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Are you playing the game? By the amazing Grace Farris.
P.S. Pregnancy pillow and types of walks.
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I’m 54 and had all the symptoms and my primary care doctor was of no use. I went to see a gynecologist and pushed for HRT and it was literally LIFE CHANGING. The rage, the night sweats, the insomnia — all gone. I feel myself again. Such a lot of quality time of my life wasted being grumpy and exhausted — I get so mad in retrospect. Also, if your hair starts thinning, I highly, highly recommend getting a prescription for oral minoxidil and finasteride.
My “game” was Pandemic, ADD, or Menopause? Still playing it, but now on HRT. I wish I had started it earlier rather than taking anti-depressants- all of this was joined by a horrible, terrible, ill-planned and devastating work merger and culture change which we are still recovering from.
You forgot SO HOT AT NIGHT, ABSOLUTELY ROASTING, TRULY THE DEVIL’S TEMPERATURE after never being hot at night before.
Perimenopause is no joke. Went my first stretch of missing 3 periods in a row at 42. Thankfully, wasn’t pregnant! But it later occurred to me that this was probably my first hint. But then I went another 7 years with totally normal periods. Then it hit like a freight train at 49. Mood swings, all day sweats, no period for 2 months, then a 3 week period that was out of control heavy. My mood swings are no joke! Only my testosterone levels are out of kilter. Other levels are all normal. Last year, I went 8 months without a period. I was so stoked. Was really wanting to get to that 1 year mark without one to be considered in menopause. Then it hit like a freight train out of control. Another 3 week period, where I couldn’t control the bleeding. I would have to change a tampon, and night time pad for heavy flow, literally every half hour. It was horrendous. I cried. My life was tied to knowing where a bathroom was at all times. Then I had 2 months of normal periods. Back at 4 months without having one, but the emotional roller coaster is exhausting. Come on menopause…I am ready for you.
Hi Betsy – I also had the super heavy bleeding. I remember being on an overseas flight and running through every single tampon and pad I had and still leaked everywhere. I thought this was a normal transition at the end of the life of my period. I mentioned the crazy heavy periods to a friend who is a physician and she encouraged me to get it checked out. Turns out I had a fibroid the size of a lime causing the bleeding. It may be worth a visit to your doc.
Betsy, WOW, that sounds really hard.
Betsi, I am echoing the pls get it checked out advice! I too was having major issues with bleeding that cause low iron and so many difficulties during my day. I wound up needing a uterus ablation.
“It isn’t perimenopause . . . is it?” Just gonna leave this short, funny video from the Baroness von Sketch Show right here.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=3551425548216594
A friend sent this when I started noticing changes a couple of years ago. Anytime I feel overwhelmed, resentful, crabby, grouchy, etc. etc., I click play on this and have myself a little private pity party with a giggle. It’s the little things, y’all.
LOL I just watched it an it’s SO freaking accurate!!!! Gotta laugh to keep from crying, which, is probably perimenopause…is it? I mean, there’s not much research…I’m going to be chuckling about this for weeks…
I have actually been thinking about asking COJ to address this topic…
Im sure this is one of those things that is different for everyone, but for me…
SUGAR = NIGHT SWEATS. It’s a really noticeable correlation.
Weight training, oh my god it has made such a difference. Before, joints, back, everything hurt- with regular weight training I have virtually no pain and my mood is much better.
Fiber. Tons of fiber.
Some of the symptoms are so weird- you suddenly notice a strange thing going on with you body, and then some tiny corner of the internet will connect it with perimenopause…
For example, I suddenly started having sleep apnea, waking up gasping with a feeling that my throat had collapsed. Apparently the reduced estrogen allows all your tissues to get softer, so yes, my now softer windpipe is flopping in on itself when I sleep on my back. Who knew.
Another issue- for many of us, this time coincides with the beginning of The Losses. It is a time of life when you start to know people who have died- parents, perhaps the first of your friends. For me, perimenoapuse started in the same year that I experienced several major losses of this kind, and it was very confusing. Is this unbelievable anger grief rage? Or hormonal rage? Or some horrific combination of the two?
