My mother started telling me at 35 i was starting through the ''change''. I figgure I really started at 40. I used black cohosh for the early stages..sweats, flashes, sleeplessness...and it seemed to help A LOT.

My dr told me that I am in the early stages of going thru the change. I am having trouble sleeping and very heavy period. I have been eating so much and always starving. I decided i didnt want to gain more weight so im now dieting and today is day 2. I feel to young to be going thru the change...but i am 44.

I am 46, almost 47. I need a d/c, but have to get up $400.00 to have it done. This is what insurance doesn't cover. I am diabetic and over weight. My numbers were up last week when I went to the doctor. So I joined WW last Saturday. I wake up quite often at night to go to the bathroom. I have always been a "hot" natured person, but it's getting worse. LOL The cramps and flow are horrible. I can't wait until I'm totally in menopause. LOL Then it will be my daughter's turn to begin her period. How fun will that be?

Well, I am glad to hear that I am not the only one! (Misery loves company I guess.) I have gained 30 lbs in the last 3 years despite decreasing my food intake (I am 43) and have much dificulty sleeping. My cycle is stretching (more days in between each) and my flow has declined significantly. I really feel like I am a drying up old lady. I don't want to be fat at the same time!

I've also got tremendous stress at home with a daughter with an eating disorder. I read on the internet that "if you're the mom of a daughter with an eating disorder and you're overweight, you really need to think about how your weight is impacting her. If she fears getting fat like you..." So how's that for a load of guilt on top of perimenopause? Anyways, I have started a diet just a week ago (not to respond the guilt trip from teh internet site but to look and feel better, esp. in teh middle of all this stress).

I'm looking forward to the encouragement from this group. thanks for letting me hang out..

I'm in full blown menopause at age 40 (medical). My doctor said I was way too young, so she prescribed low-dose birth control pills and they made the hot flashes go away and diminished a lot of other symptoms.

But yes, I'm thinking that I have to really work on losing weight now. Before it was just move more, eat less. This time I've got a whole team of experts to help me out.

Hot flashes though... Man, sometimes I thought I would spontaneously combust!

Hi ladies...I'm new to this thread...thought we would all have something in common besides weight issues. How funny it's THIS! I started in my 30's as well. I'm now 44. night sweats, insomnia, more...ummm..."discharge" (yuk!), flushed face (hot flashes?) the worse was when I'd have a period really heavy for a day, then spot a day or 2 then heavy again, and my boobs KILLED me for 3 out of 4 weeks....the best thing for me has been the birth control pill. My Dr. put me on a low dose and my boobs don't hurt anymore and the period problems are gone. My hot flashes are far in between. Still waking up soaking (but I'm FREEZING while I try to fall asleep! What's up with that!?) and it usually takes me about 2 hours to fall back asleep if I wake up (which I generally do!)

I'm new to this board (40 something) I too am going thru a change only thing is i don't have hot flashes? Instead i'm just freezing. But it's winter here and cold. I have noticed some mood change's, crying after watching something on tv or a movie, I lose and gain the same 3 or 4 pd's. At this rate i don't think i'll ever get to my goal weight. Also the dryness is killing me. I go to the dr in a couple of day's. So maybe i can at least get this taken care.

Me too! I really get cold alot, but was thinking it was from losing weight-maybe it is also the change! I also hear you on the dry skin-let us know if you come up with a good solution for that one!

I also thought it was from the weight loss at first, But now i'm thinking it's not. I used to have the house set at 67 during the day, Not anymore if i can get away with it lol. Even at 72 degrees i'm freezing. It's not just the skin that's dried up (blush).

WOW, thanks for this thread. and I thought I was the olny one. I went through it about 14yrs ago and never put the waking up hot thing down to .I wake about every nite 3am am hot starts with my feet, I too sleep on top of the covers, and once awake can't go back to sleep.Grumpy all day.Must go see the doc and ask. And yes (things) do dry up. lol

Hello ladies,

Please let me join the club.
I will be 49 this summer and I am probably perimenopausal. My worst problem is insomnia; I have no problems falling asleep but staying asleep is a different story. My "witching hour", as I call it, is usually at 3:00 - 3:30 am. There are some odd days when I manage to go back to sleep, but often I end up flopping around for an hour or longer, until I turn on the light, get a glass of hot milk and read for about half an hour; then I am usually sleepy enough to fall asleep again. But the when the alarm goes at 6:30, I often feel like a zombie.

This is probably my worst problem, I have had this for years. I was on Wellbutrin for about 5-6 years, for mild depression, but it did not really help with the insomnia. I weaned myself off over a year ago. My dr. says she will either have to prescribe antidepressant or a sleeping pill, there is nothing else. So far I am resisting.

Oh, and another thing is that started to sweat when I do something - I am need to screw two screws and I am sweating (worst is around my hairline). But I also have an elevated blood pressure (i have been on a low dosage of something for this) - I am hoping that regular exercise on the treadmill will help with the blood pressure and, in turn, with the sweating as well. (I can keep dreaming, right?)

My periods are actually quite bearable, thank God for that (I had really heavy periods for most of my life).
Thanks for letting me vent.

Hi ladies
I'm 46 and I've been having perimenopause symptoms for a couple of years. My symptoms are: Insomnia, wt gain, low energy, mood swings, itching all over for a day or so then it stops, irregular periods (missing them or having too many)

I think we should just have a button when we are done with our childbearing years we just flip a switch. Done.

Kelly

Me too.

The worst thing is definetly the insomnia. It drives me insane.

Kelly a button would be nice

Kelly I do understand. They told me I was pre menopausal after I had my tubal when I was 29. I am now 46. Doc said he has never seen anyone go this long. How about those 4 month DOTS. Aren't they just wonderful. I was going to have a hysterectomy done in Jan. I am losing weight so well a few long DOTS are worth me not messing up my weight loss. I will put up with inconvenience to keep losing weight lol.

I have the best dr in the world, I saw her today told her what has been going on. And started me on hrt low amount's, she also told me that being peri it could also cause me to not lose weight(i knew just knew it). and that my hormones are out of wack, and this should help me to start losing again in a few week's. She also set me up with a dr to havew my bladder lifted (yippeeee) No more tinkle time every 20 / 30 min's.