I'm not one of the lucky ones whose life literally changed in two days. I know it takes six to eight weeks to see if it works or not, but I'm losing hope...
Are there really people for whom it started badly but ended well?
Listen! Yesterday was one of the most horrible days. Mind you I’ve had three kids with CS. So my issue started when I was on my period for a month, went to my OB and she suggested that I have a biopsy which I did and it was so painful. I had an awake biopsy, my OB told me the Ablation was going to be similar and quick I was like cool. But when I tell you my life flashed before my eyes yesterday I thought I had left this world. The pain I can’t even describe it. I was given some meds for pain and Xanax to help relax me. Then the Ablation procedure started, I know they said it takes 10 minutes but it felt like decades, I was awake for it. I don’t think this procedure is one that anyone should be awake for, I nearly fainted. I was dripping in sweat! The pain was out of this world, I was screaming my head off. I cried my eyes out!!!!! How do people do this awake?? I didn’t know it was going to be this bad omg!!!!! Am i the only one that felt this way? Or did anyone else have same experience?
Hi everyone!
I'm only 35 and was just told by my OB yesterday I'm not actually going crazy, but I'm going through perimenopause. 🫠 My PCP was looking into autoimmune disorders and other things trying to figure out why I'm slowly falling apart and everything has come back normal. So hopefully my OB is on the right track now and we've found the culprit to start getting myself back to normal!
Brain fog, dry eyes(so bad I got a corneal abrasion), itchy/crawling skin everywhere, intense fatigue, sleep issues, complete loss of the ability to multitask, phantom smells, mood swings, no more temperature regulation, zero libido, greasy hair that's falling out like crazy and thinning spots...I could go on 😅
I just started the estrogen patch at a middle of the road dose last night and she said to start the progesterone pill about a week after so I know if I'm having any bad reactions to either of them. Additionally, I was given the estrogen cream to combat dryness down there. We talked about adding testosterone cream later on also.
Does this sound about right to you guys? I just want to see if I'm on the right path for this compared to others as my faith in the medical system is very small these days lol. For example, I fired my previous OB after being completely dismissed about these issues and the fact that my PCP suggested I see the OB next. I was talked down to and acted like I was "too young" and "just have anxiety." And they ended with "I will not discuss this further." IMMEDIATE call to the patient advocate because I don't want others to deal with that nonsense.
I'm also looking for supplements to add to my daily routine if anyone has suggestions! I plan on getting something for my eyes like areds and omega 3s, I need a vitamin d + k2 as that is slightly low, maybe some iron to increase ferritin as it's in the normal range but in the low 30s. What else would be good for supplements?
If you've gotten this far, thank you. 🥰 I have so many questions about this phase in life and how to navigate it. I'm cautious but hopeful I'll get back to some sense of normalcy!
Do you take progesterone two weeks on two weeks off because it's easier to remember, or do you do days 15 to 26 of your cycle?
I usually do two weeks on but I want my period to come two days early so is 12 days if progesterone ok??
Thanks!
Any suggestions? I can’t do HRT because of my cancer history, so that’s not an option. But man, am I going through it right now. The worst symptom is anxiety, but also a weird super over sensitivity to smell? I didn’t realize that was a perimenopause thing until discovering this sub last week. And bladder urgency is super inconvenient. I am sooooo ready for menopause….
I wanted to add estrogen to my Slynd but my doctor told me this was not an appropriate way to do things and would be weird. I should just go on progesterone and off the pill, since I don't use it for birth control (just period management). I am 44 and still get periods, although I haven't since January bc I take the pill continuously. She took 2 fsh levels and told me I was menopausal bc of slightly elevated levels and acted like she would be surprised if I get my period again??? I don't believe that! She said she would prescribe whatever I ask for but she had me believing Slynd+ estrogen was not correct however I have read many people in here do that.
If if I don't need it for birth control, should I just switch to progesterone? I am kinda scared of stomach upset and other side effects but the pill never bothered me so maybe it won't either? Also don't want a period!
Hi fam,
It’s me, your sister in night sweats, feminine rage, brain fog, joint pain, and lowwww libido 🤣. What supplements are we taking while in peri?