Also, I think it’s funny that as I am writing this, the comment box keeps underlining “perimenopause” in red dots. I have double checked and I think I’m spelling it right… which means that the spell check function thinks that this word does not exist. Which pretty much says it all.
I’m in my mid-thirties, so maybe/hopefully peri is still a bit away for me…but I have to say YES to all the hype you hear about women lifting weights. I started doing this 8 months ago, and wow…incredible difference. And to be clear, I started lifting 4lbs and am now at 25 for leg exercises and 8-15 for arms, so don’t think you need to lift Hulk-heavy weights.
Combining this with protein and fibre has been MAGICAL. Fixed hair loss, improved skin glow, calmed my insatiable appetite (spoiler, I was just starving), and best of all…I SLEEP now (after months of debilitating insomnia) and have regular periods. Oh, and hi, libido.
Love your comment, Anon, about the spell-check for “perimenopause”. So many conversations still need to happen to make this mainstream! Enough of women’s health being dismissed!
I just turned 48 and noticed some changes. I also have a thyroid issue and honestly it’s really hard to know if it’s perimenopause or if my thyroid is out of wack. I’m seeing an endocrinologist who is helping me navigate this. Please more perimenopause content I love knowing I am not alone.
Mine was both! Now have it sorted
same! The overlap is so hard to figure out – would just a tweak to my meds make all the difference, or is this hormonal and I don’t stand a chance? I hope you find answers.
Thank you Grace Farris!❤️
I belong to an HMO and to say they are conservative is an understatement. I started perimenopause @ 8 years ago. At the time I had a friend who was loving HRT. I asked my Gynecologist about testing my hormone levels and she shrugged it off. I really like her , she did my fibroid surgery ( I still have my ovaries), but she wasn’t much help in the menopause department. I found an online company with doctors and nurses who monitor everything. It has been a game changer! I go for regular hormone blood tests in case anything has to be adjusted. Hormones change daily, so this is a must. Please seek out another doctor if yours won’t ( or can’t) help you. I do believe part of the problem is that there is so little research, most doctors do not understand much if anything about menopause. I also urge to do as soon as you start getting symptoms. The earlier you start HRT the better the outcome.
Glad you advocated for yourself! I was just listening to this podcast episode about MHT (menopause hormone therapy) and the guest said that hormone levels fluctuate so wildly, even by orders of magnitude within a 24-hour period, that the focus with hormone therapy should be on whether your symptoms are well-controlled with your dose, vs. trying to get to a specific number on a test. Just in case anyone is concerned about costs/scheduling issues with frequent testing. Here’s the episode: https://www.drcaitlin.com/podcast/hormone-therapy
This has been my experience as well! Would you mind sharing the online company??? I was doing the OTC FSH monitor but it feels like trying to find a needle in a haystack.
Love! I’m 47 and this has been my buzz word for about one year now, glad it is being talked about! I recently switched to a menopause-certified gyn and it feels great to know she is listening and speaking my language!
There are some great resources out there (many of which have already been mentioned). A podcast I get alot out of is A Certain Age with Katie Fogarty. She recently had Maria Sophocles on to talk about the midlife bedroom gap and it was really helpful! https://overcast.fm/+h5-bsvBA8
Wait, what about the hot flashes and the INSOMNIA? I could be wrong (I had a ton of brain fog, too) but for me it was ALL about hot flashes and insomnia. HRT, my friends, HRT! Two words: I sleep!
Yes!
Incredible
I started suppressing my periods at 41, ten years ago now. Probably saved my life. Perimenopause and undiagnosed Ehlers Danlos were wrecking my life. For two weeks every month I was full of rage cycling why depression and shame and suicidal ideation. My joint pain was off the charts. I had no solution for the massive bleeding, I couldn’t leave my house. My anxiety was bonkers. Anemia and sleeplessness were making it hard to even function. I would go back to *normal* for a couple weeks only to be hot again. The first month I started suppressing my periods stopped and I’ve not had one since. Every vacation. Every family event. Every holiday. No worries. I wake up every day in the same happy mood. I just don’t have mood swings anymore. 3 years ago a MRI for my hips showed something suspicious in my uterus and I had to have more imaging. Turns out the MRI was just picking up a ghost image, thankfully. But my OB GYN said after the further imaging, “I rarely see such a happy uterus in a woman of 48!” We are not meant to menstruate for decades. It’s terrible for us and not at all natural. I think so many peri and meno problems stem from this. Anyways, please ask for help if you are suffering. And don’t settle on antidepressants if you don’t think that’s the answer (or the only answer). I’ve recently added the estrogen patch a few months back because I’m 51 now and I truly think it’s going to help me stay well for longer. It’s also solved this weird bad taste in my mouth that I had for months, inner ear itching, and my brain fog is better too.
