I have decided since I was totally clueless what was going on with me and really had not talked with many people about perimenopause that I would share with you all my experience. Over the past few years my periods have been worse but I thought it was because of my fibroids and cysts. I would tell myself I just have a lot of stress in my life, with weight gain and not exercising that this is why I am acting and feeling like I am.
At my doctors appointment I talked with my gynecologist and was told I was going through perimenopause. She told me I could take prescription medications but I did not want to take a lot of prescriptions. You have to go an entire year without periods before you’re done with all the symptoms that come with perimenopause.
I didn’t want to face the fact I was getting older and it was time for this part of my life. So if any of you are experiencing any of the symptoms below don’t be like me and ignore it. I just wanted to share my experience with you all because I made the mistake of ignoring it and it has affected my life, my family and my career. I prayed and prayed about all of this and decided to make the changes so I could treat the symptoms of perimenopause and live a healthier lifestyle.
Due to the commonality of symptoms, many women confuse perimenopause with PMS and vice versa. Both PMS and perimenopause are the result of fluctuating progesterone levels. However, PMS symptoms are cyclical and directly correlate with a woman’s menstrual cycle. They also disappear once a woman gets her period. Not so with perimenopause.
Perimenopause symptoms typically continue throughout a woman’s monthly cycle and do not disappear once she gets her period. They are also much more erratic, unpredictable and intense. So much so that many women feel they are losing control or as if they are going crazy.
You are not going Crazy!
While the intensity, unpredictability and erratic nature of perimenopause symptoms is certainly disconcerting, the good news is you are not going crazy. Simply addressing the hormone imbalance, in addition to understanding the role of nutritional needs and the importance of reducing stress in your life, you will not only get relief from perimenopause symptoms, but you will bring a calming harmony and wellness back into your life!
Since I figured out all of this and started talking with several women that are my age and older have all told me that they went through the same things and a lot of them had to take medication for several years until menopause was over. Just know you are not alone…I thought I was and I let pride get in the way of talking to other women.
Perimenopause symptoms vary among women not only in intensity, but in the types of symptoms as well. While each woman’s experience is different and unique to her, there are many symptoms that are relatively common, such as:
- Irritability
- Upset more than usual
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Feeling revved
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Mood swings
- Reduced self-esteem
- Hot flashes & night sweats
- Insomnia
- Fatigue
- Crying easily
- Shorter cycles, closer together
- Heavy bleeding with blood clots
So if any of you are experiencing any of the symptoms above don’t be like me and ignore it. Get with your gynecologist and decide what is best for you. It’s not only hard on you but all the relationships around you. You will feel so much better dealing with perimenopause by exercising, eating healthier, drinking your daily water and I highly suggest to take a supplement to help with all the symptoms above.
I am not a spokesperson for Estroven nor am I being paid in anyway to endorse them. I just started taking it a week ago and saw a huge difference. It’s truly been a game changer for me. I took the quiz they offered on their website and I purchased the Estroven Menopause Relief Mood Boost. You can check out this product here.
If you ever need to chat or have any questions please feel free to drop me an email at [email protected]
**Please check with your doctor first as I am not a doctor. This is not medical advice. I am just sharing my experience. ~Cheri Cranford