Age and Time

Hello all

I am frustrated with having my monthly cycle, I just want it to go
away. It is more trouble than it is worth and at 50 I am not needing
or wishing to create more babies. I don't want to wear any more pads,
ever. [ Today is day 3, so that may help explain my mood at present.]


Please, can you help soothe my irritation ?
At what age was you when either the length or the nature of your
cycles started to change?
How many years have you been coping with peri since this noticeable
change in flow ?

Jane

On Feb 22, 8:33 am, "Jane_G" <janes_em...@optusnet.com.au> wrote:
> Hello all
>
> I am frustrated with having my monthly cycle, I just want it to go
> away. It is more trouble than it is worth and at 50 I am not needing
> or wishing to create more babies. I don't want to wear any more pads,
> ever. [ Today is day 3, so that may help explain my mood at present.]
>
> Please, can you help soothe my irritation ?
> At what age was you when either the length or the nature of your
> cycles started to change?
> How many years have you been coping with peri since this noticeable
> change in flow ?
>
> Jane

Oh, I know your frustration, believe me, but each one of us is
different. I'm 58 and 5 months and still flowing with the best of
them. I'm in peri but my flow hasn't changed since after my first
baby (when it became must less than before), when I was 21.

On the other hand I had a terrible bout of hot flashes about 9 months
ago that brought me to ASM. I was so bothered by them that I came
close to considering hormone therapy -- then they went away as
suddenly as they'd come about 6-8 weeks later. Keeping my fingers
crossed that they'll never return. Of course once they stopped my
flow got back to normal....

Hang in there, Jane.

JustGB

On 22 Feb 2007 06:08:37 -0800, "JustGB" <gettingbttr@gmail.com> wrote:

> I'm 58 and 5 months and still flowing with the best of
>them. I'm in peri but my flow hasn't changed since after my first
>baby (when it became must less than before), when I was 21.


And I stopped having periods when I was 42. My wonderful doctor put me
on Provera and I started back up and continued until I decided it was
enough. I stopped Provera when I was about 50 I think and I haven't
had a period since. I am 60.

My grandmother had her last baby at age 40 and never had another
period. This was in 1935. So stopping early runs in our family, I
guess. I can't tell about my mother because she had a hysterectomy at
36.

I believe the hot flashes I had during my 30's were perimenopause, as
well as the headaches from hell. My aunt put me onto those, she had
them too. Other than that I haven't really had a lot of problems with
peri or meno.

Do you know when your mother stopped? Other female relatives?

Dana
Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons,
for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.

"Jane_G" <janes_email@optusnet.com.au> wrote in message
news:1172126002.791772.60460@l53g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
>
> Hello all
>
> I am frustrated with having my monthly cycle, I just want it to go
> away. It is more trouble than it is worth and at 50 I am not needing
> or wishing to create more babies. I don't want to wear any more pads,
> ever. [ Today is day 3, so that may help explain my mood at present.]
>
>
> Please, can you help soothe my irritation ?
> At what age was you when either the length or the nature of your
> cycles started to change?
> How many years have you been coping with peri since this noticeable
> change in flow ?
>
> Jane

I was 40 (to the month) when my periods first changed, re: peri - it was a
week & a half late that month. I was 46 1/2 when I hit menopause. Don't
know if that;'s any help or not...

Cathy


>

On Feb 22, 7:00 am, "Cathy F." <c...@adelphiadot.net> wrote:
> "Jane_G" <janes_em...@optusnet.com.au> wrote in message
>
> news:1172126002.791772.60460@l53g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > Hello all
>
> > I am frustrated with having my monthly cycle, I just want it to go
> > away. It is more trouble than it is worth and at 50 I am not needing
> > or wishing to create more babies. I don't want to wear any more pads,
> > ever. [ Today is day 3, so that may help explain my mood at present.]
>
> > Please, can you help soothe my irritation ?
> > At what age was you when either the length or the nature of your
> > cycles started to change?
> > How many years have you been coping with peri since this noticeable
> > change in flow ?
>
> > Jane
>
> I was 40 (to the month) when my periods first changed, re: peri - it was a
> week & a half late that month. I was 46 1/2 when I hit menopause. Don't
> know if that;'s any help or not...
>
> Cathy
>
>
>
> - Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

One of the numerous books I've read about menopause listed some
factors that might affect when menopause arrives. Smoking,
hysterectomy (even with intact ovaries), and vegetarianism supposedly
cause early menopause. Being overweight can cause late menopause
because more body fat means more estrogen.
Such claims smell of "old wives' tale", but maybe there's something to
it.
I had a hysterectomy at age 33 and was very glad to be rid of the
monthly blood bath, as well as the irksome fertility. But when
menopause time arrived, I wished I could have those periods back so I
could get some idea where I'm at. At 54, all I have to go by is those
twinges in the ovaries, one of which won't seem to die. But does that
really mean anything? And how else can I account for my endless meno
symptoms?
I realize this isn't much consolation to someone who wants to be blood-
free, but it goes to show that we all have our crosses to bear.
Les

