Peri and menopause stuff

side effects and reg changes kinda rly vary bc everyone's body reacts diff lmk if u need more info on dat stuff

Oh hey, when I was in my 20s, I used birth control pills because my periods were super painful (let's just say it felt like someone was squeeezing my insides). The BC did make things regular though, and it also made me feel pretty emotionless-like a robot without feelings. These days, I use BHRT which means I get my hormones from this special pharmacy that mixes them for me. It's pretty cool, but it's still adjusting to how everything feels now.

I'm a bit lost on how to spot perimenopause when I'm on BCPs nonstop. Does the pill totally mask all the signs?

Also, I feel kinda iffy about mentioning this to my doctor since there have been rues pushing people off BCPs for certain reasons and ages. I had some issues with that before because of my health stuff, so now I worry it might complicate getting them again. I really need these pills, and other meds are already tricky enough.

Gotcha. So yeah, it's like any other medication-your body just starts playing tricks on ya. For me, perimenopause hit hard in my 30s when I started nodding off at work. Total shock because I was always a Type A go-getter. Normal doses of birth control aren't gonna cut it anymore, and you might notice some personality shifts too. Last year, I had to make another adjustment 'cause my hormone levels took a nosedive-I felt like I was in the dumps and a blood test confirmed it. So yeah, keep your doc on their toes about checking those hormone levels. I've been lucky to fid an integrative female doc from Europe wiith loads of experience-it took me forever to track her down! By the way, ages ago you mentioned something about health in some chatroom, and when I finally read your bio recently, I thought-wow, you're amazing! Love how you're using your own scientific knowledge to handle everything.

Thanks! If my doc ever suggests cutting down on these meds, I'll definitely have a proper chat about it. I really like my current GP, but after switching so many times (some out of my control, some where I just couldn't make the drive), I don't have that cozy relationship anymore. Plus, what if this one moves and someone else takes over? No way I'm volunteering for that conversation until they bring it up.

I had a blast bouncing between specialists thanks to my BCP issues-the last visit was with a neurologist who raised an eyebrow like "Why are you even here?" Turns out we both thought the same thing: this whole referral process was nuts. The issue was actually some GPs not getting it right, so he sent off a letter that cleared everything up for me at the time. Back then, I had the stamina to handle all these referrals and fights to keeep my meds. Doing that now? Probably couldn't hack it.

kno wp u mean idk i rlly do b/c with topical stuff its like ur own thing yk? bc pills are regulated btu im jus doing blood tests n stuff sry i get it tho

I guess I might need the oral ones due to some other health concerns.

makes sense i tried the one that's like a tiny pill in ur thigh ngl hated it lowkey

ugh i hate skin inserts hae like hits me hard when i'm off birth control pills. my hematologist said it wasn't worth changing anything though. been on the same combo for over 20 yrs, tried diff brands and methods but nothing works better. only switch if there's a super good reason.

it's kinda funny tho bcs every specialist is like "carry on as usual" but some gp docs argue against it.

That's great, I guess. I'll keep an eye out for any HAE updates too. I think that's a good idea. I

I apologize for not being able to assist, but I hope you receive helpful advice from others.

Yay, so happy to see this thread! A big thank you to everyone who helped-😁 I'm going through a really tough time with perimenopause. It's way worse than I ever expected, and on top of that, I've always struggled with anxiety and depression, but nothing like what I'm dealing with now. Plus, I have hypothyroidism, which means I can't try some alternative remedies because they don't mix well with my condition.

The anxiety is at a point where it's basically taking over my life. Some days, getting out of bed feels impossible 😖

I've tried all sorts of stuff to help...
Valarian drops-helps a little bit for the early morning anxiety
Progesterone cream-same as the valarian drops
Bach Flower Rescue remedy-I keep this in my pocket like a safty blanket when I have to go out
Magnesium oil spray-good for restless leg syndrome at night
Epsom Salt/Dead Sea salt baths-not sure how much it actulaly helps, but mentally it feels soothing
Vitamin B complex and D-don't really know if they're doing anything
Organic Soy products-I'm not seeing any difference with these either
Essential oils-same here

I just started trying Holy Basil Tea or Tulsi tea... supposed to help with stress as it''s an adaptogen that supposedly helps my adrenals handle things better

Oh man, same here! The symptoms are such a blast! What have you been up to for relief?