I have so many questions! Do you use birth control to suppress menstruation? When did you start? Did you do it on your own or did a doctor recommend it? I haven’t been on birth control for 7 years (I’m 38) because I didn’t like how it made me feel. Does the inverse happen at a certain time?
What does suppressing your period mean?
Hi Sasha, thanks for sharing ! I would be interested in finding out how you did this too. I have PMDD and debating going down the cycle suppression route with Zolodex GNRH injection . Nervous as you can imagine but I am so sensitive to hormones changes and am a little bit terrified about what peri brings !
I’m glad you’ve found something that works for you. I’m very curious about this part of your post: “We are not meant to menstruate for decades. It’s terrible for us and not at all natural.” What is this based on? I mean we DO menstruate for decades (the vast majority of us). On what basis are we not meant to? Genuine curiosity. I’ve been doing a lot of reading lately and haven’t come across anything like this assertion.
Emma, maybe Sasha is referring to how women used to be pregnant and breastfeeding much longer in the past (equals less menstruation)…..I think Malcom Gladwell discussed this in one of his books.
Emma, until birth control became prevalent, most women married young and got pregnant early and often. Women spent most of their lives either pregnant or nursing many children. Until the last century or so, women died younger, and much more often in childbirth. It was unusual, for much of human history for there to be lots of post-menopausal women. Women evolved to give birth often and die much younger. Thanks to the choices we have now, we are having many more periods than most women had throughout history.
Taking the Pill or Mini Pill continuously to suppress periods can be considered more “natural” since we are not designed to ovulate constantly and not got pregnant. I did this from the ages of 35 to 57, and it was FABULOUS. No cramps, no mood swings, no bloating, no migraines, no IBS flare-up, no breakouts, and no worries about pregnancy.
Emma, I’m guessing Sasha means in the past lots of women would have had many breaks from menstruating due to pregnancy and extended breastfeeding?
Emma O – the menstruating for decades concern is that for most of our existence, women have been pregnant a LOT of their (shorter) lives. (Queen Charlotte and her 15 babies!) And therefore the monthly hormone surge and blood/iron loss that comes with menstruating happened way, way less. I recall studies looking into the link between period frequency and ovarian and uterine cancers – not up to snuff enough to share facts here. But IMO it makes sense that if the body has the equiv of several years of no hormone surge, maybe that’s good?
Thanks for the replies everyone! I hadn’t thought of pregnancy as a ‘break’ from menstruation although of course it makes sense. Interesting.
This is painfully, hilariously accurate. This week I’ve been researching “meno belly,” high protein/low fat snacks, and “menopause greasy hair?” all while on my still-very-regular period.
Are you me? Did I write this comment, misname myself, and completely forget? It’s entirely possible!
I’ll be 67 next month.
This has been seriously life changing: https://pharmapulse.org/product/vulvacare-vulva-balm-moisturizer/
Hot & Bothered by Jancee Dunn is a good resource too!!
This may help with hot flashes: I was getting a ridiculous number of hot flashes, sometimes every 20 minutes! I noticed when I ate sugar or carbs, I would get a hot flash about 15-20 min afterwards. Essentially big jumps in my blood sugar made my hot flashes more frequent and worse. Cutting that back helped me control that a ton!
Post perimenopause isn’t fun either. My suggestion is to keep talking about it to everybody who cares about you and change doctors if needed (and if they ask why you’re switching–just let them know). Even my older women friends never brought up how much they were still struggling until a few of us started talking. There’s all kinds of stuff available that might help so don’t let anyone dismiss you. Good luck everybody!!
