Perimenopause - Not Quite Menopause

Published by Laurie on Tagged Family, Life, Aging, Midlife, Health

I rarely go to the doctor.  I know, I really should have regular medical checkups but I have always been reactive rather than proactive when it comes to my own health.  I’m very responsible about my children’s healthcare, but when it comes to my own, I always find an excuse to put it off.  Thankfully, I think I’m pretty healthy for the most part.  But then again, that is my own armchair diagnosis and has not been confirmed by a certified medical practitioner, until now.

PMS is a walk in the park compared to this

Like I said, I’m rather reactive about my health and when I don’t feel right, I will break down and go to a physician.  Recently, I have noticed that my menstrual cycle is no longer a cycle but more like a crapshoot.  I have become accustomed to a purse full of feminine hygiene products as I never know when I will be in need of them.  I no longer consider my period regular in any way.   Not only is this inconvenient, but even more disturbing was that the usual mental anguish that accompanies my period was becoming more severe and more frequent. I was losing it once, twice, sometimes 3 times in a month.  That’s where I had to draw the line.  I had to see a doctor. I can’t be out of my mind for more than half the month every single month.  That would make me…crazy, literally. 

I’m not talking about mood swings.  The term mood swings suggest that your happy then you swing to blue, or swing to irritated.  All of those adjectives pale in comparison to the actual feelings.  I wasn’t getting teary eyed during the Lifetime movie, I was sobbing uncontrollably, and I wasn’t just irritated with my husband for leaving the peanut butter out on the counter, I felt like spitting on him. I would wake up in the morning, ready to spew venom.  The sight of everyone made me sick.  And heaven forbid anyone comment on my foul mood.  If I so much as heard my children warn each other..whispering, “Lay low, Mom’s about to flip out”  I’d be on their case like white on rice.

“And YOU! (cowering daughter) I’m sick to death of the clothes on your floor, you’re not seeing the light of day until you clean that room!” ….and what are YOU smiling at?! (snickering son)  If I see one more can of soda in this living room, I’m pouring it on your bed!, I’m sick of this!” 

This tirade would be followed by slamming of doors, and retreating to my room, shaking with fury, thinking “What hell is wrong with me,  I’m tired, exhausted, pissed off, and so bloated I can’t even get my wedding ring off these fat, bloated fingers…and why don’t we have any chocolate in this house!!”

I KNOW, it’s completely and totally irrational.  To top it all off, I realize that while I’m feeling that way that I am being totally irrational, which made me even more depressed or more angry with each episode. 

Could it be Menopause?

Now, I realize that over 40 all sorts of things start to change. I thought I was ready.  I heard about menopause and the hot flashes, the night sweats, the sleep disturbances, etcetera.  So when I went to the doctor, I was ready for the diagnosis of menopause.  Go ahead, give it to me.  (I was secretly excited at the prospect of ridding myself of periods for the rest of my life).  But alas, that is not the case. 

It seems I am in the middle of a phase known as Perimenopause.  It’s kind of like menopause with training wheels.  Basically you get to experience random jolts of menopausal symptoms, at random times anywhere from  2 to 8 YEARS before you actually get the reward of having your last period.  Isn’t that a crock?  It’s basically like the trailer for the coming attraction of Menopause.  That’s right, you get all of the action packed sequences of menopause while still experiencing the joys of the menstrual cycle.  It plays on a continuous loop – Coming soon to a theatre near you!  Only there’s still no definite release date.  You wait, and you wait, and you wait.  I have a sneaking suspicion that, just like a long awaited movie, the feature isn’t as good as you had hoped.  But I’ll hold off on my review until I actually enter menopause.  Who knows, after this purgatory of perimenopause has ended, I will have done my penance and get to skate through menopause symptom free.  Yeah, right.

Diet and Exercise - (it seems to help everything) 

So what can I do in the meantime, how can I re-join the ranks of the relatively sane?  According to my doctor, I can watch my diet, drink lots of water, exercise regularly and/or try low dose birth control pills to level out my hormones if the symptoms are interfering with my life.  (although, it seems most of the interference is affecting the lives of anyone within a 10 foot radius of me).  Well, I have never been a fan of taking medication of any kind, and I’m afraid to muck up my hormones more than they already are. That’s just me. So I went with the diet/exercise route.  I’ve been trying to watch my diet, exercise regularly, and I have to say, for me, exercise is the best remedy so far.  I start off in a lousy (aka evil) mood, but by the end of a 45 minute workout, I feel much, much better. (it’s pretty miraculous, like Satan to Saint in 45 minutes) I highly recommend it.  Oh yeah, screaming into a pillow, that works well also. 

See your doctor 

But seriously, if you have symptoms that are really affecting your life, go to the doctor.  Everyone woman is different, and your physician should be able to help you through this “wonderful journey”.  And for those of you who haven’t quite arrived yet, don’t be like me, try to be proactive, eat well, exercise, and see your doctor regularly.  You’ll be doing a great service for your family, your friends, and anyone who comes near you.  Believe me.

Here’s a good book that takes a look at the natural treatments for perimenopause The Hormone Survival Guide for Perimenopause: Balance Your Hormones Naturally 

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September 5th, 2007