Doing BHRT like I said before. My symptoms were so bad I couldn't find anything else. Tried natural sleeping pills for insomnia, but got nightmares instead. Added Estradiol for my vagina since it was getting painful from lost soft cells. Wish I did that sooner. Just try one thing at a time and keep track of results. Took me forever to figure out anxiety was from peri, so you're ahead there. Meditation and exercise are crucial now. Have an integrative doctor who's helped a lot with women's health.

Hi there!

Do you think HRT has helped with your anxiety at all?

I went to see a doctor in April of last year, but she said she wouldn't even look at HRT until I had'nt had a period for a full year. I'm still getting them every two or three months, so it's been frustrating. I'm thinking about seeing another doc, but I'm not sure if HRT would be right for me since I'm hypothyroid.

What's really annoying is that most doctors seem clueess about perimenopause stuff. The one last year was like, "Why don't you go to a nice garden center and relax?" Seriously though?

It definitely helped me understand when adjustments were needed based on my anxiety and depression levels. I began experiencing symptoms in my thirties, well before menopause started, which is now in my forties. No doctor back then took my concerns seriously. It's important to look for integrative doctors who can offer a more holistic approach.

thanks, that's kinda hopeful. might hit up the docs and try again

im just sayin' imo its kinda pointless tbh.:/

sure thing irl but ngl im kinda over this convo brb gotta go充电

Absolutely! It's such a common issue so many of us face.

Fair enough! If you've never been there, no pressure to chime in.

Hey there, glad to hear you're onboard with the open-door policy at 7 Cups. Thanks for getting that!

I apologize for my insensitivity and lack of respect in my previous comment.

I was just wondering the same thing-how do we know Jill hasn't had to deal with this before? (Maybe she's been through it all and we don't even realize)

Easter greetings. Found this thread on 7 cups, dealing with menopause for two months now. Anxiety is through the roof. Getting old freaks me out. Wish I could turn back time with three blinks. Lol.

Yeah, honestly, anxiety gets me too. I hope you find some relief though!

yeah totally right with anxiety being part of mneopause.i guess if u already had issues, it's even worse. i'm handling it by accepting and tellling pepole when i'm super anxious or shaky, it's all bc of menopause. just be yourself. but the brain fog and weird thoughts freak me out so bad. like a sudden feeling of losing myself. i try to breathe, cry it out,write in my journal... tell myself it'll paass. i'm scared about the next episode. but i'm strong and can do this. just really sad about aging. happy easter everyone

Hormones mess with your mind. Some days I forget names and words. Getting old sucks but alone time helps. Got to take care of yourself. At least I see things clearer now. Try medditation, yoga, or walks in the park. Lots of women go through this and don't even knwo it. Good you're aware.

thx 4 the insights fr istg appreciate it

You know, dealing with anxiety symptoms during menopause is really getting me down. It's like I've been working my whole life on managing panic attacks, and suddenly there's this extra hurdle from menopause. Ugh, it feels like the universe decided to throw a curveball right when you least expect it. Sometimes life just isn't fair, but hey, at least we can laugh about it, right? Lol.

Totally get that. When I was younger, I used to think being a guy would be so much simpler-no monthly visitors, no menopause, and generally more doors open for them in the workplace and financially too. It took me a while to learn to love my lady bits.

Sorry I couldn't be the kind of friend you were looking for. You leaving just like that-no explanation or anything-really hit me hadr. For a while, I stopped even trying to make friends hre because of what happened with us. But now I'm talking to someone about all this stuff, honestly feeling better already. Hope everything is amazing for you and you're living your best life. Take care, and yeah, it's probably pointless since you won't see this, but I neded to write it out. We used to have some good conversations, that's for sure.

