Peri-menopause and Anxiety

Mary Wargo · Post by **Mary Wargo** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 6:00 am

LMM - I'm in my 50's and have completed the roller coaster ride of hormones. I was 38 when some of this stuff started with really bad PMS days. I was told the perimenopause can start 10 years before actual menopause and now that I look back on it I can see that this was probably happening to me at the time. I balanced out my PMS with natural progesterone compounded by my pharmacist for two weeks every month and it worked very well. I'm not up on what Mirena is, as I don't need any of this anymore. Yay! Check out the other responses here from other people- There have been a lot of good suggestions and thoughts.

Cherl · Post by **Cherl** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 8:39 am

Interesting thread here. I am convinced my anxiety is hormonal. Like I said before, it hit me at 39, I agree some life stuff brought it out too, but the hormonal stuff was just too hard to ignore.

To all...yes the off balance, lightheaded, feeling like you are walking on a waterbed feeling is alarming. I've had it on and off now for 2 years. ENT - nothing- maybe watch my salt intake around period. Multiple rounds of bloodwork every 6 months - all normal. After much research - its my hormones fluctuating up and down - week by week, day by day, minute by minute.

Michigan Mom - I am in Michigan also - very close to the clinic you mentioned. I am interested in the natural route, although my husband and I do not intend to have children and the 'pill" is the easiest thing right now. But I do know that I don't want to be on it for very much longer.

Thanks to everyone for sharing, seems like we are in the same "boat", sorry for the pun. Check out power-surge.com, MANY women there, with the same symptoms.
With evidence like that, it helps calm the anxiety when you realize:
A. Your not nuts
B. There are MANY women out there with the same thing!!!!!!

Take care everyone.
I also take a multivitamin + a calcium/magnesium also helps keep me calm!!!!

Debbie harris · Post by **Debbie harris** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 10:38 am

Hi Emerald514: I have been going through perimenoause for about 1-2 years and am now going through menopause. Yes!!! menopause can give you all sorts of new anxieties, which unfortunately I found out and it's not fun. I was worse 2 years ago but I went to a iridologist/herbalist and have been on herbs for just about 3 years now and I don't know what I would have done without them or her.
If you are having symptoms that you are wondering if they are normal email me back and we'll share.
Love & Stay Well Debbie Harris

LMM · Post by **LMM** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 12:19 pm

Cherl,
wow, the patterns are really striking! Thanks.
But i am wondering who finally told you that teh "boat" feelings etc.. were hormonal fluctuations? The same symptoms have been said to apply to chronic anxiety as well. I am struggling now bc i am almost through the program and still feeling these symptoms, so if i knew that they were hormonal i would feel better, which you seem to be saying. any more info would be appreciated.

Cherl · Post by **Cherl** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 7:04 am

I never had a doctor actually confirm the off-balance feeling as hormonal. But, like I said I have been to the ENT, cardiologist and regular doctor (many times) and always the same - all okay. All doc's want to pass off to the inner ear thing. I think mine is a combination of hormones and anxiety. Just an internal guess on my part. It usually happens 7-11 days before my period, this is also the time (including my off week from the b/c pill) when I am at my most emotional (cry for no reason, etc.) So knowing that it comes and goes like that is what clued me into hormones. Plus I just don't feel like myself for those couple weeks. Everything I have read points to perimenopause which not alot of doctors are up on quite frankly. They all want to give me a prescription for xanax. I just don't want to go that route, so I find other ways to combat it. Like the program here, EXERCISE (can't stress that one enough), eating right, limited coffee and vitamins.
It is okay to ask your OB/GYN about peri, although mine said the test wouldn't be accurate because I am on the pill. Hope this helps some!!

LMM · Post by **LMM** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 8:00 am

Cherl,
thanks so much!

Cherl · Post by **Cherl** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 8:36 am

Anytime LMM. We are all here for each other. Follow some of the other posts from Michigan Mom, sounded like her doctor confirmed the off balance were hormonal feelings. I still get the anxiety about my health, from the off balance feeling. But it is not as strong, I stopped applying a secondary fear to it. Meaning I just feel it and let it float on by.....don't let the mind wander. Claire Weekes books are pretty good as helping also.

nobledancer · Post by **nobledancer** » Fri Aug 08, 2008 5:47 am

These posts have given me a fresh perspective and a whole new appreciation for what our mothers and grandmothers must have endured in silence.

EileenV · Post by **EileenV** » Fri Aug 08, 2008 6:17 am

Yes! Nobledancer is right! I can't imagine going through my latter years without the help I have found here and with herbal therapy and hormone therapy, etc. It really makes me appreciate my mother, grandmother, and other women in my family so much more. Thank you Nobledancer for posting this.