Joanna, we definitely nerd a post/series on this topic!! I am turning 37 this year and have spent wondering about this hormonal rollercoaster from hell for the past year or so. Sudden histamine/digestive issues, joint pain, brain fog, you name it! Working as a psychotherapist, I meet so many patients struggling with symptoms and not feeling taken serious by doctors. I’ve started to gather information myself, following helpful stuff on IG but am still startled by the lack of knowledge and information in the medical community. I would love to specialize in this field — intersection of gynecology and psychiatry— but with two small children am lacking time and energy (and mentioned hormonal balance, haha).
I couldn’t agree more! I am 50 and going through perimenopause. I feel utterly confused. My mom has passed away. I have no sisters. And most of my friends are younger. So I don’t feel like I have people to ask. My doctors don’t even have any great guidance to give. I would love for this topic to be explored more! Yes, 50 is great, but bodies change a lot at this age. I need more navigational tools!
I second this! I would really appreciate reading real life stories. What to expect? When to expect it? What are good ways to cope and journey on? I was recently training someone at work who offhandedly mentioned their experience and I was like TELL ME MORE. :-D
Oh someone please specialise in “intersection of gynecology and psychiatry” include everything PMS, PMDD, Pregnancy, post-natal, perimenopause, menopause.. everything!!
Some resources I’ve found helpful while navigating this tumultuous journey:
Lets Talk Menopause – https://www.letstalkmenopause.org/ great resource with a newsletter, podcast and other events
North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/ – can search for certified providers – NOTE – not limited to Ob/Gyns – can be urologists, psychiatrists, endocrinologists, cardiologists, etc
Happy Menopause podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-happy-menopause/id1468784256
Endocrine Society – https://www.endocrine.org/menopausemap/support-resources/index.html
I’m 39 and apparently dealing with perimenopause because my excellent yet nonchalant OB was like “oh yeah it can start at 35” to which I said “can we get health class again as grown ups, because WTF!”
I also recently told my primary care doctor I would love a cheat sheet about what is considered “normal” as we age so I know when to call her and when I just slept with an extra pillow and woke up achy :)
Oh man, this. So far I’m on HRT, no booze, no caffeine, Pilates and about to go no sugar (just connected the dots – every time I have a sugar binge, I have night sweats). Can’t wait for this fresh hell to end
So good. Researching weights, yes! Haha! Not picked any up yet mind you…A great source of peri and menopause info in the UK is Dr. Louise Newsome a.k.a. The Menopause Doc. I’m glad we are starting to address this time in all womens’ lives.
I bought some weights! That counts, right?
No, Julie, you need to do weight-TRAINING . I read to mine from The New Yorker. I hear it can take a while to see results. Language-learning tapes are probably also good.
I am 44 and still have a regular period, but the algorithms have definitely pegged me. I vascilate between feeling overwhelmed by all the information and dreading taking this on in the American healthcare system to being a wee bit skeptical that capitalism is just trying to make money off of me. Read this book! Buy this protein powder! Get on these supplements! Ahhhhhhhh!
“Working on my night sweats” is my current jam.
OMG I needed this. Thank you wonderful Grace!
Ladies! Don’t be afraid to eat foods high in phytoestrogens to help reduce symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats. They can be a game changer in that regard, plus, they’re super nutritious in other ways as well.
I’d HIGHLY recommend joining this Facebook group (Perimenopause Hub – Support and friendship)- no matter what symptoms you may have, you’ll likely find another person who’d going through the same thing- misery does love company! Plus, everyone is so nice about offering support and tips when you’re having a bad day.
I’m 30 and still getting hot flashes 9 months after giving birth to my second baby.
My mom was in full menopause at 40 and it was 39 for my grandma.
This seems medically incredibly young? Anyone else been through this or know what could cause it? No special injuries or ectomies in my matrilineal line.
Follow @drmennobgyn !!!!
Sounds like it’s still part of the normal spectrum- check out dr Mary Claire Haver on Instagram, I’ve been following her for about a year so I feel prepared when stuff starts happening!
I just heard that perimenopause can start much earlier than was previously recognized.