Sorry to hear about your friend. They really brightened up the place with their chats. Definitely gonna miss them.

i got thyroid probs and went through the worst dep in 25yrs cuz of it. meds fixed me tho & i'm functioning again. minor mood swings but still beter than beore. imma say get bloodwork first, my doc says some ppl r sens to levothyroxine brand. tbh idk if dental xrays did it or not lol but doc said it's possible though unlikely.

yo my thyroid's chill no worries omg sorry to hear yours is being sketch tbh i feel u with the anxiety and panic attacks rn it's rough af g imo women got it so haard lmao hope ur day is lit chickadee

I think I went through about five years where I was really irritable, and it led to me getting banned from a few places for good. It felt so embarrassing...

Happy Easter, everyone! Found this thread on 7 Cups, and honestly, it feels like a lifesaver for me. Just hit the two-month mark of menopause and, let me tell you, anxiety is through the roof right now. Aging has never been my thing, to be honest-it freaks me out a bit. If I could blink three times and magically go back to my early 20's, I would! Lol

hey idk abt u but menopause totally gives me anxiety. def look into stuff 2 help with it tho cuz it's rlly tough imho

Thank you for the suggestion. In addition to anxiety, do you also experience mood swings?

I think mood swings and sweating during both day and night are really tough. Plus, if the medicine costs $900 for three months and your insurance doesn't help cover it, maybe you just hvae to deal with everything on your own. It's not fair, but sometimes there isn't much of a choice.

I hope things get better for you and the discomfort goes away soon. I'm curious if others have found ways to cope with similar issues.

Honestly, I don't really care anyway. My life feels like it's on repeat-nothing much going on. Maybe reach out to people who actually have something to look forward to or tlk about.

I am curious about your medication regimen as well. For three months, my hormone prescriptions from a compounding pharmacist range between 200 and 300 dollars. There is a slight discount if you purchase a six-month supply. Since insurance does not cover mine, I have to adjust other expenses to afford them, as I cannot function without the hormones. It is a difficult decision, but I work with an integrative doctor who conducts blood tests every couple of months to monitor my hormone levels.

used 2 b so bad but i got ht & it helped soo much. before tht i was super angry abt stupid stuff, not my usual self at all.

Yeah, totally agree. Anger's like your body saying, "Hey, pay attention-something ain't right over here!"

idk what u mean tho?

Phew, no more monthly craziness-that's a relief! I'm way calmer these days without those itense cramps holding me back. Plus, being free of that hassle is amazing. It's funny though, my libido took a nosedive too-I used to be all about the touchy-feely stuff. But hey, it comes with age and contentment as a single gal. Just wondering if it's normal for everything to shiift so much?

I totally get where you're coming from, those cramps can really suck and ruin your whole day sometimes, honestly. From what I've heard, a lot of women start experiencing a lower sex drive around their late 40s or early 50s-though stress can make it happen earlier too. When it comes to things liek that, i mean, it's pretty normal if you just don't feel it and aren't into having much, especially if you're snigle.

Hormones are messed up. Hate 'em but need 'em.

I've been dealing with menopause for a while now, you know? It's been rough trying to keep my weight in check because it's always been an issue. I've managed some success with diets and exercise over the years, but lately, everything fels stuck. So, I decided to do these home tests for hormone imbalances-couldn't hurt to see what was up. Got an appointment with my doctor on the 19th, fingers crossed!

I'm sorry to hear you're having such a tough time with your hormones. They really do affect everything and make it hard to deal with stuff sometimes. I think what helped me during menopause was cutting back on sugar-just reducing it even a little bit made a difference. Also, eating a diet specifically for menopause was beneficial. Learning mindfulness and doing meditations really helped me manage stress and view things more calmly. There are some great books out there abt handling menopause or hormone issues; one that I found really helpful is "Teh New Natural Alternatives to HRT" by Marilyn Gleville.

I hope your appointment with the doctor goes well and you find something that helps. In the meantime, please know we're here for you-I send hugs.

thanks a lot! i hope the pcp can help with whatever the lab results showed,i guess.

Fingers crossed for good luck! - you know how it is, hoping for the best.

Menopause can be challenging, but I found relief by reducing my sugar intake and cutting back on carbohydrates. Peace is essential for the soul during this time. Consider going barefoot to connect with nature. Take deep breaths and appreciate your blessings. I am sending you positive thoughts as you navigate through this period. Remember, you are not alone.

Wow, thanks a ton! Couldn't have asked for more.