I have decided since I was totally clueless what was going on with me and really had not talked with many people about perimenopause that I would share with you all my experience. Over the past few years my periods have been worse but I thought it was because of my fibroids and cysts. I would tell myself I just have a lot of stress in my life, with weight gain and not exercising that this is why I am acting and feeling like I am.
Several weeks ago a life event took place in my life that made me look at several areas of my life. (Which I am still digging deep into my life and really looking at things) Anyways, I realized after talking with my gynecologist that I was going through perimenopause. We talked about it before but I ignored it and didn’t want to face the fact I was getting older and it was time for this part of my life. Pride got in the way and I didn’t want to take her suggestions of taking medication.
My doctor went over symptoms of perimenopause and asked if I was going through any of them. I met over half of them. I had filled the prescription last November and would not take it at the time so with the guidance of my doctor I decided that I needed to start taking my prescription. She subscribed 25mg of Zoloft. I am here to tell you after three weeks I feel like a new woman and I am not going through all the symptoms I was prior to the medication. She advised me that I could take it for a year and then we look at my hormones at that time and decide what is best from there. So if any of you are experiencing any of the symptoms below don’t be like me and ignore it. Get with your gynecologist and decide what is best for you. It’s not only hard on you but all the relationships around you.
Since then I have been taking the medication, exercising and eating healthy it is the difference between night and day. I went through my week of “PMS” and usually I would act out in rage, irritable, anxiety and so much more but this past week nothing like the months prior and my cycle is not as painful.
I just wanted to share my experience with you all because I made the mistake of ignoring it and it has affected my life and my family. I prayed and prayed about all of this and decided to make the changes so I could treat the symptoms of perimenopause and live a healthier lifestyle.
Due to the commonality of symptoms, many women confuse perimenopause with PMS and vice versa. Both PMS and perimenopause are the result of fluctuating progesterone levels. However, PMS symptoms are cyclical and directly correlate with a woman’s menstrual cycle. They also disappear once a woman gets her period. Not so with perimenopause.
Perimenopause symptoms typically continue throughout a woman’s monthly cycle and do not disappear once she gets her period. They are also much more erratic, unpredictable and intense. So much so that many women feel they are losing control or as if they are going crazy.
You are not going Crazy!
While the intensity, unpredictability and erratic nature of perimenopause symptoms is certainly disconcerting, the good news is you are not going crazy. Simply addressing the hormone imbalance, in addition to understanding the role of nutritional needs and the importance of reducing stress in your life, you will not only get relief from perimenopause symptoms, but you will bring a calming harmony and wellness back into your life!
Since I figured out all of this and started talking with several women that are my age and older have all told me that they went through the same things and a lot of them had to take medication for several years until menopause was over. Just know you are not alone…I thought I was and I let pride get in the way of talking to other women.
Perimenopause symptoms vary among women not only in intensity, but in the types of symptoms as well. While each woman’s experience is different and unique to her, there are many symptoms that are relatively common, such as:
- Irritability
- Rage
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Feeling revved
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Mood swings
- Reduced self-esteem
- Hot flashes & night sweats
- Insomnia
- Fatigue
- Crying easily
- Shorter cycles, closer together
- Heavy bleeding with blood clots
As I sit here and reflect our Bible study (Esther~Beth Moore) today it has given me such a different perspective on things. When we go through a life event (whatever that might be for you) we need to give it to God and wait upon the Lord. If we wait upon the event or person it will make you weak and you will be about that event or person. When you wait upon the Lord your strength is renewed.
Misses Amiss 