I think I was suffering from hot flashes for YEARS before putting two and two together. I distinctly remember sitting in a meeting with a young colleague – I was in my early 40s at the time – and just sweating profusely. I remember wondering what the heck she must’ve been thinking and also, wondering what the heck was going on with me!
Ugh – so many public sweatfests!
I also remember being at a big town hall meeting at work. One of the executives was talking about a really important and innovative project and you could see as she was presenting that she was having a hot flash. She very deftly removed her jacket and kept going on without missing a beat. I was impressed AND felt deeply for her.
Yup. So frustrating . I’m 44, on Tamoxifen, can’t take any hormones… all the symptoms and it sucks. I’ve got probably another ten years to go and no one has any help to offer. So frustrating. Oh, did I already say that???
I’m right there with you–47, on Tamoxifen. I’ve also had lymph nodes removed and need to be careful about lifting heavy weights. If you have any genitourinary symptoms, you might be able to use a vaginal estrogen. My doctor said the hormones stay localized and are fine for women with a history of breast cancer, but your medical history may be different. Not much else I can offer except shared misery.
Follow @drmennobgyn – she’s a menopause specialist and breast cancer survivor.
I sure am—playing to win, baby!
I’m having all of the symptoms and could not figure out this big change in previously healthy life. And then one day, a light bulb went off – perimenopause. I sought out the above podcasts and books and decided HRT was the path for me. I decided not to wait to get into my MD and instead had a telehealth visit with Midi Health that very day. I’ve been on HRT for a week and have noticed a difference in my sleep and can’t wait to see what else improves.
100%. Also!!! weird bloating semi all the time? It is like that part of your cycle or early pregnancy where all your clothes seem too tight except for it is permanent. Fun!
This was me a year ago! I’m now on a low dose bc pill and it’s done wonders. Good luck and hang in there.
ALL.THE.TIME. argh!
Find a certified provider if you are lucky enough to have one in your area. North American Menopause Society – https://www.menopause.org/
Thank you for this source, Julie!
I’m currently battling perimenopause with hypothyroidism, and it’s been a tough battle that I feel my current doctor is dismissive about.
Thank you for sharing this, Julie! I just booked an appointment after finding a provider through this resource!
Spot on! Especially the weights. I started strength training more seriously a couple years ago when my mom was diagnosed with osteoporosis and I tell people that’s why I lift weights. But also the arm definition I have now is awesome – and a fun bonus!
Ugh this could not be more timely. I’m turning 40 soon and I’m realizing so many issues that might be related to perimenopause: hair loss, night sweats, possibly hot flashes? And most recently, to my absolute HORROR, prolapse. :( Any other prolapse-ers out there? I made an appt with a gyno who also does urology and found a referral for a pelvic PT but it’s hard not to feel like I just aged 30 years in a week . . . And it’s hard not to spiral since I’m aware of it every time I have to go to the bathroom!
I didn’t experience prolapse, but would recommend trying the Mutu System – I found it really helpful to understand and strengthen the pelvic floor!
Another banger from Grace Farris! I’m 45 and having mild peri symptoms, which I am helping as much as I can with all the good stuff regularly: sleep, exercise, protein , fiber, minimal BS (when avoidable). Also keeping informed as much as I can and will advocate for HRT if/when I feel I need it. I feel grateful to be in a generation of women that is demanding more and better care for ourselves as we age.
Thank you!! I’ve been wanting more perimenopause insight, even emailing it as a suggestion to COJ, since I knew this audience would also have amazing wisdom. I was all: just name the post Perimenopause – DISCUSS :-).
Think the board game needs a spot for the overlap between “is it perimenopause? or underdiagnosed female ADHD? or ‘just’ my post-pregnancy thyroid bust needing a med adjustment?” And how the hell do we get through this with tweens?!?
This times 1,000. UGGGGGHHHHH
Lol my search history: is it perimenopause? or underdiagnosed female ADHD?
The month after I turned 40 I skipped a period… Is it perimenopause or pregnancy? Reader, it was pregnancy. Will have my first (AND LAST) baby in August.
