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What do I do about better symptom management?
I don’t feel like myself at all I am agitated, irritable and intolerant one moment then tearful and upset about how I see myself being so different than I am as a person. I feel like I am crawling out of my skin and highly anxious. I know I am close to my monthly cycle and more off base than what makes any remote sense. I can’t live like this nor expect my family to tolerate my mood swings nor do I want to embrace them either as normal. My body is aching all over having hot flashes so nauseous I can’t eat and miserable. This is completely unacceptable and insane. Please help me find the next level of care to find my balance that I know is driven by severe hormonal imbalances.
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I am so sorry you are struggling. You are not alone!
Two immediate resources:
Dr. Mary Claire Havers book
The Pause Life
Menopause.org
Here you will find a patient resource for finding a menopause specialist
What is your health care team recommending to help you with these symptoms currently?
General Peer Communities: Connect with other women anonymously or via discussion boards on the National Menopause Foundation Community or join peer discussions on Mayo Clinic Connect.Specialized Virtual Support & Events: Participate in relaxed, unstructured conversations at a virtual Menopause Cafe, or attend curated expert talks and community circles with Let's Talk Menopause.
letstalkmenopause.org
Hi, @phoenixrising24, and welcome! I'm glad you've found us. I'm so sorry to hear that you're dealing with a lot of uncomfortable symptoms right now. You're definitely not alone. In our menopause community, you'll find lots of other women who can relate.
The first time I went it to talk to my doctor about my symptoms, they all got chalked up to other issues. So the next time I went in, I presented a list of my symptoms and included information like how often I experienced them, how severe they were, and if there seemed to be triggers. (I read one helpful bit of advice after-the-fact that I wish I'd included in my list: how my symptoms were affecting my quality of life.) This "data" helped my doctor create a care plan that addressed my concerns, and she even helped me find a specialist who could treat some of the symptoms she wasn't comfortable treating herself.
Not all doctors are familiar with menopause-related care, and sometimes it can be hard to find someone who is. In my area, I was lucky to find a gynecologist who opened a practice specifically to help women through menopause. I know other women in this community have sought out endocrinologists and functional medicine providers. Like @gravity3 mentioned, The Menopause Society has a tool that connects you with menopause specialists in your area, including doctors who can treat you via telehealth if there isn't anyone in your area. Here's the link:
- https://portal.menopause.org/NAMS/NAMS/Directory/Menopause-Practitioner.aspx
Have you approached your current care team about treatment options, or are you just getting started finding care?
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