Hi shopping59, I'm new to this forum, but I feel your pain. I pretty much have all the symptoms you've expressed. I actually feel like I'm going out of my mind sometimes. I am 52, had a partial hysterectomy when I was 28. And I really didn't start to have hot flashes until my early forties, and though they were annoying, they can never compare to the mood swings I get. Constantly tired, insomnia...it's like being hungover....without drinking!!! Craziness! Now, Estrace-Estraidol 1.5 MG has really helped. And I'm also on depression med Effexor. But, I'm thinking on trying Prozac, because I don't feel Effexor working anymore for me. And I've been doing some research on Prozac and it's been known to help woman with menopause. What gets me mad is that my doc never suggested it, and kept me on Effexor. Now, please don't think I like to push drugs...as there not for everyone. But, when your life feels so bleak and you don't know how you'll make it the next day, it's all worth it. Hopefully, this helps. Do your own research on this meds. Also, when I do have energy I walk & that really makes me feel good. Plus make sure your taking a multi vitamin. May God bless you, you'll be in my prayers.

Honestly, I don't know that bleeding would make it easier to process perimenopause. My cycle is all over the place, and strikes without warning. I've had many bouts of fatigue, cravings, and dry cramping, with no bleeding to show for it. Other times, I have a day where I'm going through a super plus tampon every hour, and still need a maxi pad for backup. Forget getting a good night's sleep when that's going on.

Among my older friends, most were done by their early to mid 50s. I have one friend who suffers horribly with hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, muscle cramps, and fatigue...the poor dear has been wrestling with the severe symptoms for maybe 5 years now. Others have gotten through with nothing too extreme. I think it just varies from woman to woman. And I still think the best remedies are the old-fashioned ones: healthy diet, exercise, keep active. It won't fix everything, but it guarantees you won't be compounding problems beyond your control with problems you can control.

I think hormones are overdue for some serious medical attention. Our imbalances can range from irritating to debilitating, and I think a better quality of life will be available once some medical smarty pants-types figure out how to effectively gauge and restore women's hormonal balance. The happiness of the world hangs in the balance.

You could have a couple things that stand out to me. I'm no Dr nor am I pretending to be. But I am diabetic so they only allowed me two pregnancies for health reasons. I had rough pregnancies & diabetics have a high rate of still birth, babies birth defects, & dangers to the mother. They also have large babies so they induced both labors 2 weeks to 1 month early. After my 2nd baby in 1979, I was 21 they gave me a tubligation.

I didn't have too many issues with my periods after that in the immediate future. As time went on I started having horrible cramping, nausea, irregular periods, heavy periods, bloating, fatigue, constipation, ER visits thinking my appendix was bad or I had gall stones, on & on. The pain would come, I would break in a sweat & drive to the fam Dr I had on my HMO at the time so he would believe me. This was in 1992. He would tell me it's all in my head, or it was PMS, prescribe me tranquilizers & antidepressants. I would just cry. Finally I told my husband I'm going to my GYN. I don't need a referral, & maybe it's female & not a stomach issue at all.

Sure enough it was endometriosis. To be sure he did a laparoscopy. So at about 32 I had a total hysterectomy. I asked about leaving the ovaries, he told me no because he would just have to go back in later and take them out.

When they went in there the endometriosis was on everything, even on my esophagus. Estrogen causes the sores to ooze and seep. Making you sick.

But after I felt better. Then 18 mos later some symptoms started coming back. He went back in and from the different surgeries I had developed scar tissue or adhesions. They're like spaghetti. They were there at the hysterectomy, but they cleaned them out. This time they were partially blocking my bowels. You can die from that. He cleaned them out really good. Did some cartorizing. I'm 59 now & haven't had a problem since. It's been wonderful.

Sorry for the lengthy comment. Hope it helps.

Sandra

Hi I am so sorry to hear so many women here feeling awful including you because of the terrors of menopause and I would like to offer a bit of relief if Iam able to. I work at a small startup company in California where we have created a cooling wristband that has been clinically proven to suppress hot flashes in seconds. My mother is a teacher and experiencing severe menopause and it broken my heart to receive calls from her embarrassed about pouring sweat in meetings, freezing the students in her class from always having the AC on, and her in ability to focus when she got panic attacks knowing the onset of a hot flash was near. So with my team we’ve created a wristband no larger than a sweatband, that is fully rechargeable so that women can continue working without embarrassment,sleep and take back their lives! I am truly passionate about women health and believe I can help so many women like yourself we just have very little awareness that we exist right now. But I know from multiple women including my mother that this thing works and id love for you to try it out, it is completely natural because I am hurt by the numbers of women who seek relief with medication and end up being diagnosed with cancer. This isn’t an add just a very passionate women trying to help so many women out there in an affordable way that does not jeopardize their health! Please shoot me an email at kendra@dhamausa.com if any women out there are interested we have a small social media following on @dhamausa on Facebook or www.dhamaw.com