"sage hen" <desertnymph@cwo.com> wrote in message
news:1172161594.314834.226840@k78g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
> On Feb 22, 7:00 am, "Cathy F." <c...@adelphiadot.net> wrote:
>> "Jane_G" <janes_em...@optusnet.com.au> wrote in message
>>
>> news:1172126002.791772.60460@l53g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> > Hello all
>>
>> > I am frustrated with having my monthly cycle, I just want it to go
>> > away. It is more trouble than it is worth and at 50 I am not needing
>> > or wishing to create more babies. I don't want to wear any more pads,
>> > ever. [ Today is day 3, so that may help explain my mood at present.]
>>
>> > Please, can you help soothe my irritation ?
>> > At what age was you when either the length or the nature of your
>> > cycles started to change?
>> > How many years have you been coping with peri since this noticeable
>> > change in flow ?
>>
>> > Jane
>>
>> I was 40 (to the month) when my periods first changed, re: peri - it was
>> a
>> week & a half late that month. I was 46 1/2 when I hit menopause. Don't
>> know if that;'s any help or not...
>>
>> Cathy
>>
>>
>>
>> - Hide quoted text -
>>
>> - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -
>>
>> - Show quoted text -
>
> One of the numerous books I've read about menopause listed some
> factors that might affect when menopause arrives. Smoking,
> hysterectomy (even with intact ovaries), and vegetarianism supposedly
> cause early menopause. Being overweight can cause late menopause
> because more body fat means more estrogen.
> Such claims smell of "old wives' tale", but maybe there's something to
> it.

My menopause, at 46, was on the early aside. I've never smoked, no
hysterectomy, & eat meat. Am thinnish. My mother had an early-ish
menopause, although I don't know at what age - her comment when she found I
hit it at 46 was, "Jeez, & I thought mine was early!" So... maybe 48 - 50?

One person does not a data bank make, so take it for what it's worth...

Cathy


> I had a hysterectomy at age 33 and was very glad to be rid of the
> monthly blood bath, as well as the irksome fertility. But when
> menopause time arrived, I wished I could have those periods back so I
> could get some idea where I'm at. At 54, all I have to go by is those
> twinges in the ovaries, one of which won't seem to die. But does that
> really mean anything? And how else can I account for my endless meno
> symptoms?
> I realize this isn't much consolation to someone who wants to be blood-
> free, but it goes to show that we all have our crosses to bear.
> Les
>

On Feb 22, 4:35 pm, Dana© <AneeB...@ownmail.com> wrote:
> On 22 Feb 2007 06:08:37 -0800, "JustGB" <gettingb...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > I'm 58 and 5 months and still flowing with the best of
> >them. I'm in peri but my flow hasn't changed since after my first
> >baby (when it became must less than before), when I was 21.
>
> And I stopped having periods when I was 42. My wonderful doctor put me
> on Provera and I started back up and continued until I decided it was
> enough. I stopped Provera when I was about 50 I think and I haven't
> had a period since. I am 60.
>
> My grandmother had her last baby at age 40 and never had another
> period. This was in 1935. So stopping early runs in our family, I
> guess. I can't tell about my mother because she had a hysterectomy at
> 36.
>
> I believe the hot flashes I had during my 30's were perimenopause, as
> well as the headaches from hell. My aunt put me onto those, she had
> them too. Other than that I haven't really had a lot of problems with
> peri or meno.
>
> Do you know when your mother stopped? Other female relatives?

My sister had a hysterectomy when she was in her late 40s, maybe 50,
so we don't know about her. My mother was somewhere between 55 and 60
when she turned briefly into a *witch*, so I assume those were the
wacky hormones talking. Those things were NOT discussed. I'm
obviously up there with her.

JustGB

"Jane_G" <janes_email@optusnet.com.au> wrote in message
news:1172126002.791772.60460@l53g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
>
> Hello all
>
> I am frustrated with having my monthly cycle, I just want it to go
> away. It is more trouble than it is worth and at 50 I am not needing
> or wishing to create more babies. I don't want to wear any more pads,
> ever. [ Today is day 3, so that may help explain my mood at present.]
>
>
> Please, can you help soothe my irritation ?
> At what age was you when either the length or the nature of your
> cycles started to change?
> How many years have you been coping with peri since this noticeable
> change in flow ?
>
> Jane

Started with bad night sweats and one huge hot flash at 35 for 2-3 mos then
stopped and at 38 peri symptoms started for good. Now 11 1/2 yrs later still
in peri and counting down to the 12 mos with no flow (Aug 07).Periods
started to go wonky at 42.

