Menopausal Mood Swings

[sandybay]

When will they end ?
Up one minute down the next. Crying if I see a kitten abandoned in the RSPCA ads or women running from the bombing in Georgia.
Irritability and quick tempered sometimes.

Have tried a herbal remedy with sage etc. but didn't seem to help.
Did you have them ? Are you having them ? Is there any hope ? :confused:

[Crocus]

I also had them Sandy, and some days now still do, but it's not as bad as it was. As you say, up one minute, down the next. Crying, being cross, being normal (whatever that is). I was on HRT, but stopped almost a year ago. It still get some flushes too. But the mood swings are not at all bad. Very few and far between I must say. Best wishes for you in this trying period we all go through! xxx

[sandybay]

Thanks Crocus. Lucky my OH is a bit of a saint. He just cuddles me when I'm low and doesn't let it get to him when I'm grumpy.

[Crocus]

It's got to be difficult for them too, us going through this. Fortunately Mr C also understood, still does. I'm very grateful for that. xx

[Rosa]

Having an understanding partner makes all the difference in the world. If you can afford to consult a homeopath Sandy, it can help enormously. It's important to consult someone who comes highly recommended by others, as the treatment is really only as good as the practitioner.

[eleanor2]

sandy i am in the same era of the menopause as you by the sound of it.add forgetfulness and not comprehending things sometimes.nerves a bit shot.i hate it.when will it go away and leave me in peace.

[dragonfly]

I can't take HRT for my mood swings but menopace tablets from the chemist helps. Also Vitamin B12 helps but don't know if that is for menopause or something else.

[sandybay]

I can't take HRT because of a family history of high blood pressure and mine goes high is stressed. Is it the same for you Dragonfly ?

Will have a look at the menopace. I have a horrible feeling this could go on for so many more years ! Also know what you mean Eleanor about memory and understanding.
Sometimes now if I'm reading something complicated I have to go over it three or four times to make it stick in my brain ! When you and Beucherwurm do your retelling of Jane Eyre I admire that you can remember it all. I'd have to write notes. Seriously.
I'm not sure I could do a 'proper' job now.

When younger, as I've mentioned, I had two ectopic pregnancies. One was very seious, it ruptured. In clearing up the aftermath of the bleeding one of my ovaries was removed. I don't know as I haven't found anything about it but can't help wondering if
may be suffering more because in all women the hormone levels change and drop and in me now only one ovary is working so the levels are even lower ?
Any doctors out there ?
Thanks ladies x Maybe we should should start the Hot and Weepy club !

[Rosa]

Good morning Sandy,

I found a couple of self-help menopause websites which might be helpful. The first takes the orthodox view with a few alternatives thrown in. The second site is totally alternative.

http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/27000895/

http://www.womenshealthlondon.org.uk/leaflets/natmenopause/natmenother.html

Incidentally, one food remedy I've found helpful is raw Linseed/flaxseed - you grind up a dessertspoonful of the seeds in an electric coffee grinder and add this to your food every day. It can be mixed with muesli or other breakfast cerea, or added to rice, pasta, even as an ingredient in homemade baked goods. There is some clinical research to show that it can help with symptoms like hot flushes and vaginal dryness. Personally, I've found it very helpful.

Flaxseed can be quite expensive if you buy from a health food store, but I know how to get it at wholesale price if you're interested. It may be worth buying a small bag from your nearest wholefood store initially and give it a try for a couple of months. From what you describe, though, I still think you'd benefit from consulting a qualified practitioner with a good reputation who can prescribe other remedies specifically for your needs.

[dragonfly]

No I don't have high blood pressure Sandy, I have low blood pressure. I would love to take HRT and have tried a few but they all give me very bad side effects. The doctor told me I am on the menopause because my ovaries have stopped working so I don't think it matters if you have one or two if they pack in. I don't really know how it works perhaps they stop and start to give us the ups and downs.

[sheddie]

I tried HRT and about everything else too and got myself in a worse muddle. Someone once told me you have to look upon it like puberty and from then on I learned myself the word 'management' and use this wherever I can. I don't personally believe there are any shortcuts and it is a stage of life, unpleasent to say the least but with your own management can be endured. X

[Crocus]

I was on HRT for a number of years and then decided to go off it on my own. Gradually I made it less and less (I had the patches) and it's almost a year since I'm off it completely. I still get the odd hot flushes though.

[sandybay]

My form of management might be to dig myself a hole for a couple of years Sheddie.
It's just come as a bit of a shock as my late 40's were fine. Felt confident, fairly fit and my brain worked a treat, accomplished a lot at work. Now something like phoning a call centre can reduce me to tears of frustration. Yet on other days feel I can do anything.
Almost like minor form of manic depression or bi-polar as they call it now.

