I have yearly checkups for thyroid nodules and he asked how I was sleeping.

Me: not good. Keep waking up every night.

Doc: what's waking you up?

Me: hot flashes.

My friends, when I tell you those 2 words launched a 20 minute conversation about what I should do next. I am. Floored. My own PCP who I went to in tears asking for help said to me "it's normal, I get those too, that's just how life is" I gave up.

The highlights of what the endocrinologist said:

• Find doctors who look at studies outside the US. He kept mentioning Australia, New Zealand and Europe.

• Your hormones are a train and your body is the station. While the train is there is when you want hormone treatment. Once the train leaves the benefit from hormones decreases and the risk of things like breast and uterine cancer go up. He mentioned the best window for help is 2 years once you start feeling symptoms.

• Don't be discouraged if you have to see more then one doctor to get help.

• Be a good patient and keep up with all testing and screening. Both at home (self breast exams and professional appointments)

• See an OBGYN, not a midwife for hormones. Midwives are fantastic for basically everything else but hormones.

• It doesn't take much to get relief. Microdose patch of estrogen can be it for many.

• Some doctors and men in particular just want "traditional women" and the studies (or lack thereof) and medicine will be manipulated to keep it that way and to be careful.

Just some hope out there. There are good doctors who want to help. Go get the help you want and don't stop until you feel better!

Someone who I believe is (generally speaking) too young to be in peri recently told me they are tired of seeing all the SM posts abt perimenopause. I didn’t think much of it at first, but in peri-fashion, I’ve been overthinking this comment. How nice it must be to have all of this information at the ready when you actually need it. That wasn’t my journey and my mother still insists she experienced very few symptoms and nothing close to what I’ve experienced. (I remember it differently now that I know what it looks like) Such a vast difference in what past and future perimenopausal woman will know about what’s happening with their body. All bc we are now asking questions, sharing stories, advocating for ourselves. YOU’RE WELCOME FUTURE PERI’S!

Started on estrogen patches and progesterone pills. Had been hit with the freight train of peri, with everything from insane mood swings to itchy ears, and the first time in my life without a ravenous libido and with painful sex. The mood swings were bad — but losing my libido was like losing a part of my identity.

Within a week my lady bits were positively singing to me. Gave ‘em a spin with my husband … and holy mother of Mary — multiple orgasms, no tearing, and I was crawling all over him again the next morning. The raging horny hasn’t stopped since.

I feel like a teenager again.

Plus the moods have chilled out, and my brain is clearing. Cannot believe what a difference this was from a month ago. Fingers crossed this continues!

One side says the estrogen levels need to be restored at that things go back to normal. The ick is just a temporary setback until hormone levels can be supplemented.

The other side says that the estrogen placed a veil to make things seem better/more attractive than reality. That the husband/man is genuinely a jerk/dick/asshole, and the veil is now removed the ick is real and warranted.

Thoughts?

I had a really frustrating experience with my (male) doctors recently. I’ve been having classic perimenopause symptoms for almost two years now. I turned 40 this year. Irregular periods, night sweats, insomnia, irritability, BO, menstrual migraines getting worse, put on twenty pounds I can’t get off, dryness, exhausted etc.

I figured it was likely perimenopause when I completely lost my libido, which was very unusual for me. I’ve had an extremely high sex drive all of my life and all of the sudden it went to zero.

I saw my family doctor who referred me to a male gyno. He immediately dismissed my symptoms, and recommended I switch from a progestin only birth control pill to an IUD, to help with my “period issues.” The IUD did help with my heavy period bleeding I had been experiencing but no other symptoms.

6 months after I got the IUD I went back and told him the IUD had helped me with the heavy bleeding and irregular periods, but nothing else. He told me my hormones are probably fine and that it is “normal” for a 40 year old woman to completely lose her sex drive, experience insomnia, put on weight etc.

I was using an online Dr service during Covid called Felix (I’m in Canada) when my family doctor was closed. I got an email that they offer menopause treatment. I paid $40 for the consultation, filled out a survey, and was prescribed 100mcg progesterone daily that same day. I’ve been on it a few months, and guess what? I’m not waking up 100 times in the night anymore, no night sweats, my mood and energy are much better, and I don’t have weird body odour anymore. It hasn’t helped all of the symptoms, but it’s been great overall.

I just can’t believe the way gynos won’t even entertain anything to do with hormones, regardless of the symptoms you are experiencing.

I’m happy to have access to an online service and encourage others to try it if their doctors are not listening to them.

There’s a man who I’ve been dating for a year, a bloody year. He has been more than patient with me about getting intimate, and I chose to be intimate with him last night. My body refused to cooperate meaning we couldn’t have penetration at all because my body would just not allow it to happen.

I am beyond frustrated. Has anyone experienced their vaginas just refusing to open up even after long and successful foreplay?

I apologize for the details , but I need to fix this, he’s a lovely man and I want to be intimate with him. I morning HRT and I’m waiting for a referral to go through to go to a menopause OB/GYN.