Roseanne

On Feb 23, 4:06 am, "foggydoggy" <foggydo...@cogeco.ca> wrote:
> "Jane_G" <janes_em...@optusnet.com.au> wrote in message
>
> news:1172126002.791772.60460@l53g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
>
>
>
>
>
> > Hello all
>
> > I am frustrated with having my monthly cycle, I just want it to go
> > away. It is more trouble than it is worth and at 50 I am not needing
> > or wishing to create more babies. I don't want to wear any more pads,
> > ever. [ Today is day 3, so that may help explain my mood at present.]
>
> > Please, can you help soothe my irritation ?
> > At what age was you when either the length or the nature of your
> > cycles started to change?
> > How many years have you been coping with peri since this noticeable
> > change in flow ?
>
> > Jane
>
> Started with bad night sweats and one huge hot flash at 35 for 2-3 mos then
> stopped and at 38 peri symptoms started for good. Now 11 1/2 yrs later still
> in peri and counting down to the 12 mos with no flow (Aug 07).Periods
> started to go wonky at 42.
>
> Roseanne

Oh, that sounds interminable. You must be *so* sick of it!

JustGB

foggydoggy <foggydoggy@cogeco.ca> wrote:

> Started with bad night sweats and one huge hot flash at 35 for 2-3 mos then
> stopped and at 38 peri symptoms started for good. Now 11 1/2 yrs later still
> in peri and counting down to the 12 mos with no flow (Aug 07).Periods
> started to go wonky at 42.

Same here, and first peri symptom I now know happened at age 39 (I'm now
46). My cycle has shortened down to 23-25 days, but now it seems to be
increasing again to 25-26 days. I got my period today - 27th day. Isn't
this fun? ;-)

--
Keera in Norway * Think big. Shrink to fit.
http://home.online.no/~kafox/

Thank you for all your replies.

Quote Just GB : I'm 58 and 5 months and still flowing with the best of
them. Hang in there, Jane.

Just GB, I was hoping for some good news, I don't like the example
that you are setting. : - )
Lucky for me, there are other replies to my email, - options which I
would prefer more. Nothing personal.

Quote Dana : Do you know when your mother stopped? Other female
relatives?


Hello Dana, Other female rellies have either had a hysterectomy or
are not here any more to ask. As for my mum, I know she has some
type of hormone patch to avoid panic attacks and twice when I've asked
her at what age meno arrived for her, she has skirted around the
question. Either unable or not wanting to tell me.


Quote Cathy F. : I was 46 1/2 when I hit menopause. Don't know if
that;'s any help or not...

Hi Cathy, Six and a half years from the time your periods first
changed to menopause. On your facts I still have about six years to
wait for freedom.


G'day Roseanne
Come on girl, I was relying on your numbers to drop the average -
Eleven and a half years in peri !!!! Now that is unacceptable. Your
data leaves me with seven more years of flow.

Hi Keera
Your first peri-symptoms were 7 years ago - mine was about 3 years
ago. With headaches and slight hot flushes. So this means I have a
least 4 years more.


Well ladies : I thank you for your input. I am surprised that peri-
menopause has turned into an ordeal for many of you.

Take care.
Jane

Hi Les
Interesting facts -

I dont smoke, so I will have meno later
I haven't had a hysterectomy, so I will have meno later
And I not vegetarian, so I will have meno later
And I'm not slim, so I will have meno later.

Hmmmmm...with all that considered, I guess I will have meno later.

Hey, has anyone read any health books which indicate the opposite. If
so, please let me know A.S.A.P.



> One of the numerous books I've read about menopause listed some
> factors that might affect when menopause arrives. Smoking,
> hysterectomy (even with intact ovaries), and vegetarianism supposedly
> cause early menopause. Being overweight can cause late menopause
> because more body fat means more estrogen.
> Such claims smell of "old wives' tale", but maybe there's something to
> it.
> I had a hysterectomy at age 33 and was very glad to be rid of the
> monthly blood bath, as well as the irksome fertility. But when
> menopause time arrived, I wished I could have those periods back so I
> could get some idea where I'm at. At 54, all I have to go by is those
> twinges in the ovaries, one of which won't seem to die. But does that
> really mean anything? And how else can I account for my endless meno
> symptoms?
> I realize this isn't much consolation to someone who wants to be blood-
> free, but it goes to show that we all have our crosses to bear.
> Les- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Jane_G <janes_email@optusnet.com.au> wrote:

> Hi Keera
> Your first peri-symptoms were 7 years ago - mine was about 3 years
> ago. With headaches and slight hot flushes. So this means I have a
> least 4 years more.

Not necessarily, Jane. Some women are in peri "forever" (one lady who
used to hang around here was still menstruating at age 61). Other women
go into peri and emerge a year or two later menopausal (my grandma did
that, apparantly, because she had hardly any peri symptoms). Me, I'm
starting to look like a slowpoke compared to Cathy. :-)

The point is, the timing of menopause is an unknown. No doctor or female
relative can tell you exactly when or how. The best policy is to find a
way to be as comfortable as possible while your body does its
loop-de-loops.

> Well ladies : I thank you for your input. I am surprised that peri-
> menopause has turned into an ordeal for many of you.

I think you're projecting now. Remember, _you_ are the one who initiated
this by complaining about still having your periods.

