More Menopause...

[WindingRoad]

Well apparently I'm one of the lucky ones and am beginning peri at 38-39 years of age. I have a gyno appt this week to confirm but I am pretty sure based on my symptoms this is what's going on. My Mom actually didn't start this process early but my Grandmother did so I don't know... Anyways I have been having the horrible periods, super long and heavy. Been having the crazy mood changes, depression, lethargy, insomnia and night sweats. Ugh it's awful. I just starting using a progesterone cream to see if that will help with the symptoms. I will run it by my new gyno when I see her this week but it took over a month to get into her so I was getting desperate for some relief. My period was at least 7 days this last time and not 3 weeks!

Have any of your heard about adrenal fatigue contributing to peri onset? I am concerned about this as I recently stopped taking my ADHD medications after about 4 years and it seemed the worst of it was after I did this. I realize there are a certain amount of withdrawal symptoms associated with stopping this type of med but after several weeks those should lessen and go away. Based on my own knowledge, is it possible that b/c I was taking ADHD meds, which drive the sympathetic response and pushes a lot of hormones through your system has somehow fatigued my adrenal glands and contributed to my lack of Progesterone (based on symptoms) or Estrogen dominance? Slowly since adding the Progesterone cream things have improved some.

[Crankin]

I am not a doctor. But, in my role as a therapist, I have to be up side effects of certain meds. Yes, ADHD meds do affect the sympathetic response, but I have never read any articles or heard the psychiatrists I work with, or my clients talk about the kind of response you are having. ADHD meds aren't like SSRIs, in that they work immediately, and then they are out of your system after a few hours. Could taking them for 4 years make permanent changes in your hormone levels? Anything is possible, but this is something I have not heard of.
Peri-menopause at age 38-39 is *not* unusual. I was about the same age, and I know many people who were the same. It may just be that going off of the meds and your symptoms happened at the same time, but it's not the cause. Everything you describe is related to menopause.
I know others here will disagree, but adrenal fatigue, well, I don't believe it's been empirically validated as a real thing. I know it's popular in the naturopathic community, but I am suspicious. I'm all for natural treatment, as much as possible, but... tread cautiously before spending $ on treatments. All of these symptoms suck, but, I would listen to see what your gyn says.

[VerRobinson]

Thank you for sharing their ideas...