[sheddie]

Sandy I really do know what you mean and don't know how I ever got through it, but feel I am coming out the other side.I used to call it the screaming abdabs and wrote lots of poems about it, I think it helps to write your feelings down.I tried hypnotherapy and just about everything, but all I can still say is the most important thing is to manage yourself by taking a rest inbetween and at other times keeping busy, I also used to carry one of those paper fans in my bag and a little puffer water spray for the flushes. All I can say is it will pass! X

[Cathie_W]

Re menopausal problems -
I found the mood swings the most difficult - but they do pass!! Re the hot flushes - I picked up somewhere years ago that when you feel very hot put a little pressure on the pressure points in your forearms (i e just about 3 or 4 inches up from the base of thumb and push gently onto the bone. (You can feel a slight soreness when you hit the point) and I found that I cooled down after only a few minutes. Its an easy thing to do and you can do it almost anywhere - sitting at work, queuing at anywhere, in bed etc.
Kind regard to all going thro this awkward stage.

[Primrose]

Sandybay

I just wondered how you were feeling today?

[Rustic Pumpkin]

I've always suffered from mild mood swings, mostly due to suffering from SAD. I don't think I am any worse now, but on top of menopause I am caring for my elderly parents, with whom I live now and I do find myself struggling not to lose my temper. I don't know whether this is through menopause or just down to the sheer frustration of everything. Because it involves my parents, every time I find myself getting ready to shout or snap I take a huge step back from everything,

I've always been weepy over sad, silly, and sentimental things, and I've not noticed any increase in this. This seems to run in our family, some men as well as the women! lol.

Hot flushes, no, so far so good. I do not intend to go on HRT, and my surgery does not support it as a front line treatment anyway. I don't take any special supplements, at least not for menopause, and although I eat soya products, not in any sort of quantity that would counter-attack the symptoms.

Did I mention that all of my friends HATE me?

[eleanor2]

oh rustic dont say that we all think the world of you.have missed you.i know you must be very busy.but it is nice to hear off you. remember you can only do your best.no one is perfect.incidentally i went for blood tests today for the menopause. i only noticed today the dctor but my symptons as mood swings.yet i never said that to her.i just said i want the blood tests to see if i was on the menopause or going mad. hope im on the menopause.

[dragonfly]

Rustic Pumpkin I have had times when I think no-one likes me and everyone thinks I am stupid which is abnormal as I used to be such a confident person. I have just realised that this must be what they call 'mood swings'. I thought mood swings were when you were happy one day and really miserable another for no reason but I am now thinking there must be more to it. On the days I feel as though no-one likes me I avoid people but my mind thinks they are avoiding me and I can only see that afterwards. I realise that when I am miserable no-one wants to talk to me and that is probably a good thing for I might say something I later regret. I am learning to just go with it on the bad days and wait until it passes, and it does sooner or later. I have just realised that I don't get those bad feelings when I am on Menopace tablets from the chemist.

I'm sure your friends don't hate you, it is probably you hating yourself as you feel so awful. Isn't there a herbal remedy that you could try if you can't take conventional medicine. It must be a terrible strain looking after elderly parents. Do you get any respite or time for yourself? Please try and get help from somewhere or your life will be very unhappy. xx

[Crocus]

Hi Rustic Pumpkin, please don't say that your friends hate you? I think most of us women who go through this changes in our bodies and minds, think and feel strange things at some point or another. At this very moment I'm very emotional for a lot of reasons, I've had watery eyes most of the morning and I'm beginning to wonder if this has something to do with hormones or what. Yesterday I didn't feel any better as well. Some of us, me included, are just more emotional than others.

I suffered quite a lot from hot flushes and I found it most uncomfortable. It seems to be a lot less nowadays, so hopefully I'm on my way out of this life changing thing!

You are doing a good job looking after your parents RP. It can't be an easy task, especially with menopause as you've mentioned. All the best RP, you will get through it, although you might not feel that way at the moment. And remember, no one hates you, least of all us RM's! xxx

[keepersdaughter]

Does anyone else have sleep problems too?. It's about 4.30a.m here. I've been awake since 2.00a.m., finally after tossing and turning, bathed in so much sweat I felt like a greased pig, I got up and made myself a cup of tea and came on here. Glad to see others on line too. Is sleeplessness associated with meno do you know?.

