Any women here go through perimenopause? Was depression a symptom?

I am post-menopause. I always felt that being a woman and having the monthly hormone cycles made me moody, but I just decided that that went (and goes) with the territory.

Many women of my generation took Hormone ‘Replacement Therapy and felt it was the fountain of youth, until the dangers of interfering with Mother Nature began to manifest themselves.

Personally, I would try to treat your droopy days with diet, exercise, meditation and attitude. (“Fuck you, moody blues” is a very good mantra.)

Why bother being tested for perimenopause. If you have a family history of early menopause and you are showing clear signs of being about to say “Adieu” to your periods, find something more fun to do? You already know the answer.

Our family were late stoppers and I had my last period when I just turned 57.

Laughing at hot flashes is a good exercise unit, when and if they arrive. So is walking on your beach and trying to wake Frankie from his daily hourly coma.

See Mayo clinic fact sheet about perimenopause, symptoms, med. and alternative treatments, lifestyles and home remedies, and general suggestions. They do not feel sanguine about Black Cohosh and mention some alarming possible risks.

Thank-you for your response!

Frank is up in the North doing a bit of sailing.

Milo here: Finally. Has he learned how to polish the brasses and swab the deck?

His cohort is lounging in the downstairs lobby. Doing his best to cool off that fuzzy tummy!

Did you stuff him into some sort of fancy pipe organ? I don’t know why these guys don’t call the local humane society and turn you in.

The only thought I have to add to Gail’s reply is that you may want to rule-out any other possible causes for your symptoms.

I am ‘perimenopausal’ because I had my uterus removed 3+ years ago. At my annual exam last month, I mentioned that I get tender breasts on occasions, so I guess I still ovulate from time-to-time, but it doesn’t seem frequent or regular. My Gyn said that the system knows that one key component is missing, so it begins shutting down gradually and gently, so I may not even have hot flashes and such. My mother went through menopause after 50, so I’m a few years earlier than she. I have not had mood swings; in fact, it’s the opposite – I was a raging lunatic during PMS time when I was on the pill and in the early stages of fibroids and endometriosis (years before I knew it was happening). So I find that relatively stable hormones is a blessing.

Very interesting question. My periods have been very light for about 3 years, if and when I do bleed, it will be spotting and lasts only a day. I lost a baby 4 years ago and put it down to that. I never thought it could be another reason. I am only 34 though. But I will look into this, thanks.

I am going through perimenopause right now and while I wouldn’t say I am depressed, I am definitely more moody. I feel like I am more easily rattled and sensitive to things. I never really dealt with PMS, but as my periods get shorter (but heavier) my PMS gets more and more intense.

I went in for my annual a month or so ago and when I discussed it with my doctor she suggested a low dose birth control pill. I am just finishing the first pack and I am noticing a difference. As a bonus it has been proven that being on birth control pills for an amount of time can decrease the risk of ovarian cancer. My mom also died of ovarian cancer, so that part is important to me. I was concerned because of the all the problems that have been attributed to hormone replacement therapy (increased risk of breast cancer for one), but my doctor assured me that the hormone levels of these pills are much, much lower than what was in HRT.

Many women I know were very moody when they were perimenopausal. Women who never had mood swings or premenstrual symptoms previously now found themselves with cyclical symptoms associated with their menstrual cycles. Some complained about an overall depression, but mostly I have heard them say they were quick to anger and total bitches either part of the months or all the time for a couple years leading up to their cessation of menses and even a year or two during menopause. I think it is different for everyone though.

Perimenopause also usually happens during a transition time in a woman’s life not associated with their periods. For many women they are just starting to empty nest, or they are really beginning to “feel old.” Many people in their 40’s have regrets about what they did not do in life. Question choices they have made. The 40’s amd 50’s tend to be a time of self evaluation and philosophical analysis. It can mean going through many emotions, including some depression.