--
Keera in Norway * Think big. Shrink to fit.
http://home.online.no/~kafox/

"Jane_G" <janes_email@optusnet.com.au> wrote in
news:1172551907.761067.179000@m58g2000cwm.googlegr oups.com:

> Hi Les
> Interesting facts -
>
> I dont smoke, so I will have meno later
> I haven't had a hysterectomy, so I will have meno later
> And I not vegetarian, so I will have meno later
> And I'm not slim, so I will have meno later.
>
> Hmmmmm...with all that considered, I guess I will have meno later.
>
> Hey, has anyone read any health books which indicate the opposite. If
> so, please let me know A.S.A.P.

The trouble with all that is that those are statistics, and statistics
don't mean a damn thing for any one person. Statistics show a general
trend, but predict exactly nothing for you, or anyone else.

Chak

--
No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of
policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets.
--Edward Abbey

"Jane_G" <janes_email@optusnet.com.au> wrote in message
news:1172551907.761067.179000@m58g2000cwm.googlegr oups.com...
>
>
> Hi Les
> Interesting facts -
>
> I dont smoke, so I will have meno later
> I haven't had a hysterectomy, so I will have meno later
> And I not vegetarian, so I will have meno later
> And I'm not slim, so I will have meno later.
>
> Hmmmmm...with all that considered, I guess I will have meno later.
>
> Hey, has anyone read any health books which indicate the opposite. If
> so, please let me know A.S.A.P.
>


Dunno about books, but my mother was a non-smoker, non
vegetarian who wasn't skinny. By 46 she was well and truly
into peri and might have ended shortly after that, if she hadn't
had a hysterectomy anyway.


--
Jette Goldie
jette@blueyonder.co.uk
http://www.jette.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/
http://wolfette.livejournal.com/
("reply to" is spamblocked - use the email addy in sig)

In article <1172551194.361438.41050@q2g2000cwa.googlegroups.c om>,
"Jane_G" <janes_email@optusnet.com.au> wrote:

> Well ladies : I thank you for your input. I am surprised that peri-
> menopause has turned into an ordeal for many of you.

What are the odds they'd be here if it hadn't?

Priscilla

On Feb 27, 10:19 am, "Jette Goldie" <bossl...@scotlandmail.com> wrote:
> "Jane_G" <janes_em...@optusnet.com.au> wrote in message
>
> news:1172551907.761067.179000@m58g2000cwm.googlegr oups.com...
>
>
>
> > Hi Les
> > Interesting facts -
>
> > I dont smoke, so I will have meno later
> > I haven't had a hysterectomy, so I will have meno later
> > And I not vegetarian, so I will have meno later
> > And I'm not slim, so I will have meno later.
>
> > Hmmmmm...with all that considered, I guess I will have meno later.
I don't even remember, Chak, if what I read about factors that can
cause early meno was statistics, or just the observations of some
doctor who writes about menopause. I was just throwing it out for
everyone's consideration or amusement, identifying it as a possible
old wives' tale (an unfortunate but descriptive term).
That said, here's another tale in the same category. I also read,
years before I reached this lovely stage of life, that if you had bad
PMS, you'd also have a horrible menopause. The converse was also
supposedly true. I was never troubled by PMS, so I remember being
quite pleased at the prospect of an easy meno. Wrong!
Any other meno-related old wives tales out there? And can anyone
think of a better term to use, now that many of us are old wives
ourselves?
Les


>
> > Hey, has anyone read any health books which indicate the opposite. If
> > so, please let me know A.S.A.P.
>
> Dunno about books, but my mother was a non-smoker, non
> vegetarian who wasn't skinny. By 46 she was well and truly
> into peri and might have ended shortly after that, if she hadn't
> had a hysterectomy anyway.
>
> --
> Jette Goldie
> j...@blueyonder.co.ukhttp://www.jette.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/http://wolfette.livejournal.com/
> ("reply to" is spamblocked - use the email addy in sig)

On Feb 27, 4:59 pm, thinkbig.shrinkto...@online.no (Keera Ann Fox)
wrote:


> ...... Some women are in peri "forever" (one lady who
> used to hang around here was still menstruating at age 61).

> > Well ladies : I thank you for your input. I am surprised that peri-
> > menopause has turned into an ordeal for many of you.

> I think you're projecting now. Remember, _you_ are the one who initiated
> this by complaining about still having your periods.
> Keera in Norway *


Keera

Maybe I should have worded my thought differently. I am surprised
that peri has dragged on and on, for many of our members. Years and
years of symptoms, that are physically and emotionally draining - I
consider that an ordeal.

Are there any other ladies that would label their peri-menopause
experience "an ordeal" ?

