Perimenopause: What helps?

Posted by amcquaig @amcquaig, 2 days ago

I am hoping that some amazing woman can give me some good advice. I am 44 yrs old and have been in perimenopause for three yrs now. I have been getting the Biote Hormone Replacement pellets in my booty cheek, and I take supplements that go along with it.......BUT I still feel like I'm going crazy. I sincerely feel like I am slipping into a depression. There are days that I just want to stay in bed all day and cry because I have no energy or desire to do anything, my emotions are like a spiraling roller coaster and God forbid I go anywhere because I get overwhelmed and have to hurry and leave. I've picked up a little weight in my belly, so that has made me very self-conscious, and I have been trying to exercise, but most days I struggle to gather the energy to do that. I love to craft, and it has always been my "quiet" time, but lately I can't even enjoy that. I am so overwhelmed by all of this. I have researched vitamins and other supplements that help with perimenopause symptoms, but of course there are so many that I don't know which ones actually work. I just want to find out how to calm my anxiety and relax and be active again like I once was. I just want to be my best self for myself, my husband and my daughters and lately I feel like I'm not. I feel like I'm fighting this battle alone, although I know that many women go through this. I would be so grateful for any advice that you can give me.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Women's Health Support Group.

Lori, Volunteer Mentor | @loribmt | 2 days ago

Hi @amcquai Reading your post this morning…45 years ago I was living in exactly the same world of bizarro!! The pilot of mental maelstrom! LOL
I was so hoping that by the time my own daughter reached 40 that the world of women’s health would have been taken more seriously so that women didn’t need to face this alone!
You’re not crazy and you’re not alone! The roller coast ride of soaring and plummeting hormone levels takes you to the apex of glee only to plummet to depths of despair in 0 to 60 in record setting time!

Anyway, since I’m well past menopause but my daughter is in the thick of it, I’d been paying attention to some of the information available. Finally, there is a movement by younger, well educated women to take control of this situation.
I recently sent my daughter a book by Dr Mary Claire Haver called, The Pause Life. She said it was really helpful and is trying to find a suitable women’s health expert where she lives to help her navigate this weird trip with no roadmap! My daughter is using a bio-identical cream which she’s felt may be helping to level the highs and lows?

Dr Haver also has a website. You can also follow her of FB. She, along with a host of other women such as Mel Robbin’s have some really helpful podcasts.
https://thepauselife.com/
Hopefully there are some younger women or members with experience in perimenopause to give you more current guidance. Have you been to see a Functional Medicine provider?

amcquaig | @amcquaig | 2 days ago

In reply to @loribmt "Hi @amcquai Reading your post this morning…45 years ago I was living in exactly the same..." + (show)

Thank you.

amcquaig | @amcquaig | 1 day ago

In reply to @amcquaig "Thank you." + (show)

Thank you so much, I will certainly check out "thepauselife". I truly do feel like my life has been put on pause, I have so much to be thankful for and can't stand feeling so BLAH all the time.

Kelly, Moderator | @klp | 1 day ago

Hi @amcquaig. I'm so sorry you're going through this. Like Lori said, perimenopause is a wild roller coaster ride. Trying to stay ahead of your symptoms can feel exhausting.

Like you, I'm in perimenopause. My symptoms have run the gamut: increased anxiety, brain fog, inability to concentrate, insomnia and lack of energy. A year ago I started pellet therapy and oral progesterone. Three months ago I started using an estrogen patch as well. It's definitely helped ease some of my symptoms. I've also tried closely listen to what my body is telling me. About a year ago I put a heavy emphasis on getting quality sleep. Now I go to bed earlier, keep my bedroom cool, turn on green noise, and cut out screen time at least an hour before bed. And I'm trying to be more careful about what I eat, because I'm finding some foods just make me feel worse.

That's what has worked for me so far, but everyone experiences perimenopause differently. There are some really great books and podcasts on perimenopause that you might want to check out.

You mentioned that you've been getting the Biote hormone pellets. Have they helped with any of your symptoms?