The same happened to me 🙂 she will be nine this year and I am fully menopausal
“Just hangry” lol
Oh, the joys. My hypochondriac tendencies brain finally gave up and I now attribute every ailment and emotionally overloaded day to perimenopause. It keeps me sane, and in good humor. I feel like a teenager again, only with the aches and pains of what I imagine to be an 80 year old. The bewilderment of my aging body is similar, teen me wondered, “what is happening to my body?!” And now I find 49-year old me thinking the same but with the added, “this is not my body!” Love it or not, it’s amazing.
As a 63 year old who has been thru this (and it was a doozy). Ladies if your Dr. isn’t helping find a new one. They are out there. Keep looking.
Read Grown Woman Talk by Sharon Malone and The New Menopause by Mary Claire Haver!!!! Such incredible guides.
This 63 year old had a great laugh over the game. Argh, the memories. Every few months I unexpectedly play the game for a few days.
Hot flashes! My dear spouse comes over and fans me. He knows not to get to close, I might snap at him.
Nailed it. Just purchased a sick number of free weights on FB marketplace last weekend and am researching protein packed lunches. Like so many others here I have a very laissez fair obgyn who seems to have no answers or even a roadmap to offer when it comes to this journey. This is such a fun age ;)
A fun age indeed, ha! I hope you love the weights! The satisfaction of strength training was an unexpected surprise for me. I’m lucky to have the support of a bestie who’s a lifelong gym rat, but for those who feel a bit more new to all of this? It would be great to see a bit more fitness content on CoJ. I know it would be approached so accessibly here. Healthy aging is such a worthy topic.
I was feeling ALL OF THIS plus so much more and my doctor kept brushing it off (pffft). So frustrating. I finally found a doctor who listened and validated what I was feeling at myalloy.com and put me on HRT. Highly recommend
Currently living this hell. I didn’t know that the insides of your ears itching could be a symptom…amid the other list of like 70 sympntoms.
I never thought I’d be recommending ear drops for itchy ears, but here we are! These drops are the bomb. Keep your head tilted for a minute or two and then stuff half a cotton ball in your ear to keep it from running out. I usually take the cotton out after 5-10 minutes. If I’m just having mild itchiness, I’ll put a drop or two on a q-tip and lightly swirl around the opening of the ear canal. (Yes, I know you aren’t supposed to put stuff in your ears. Use your judgement and don’t jam it down in there! 😉)
Isn’t it awful?!?! I had finally come up with a plan that might help, and itchy transitioned to tinnitus, so I’m doubtful my crazy idea will work.
But out of the 8 symptoms I’m dealing with, the ears are the most aggravating!
Oh god, I have that too, and it drives me nuts. Amber, sending you the most calming ear vibes.
Same. Several days on the estrogen patch and the itching was gone, and it’s been months and hasn’t returned. My doctor had assured me that the itching was NOT a symptom lol. Just a coincidence!
Thank you so much for noting this as a symptom! I had no idea this was due to perimenopause, and wondered wtf was going on. Now, of course, now it all makes sense.
Laura which ear drops do you use? Thank you!
Ack! I forgot to share the actual product name 😂 Hylands Dry Ear Relief Oil
Amazon link, but can probably also be purchased at your pharmacy:
https://a.co/d/003unyFn
A dr recommended mineral oil and a dropper. It really, really helps. It’s much easier with a buddy, so my husband and I put a drop in each other’s ears about once a week. So romantic!
I LOVE @fastingmd! Her content has been a game changer. More protein especially in the morning, fiber, magnesium (figure out which one is best) and so much more: https://www.instagram.com/fastingmd?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Grace Ferris – you are the absolute best!!! The “research weightlifting” was sheer perfection
After I had my 2nd child at 36 years old, I had several perimenopausal symptoms for 3 years and my doctor said I was too young and laughed it off. Well, my last period I had was at 40 years old. When I moved to Seattle my new doctor confirmed what I already knew. I was post menopausal!