Jane

"Jane_G" <janes_email@optusnet.com.au> wrote in message
news:1172551194.361438.41050@q2g2000cwa.googlegrou ps.com...
>
> Thank you for all your replies.
>
> Quote Just GB : I'm 58 and 5 months and still flowing with the best of
> them. Hang in there, Jane.
>
> Just GB, I was hoping for some good news, I don't like the example
> that you are setting. : - )
> Lucky for me, there are other replies to my email, - options which I
> would prefer more. Nothing personal.
>
> Quote Dana : Do you know when your mother stopped? Other female
> relatives?
>
>
> Hello Dana, Other female rellies have either had a hysterectomy or
> are not here any more to ask. As for my mum, I know she has some
> type of hormone patch to avoid panic attacks and twice when I've asked
> her at what age meno arrived for her, she has skirted around the
> question. Either unable or not wanting to tell me.
>
>
> Quote Cathy F. : I was 46 1/2 when I hit menopause. Don't know if
> that;'s any help or not...
>
> Hi Cathy, Six and a half years from the time your periods first
> changed to menopause. On your facts I still have about six years to
> wait for freedom.
>
>
> G'day Roseanne
> Come on girl, I was relying on your numbers to drop the average -
> Eleven and a half years in peri !!!! Now that is unacceptable. Your
> data leaves me with seven more years of flow.
>
> Hi Keera
> Your first peri-symptoms were 7 years ago - mine was about 3 years
> ago. With headaches and slight hot flushes. So this means I have a
> least 4 years more.
>
>
> Well ladies : I thank you for your input. I am surprised that peri-
> menopause has turned into an ordeal for many of you.

If it was a super-easy transition, we probably wouldn't be here, at this ng!
Women who experience very few or very slight symptoms might stop in just to
get a question asked, but the ones who experience more - in number, &/or
more as in severe - symptoms are the ones who are probably more likely to
hang around. Or, of course, because of our fascinating personalities &
scintillating conversation. ;-)

Cathy


>
> Take care.
> Jane
>

On Tue, 27 Feb 2007 18:19:29 GMT, "Jette Goldie"
<bosslady@scotlandmail.com> wrote:

>
>"Jane_G" <janes_email@optusnet.com.au> wrote in message
>news:1172551907.761067.179000@m58g2000cwm.googleg roups.com...
>>
>>
>> Hi Les
>> Interesting facts -
>>
>> I dont smoke, so I will have meno later
>> I haven't had a hysterectomy, so I will have meno later
>> And I not vegetarian, so I will have meno later
>> And I'm not slim, so I will have meno later.
>>
>> Hmmmmm...with all that considered, I guess I will have meno later.
>>
>> Hey, has anyone read any health books which indicate the opposite. If
>> so, please let me know A.S.A.P.
>>
>
>
>Dunno about books, but my mother was a non-smoker, non
>vegetarian who wasn't skinny. By 46 she was well and truly
>into peri and might have ended shortly after that, if she hadn't
>had a hysterectomy anyway.

My mum is a non-smoker, non vegetarian, non-drinker. She isn't skinny
but not shockingly overwaight, Had her last period ever at 42 ( she is
still intact).

R

Ratatosk,Jola
--

If you need to e-mail me, replace "don'tbother" with "zedicus"

Jane_G <janes_email@optusnet.com.au> wrote:

> On Feb 27, 4:59 pm, thinkbig.shrinkto...@online.no (Keera Ann Fox)
> wrote:
>
>
> > ...... Some women are in peri "forever" (one lady who
> > used to hang around here was still menstruating at age 61).
>
> > > Well ladies : I thank you for your input. I am surprised that peri-
> > > menopause has turned into an ordeal for many of you.
>
> > I think you're projecting now. Remember, _you_ are the one who initiated
> > this by complaining about still having your periods.
>
> Keera
>
> Maybe I should have worded my thought differently. I am surprised
> that peri has dragged on and on, for many of our members.

I'm not sure it's dragging on. Doctors don't really understand menopause
and it's only in fairly recent years that the term "perimenopause" has
come into use. Many women (and doctors) believed for a long time that
the witches brew of symptoms connected to menopause came _after_ periods
stopped. Now we know that there are years of adjustment _before_, and
those are the years that can be rough for some women, hence the new
awareness about perimenopause.

Me, I can see an advantage to letting the body go through such a
dramatic change slowly. Less shock to the system. The hormone system is
normally a very finely tuned system, so it's best to tweak carefully. I
trust my body/Mother Nature.

> Years and years of symptoms, that are physically and emotionally draining
> - I consider that an ordeal.

Perhaps it is for you. My symptoms so far haven't been physically or
emotionally draining, because they've come and gone rather quickly (I've
tried several of the 33). The one constant is regularly irregular
periods. Right now, my flow is so light, I'm saving money. :-D

--
Keera in Norway * Think big. Shrink to fit.
http://home.online.no/~kafox/

On 21 Feb 2007 22:33:22 -0800, "Jane_G" <janes_email@optusnet.com.au>
wrote:

>I am frustrated with having my monthly cycle, I just want it to go
>away. It is more trouble than it is worth and at 50 I am not needing
>or wishing to create more babies.

I'm at the same spot you are. Just turned 50 in January.

~*~*~*Amy mailto:williamson@shaklee.net~*~*~
Save a Tree, Save our Planet, Recycle, Think Organic
http://www.shaklee.net/williamson
________________
Thought of the day:
Can't learn to do it well?Learn to enjoy doing it badly!

