Hi, I am 46 in January and have been going through perimenopause since I was about 40. Started with sore swollen breasts, then heavier periods and even heavier then I had PMS for the first time in my life (It took 2 years before I realised it was PMS due to the cycles and timings of my symptoms) then I had insomnia around my PMS time and as the years have moved on my periods are all over the place. Then night sweats, nothing major just one a night and certainly no drenching of the bedding but enough to wake me up. I have periods with no symptoms and symptoms with no periods. The hardest part is no longer being able to say "Ahh! I feel like this because I am due on" the symptoms just hit me at any time and there is no rhyme or reason to them anymore. I have been waking up every night at 5am for months and thankfully I go back to sleep within 20 to 30 minutes sometimes less. Sometimes I get insomnia when and anxiety about insomnia when I wake up and cant go back after 4 hours etc but that usually is followed by my period which is now no more than a tiny spot of old blood, if that. I am using Progesterone (Natural) pessaries 400mg daily every day no break and have done for two years. Progesterone is the calming hormone, nick named "Natures Valium" were as oestrogen is an excitatory hormone. Over the years, as we age, progesterone starts to drop, when we fail to ovulate our bodied produce no progesterone at all (Except a small amount from the brain) and this is what causes a worsening of PMS symptoms as we reach menopause. Oestrogen levels on the other hand, remains the same (over time, of course it dips and ducks throughout the month) and with xenoestrogens in the environment and in our foods, cosmetics, microwave foods contained in plastic, meats etc that women are now no longer accepting the old fashioned belief that we need "Oestrogen" when facing peri and menopause, in fact quite the opposite! Oestrogen Dominance is no more a gimmicky term used to sell progesterone products than "Oestrogen Deficiency" is to the pharmaceutical companies who sell chemical hormones to the medical profession who prescribe them. The studies done on menopause were last researched in the 1950s and were incomplete and yet the medical profession are still treating hormone issues based on that out of date information. If you research the net you will discover *new* studies showing post menopausal women in their 50s with as much Oestrogen as a 20 year old woman but almost no Progesterone. The modern era has enough xenoestrogens to push our Oestrogen levels up already without us needing to put more into our system. It's not a case of a lack of Oestrogen, its the balance or lack there of, of these two hormones that cause the issues.. and as I say, modern research shows a decline in Progesterone whilst Oestrogen remains more or less the same. Women who have PND do so due to the sudden drop of progesterone once they give birth. Our bodies make 400mg of progesterone when we are pregnant. We give birth and suffer from depression anxiety etc due to the sudden drop in Progesterone. This is why many women say that their PMS goes when they were pregnant but comes back with a vengeance when they give birth. All that said, and despite my Progesterone therapy (Which I had to convince my female doctor to prescribe as she wanted me to have a coil fitted) I DO have bad weeks and hours and not all of the symptoms have gone and I wonder if I am getting worse the closer to menopause I get. According to my research you cannot overdose on progesterone, the only thing that would happen is you would feel sleepy! Take too much Oestrogen and all Hell breaks loose not to mention the links to cancers. If anyone is interested in the research and papers to back my own belief up here is a link to a forum on the subject http://www.progesteronetherapy.com/#axzz3KNpFIkMz I am very interested in womens experiences who HAVE taken HRT in either combination, for how long and whether they feel it was working :) Many thanks, Here is a link that might be useful: Progesterone Therapy

To really get a good grasp on the dangers of Prometrium you should stop by the FDA website for & check out the Physicians Fact Sheet. Had I known that there was such a huge difference between the Patients Fact List and the Physicians, I would NEVER have begun to take the Prometrium. I suffer from Secondary Amenorhea and took Prometrium for 4mo. I gained 30lbs & became increasingly depressed with crying spells and intense anxiety. I already suffer from depression and it diminished the effectiveness of my current meds. I don't know why my doctor didn't inform me. But she didn't. I am going OFF the Prometrium on the advice of my Psychiatrist. What I mean to say is BE WELL INFORMED BEFORE YOU TAKE ANY MEDICATION. Read below. The most common adverse experiences reported in 5% of patients in all PROMETRIUM Capsules dosage groups studied in this trial(100 mg/day to 400 mg/day) were: dizziness(16%) breast pain(11%), headache(10%), abdominal pain(10%), fatigue(9%), viral infection(7%), abdominal distention(6%), musculoskeletal pain(6%), emotional lability(6%), irritability(5%), upper respiratory tract infection (5%) PRECAUTIONS - General -Patients who have a history of psychic depression should be carefully observed & the drug discontinued if the depression recurs to a serious degree. -The pretreatment physical examination should include special reference to breast & pelvic organs, & Pap smear. -Because progesterone may cause some degree of fluid retention, conditions which might be influenced by this factor, such as epilepsy, migraine, asthma, cardiac or renal dysfunction, require careful observation. -In cases of breakthrough bleeding, as in any cases of irregular bleeding per vaginum, nonfunctional causes should be borne in mind. In cases of undiagnosed vaginal bleeding, adequate diagnostic measures