[eleanor2]

keepers i rarely had sleep problems in the past.since n the menopause i have started to have bad nights occasionally.i have found if i cant get to sleep(wich is my problem)i get up and have a valerian tablet.i cant believe how good these tablets are.

[keepersdaughter]

Eleanor, I have no problem getting to sleep, I just wake up after a couple of hours full of energy! If only I had this much energy during the daytime I could get so much more done. I'm going to get back in to my early morning walking routine, maybe that will help tire me out. i think the weather may be part of it, it's still so hot and humid. You probably don't want to hear that I know, my Mum just called and she told me she has to sit wrapped in a blanket, but she refuses to turn the heat on in Sept.

[Crocus]

Hi KD, I also wonder whether it has something to do with meno, because I also sometimes struggle to sleep, or wake up in the early hours of the morning. In summer here I struggle more, so yes, I definitely it has something to do with the heat as well. Best wishes for this - it's not comfortable. xxxx

[Rustic Pumpkin]

oh rustic dont say that we all think the world of you.have missed you.i know you must be very busy.but it is nice to hear off you. remember you can only do your best.no one is perfect.incidentally i went for blood tests today for the menopause. i only noticed today the dctor but my symptons as mood swings.yet i never said that to her.i just said i want the blood tests to see if i was on the menopause or going mad. hope im on the menopause.

Now you see, that is an interesting comment: my GP told me there was no blood test for menopause. I know someone else who has had one, but when I asked at the beginning of this year, as a precautionary measure to rule out other things, I was told there is no such thing. I wonder why?

Reason I asked is the only symptom I have is erratic 'monthlies' which I now call my 'quarterlies' LOL. So, as there are no 'power surges' present, or anything else specific I wanted to rule out other things. I can't say my mood swings or sleeplessness are menopausal as the mood is SAD related and my sleeplessness is seemingly due to my arthritic spine. It is sleeplessness as opposed to restlessness.

And you are far too kind towards me. I don't deserve it.

[Crocus]

Hi Rustic Pumpkin! A while ago I wrote a little poem about RM and what it means to me. This is perhaps a bit of topic, but I'm going to put it on anyway. You'll see why: xx

The Heart of RuralMuse.

So many new members with quite lovely names!
From Amber, mrsj and also SheepyJames
Names of flowers, veggies, music forms or trees
Just about every name thrown inbetween!

From all over we come, UK, USA, NZ and OZ
Germany, South Africa, Ireland, perhaps Barbados!
We are bound together here on this lovely site
We talk about everything be it wrong or be it right..

We discuss Health, Garden, Children and Food
Just about everything if and when we’re in the mood
We always support one another, try to understand
and never put someone down; if anything
we always try to console, give a helping hand.

Our ages range from quite young to not at all old,
We are interested in what everybody does,
Perhaps asking: “Did it work”, or You got it sold?”
We pray for a member, keep her in our thoughts
With problems almost like licquorice all sorts.

Children also form an important part on Rural Muse
Whether they are adults, teens or babies a new.
Twins, only child, some members have a bit more
Whatever configuration, we like to know them all!.

So Rural Musers lets keep up what we believe
We all need one another, to laugh or to breathe
Fun galore we’ve had in the past
We surely hope for our fun threads to last!.

To all new members, welcome once again
Hop onto this lovely Rural Muse steaml train
Chat, sing, dance, have even a real old belly laugh
It may just help to cut someone’s pain in half.

Crocus xxxx

[keepersdaughter]

I'm rather confused by your GPs statement Rustic. I don't think there is an actual test as such that shows whether you are going through meno. Tests I have had on and off over the last few years show estrogen and hormones levels which can indicate where you stand in regards to meno. as far as I understand it - estrogen levels dropping. The last lot of tests i had done a couple of months ago revealed I have no estrogen and therefore am post menopausal.

I must say, when I was told this I started to cry, something I do rarely. Even though I had a hysterectomy many years ago so I had so say goodbye to my baby making days a while ago, this really hit me and I felt so sad for days. I don't fully understand or can express my sorrow at this, but I feel something has been lost. Anyway, I also had an ultrsound, that too showed my ovaries had shrunk. So I think there are ways to know, maybe ask about blood test for estrogen/testosterone/hormone levels rather than asking for a menopause blood test.

[eleanor2]

hi rustic i noticed one of te hormones being tested was my luteinising hormones.these will be low, as keepers says oestrogen starts to slow down in being produced.i did have a test a year ago it came back clear.i asked the doctor about this.she said in the perimenopause stage your hormone production is unstable and erratic.one day you could have your test and be normal a few days later they could show onset of menopause.