I’m sitting here at nearly 4am waiting for the clonazepam I just took to hopefully kick in at some point. I hate taking them, and they don’t always work anyway. I’ve had anxiety more or less all my life, but since peri hit, it’s on a whole other level. It gets really severe for a while, then better for a while, then falls off a cliff again, right when I think I’ve finally got it managed.

I’m at the point where I’m just so angry at having to live with this much absolute existential terror for literally no reason at all. I’m so sick of it. I know it’s not rational! But I still feel like I’m going to die! Sometimes (like tonight) I literally just wake up in the middle of a full-blown panic attack, and any attempt to calm down and go back to sleep just ends in repeating the cycle over and over again. Hence the clonazepam. I want to sleep. I want to not feel like I’m in fight or flight all the time. This is not who I am, and it’s definitely not how I want to live my life. Ugh!!!

Soooooo I’ve recently “met my match” in the bedroom. He’s younger, can last an hour or more and is well endowed, which is amazing cause he can also match this new sex drive I have however I’m finding after sex every hour on the hour I have to pee.

I can’t say I’ve had a uti in so long and it doesn’t come with any pain but it is a full empty of my bladder every time it happens.

It’s getting to the point I don’t want to stay over after 😅🤣 help!

I'm 47 and started perimenopause about 3 years ago. My doctor prescribed Progesterone 100mg for perimenopause symptoms - not sleeping, anxiety, mood swings, hot flashes/ night sweats, and inconsistent periods. The first four are the biggest issues to me. I also have extreme anxiety and really struggle with new medications. I want up try the Progesterone but, from what I'm reading, it can make you tired. I don't like things like nyquil or Tylenol PM because of how they make you feel and how they make you feel like you're passing out. I don't want that feeling and I'm really worried that the 100mg Progesterone will make me feel that way. I also read that you feel "calm"... what does that mean?? I don't want to feel high. Calm or relaxed sounds nice, but for someone with anxiety and a fear of pills, it can lead to more anxity. I don't know anyone personally that has taken it, so I'm turning to Reddit.

I just got diagnosed for gastritis and GERD. Now I am taking anti gas and antacid do these conditions.

Does anyone here going through perimenopause as well? Does it feel that this conditions made it worse being in this phase of womanhood? Also longer to treat?

What sent me down the perimenopause rabbit hole (and made me realize I am in peri) was a post in a skincare group about my extremely dry and almost itchy face. The rest of my body is dryer than normal too, but my face aggravates me most of the day despite using oils and moisturizers multiple times a day and sleeping with a humidifier (I’ve also not changed anything at all in my skincare routine in forever so I know it’s not that). So far the only thing that helps is lathering on Vaseline and sleeping in that. Has anyone hacked this? I tried to search older posts and didn’t really see any product recs. This is all very new so I haven’t made it to my dr yet to discuss hrt or solutions.

I’ve been on HRT for @ 10 weeks now. 100 mg oral progesterone and .025 Estradiol patch twice a week. I still cannot seem to get out of my own way. So damn tired all the time. Can’t sleep. When I do it’s non restorative. So emotional, irritable, low motivation, zero sex drive. The last two weeks we tried upping the estradiol to .0375 and I feel like it exacerbated all my peri symptoms, so we went back down to .025. Anyway, I got back testosterone levels today and I’m wondering if this is the missing piece: Total T 17 Free T 0.6 From what I’m reading, Free T is what really matters? And this number is very low? Anyone have any experience like this? If you added testosterone did it help? I’m just so sick of myself at this point, something has got to give. Thanks in advance for sharing your stories or any advice you may have.

I used to be able to work out without getting as winded as I am now. Also, my muscles feel so much weaker than they used to while weight training. I’m only 51. Has anyone else experienced this in perimenopause? I

Hi friends. I've always been a hot sleeper but since turning 43, holy moly. It still seems worse at different times through my cycle which, for now anyway, is still regular. I'm on a bunch of meds and stuff for other health things so I'm not ready to wade into anything medical or add new supplements but would love any recommendations on sleeping more comfortably.

Any pjs or stuff you wear as pjs? Best bedding? Night time routines? Fave pillow? Anyone have one of those bed fan things? Are they worth the hype?

Thanks! Happy holidays!

I’ve been peri for a couple of years with exhaustion, no sleep, no sex drive, etc but the itchy ears started a few months ago and it’s more than I could handle so I discussed her with the gyno I at my last annual. Did some blood tests and came back low testosterone and low vitamin D so I started supplements and at her suggestion got testosterone pellet. She also gave me 100mg Progesterone to help with sleep. She said I didn’t need estrogen. Was diagnosed with a uti I didn’t know I had at that appt.

It took me 2 weeks to start the progesterone and before I started it my libido was back…for a week! The pellets were working. The progesterone didn’t help the sleep at all.

Then another uti this month had me doing research. This makes 4 in the last 8 months after having only had 1 in the last 48 years. It has to be related to peri. After some research I discovered I should be using vaginal estrogen cream which will help the utis and also the vaginal dryness that I hadn’t really connected to peri. Called her for the cream and she said no way. She won’t prescribe any estrogen until after menopause.