Jane_G wrote the following on 2/27/2007 6:57 PM:

> Maybe I should have worded my thought differently. I am surprised
> that peri has dragged on and on, for many of our members. Years and
> years of symptoms, that are physically and emotionally draining - I
> consider that an ordeal.

At 51, I'm going into my second decade of peri symptoms. :-) Other than
the fall of 2005, when the symptoms were, uh, enhanced by a chemical
menopause prior to an ablation (which didn't take for more than a few
months), the worst I've had to deal with are extremely heavy periods,
night sweats, allergies and fungal infections. Once I discovered adult
diapers the floods no longer limited my activities. And while neem oil
stinks, it seems to have taken care of the fungal issues.

A lot of the symptoms went away after I was dxed with hypothyroid last
August, and started taking levathroid. My periods even stopped until a
month ago, when I bleed heavily for 8 days. But the one I just had last
week was very light, and only a few days.

> Are there any other ladies that would label their peri-menopause
> experience "an ordeal" ?

More of a PITA that I wish would get around to finishing, but life goes
on. And I've got bigger and better things to worry about. :-)

Karen R.

In article <1172620661.705258.324140@t69g2000cwt.googlegroups .com>,
"Jane_G" <janes_email@optusnet.com.au> wrote:

> Maybe I should have worded my thought differently. I am surprised
> that peri has dragged on and on, for many of our members.

Well, it does that for some. Not for all, but it makes sense that women
for whom peri has been difficult and/or lengthy might be overrepresented
in this group.

> Years and
> years of symptoms, that are physically and emotionally draining - I
> consider that an ordeal.
>
> Are there any other ladies that would label their peri-menopause
> experience "an ordeal" ?

Not me. It's been pretty mild so far. But I'm a usenet junkie, and
this is just one place I hang out.

Priscilla

"Karen R." <krez56@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:KuhFh.4854$PL.3148@newsread4.news.pas.earthli nk.net...
> Jane_G wrote the following on 2/27/2007 6:57 PM:
>
>> Maybe I should have worded my thought differently. I am surprised
>> that peri has dragged on and on, for many of our members. Years and
>> years of symptoms, that are physically and emotionally draining - I
>> consider that an ordeal.
>
> At 51, I'm going into my second decade of peri symptoms. :-) Other than
> the fall of 2005, when the symptoms were, uh, enhanced by a chemical
> menopause prior to an ablation (which didn't take for more than a few
> months), the worst I've had to deal with are extremely heavy periods,
> night sweats, allergies and fungal infections.

Would you please talk more about allergies? If you want to point me to the
archives, that's okay, but I'd rather hear directly from someone who's
dealing with it right now.

I'm 50. I've been having other symptoms for a few years (occasional hot
flashes, libido loss for a year and then its return, crabbiness, weeping at
the drop of a hat), but in the last year, my skin has been plagued. I've
had several episodes of hives.

The most episode of hives (everywhere but my face and feet) has lasted
about two months, coinciding with two months without a period. A couple of
days ago, when my period started, the hives started to calm down, but I'm
still itching. My doctor and a dermatologist both said, "it's just eczema;
have some cortisone cream," and I don't buy that. The hives were
definitely worse when I was eating certain things, but I don't know whether
there's a connection. A friend said she had exactly the same sort of hives
when she was pregnant. Does the hormonal wackiness of perimenopause create
allergies?

Ack. That got long. Sorry.

Elissa, clueless newbie

ElissaAnn wrote the following on 3/1/2007 7:39 AM:

> Would you please talk more about allergies? If you want to point me to the
> archives, that's okay, but I'd rather hear directly from someone who's
> dealing with it right now.

My allergies started out with sensitivities to household cleaners, molds
and mildew, then moved on to all artificial fragrances and some natural
ones. The symptoms are mostly sneezing, with more intense exposure
(cleaning out the dust under DD's bed...) resulting in several days of
sneezing and coughing. Some cleaning products leave me with violent
headaches and nausea. Someone else here wrote about a similar experience,
and that her allergies disappeared once meno had completed. I'm hoping...

> I'm 50. I've been having other symptoms for a few years (occasional hot
> flashes, libido loss for a year and then its return, crabbiness, weeping at
> the drop of a hat), but in the last year, my skin has been plagued. I've
> had several episodes of hives.

I did have a hive outbreak last fall. When I was younger I would get them
with certain bath products, so I avoid those. The last outbreak was awful
-- my face and neck were horribly red, swollen, and itchy, and it kept
getting worse until I realized that the worst of it was where my skin
made the most contact with my pillow. I had recently switched over to the
stored flannel sheets, so I suspect that some leftover detergent had
mutated while they were being stored, or dust mites had gotten into the
cases. I switched back to the previous cases and the hives stopped
getting worse, though it took several weeks for them to get better.