are indicated. -Any possible influence of prolonged progestin therapy on pituitary, ovarian, adrenal, hepatic or uterine functions awaits further study. -Although concomitant use of conjugated estrogens & PROMETRIUM Capsules did not result in a decrease in glucose tolerance, diabetic patients should be carefully observed while receiving estrogen-progestin therapy. -The pathologist should be advised of progestin therapy when relevant specimens are submitted. -Because of the occurrence of thrombotic disorders (thrombophlebitis, pulmonary embolism, retinal thrombosis, & cerebrovascular disorders) in patients taking estrogen-progestin combinations, the physician should be alert to the earliest manifestation of these disorders. -Transient dizziness may occur in some patients. Use caution when driving a motor vehicle or operating machinery. A small percentage of women may experience extreme dizziness and/or drowsiness during initial therapy. For these women, bedtime dosing is advised. WARNINGS -The physician should be alert to the earliest signs of thrombotic disorders (thrombophlebitis, cerebrovascular disorders, pulmonary embolism, & retinal thrombosis). Should any of these occur or be suspected, the drug should be discontinued immediately. -Discontinue medication pending examination if there is sudden partial or complete loss of vision, or if there is a sudden onset of proptosis, diplopia or migraine. If examination reveals papilledema or retinal vascular lesions, medication should be withdrawn. -The administration of any drug to nursing mothers should be done only when clearly necessary since many drugs are excreted in human milk. Detectable amounts of progestin have been identified in the milk of mothers receiving progestins. The effect of this on the nursing infant has not been determined -Retrospective studies of morbidity & mortality in Great Britain & studies of morbidity in the United States have shown a statistically significant association between thrombophlebitis, pulmonary embolism, cerebral thrombosis & embolism, & the use of oral contraceptives. -The estimate of the relative risk of thromboembolism in the study by Vessey & Doll was about seven fold, while Sartwell & associates in the U.S. found a relative risk of 4.4, meaning that the users are several times as likely to undergo thromboembolic disease without evident cause as nonusers. -The American study also indicated that the risk did not persist after discontinuation of administration, & that it was not enhanced by long-continued administration. The American study was not designed to evaluate a difference between products. Other adverse events reported in -Autonomic Nervous System Disorders: dry mouth -Body As A Whole: accidental injury, chest pain, fever -Cardiovascular System Disorders: hypertension -Central & Peripheral Nervous System Disorders: confusion, somnolence, speech disorder -Gastrointestinal System Disorders: constipation, dyspepsia, gastroenteritis, hemorrhagic rectum, hiatus hernia, vomiting -Hearing & Vestibular Disorders: earache -Heart Rate & Rhythm Disorders: palpitation -Metabolic & Nutritional Disorders: edema, edema peripheral -Musculoskeletal System Disorders: arthritis, leg cramps, hypertonia, muscle disorder, myalgia -Myo/Endo/Pericardial & Valve Disorders: angina pectoris -Psychiatric Disorders: anxiety, impaired concentration, insomnia, personality disorder -Reproductive System Disorders: leukorrhea, uterine fibroid, vaginal dryness, fungal vaginitis, vaginitis -Resistance Mechanism Disorders: abscess, herpes simplex -Respiratory System Disorders: bronchitis, nasal congestion, pharyngitis, pneumonitis, sinusitis -Skin & Appendages Disorders: acne, verruca, wound debridement -Urinary System Disorders: urinary tract infection -Vision Disorders: abnormal vision -White Cell & Resistance Disorders The following adverse experiences have been reported with PROMETRIUM Capsules in other U.S. clinical trials: increased sweating, asthenia, tooth disorder, anorexia, increased appetite, nervousness, & breast enlargement. The following additional adverse experiences have been observed in women taking progestins in general: breakthrough bleeding, spotting, change in menstrual flow, amenorrhea, changes in the cervical squamo-columnar junction & cervical secretions, changes in weight(MORE or LESS), jaundice, anaphylactoid reactions & anaphylaxis, rash (allergic) with & without pruritus, melasma or chloasma, pyrexia, & insomnia. Luck,Wendy

Hello Fay-Lisa, You've been through so much, you should get a medal for staying as strong as you have and being able to maintain your job and relationship. You are absolutely NOT insane or anything close to it. Many people have that moment in life (or several) in which they feel like they have *had* it. They may not use markers to vent their frustration/anger/anxiety/depression but they do all kinds of other things -- eat too much, drink too much, have affairs, spend too much, leave their families, withdraw completely and so on. First things first, you are doing the right thing by getting all the physical tests out of the way. My first thought after reading everything you've been through is that you might need to see an endocrinologist to have your thyroid and hormone levels thoroughly checked (forgive me if you said you have already done then). If all the tests turn out to be in the normal range, then it's time to consider other possibilities. You may have some kind of chemical imbalance which might be helped with the right kind of medication. This process is most definitely trial and error, and I certainly understand your frustration with the various medications and their respective side effects. I don't like taking them either, but they do have their place as part of an overall approach to tackling and managing symptoms. One suggestion I have is for you to find a *good* therapist -- someone who