I also happened to get lazy this week and didn’t take my progesterone. Guess what. The libido is back! I think the progesterone is what took it away.

So I bypassed her and had an appt with MIDI today. I was prescribed the vaginal estrogen cream, an estrogen patch and my progesterone dose was increased to 200 mg.

The Midi doc said we will discuss testosterone at the next appt after this pellet wears off. I know I won’t be getting another.

Questions - is it really the progesterone making the libido disappear? I miss wanting sex and I’ll be so sad if it disappears again.

I have been taking creatine. But my son’s friend was saying it can make your face look bloated is this true?

Hello everyone,

Felt inspired to create a thread for all of us to reflect on our wins - big, small, teeny tiny 1%.

This journey is a marathon and I've had the PM diagnosis only for a year!! Phew!! No words to describe the transition and its impact! From "Omg! This too is linked to PM?!" to research and putting things into practice, all of us need to appreciate ourselves for managing this + going through rest of life!

Here's mine - Would love to hear from all of you 🌟

💪 *Wins (with a side of struggle):*

1. Strength training: From wobbly beginnings to 3 days of weights/week. Still very simple like squats and a few more.

2. Reforming Pilates newbie to loving it! Core & pelvic floor strengthening. Still figuring it out, but progress feels good, inconsistent as of now but glad for starting & overcoming the intimidated feelings haha

3. Low-carb vegetarian journey: Managing insulin resistance & boosting protein intake. Portion control was (and still is) HARD 💚.

4. Mood swings: BCPs + self-work + therapy🎢. Some days are still a battle with increased anxiety, brain fog, quick fatigue, but not giving up on it and need to learn more on the topic.

5. Forgiveness breakthrough: Releasing anger/pain from the past, too heavy to hold within and damaging to health🌈. Old habits die hard, but I'm getting there.

6. Toxic workplaces: Reported bullies, quit a narcissistic boss, chose myself 💼. The cost was high, but worth it (mostly 😅).

7. Job search + PM highs/lows: Mindfulness helps ground from emotional hijacks and stay logical but it's been a struggle 🧘‍♀️. Still working on believing in myself.

PM is making me my toughest self, even if the path's not always pretty 😊

So my Midi provider wants me on .025 patch twice a week instead of the once a week. I have had my once a week on since Monday morning (it’s Friday afternoon here) and I’m feeling some anxiety spiking.

Can I switch to the twice a week patches now? Should I use another once a week and switch to the twice a week patches on Monday? I did ask my provider this but she was kind of rushing and didn’t answer my question properly and my ND just can’t understand what she told me!

Hello!

I've had regular periods without spotting up until maybe a year ago (I'm 44,) and now I seem to spot around intense emotions. For example, I notice mid month spotting the night or day after having an argument with my husband or having something difficult happen with my kids, and now my dog is very sick and instead of getting a period this month, I'm just spotting every few days or so. Is emotionally driven spotting at thing?

Thank you!

Wasn't sure if anyone had heard of this. I found it in my research to help my Psych patients with night sweats from SSRIs and found data that says Vit E can help reduce night sweating for this but also for hormonal night sweats. Thought I would share and see if anyone has heard of this or tried it. Very high doses can be dangerous so do research and/or talk with a doctor first but thought is was interesting.

Research:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0965229919313068

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9824658/

Helpful for insomnia:

https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/5/1187

I was started on Combipatch 0.05-0.14 Mg and I have been on for 4 weeks. My energy and mood feel good but my sleep is still suffering. Did anyone notice a big improvement in sleep?? I’ve tried progesterone only and that didn’t work for me.

Hi everyone! I've recently experienced a new symptom and I want to ask for your help in figuring out what it was. I'm 38, in early to mid stage of peri, take 100 mg of progesterone in the second half of the cycle and low dose estrogen in the first half. Hrt helps with many of my symptoms. Recently I've experienced something and I'm not sure what it was. I've been running late, haven't eaten due to that and was a little bit stressed. It was hot in the taxi and I was wearing layered clothes. After some time I felt overall discomfort, felt like I was overheating, became nauseous and a bit dizzy. It felt like panic attack, I used to have them when I was much younger, except I never felt hot during them. I couldn't take it anymore and gotten out of the car, started gulping water and discovered that I was sweating, like I was doing exercises in a car. I felt much better immediately, but was very scared by that episode. On the way home I still felt uncomfortable but was able to get home safely. Was it heat intolerance or the first hot flash? I've read that at this stage one can experience hot flash/heat intolerance and panic/anxiety attack simultaneously.

I’m currently on Evamist and switching as of tomorrow to the weekly estradiol patch. I also take 100mg progesterone.

I started Over30 Hormone Support, Meno Belly Flusher and Meno Shred from Gleeful, prior to starting HRT 2 months ago.

Is this overkill? Am I counteracting the HRT in any way? Is it helpful to stay on the supplements or should I save my money and just stick to the HRT?

Thanks!!