> The most episode of hives (everywhere but my face and feet) has lasted
> about two months, coinciding with two months without a period. A couple of
> days ago, when my period started, the hives started to calm down, but I'm
> still itching. My doctor and a dermatologist both said, "it's just eczema;
> have some cortisone cream," and I don't buy that. The hives were
> definitely worse when I was eating certain things, but I don't know whether
> there's a connection. A friend said she had exactly the same sort of hives
> when she was pregnant. Does the hormonal wackiness of perimenopause create
> allergies?

In my case, yes. But I wonder about your hives being everywhere but your
face and feet. Have you changed laundry detergents recently? Or has what
you use been reformulated? Did you purchase some new clothing and wear it
without washing it first? Hives are no fun, and you have my sympathies.

Karen R.

ElissaAnn <elissa@everybodycansing.com> wrote:

> The most episode of hives (everywhere but my face and feet) has lasted
> about two months, coinciding with two months without a period. A couple of
> days ago, when my period started, the hives started to calm down, but I'm
> still itching. My doctor and a dermatologist both said, "it's just eczema;
> have some cortisone cream," and I don't buy that. The hives were
> definitely worse when I was eating certain things, but I don't know whether
> there's a connection. A friend said she had exactly the same sort of hives
> when she was pregnant. Does the hormonal wackiness of perimenopause create
> allergies?

Not so much allerigies, as reactions to the imbalances that can occur. I
had the weirdest itching localized to the inside of my lower arms and on
my throat. A tip here helped me discover that it was _autoimmune
progesterone dermatitis_. At the time, I used soy milk every morning. I
gave that up and the itching went away.

I've also had the darnedest itching right in my armpits. I had some
ostrich oil and used that. It helped. That symptom can suggest blood
sugar/insulin trouble, which should be checked out if it doesn't go
away.

These things all followed my cycle, so I know they were hormone-related
or -triggered.

--
Keera in Norway * Think big. Shrink to fit.
http://home.online.no/~kafox/

ElissaAnn wrote:
> "Karen R." <krez56@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:KuhFh.4854$PL.3148@newsread4.news.pas.earthli nk.net...

>> At 51, I'm going into my second decade of peri symptoms. :-) Other than
>> the fall of 2005, when the symptoms were, uh, enhanced by a chemical
>> menopause prior to an ablation (which didn't take for more than a few
>> months), the worst I've had to deal with are extremely heavy periods,
>> night sweats, allergies and fungal infections.
>
> Would you please talk more about allergies? If you want to point me to the
> archives, that's okay, but I'd rather hear directly from someone who's
> dealing with it right now.

My allergy experience is sow weird that it may not help anybody, but
i *does* illustrate that "anything can happen."

I had what felt like intestinal itching for years. It was in trying to
sleep
that it nearly drove me mad. Thrashing until i could drug it away
with a whole revolving regimen of sleep aids.

Discovered entirely by accident (after trying every food allergy
elimination diet i could think of) that it was one i never thought of
I've developed a sensitivity to nuts, of all things. After eating
peanuts and peanut butter all my life. Online surfing has indiscated
that it's very rare to develop a nut allergy as an older adult, but i did.
And in fact, it may be the huge quantities i always ate that burned
out my body's tolerance.

The additional restriction on a diet i already hated really teed me off
but being able to lie still and not experience that maddening
sensation is awful nice.

But back to reality, Keera's observation that your hives seem to occur
where laundry-detergented products touch you is interesting!




--
pax,
ruth


Save trees AND money! Buy used books!
http://stores.ebay.com/Noir-and-More-Books-and-Trains

"Karen R." <krez56@gmail.com> wrote in message
newszAFh.5197$PL.78@newsread4.news.pas.earthlink .net...
> ElissaAnn wrote the following on 3/1/2007 7:39 AM:

[snip]

>> The most episode of hives (everywhere but my face and feet) has lasted
>> about two months, coinciding with two months without a period. A couple
>> of days ago, when my period started, the hives started to calm down, but
>> I'm still itching. My doctor and a dermatologist both said, "it's just
>> eczema; have some cortisone cream," and I don't buy that. The hives
>> were definitely worse when I was eating certain things, but I don't know
>> whether there's a connection. A friend said she had exactly the same
>> sort of hives when she was pregnant. Does the hormonal wackiness of
>> perimenopause create allergies?
>
> In my case, yes. But I wonder about your hives being everywhere but your
> face and feet. Have you changed laundry detergents recently? Or has what
> you use been reformulated? Did you purchase some new clothing and wear it
> without washing it first? Hives are no fun, and you have my sympathies.

Laundry detergent is the first thing everybody suggests! So of course I
checked my laundry detergent to see whether the formulation had changed.
No change. It's Ultra Ecos Free and Clear, and it doesn't even have soy in
it.

If it were my laundry detergent, why wouldn't it affect my face and feet?
It's winter here in NYC, and I always wear socks. My face touches the
pillowcase all night. Also, the hives didn't hit my belly until last
weekend, and I always wear a shirt.