@Mama_Cakes – I’m also 41, but like @hearkat had a hysterectomy so I have no clue if I’m perimenopausal or not..but wanted to add that as we get older the way we metabolize medications apparently changes somewhat and also, if you’re on any medications for things like high blood-pressure there can be side effects that range from all sorts of things, including depression.
I read about it first here – but then also found similar articles at the Boston Globe and a related story in the NY Times.

Last October I switched from one blood pressure medicine to another and then noticed some time later that I felt more…blah. Couldn’t really put my finger on it..just didn’t feel like myself. Like I was in a funk. I mentioned it to my hubby and one day he said: “Could you be depressed?” Never had depression before..and honestly, I’m a generally a really happy, optimistic type person..but it turns out the new BP med I was on has this as a potential side effect. (The brand name was specifically called out in that Scientific American Mind article to my surprise.)

Maybe you’re not on any other medications…but if you are, before you start taking an herbal remedy like Black Cohosh talk with a health practitioner about the potential interactions.
(And, I’ve heard of Black Cohosh, and also St. John’s Wort for perimenopausal women – for leveling of moods. If you’re on any other medications I’d research carefully or see a homeopathic or alternative medicine knowledgeable practitioner before trying a supplement. But..then, that’s just me. I’m super uptight about taking anything. I’d rather treat any and all health concerns with diet & rest rather than any supplement or medication.)

@geeky_mama If you still have your ovaries you are still cycling hormonally.

I guess I am premenopausal since I haven’t had a cycle since April. I only had two days of crazy rage and I was able to manage it by telling myself that this was hormonal behavior and not my normal self.

I have heard of Black Cohosh but have never tried it. My highs and lows are better than it was when I was younger. So hormonally I suppose I am taking the transition so far pretty well. We will see what it is like when I am postmenopausal.
Evening primrose is the herb I am most familiar with. Not on a personal level because it didn’t seem to do much for me, but I know a few menopausal women who swear by its benefits.

Flaxseed oil is another herb. I do take that and it doesn’t necessarily help with mood swings but it does help with several health issues that comes about with menopause. Things like constipation, arthritis, cholesterol, high blood pressure, and a host of other problems. Personally I think it has helped my dry skin and gives me a bit of an energy boost and lessens my joint pain. But I also take vitamin D3 and vitamin B supplements.

I’ve noticed in the last year my cycle has been really off. I’m not any more moody than I ever am, but I’ll go a couple of months without a period, then I’ll have one and I’m pretty certain I’m going to bleed to death. Is going through a box of tampons in one day normal??
I also get really bad cramps and I can hardly stand up.
Then the week after my period I get stabbing pains in my uterus that go all the way down my legs and up into my back.

@Katniss You need to go to the doctor. At minimum for an iron test. Probably an ultrasound also.

@JLeslie So it’s not normal then? :0/
That’s kind of what I was afraid of.
Thank you :0)

@Katniss I agree with @JLeslie. That is not normal. If you are taking any asprins or herbs or vitamins that thin your blood, it will make the flow worse. Yeah, make a doctors appointment asap.

@Pandora Thank you :0)
I wonder if this is part if the reason that I’m so damn exhausted all the time?

@Katniss Well I only bled like that one time and it was a miscarriage and I looked like a vampire victim at the end of the week. I could barely walk by the day 3 without the room spinning. You would be losing tons of vitamins with a flow that heavy.

You might have some fibroids causing the heavy bleeding. If you are near menopause they should shrink once your estrogen significantly drops, but in the meantime if you decide not to do anything drastic about the fibroids because of your timing/age you still need to be worried about the loss of blood. An ultrasound will see the fibroids.

Or, it could be something totally different, that is just a total guess of one possibility.

Is your, tongue, lips, and inside your eyelids very light pink almost beige? Does your tongue hurt lately? Those are some outward signs of iron deficiency, but the only way to know for sure is a quick blood test. My GYN could do a finger pin prick iron test right in her office.

Call your doctor today for an appointment. Give us an update so we know you are ok.