Quote:
Originally Posted by PT52
Hi Rainwater - I went thru menopause prior to my diagnosis, so blamed all the symptoms on hormones. There is a phase called perimenopause that can last for years; the medical definition of menopause is when you've gone a full year without a period - which means you don't know if you're menopausal or perimenopausal until it's done!
Anyway, I had every possible symptom times 10, and my mood swings were monumental! I went on a hormone treatment specifically designed for perimenopause, then once I'd gone six months without a period, my gyno put me on the regular hormones. I know there are concerns about hormone therapy, but I know for sure it saved my life, particularly since my BP wasn't being treated. I was on them for 5 years..still get the occasional hot flash, but that's livable. Hope that helps! Oh yeah, I was also about 5 years early for what is considered the menopausal phase, so it's good to be prepared.  |
Thanks so much for this info ((((((PT))))) and thanks for asking the question Rainwater. I'm 46 and I've been reading up a lot about peri-menopause lately. I have not been feeling well physically for some time, and my mental health has also deterioriated, in particular my anxiety and stress levels are very high. I now believe that some of this could be hormonal.
I found a list of 35 typical symptoms of peri-menopause and menopause and I was surprised to find things like "nausea" and "muscle stiffness" on the list (I'm experiencing a lot of nausea and muscle stiffness). Also on the list was this: "feelings of doom and preoccupation with one's own death". That's me to a tee!! And I have a tons of other symptoms on the list too. The link to the list is here:
http://www.project-aware.org/Experience/symptoms.shtml
(Obviously the list isn't geared around Bi polar and menopause though.....)
Good luck to you ((((((Rainwater)))))