I've suffered with PMS, PMDD, and major depression all my life. I've been perimenopausal for over 10 years, living with hot flashes and night sweats that soak the sheets, and the continued PMDD issues, though I was much improved, until last year.

Last year my hormones notched it up some and are continuing to wreak havoc in my life. I also have MS which also is affected by hormone levels. During PMS my MS sx increase.

I just turned 50 and menopause is shifting into high gear now. I have a deepening of major depression which coincides somewhat with my cycle, as the moodiness takes huge leaps all month long, but is significantly worse pre period.

My GP says the years between 50-52 are some of the roughest years of for women going through The Change. I can vouch for that The thing is all I can do is continue to add more meds to my routine until this horror ride is over! My moods are so out of control, I'm crying at work when I make a mistake. Last month I couldn't even go to work 3 of the five days! Just because I could not stop crying...until I got home. No stress, no tears.

I have two years of this to look forward to?? There has got to be a better way. I've been waiting for menopause since I was 16. I've been anticipating it for more than 10, and now its going to be the worst part of my life??? I haven't been suicidal in 5 years, and now that feeling is back...I can't look at this continuing for another 2 years--minimum! I'm going to have to lock myself up somewhere. What can I do??

I would definitely tell my Gyn doctor exactly what you posted here. You shouldn't have to suffer needlessly throughout this phase of your life.

I'm anxiously awaiting menopause, too. I just turned 50 and hope it comes soon. Are you on an AD? I have MS, too, and I take Prozac at my Neuro's suggestion. Actually, I started it when I was on Betaseron and, although I'm no longer on an Interferon, I never stopped the Prozac. I have no side effects from it so the doctor said to stick with it. Supposedly it, along with LDN (which I now take), is a good combo for MS treatment.

There are many other meds as well as holistic treatments available for women who suffer with these sx of perimenopause and menopause. I hope you find some relief soon.

Hi Catch,

I'm new here so I don't know if I'm telling you something you've already heard, but a good quality magnesium supplement, along with some good vitamin D3 could really really help.

All those symptoms you describe can be alleviated by both of these supplements, but in particular by magnesium. If you want to know more, just reply to this post.

I have been reading about magnesium for over two years now and have recommended it to a lot of people. The ones who tried the particular kind of magnesium I recommended reported very good results very soon in some cases. Depending on how bad your deficiency is, it might take a while for you to notice the difference, but I am sure you would.

In my own case, I have noticed that the weepy feelings I would get on the day before the TOM arrived practically never ever happen any more!!!.

Your post caught my eye because you write that you live in "Sherwood Forest". I grew up near Nottingham, are you really from that part of the world, too, or is there another Sherwood Forest that I don't know about somewhere else on the planet?

Oh, and by the way, I'm 47 and also perimenopausal, but so far - maybe thanks to aggressively supplementing with magnesium - not suffering too much!!! I always wake up once a night between about 2-4am to go to the loo, but apart from that, and my periods have become rather irregular, but, mentally, I am fine, in fact, happier than ever before!!!

Hope this helps.

I would be very glad to provide more information so just let me know if you're interested.

All the best,

amanda

Hi Catch,

I recently turned 50 and I have also been perimenopausal for about 10 years. I have had hot flashes and night sweats/cold sweats then about 4 years ago they stopped. I still get my periods like clockwork.

I was diagnosed with MS when I was 24 years old and have found the older I get the more my cycles effect the MS, temporarily. This happens twice a month for me (ovulation, menses).

To be menopausal you need to have gone 1 year without having a period.

There is a book you might find helpful --- Before the Change by Ann Louise Gittleman, PH.D. There is alot of helpful information in the book on dealing with the symptoms of perimenopause naturally.

The Sherwood Forest I refer to is a nickname for the housing development I live in which is nestled in a beautiful little valley filled with huge oaks. All the streets have Robin Hood names like Friar Lane, Little John Rd., etc. Locally it is referred to as the Sherwood Forest because of that.

In fact, just to show how ignorant I am about England; I didn't know there really was a Nottingham or Sherwood Forest. I mean, I thought those were fictional place names. But I plea that I am just an ignorant American. Apparently we don't get taught enough geography - LOL.

And, about supplements. I have been taking B complex, D and C vitimans with calcium and magnesium. Thanks for the suggestion, though. I also take black cohosh for night sweats and hot flashes, which works fairly well.

I'm off to call to schedule my acupuncture and psych appointments.

Good luck with your menopause! I'll send positive thoughts into the cosmos.

In my case my sx start at ovulation and don't stop until after my period ends. So I have about 1 good week out of 4.

I know I'm not truly menopausal, however, it seems to me that the terms menopause, peri- or pre- menopause are sort of interchangeable. I think of the term menopause more like "adult puberty", where your body is in the process of change. Unfortunately, for me, and others like me, the process can be draining and difficult. At least I have this place to come to to vent and ask for advice.

Thanks for the book suggestion. I just downloaded samples of several books on menopause to my kindle. I'll add this to my list of fun stuff to read.

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has anyone ever checked your hormones? I had a hyst and slammed into manopause, it wasnt fun, I got anxiety and depression( which I never had before), they tried every kind of hormone, finally I tried " bioidentical" and Iam better, dont take premarin or prempro they are made from horse urine!

hi i am 53 and have gone through menopause i did not want to use the hormones my dr offered so a lady i worked with who had recovered from breast cancer told me she used evening primrose oil it is a supplement you can buy just about any where. from the time i started using it the hot flashes went away. Long story short i went through menopause very easily. In other words it was a piece of cake.because the lady who told me about it could use it because it has no hormones in it.
good luck

Neigh, I took it and didn't care what it was made of as it helped . Just glad it didn't involve manure. because I still would have had to consider it. Well past it and looking at health problems of all sorts. to the women out there.