I've been dealing with reactivated EBV for at least the last year if not longer... It turned up in bloodwork when my rheumatologist and naturopath were testing me for everything under this sun trying to figure out what was wrong with me. I ended up being diagnosed with reactivated EBV, fibromyalgia, secondary dysautonomia and then recently lipedema. Things had gotten so bad that I had to stop working last September and have spent the winter focusing on treating a candida over growth that also showed up in blood work, outside of that I eat an anti-inflammatory gluten-free /dairy-free/no added sugar diet, am slowly losing weight, and I'm on an LDN and Zepbound (+ supplement). The LDN+Zep have been life-changing and have taken away almost all of my pain/fatigue. I prioritize sleep and avoid stressful situations as much as I can. But I'm 47 and am definitely dealing with perimenopause as well and it's really hard to tell what is peri vs what is one of my other chronic illnesses. At my last appointment my naturopath said to do some research about HRT but I'm nervous because I know it can mess with EBV and I've worked so hard I'm trying to get it back to chronic. We will retest all my numbers this summer and I still have a few months till I see her again... Has anyone had any similar situations or gone on HRT after being diagnosed reactivated? Thanks everyone!
Hi! I finally got a doctor to prescribe me estrogen after 9 months of begging multiple doctors and being told I was “too young”… classic! Even though I’m already on 100 mg progesterone and testosterone gel.
My 2 main concerns are: joint pain (I was a runner and can no longer run) and low libido/low sensations.
I asked her for the estrogen patch and cream. She said that was “too much estrogen” so she prescribed Estrogel 0,06% and told me it would address both issues. I’ve always read that only the estrogen cream, applied on the vaginal wall and clitoris can help with sensations. Will the Estrogel actually help?? I’m seriously thinking on just ordering the estrogen cream online without a prescription because I’m so tired of waiting for someone to prescribe it to me!!
54 yr old. Menopause eludes me. It’s been a period every 5-6 months. I’m on HRT (100 mg progesterone daily; 0.075 estradiol 2x week). I wanted my estradiol increased since the last few months have been bad—the brain fog has me doubting a can do my job. Went to see an OBGYN (tried to schedule an appointment at the Menopause Care Center, and I have more chances of winning the lottery than seeing a doc there, so I got the very 1st available appt).
Doc was told that brain fog is not related to peri and wanted to send me to a neurologist. She also told me that increasing estradiol will have no effect (?????).
Then, after letting me know I’m still peri and that a transvaginal I got done at the beginning of 2025 was normal—and knowing I was getting another one done that same day—she told me she wants to do an endometrial biopsy. When I asked how painful it was, she said some OTC painkiller and light numbing are enough to handle the pain.
WTF? Am I overreacting here, or is a biopsy an out-of-proportion response to peri bleeding?
And is it true that there’s no point in increasing HRT if symptoms gotten worse?
I’ve been gaslit so many times before it’s hard to trust anyone.
I'm really just... a stinky lady now, huh??!?!?!!?
Like, my workout sweat, my haven't-taken-a-shower-yet-today body, my teeth retainer, my hoodies, my socks even after a lazy day, but especially my crotch and underwear!! And literally everything I touch!! I haven't changed anything (no new soaps, deodorants, detergents, none of that). I sweat a little more than I used to but not that much. It's like, a sweet rot almost?? Silage that's on the edge??? (iykyk) But sometimes it's just sweet without the rot???
(Blood sugar is totally in healthy range, I know that sweet-rot smell can be a thing for that but I was recently tested and came back all good!)
And I am so self-conscious of it!! Like I just want to take a hundred showers a day and hide away in my house. It's affecting my self-consciousness pretty greatly and makes me avoid certain social situations. Which is not good.
But I also wonder...since super-smell is a bitch thing we deal with, along with phantom smells, I wonder if I actually do smell this bad? Or is my stupid brain and nose tricking me?? All my friends who have courage to talk about this (and will tell me the truth, hardcore) say I smell fine. So is it just my nose??!?!!? Did I always smell like this, but just didn't have the nose-power???
I got the "IDGAF" variety of peri, so the way I am stressing out over how I smell feels out of place a little, if that makes sense. I am not really looking for advice or suggestions, I've read all the posts and stuff about what you can do, and I have tried to no avail. I guess I just...stink now, forever and ever amen.
It's in my handwriting, in my pen, on my notepad. I write myself notes a couple of times a week but I have absolutely no idea what it means. I don't remember writing it. It says: Arms to FWA. I don't know what any part of it means! It isn't about work. I'm not going to Fort Worth Airport, ever. Is it arms like limbs, or guns, or rests? I live in Florida, so that might be the F but?? How can I live like this, I'm only 41!
I know fatigue is all part of peri and hormonal changes, ive been so fatigued lately. I have fibromyalgia so im used to fatigue. But this seems like not normal fatigue for me. Like often feeling like I took Benadryl but still have to fight to stay awake and get through the day. Like so tired I’m nauseous and it actually hurts, my legs hurt. I’m too tired right now to get up and have a shower. Is this normal as peri progresses? I’m 48 and have been having some hot flashes and night sweats, other more noticeable peri symptoms. I’m waiting for some blood work results to come back.