is very experienced and has training in working with people who may have emotional damage from childhood. You mentioned in your post some unkind things your mother said to you when you were young. I imagine there's a lot more where that came from. Was there alcoholism in your family of origin? Are there others in the family or extended family who have struggled with mental health issues? One psychiatrist I consulted with asked me what kinds of mental health issues there were in my family (I, too, was struggling with terrible depression and panic attacks/anxiety). When I told him there were family members with bi-polar, extreme anxiety, schizophrenia, alcoholism and chronic depression, he said, "well, what did you expect?" The truth is most families have members who cope with these illnesses. A psychologist said that each of us has a collection of genes that contribute to our personalities and temperaments. We just have to work on doing the best with what we've got. You sound like a very self aware, strong person. Please please please do not be so hard on yourself. I am an easy going, peaceful person usually-- but when I have gone through difficult times in my life the anxiety and depression caused me to behave in ways I'm not proud of -- angry, irritated, crying, throwing things, hiding, having major panic attacks where I felt outside of my own body. That's called disassociation and it can happen when anxiety and depression go on for too long without proper treatment. In addition to all this, there is the real possibility that you are now in perimenopause and many of your current symptoms may have been caused or made worse by it. I think I've had every symptom in the "34 symptoms of menopause" list." I've always dealt with anxiety and depression, but this was so deep and dark -- I'm thankful to God that I finally found a competent therapist, the right medication and inner strength to choose to believe in myself and stop condemning myself. This is a choice you can make too and I hope you will. It sounds like you're a caring, compassion, intelligent and very sensitive person. Those are gifts worth celebrating!! It's so easy to slip into that groove of basing your self worth on your job. I'm a decade older than you, and I'm here to tell you, the quality, richness and success of your life is not about what you do to earn money to support yourself. It's about your relationships and your experiences. What do you do to relax and have fun? Fulfilling life experiences don't have to cost a lot of money. You don't have to have a lot of friends, but you do need a support system you can turn to for a listening ear and encouragement. There are many ways you can cultivate loyal, kind and supportive friends. You deserve to have people in your life in addition to your wonderful boyfriend who care about you and will treat you like the amazing person you are. Life goes by so quickly. Take each day as it comes and don't worry so much about the future. As the saying goes, we only live 24 hours at a time. And if I'm having a really bad spell, I take it about an hour at a time : ) Be good to yourself. You might find yoga relaxing or some other kind of exercise class. You might also find a support group beneficial -- it's always comforting to know you're in good company when it comes to dealing with life's difficulties. Think about what makes you the happiest and resolve to pursue these things. Don't ever let anyone make you feel "less than" about anything -- whether it's your job, appearance, hobbies, friends -- all these belong to *you* and if someone doesn't have something supportive or helpful to say to you, tune it out!!! It took me years to learn how to do this, but I am happy to say, it can be done!! Keep posting and let us know how you're doing. I am interested in finding out what the test results will show. But no matter what, cherish yourself and look for the positive things that happen each day -- even the smallest good things matter. God bless you and good luck with your appointments next week!!

Oilpainter,I sincerely appreciate your response. I did a little bit of research this evening, and I found a list of symptoms that could be caused by menopause. Hopefully, this will help others, too. Some of them are not the "normal" symptoms that our doctors or others tell us about and can be obscure,so it makes me feel a little bit better. Some Typical Perimenopausal Symptoms *Changes in bleeding (heavy bleeding, irregular cycles, missed cycles, light bleeding, clotting) *Anxiety, fear, depression, irritability, rebellion, crying jags, panic attacks *Fatigue, loss of energy *Low self-esteem *Suicidal thinking * Inability to tolerate tension *Inappropriate emotional responses *Low noise tolerance *Sleep disturbances, insomnia, sleepiness *Inability to concentrate, short-term memory loss *Drying and thinning of the gastrointestinal tract (causing constipation, ulceration, stomach pain, colitis, diarrhea, gas) *Bladder infections, frequency and urgency of urination, burning, incontinence *Vaginal dryness *Low sex drive, painful intercourse, reduction of fantasy, lack of lubrication during sex, diminished orgasms, lessened skin and nipple response *Hot flashes, night sweats, chills *Dizziness *Low blood sugar, trembling *Numbness, tingling, crawling feelings on skin *Dry, wrinkling skin; loss of collagen, sagging breasts *Dry, thinning hair; growth of facial hair, male pattern of hair on body *Brittle, slow-growing, and grooved nails *Osteoarthritis, bone thinning and loss, loss of height, shifting joint pains, joint degeneration, backache, mid-bone pains, muscle cramps and spasm, muscle weakness, and loss of strength *Rapid heart rate, palpitations, heart pain, increased cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, shortness of breath *Headaches, migraines, nausea *Dark gloomy circles under eyes *Weight loss or gain