it was from the "stress" of my bike saddle (or from waxing!)

So, I'm kind of in yikes mode right now Thankfully, most of the women say the symptoms ease up after menopause finally arrives, but eek, there might be 5+ years of this.

Can somebody help me put a positive spin on this?

[Biciclista]

sure, i can put a positive spin on it. If you're lucky, as you age, you will become wiser. You will learn to appreciate the good things of life and accept the things you can not change. Like it or not, we're all getting older, or we're not. Those that aren't die. those are the choices. get old or die.
The way i figure it, the ones that get the oldest while staying healthy win!

Pretty soon you're going to figure out that your looks are not permanent, your hair is not permanent your bones are not permanent. Enjoy what you have while you can and use it to the fullest.

At a certain point, we're going to slow down. I'm 57 and I haven't started slowing down yet (aside from the personal stuff i divulged earlier) .
You start figuring out what is important and what is not.

I love the perspective I have gained for being this age. how about that.

[DebTX]

If you're lucky, as you age, you will become wiser. You will learn to appreciate the good things of life and accept the things you can not change. I love the perspective I have gained for being this age. how about that.

Thanks Mimi - I don't mean to imply that I resist getting older. I love the wisdom I'm gaining. And I love that I look silly in lycra and don't give a hoot (at 20 I wouldn't have worn it). I'm okay with the chin hairs that need to be plucked and all the rest. I get that there are benefits that come with aging, don't get me wrong. I like my life.

It's the symptoms that are frightening. It takes a bit of time to adjust to the fact that there may be 5 years of ups and downs yet to adapt to. And from what I'm reading, it's all about what's happening in my ovaries and adrenals - it's not about me suddently turning into a crazy b*%tch. I'm not saying I won't adapt - I was just looking for support from those who've gotten through it that there's a light at the end of the symptom-tunnel. All I need to do is hold steady for a bit.

That's the kind of support we women are often so good at providing for one another.

[Crankin]

In all, I would say that almost 7 years post menopause, it was not that bad. I did have hot flashes for years, in addition to the "down there" problem. But, I didn't have anything else. I never took anything for the hot flashes. In fact, the first year after my period stopped, I felt great. I always had miserable pms,and for that to go was the best. I haven't had any emotional or cognitive side effects and I am doing well in my graduate program, so I guess my brain is still there!
I do think however, that the onset of my Fibromyalgia symptoms is related to menopause. In retrospect, I have had this since my teens, but something triggered it to get worse when my periods stopped after a couple of years. I have to be really careful with overdoing it with my exercise, but I still do stuff 5-6 days a week. What gets me mad is that people with diseases much worse do much more than I do. I am still working to find the perfect balance.
Truthfully, I don't like the idea of looking "old." I think right now I look pretty good for a 55 year old. My weight is fine, but I have to watch what I eat a lot more carefully. My hair isn't thin and my skin is OK. I readily spend a lot of $ on my hair to look good. I do have some pretty bad "laugh lines" which did not just appear at menopause; they've been developing since my thirties. Both my mom and dad had them. I am *thinking* of maybe doing a dermal filler, because they really bother me. It's like when I put my helmet on or a ski hat, it's all you see on my face. Before anyone shoots me, since I am switching careers, I don't want my age to work against me when I apply for a job in 2.5 years. I will be almost 58 and believe me, there is such a thing as age discrimination. Other than that, I think I could pass for 10 years younger than I am.
And, as Mimi said, with age comes wisdom. Sometimes, I feel like the "crotchety old lady" when I am around screaming babies, etc. I don't want to go back. Both of my grandmothers were beautiful until the day they died at ages 91 and 92. My mom died young from a rare type liver disease, but until she got sick, we shared clothes and passed for sisters. She was active even when working out was not fashionable. It's all in the attitude. My aunt, who is 70, lost her husband at 52. She has colitis and just complains about everything and is a pitiful angry person. And she wonders why I don't want a relationship with her anymore!

[Biciclista]

and if what you are experiencing is fear, i just wanted to say my emotions haven't been that different. no emotional rollercoaster here.

[Triskeliongirl]

Mimi- try estrace vaginal cream. It works wonders for the specific problem you describe. Its an estrogen based cream that requires a prescription, but it is topical and local, treats the problem at hand rather than exposing yourself systemically. -Trisk