I am already seeing an OB, I have an estrogen patch, I have a checkup in a month. I can fall asleep great, can’t stay asleep. But worst of all, I’m having trouble functioning at work. The brain fog is intense. I’m started taking creatine last week, D3 and Omega 3. What has anyone done to get back to feeling normal?
So I'm on progesterone and it's helping to a degree. Still have trouble staying asleep- although not as bad as it used to be, brain fog, irritability, and lots of fatigue.
Just curious, when does one usually know when they may need estrogen too? Asked my obgyn and she said "we can get you on that if you want" - which doesn't fully help because I'm not a trained doctor and don't want to do things based on "want." 😄
I know can look this up online, but I want to hear your experiences.
I an 43 yrs old already suffering generalize anxiety,mdd and panic attacks i am on meds. all of a sudden i always feel sleepy, anxiety on top of anxiety which often lead to panic attack. i get full 8hrs sleep and still tired. i also notice that i dont wanna leave the house anymore unless its doctors appointments. i also get anxious going to the doctor now i didnt before. i was able to do delivery job and now im scared. am i really going through peri????? this is so hard!!! my life is hard already and it now got worse! why do you guys dont wanna leave your home? i wanna hear your story.
Hi, I'm 48 and surely in peri. My periods are still as regular as clockwork (albeit much heavier in the last 18 months as I have a large fibroid), I'm still ovulating, I don't get sweats or hot flushes, I don't have vaginal dryness and until the last month my libido was normal. What I do have is cognitive failure to the point that I think I have dementia, my joint pain is so severe I can no longer get up and down stairs without holding onto the railing and going one at a time, my libido has suddenly disappeared almost overnight, my PMDD is getting longer and worse and I do not feel like myself anymore. I've also put on 20kgs (44lbs) in the last year and hate exercising now because it's so painful.
I'm irritable and short-tempered with my partner, I don't want to shag him anymore even though a month ago our sex life was great (my libido just drove off a cliff really suddenly). I don't feel attracted to him anymore, I look at him and think terrible things about him, I speak contemptuosly to him. I just want to punch him in his stupid face for no reason at all. I get on his back and pick at him all the time and last night he sarcastically called me "Mommy" and I wanted to murder him. I thought my brain was going snap and I thought I might actually physically hurt him.
We had a massive fight and both of us wanted to break up and this morning he's not speaking to me and I'm on Reddit looking for evidence that peri makes you go insane. I hate this, this is not me, this is not us and life is just not fun anymore.
I can't take estrogen due to a family history of breast cancer (have been told this by two different gynos and the radiologist who did my latest mammogram). But I think my estrogen might be ok as my periods are still regular, low estrogen-related sympoms like hot flashes and sweats are not an issue and my large fibroid is a sign of too much estrogen. I've just moved to a another country and I've been to a GP and Gyno here and both were pretty useless - just the old "you can't have HRT". But you can get anything you want from the pharmacy without a prescription.
Things are so desperate I'm wondering if I should try progesterone only HRT? I don't know what to ask for, I don't know what form to take in (tablet, patch, cream) and how strong. I'm so confused and desperate I thought I'd ask here in the hope that I might get some guidance on HRT and progesterone therapy. Thank you so much for reading!
I’m embarrassed to ask this but what’s the best way to apply my vaginal E cream? Ive been on Estradiol and Testosterone injections for a year but my Clit has completely disappeared, getting my E and T up has not helped which I find odd but maybe that’s normal? I got E cream and the instructions say to insert 1 gram but if I rub some on allll over down there as well, will it help bring my clit back? How long did it take yours to get better?
Like seriously - how do women navigating perimenopause not get fired.....I keep making stupid mistakes on things I should be able to do with my eyes closed...its actually getting ridiculous - I am surprised any of us are able to keep our jobs - between brain fog and sleep deprivation no wonder we all feel like we are going mad
Hi everyone, I’m 44 and perimenopausal. Symptoms are fatigue, insomnia, hot flashes, weight gain, bloating. Generally feeling like crap most of the time. My gyno prescribed 100mg of progesterone to take during days 14-28 of my cycle. Feeling a little nervous as I’ve never taken hormones before. But hoping I get some relief. I’d like to see what others experiences have been taking progesterone. Did it work for you? Did it give you any side effects? Any info would be great. Thank you 😊