Elissa

ElissaAnn wrote the following on 3/1/2007 11:57 AM:
> "Karen R." <krez56@gmail.com> wrote in message

>> In my case, yes. But I wonder about your hives being everywhere but your
>> face and feet. Have you changed laundry detergents recently? Or has what
>> you use been reformulated? Did you purchase some new clothing and wear it
>> without washing it first? Hives are no fun, and you have my sympathies.
>
> Laundry detergent is the first thing everybody suggests! So of course I
> checked my laundry detergent to see whether the formulation had changed.
> No change. It's Ultra Ecos Free and Clear, and it doesn't even have soy in
> it.

That is what I used on my sheets before putting them into storage under
the bed. I don't know if that is what caused my hives, and I haven't had
any problems using it before or since then, other than the sheets that
were stored for over seven months.

> If it were my laundry detergent, why wouldn't it affect my face and feet?

One would think so. My sheets were washed at the same time as the
pillowcases, and stored together. But the parts of me that were affected
were the ones that pressed directly into the pillowcase while I was sleeping.

Did you wear something new without washing it first, or even try
something on in a store dressing room? If you are really sensitive a
fabric treatment could trigger a reaction.

Karen R.

In article <pzAFh.5197$PL.78@newsread4.news.pas.earthlink.net >,
"Karen R." <krez56@gmail.com> wrote:

> > The most episode of hives (everywhere but my face and feet) has lasted
> > about two months, coinciding with two months without a period. A couple of
> > days ago, when my period started, the hives started to calm down, but I'm
> > still itching. My doctor and a dermatologist both said, "it's just eczema;
> > have some cortisone cream," and I don't buy that. The hives were
> > definitely worse when I was eating certain things, but I don't know whether
> > there's a connection. A friend said she had exactly the same sort of hives
> > when she was pregnant. Does the hormonal wackiness of perimenopause create
> > allergies?
>
> In my case, yes. But I wonder about your hives being everywhere but your
> face and feet. Have you changed laundry detergents recently? Or has what
> you use been reformulated? Did you purchase some new clothing and wear it
> without washing it first? Hives are no fun, and you have my sympathies.

I went through several years of hives which turned out to be in response
to laundry detergent. I'd find one that didn't affect me, and then
they'd change its formula and I'd start puffing and itching again. I
now use a laundry liquid made by Shaklee, and I haven't had a hive in
years.

Mine were mostly where my clothes had frequent and pressured contact
with my skin -- waist and wrists primarily, although they'd spread if I
gave in and scratched.

Priscilla

"ElissaAnn" <elissa@everybodycansing.com> wrote in message
news:54nvsjF20qm20U1@mid.individual.net...
>
> "Karen R." <krez56@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:KuhFh.4854$PL.3148@newsread4.news.pas.earthli nk.net...
>> Jane_G wrote the following on 2/27/2007 6:57 PM:
>>
>>> Maybe I should have worded my thought differently. I am surprised
>>> that peri has dragged on and on, for many of our members. Years and
>>> years of symptoms, that are physically and emotionally draining - I
>>> consider that an ordeal.
>>
>> At 51, I'm going into my second decade of peri symptoms. :-) Other than
>> the fall of 2005, when the symptoms were, uh, enhanced by a chemical
>> menopause prior to an ablation (which didn't take for more than a few
>> months), the worst I've had to deal with are extremely heavy periods,
>> night sweats, allergies and fungal infections.
>
> Would you please talk more about allergies? If you want to point me to
> the archives, that's okay, but I'd rather hear directly from someone who's
> dealing with it right now.
>
> I'm 50. I've been having other symptoms for a few years (occasional hot
> flashes, libido loss for a year and then its return, crabbiness, weeping
> at the drop of a hat), but in the last year, my skin has been plagued.
> I've had several episodes of hives.
>
> The most episode of hives (everywhere but my face and feet) has lasted
> about two months, coinciding with two months without a period. A couple
> of days ago, when my period started, the hives started to calm down, but
> I'm still itching. My doctor and a dermatologist both said, "it's just
> eczema; have some cortisone cream," and I don't buy that. The hives were
> definitely worse when I was eating certain things, but I don't know
> whether there's a connection. A friend said she had exactly the same sort
> of hives when she was pregnant. Does the hormonal wackiness of
> perimenopause create allergies?

Personally, I think it can.

I became *very* sensitive to some papers - the chemicals in them, &/or in
printing inks during peri. Would make my skin burn & cause me to become
nauseous; for a while there I couldn't read magazines - whenever the
magazine touched my skin... yikes, unpleasant results! One ream of printer
paper I bought did the same thing. Just throwing it out didn't work: I had
to double-wrap it in plastic bags - the odor (which I bet I never would've
noticed in regular circumstances) got to me, something awful.

My sister's in peri & for the first time ever is experiencing allergies -
the airborne pollen-y sort. A friend who went through peri when I did said
that she became very sensitive to new fabrics - they bothered her rather
like the papers/inks bothered me.

Cathy


>
> Ack. That got long. Sorry.
>
> Elissa, clueless newbie
>
>
>