could it be perimenopause?

Tart Cherry Jam · Dec 20, 2022, 04:59 AM

I am 52 and I would not know if I am perimenopausal because I wear Mirena and do not have periods, just very occasional and very mild spotting. Nothing has changed in the spotting pattern for me. I do not have symptoms of perimenopause but the fact is that I am 52. My late mother was late, though, and her menopause was forced to reduce her risk of breast cancer complications. Also if that matters, I was a very late bloomer with menarche at almost 16.

I recently started experiencing rapid cycling which is out of character for me and the medications that worked very reliably in the past stopped working.

Also, I started having insomnia of the kind that is not associated with a mood episode, but just by itself. And Zyprexa does not cause sleep when I have it. Before, no matter what, even stopping mania, Zyprexa would make me sleep.

I am wondering if this might be a sign of perimenopause, and especially the insomnia part, insomnia without mood symptoms.

Thoughts, esperiences?

Moose72 · Dec 20, 2022, 06:35 PM

I am 50 and in perimenopause according to blood work. I had the mirena and didn't have periods for years. When I finally had it removed I had a very heavy period- filling a pad once an hour. I almost had to go to the ER. But no periods since because my ob/gyn put me on progesterone pills to lighten my periods but I haven't had even spotting since that heavy period- back in March. I'm not having hot flashes yet.

Nammu · Dec 20, 2022, 06:51 PM

If you’re on a bc I’d suggest bloodwork to find out. It takes the guesswork out of the equation.

Tart Cherry Jam · Dec 20, 2022, 11:02 PM

I will see the gynecologist next in January and discuss bloodwork with her.

*Beth* · Dec 22, 2022, 04:29 PM

The only experience I can contribute is that when I was close to my (winter) 48th birthday I began experiencing the severe depression/anxiety that has stuck with me (and worsened) every year since. Prior to that I loved that time of the year. Exactly at that time the SSRI's, which had always been miracle meds for me, stopped working. Just bang - nothing.

Doctors were useless. I was told no, that hormone blood levels were not reliable (this was in 2011, so I don't know what was up).

I strongly suspect that perimenopause was responsible for the severe mood issue I suddenly began experiencing. (I actually went through menopause at age 54.)

(btw, I have never used hormonal/chemical contraception.)

Soupe du jour · 08:54 PM

I think hormonal stuff can be complex and with psych and other meds and mental health stuff in the mix, even more so. Do discuss the issue with your gynecologist in January.

I'm experiencing perimenopause and am not quite yet 52. My periods are all kind of screwed up, but ovarian cysts and/or stress may be factors in my situation. I do have both. Sometimes I miss periods and then sometimes I get super long ones that go as long as two or three weeks. I do sleep quite well. I also take sedating antipsychotics (600 mg Seroquel total - 400 mg ER + 200 mg IR). IR helps better than ER to knock me out. ER obviously lasts longer than IR. I needed the IR added to substitute part of the ER because I was having some trouble falling asleep on all ER, but I attributed it to bipolar stuff (that WAVE theory)...and stress. Unlike you, I don't take hormonal birth control. I tend to have hot flashes/sweating a lot, but often wonder if anxiety plays a part. If I sweat a lot in a crowd of people (long lines/queues), anxiety is at least contributing or exacerbating issues.

Tart Cherry Jam · Dec 22, 2022, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soupe du jour

I think hormonal stuff can be complex and with psych and other meds and mental health stuff in the mix, even more so. Do discuss the issue with your gynecologist in January.

I'm experiencing perimenopause and am not quite yet 52. My periods are all kind of screwed up, but ovarian cysts and/or stress may be factors in my situation. I do have both. Sometimes I miss periods and then sometimes I get super long ones that go as long as two or three weeks. I do sleep quite well. I also take sedating antipsychotics (600 mg Seroquel total - 400 mg ER + 200 mg IR). IR helps better than ER to knock me out. ER obviously lasts longer than IR. I needed the IR added to substitute part of the ER because I was having some trouble falling asleep on all ER, but I attributed it to bipolar stuff (that WAVE theory)...and stress. Unlike you, I don't take hormonal birth control. I tend to have hot flashes/sweating a lot, but often wonder if anxiety plays a part. If I sweat a lot in a crowd of people (long lines/queues), anxiety is at least contributing or exacerbating issues.

Back when I took Seroquel, it was the same: IR would knock me out the way ER would not. That instant and overwhelming sleepiness on IR... I remember that.

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could it be perimenopause?

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