[Shangrala]

I had my pap smear, full blood works (for hormone check), and a full physical yesterday.
It's been over 20 years since my last pap...(lol...almost sounds like I'm in confession at my catholic church).

The changes I'm going through, (or thought I'm going through), seemed to all point to menopause. So, obviously it was time well overdue to have the full works done with hopes of finding the culprit to my issues.

Results to the physical is 100% healthy. Blood counts are normal. Blood pressure healthy.
My doc asks me if I'm taking any kind of birth control. I'm like...."Huh?".
She tells me that I can STILL become pregnant....

After all was said and done...going over all the lab results, she tells me that I should be taking some form of birth control because I haven't even begun pre-menopause yet.

She shakes my hand as she's telling me that I am now her most recent case study because I'm the oldest patient she's ever had who not only hasn't begun the pre-menopause phase, but who can also become pregnant. (I'll be 52 in August).

I told her that I don't want to be a lab rat/case study. That all I want is to find out why I'm going through all these up/down, loss of memory, disruptive sleep, loss of weight, no sex drive, depression...etc. (Here, I thought those were case signs of pre-menopause). She tells me all is good. All checked out.

For some reason, (even though the lab results all came back normal), I don't feel very secure with the results.....it's as though, maybe something has been overlooked.
(This doc yesterday only backed up what the first doc told me..about my fertility..so that wasn't a misread, or anything). What I'm concerned about, though, is what is causing all these symptoms I'm having. She said that I might be suffering from slight depression so she prescribes me something ....a "mild' antidepressant...says that should help with all those symptoms...and advises to quit smoking, of course, which I already knew.
(The results for the pap won't be in for another couple weeks. Keeping fingers crossed those are normal...since it's been so long since last exam...hard to say what's manifested in there...lmao).

Shangrala

[lynn P.]

Shangrala, Shangrala, SHANGRALA...........(done with a pointing finger). Twenty years since your last Pap test OMG - you need to be having then regularly. Cancer of the cervix is very curable but if left untreated, can be fatal. So make sure you keep it regular from now on.

Yes it's very surprising you don't have peri- menopause or even menopause - you're lucky. But your doc is right -if you're still having a period then yes there's the possibility of pregnancy - yikes...imagine that . I'm glad you're going to try a low dose anti depressant - I hope it helps you. Start taking 1,000 mg of vitamin D - many people are difficient. Please promise you will get regular pap smears from now on - I hope the test results give good news. Good luck and I hope you feel better

[(JD)]

... do wish to recommend herbal remedies for what sounds like to me perimenopausal symptoms (my apologies to your MD; I am not a medical doctor.)

Black cohosh, and EPO (evening primrose oil) are the two main ones, imo. There's no harm in seeing if they help with those issues you're having.

[Shangrala]

Originally Posted by lynn P.

Shangrala, Shangrala, SHANGRALA...........(done with a pointing finger). Twenty years since your last Pap test OMG - you need to be having then regularly. Cancer of the cervix is very curable but if left untreated, can be fatal. So make sure you keep it regular from now on.

Yes it's very surprising you don't have peri- menopause or even menopause - you're lucky. But your doc is right -if you're still having a period then yes there's the possibility of pregnancy - yikes...imagine that . I'm glad you're going to try a low dose anti depressant - I hope it helps you. Start taking 1,000 mg of vitamin D - many people are difficient. Please promise you will get regular pap smears from now on - I hope the test results give good news. Good luck and I hope you feel better

lol..yeah..guilty at that. ...."Bad Shang"..lmao.
I used to have paps every year, but for some reason....missed one, then another..and so on. Not anymore, though. Back on track with that. What's odd with that, too, is...I have absolutely no problem with paps, or any kind of physicals...(other than my phobia of needles).

I have to question, though....AM I really lucky for not having menopause at my present age? I mean....granted, its unusual, and with that, I'd think that alone would create other issues...(such as needed birth control? I stopped using birth control longer than I can even remember). And with my sex drive absent....isn't THAT a form of birth control in its own right?....lmao...(I'd like to think so....though, that don't make hub anymore pleasant to be around...roflmao).

Thanks Lynn...have a super day!....

Shangrala

[lynn P.]

Good point JD. There's a product here in Canada(don't know if it's available in the U.S.) called Estrosense by Lorna Vanderhagen. I took it for several years and it was great for balancing the hormones even for PMS. She also makes a line of other products including menopause. Perimenopause does happen many years before menopause while the woman still has her period. Many MD's don't pay attention to this stage.

[Shangrala]

Originally Posted by (JD)

... do wish to recommend herbal remedies for what sounds like to me perimenopausal symptoms (my apologies to your MD; I am not a medical doctor.)

Black cohosh, and EPO (evening primrose oil) are the two main ones, imo. There's no harm in seeing if they help with those issues you're having.

Thanks, JD, for your suggestions.
May I ask, these herbals....they're used to improve the symptoms I'm having, then?
And, no worries ...not necessary to apologize to my doc...I won't tell her if you don't...lmao.

Thanks again~

Shangrala

[Shangrala]

OOOOhhhh...Another question...

Because of the fact that my doc prescribed me a "mild" antidepressant to (apparently) attend to the symptoms, shouldn't I try those first, and see if they help? Or, combine them with the herbals....wouldn't that then sorta create confusion to what is really helping me?

Just wondering.....
Thankies...

Shangrala

[lynn P.]

You're right Shangrala -it's best to wait since this is your 1st time on a anti depressant. Wait and see how you feel. It's good to take a good multi vitamin with dinner though. I hope this med helps you.