All. of. this. I am turning 45 this year and can recommend a few books that have been super helpful for me: The Menopause Manifesto, Unlock Your Menopause Type, and The Menopause Brain, all of which present current research around lifestyle factors and treatment, and helped me navigate conversations with my doctor. I finally started HRT this spring and it has been a gamechanger! I’m sleeping better, my energy levels are back to normal, and my baseline anxiety is way down. My therapist told me that a lot of women at this stage get put on anti-depressants when HRT might be more appropriate, but our generation has to overcome all of the previous misinformation around it. I also had the sweetest young pharmacist handed me my prescription and told me he was so happy for me – that he saw his mom suffer through unnecessarily and was sure that I was going to feel a lot better. All to say, I’m so glad our generation is talking about it!
I love the comment from your pharmacist! Pharmacists can be unsung heroes in some many ways.
So true Sara! :) It was sweet and also very reassuring.
Huberman Lab podcast episode 179 (June 3, 2024) has good information: Dr. Mary Claire Haver: How to Navigate Menopause & Perimenopause for Maximum Health & Vitality.
Yes! Listened to this and I concur, @michele I follow Dr. Haver on Instagram; she is a great source of information.
Not there yet but there is a book called Hormonal Intelligence (almost like a textbook) and it’s 100% about women’s heath in all the stages. I find it very helpful but mostly it was just good to say “ahhh that’s what that is” about so many things.
Feeling seen!
Almost 58 here, and still having the occasional light period. There are quite a few good podcasts taking a more functional/integrated approach to hormones which I quite like and learn from–Everyday Wellness with Cynthia Thurlow, Evolving Wellness with Sarah Kleiner, The Hormone Solution with Karen Martel, and if you can find Elizabeth Bright on youtube, she has a fascinating expertise on thyroid as it relates to female aging. What’s worked for me is being almost zero carb and minding thyroid function. I also don’t drink, and stopped oral contraceptives about 5 years ago (tricky transition, but better off for it).
LOLing so hard. Also putting out the recommendation for Menopause Manifesto by Jen Gutner; my early 40s friends and I are inhaling it right now. Recommended to me by my doctor who listened on audio and said it was about time there was actually facts and science that women could reference wrt menopause.
More of this!
a card I sell in my store: https://moodjanesville.com/products/its-like-puberty-menopause-card
Yes Becka! I feel all of these things!
hahaha! I’m now feeling super cheated about there being no cute menopause movies. Maybe Inside Out 4? (Pixar! Listen up!!)
The sweating!!
The fucking sweatinggggggg oh my goodness. I was not prepared.
hmmm…. I think I’m playing the game :)
me too! as of a couple weeks ago!
I am feeling this so hard right now. I’m 44, about to turn 45 in September, and it’s amazing the lack of research and information on menopause in Western medicine. I just saw my gynecologist earlier this week, and was telling her about my night sweats, stiff joints. She shrugged when I asked her if this was it, am I going through perimenopause? Why such a question mark around all of this?(Rhetorical question because I know there has been very little to no funding for women’s health research.)
I decided to see an acupuncturist for help and she asked so many more questions and was way more knowledgeable about the symptoms. So, if you’re open to it and have the means, highly recommend looking to Eastern medicine as well, which is way more proactive.
47 year old pediatrician here, so I know lots of puberty and minimal about perimenopause. But I adored Jen Gunter’s Menopause Manifesto. Mary Claire Haver’s Menopause book is helpful too, but not as much fun to read as Gunter’s
I’m 44 and sometime around 42, I think my perimenopause symptoms came roaring at me. I get SO HOT at night. So, so hot. Even in the winter, when it’s like -10 out, I want to sleep w/ the window slightly ajar. I normally run cold. Not anymore.
I asked my primary care physician about it last year, she also kind of shrugged and had nothing for me.
Now I’m intrigued by what you wrote.
Same! My gynecologist just keeps saying, well things change as you get older, but the symptoms are so all over the place I am having a hard time deciphering what is perimenopause and what is something more serious. I have read what few recent books I could find (written by female doctors) and basically estrogen interacts with nearly every system in the body!!
Thanks for the rec to seek alternative practitioners. The lack of research is so incredibly frustrating!
If you need to be mad about the lack of research and also need to have a good laugh, check out the song “Female Body” by Farideh: https://www.instagram.com/p/C71z9v0JoGA/
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