Hi all, I'm now one year and one month in with Peri. I was hit hard by severe anxiety and panic attacks when this hit. I had blurred vision for about 6 months. Dizziness 9 months or so and some days it still hits me. I had that spaced out drunk walk for a while and still find myself swaying at times although the severe anxiety and panic attacks have calmed with 2 supplements I'm taking. My fatigue is still terrible. Seems my adrenals are so low. I'm taking a Nitric oxide supplement right now to help with blood flow for circulation along with Pro Estro. I still have some memory cognitive issues that feel like brain fog or depression caused by that. I'm still having trouble focusing. I swore off HRT because my mom died 5 years after taking it from cancer of the lungs from it and I watched her suffer and die from cancer. So, I'm so scared to go that route but, I'm just home literally waiting for this to pass. I can grocery shop. That's about it because I still have anxiety but, my fatigue is still so strong. I'm not fully alert or present in the moment. Are you home waiting for this to pass and how are you handling that because I'm feeling the guilt from not being able to function. I have a very supportive husband and he's willing to wait for how long it takes but, I'm scared this could go on another year and I'm so over this. Scared too because I haven't even hit menopause yet. What would you do? I'm just feeling so overwhelmed by this tonight. My blood work is normal. I go to counseling for this too but, it does not seem to help. I was led there at first for anxiety and depression like most but, it's peri. Just lost right now. I try to keep positive but, this is so hard. Thanks <3
how do you know your in peri and how old are you? i only knew cause of blood work and lits of tests im 50 now and i have been having symptoms for over 5 years! you said your blood was normal was everything tested cause anxiety can be caused by many things and can cause all thise symptoms too!!! arr you taking anything for adrenals i would assume your cortisol was high to cause the adrenal issue
I have had your symptoms and more. I refuse HRT as my mother developed endometrial cancer, and yes she passed from it. We also look to have Lynch Syndrome in our family which means we are more susceptible to cancer. I do know this though, I have been battling the worst of this for over two years now and what I have discovered is when I don’t eat too much sugar and carbs and when I make sure to go for a walk every day it helps tremendously. I struggle, not going to lie…I hurt all over most of the time. I get tired and breathless easy and well, am as blind as a bat since going into Peri. But when I do exercise, get some sunlight it reduces the symptoms. May be worth trying a daily walk?
Hi -
I feel your pain. Not knowing if the issues are physical, mental, hormonal etc. is so confusing. Don’t worry though. I think the early stage of peri is the worst. Your estrogen is peaking and crashing dramatically. You will start to level out.
The one thing that seems to fluctuate are the symptoms. For 4-5 years from age 48-52, I experienced major bouts of vomiting and headaches every few months before my period. Fortunately, I think that phase is over now that my estrogen is fading. My current issues are balance, anxiety, bloating, irregular periods etc. I’m 54.No hot flashes yet but I think I’m still ovulating and getting periods…monthly, which seems unusual at my age. It is like a cycle my body refuses to break out of.
I’m curious about Pro Estro.Is that a birth control pill or a natural supplement?
Thanks,
Marina
Hi I am in also in peri and dealing with terrible anxiety as I already had PTSD that it worsened. And a lot of medical doctors don’t take the anxiety seriously though it is a peri symptom. I don’t have a husband or anything but I am looking into cyclic hormones (it’s new, attempts to mimic natural hormone cycle vs HRT approach of just dumping same level of hormones in you every day which is not natural). I’m so sorry to hear about your mother. Are you 100% certain her illness was a result of HRT?
I know my body. I’m 48. Pretty healthy till now and I’ve experience most peri symptoms. Never had anxiety or panic prior to this, muscle/joint aches, severe fatigue, dizziness, blurred vision, carpal tunnel in right arm, frozen shoulder, neck pain, mood swings, crying spells, thinning hair. I’ve read so many women’s blood work comes back normal. Diagnosed like me with depression and anxiety at first rather than figuring out it is perimenopause. I don’t need a doctor at this point to tell me I’m not in peri because I haven’t reached menopause. Which is exactly what my Gyn said. Which is crap. It hit my mom at this age too. Your adrenals become depleted when you start this transition so, I’ve read.
where there is cancer, especially regular in families, it is not recommended
Thanks so very much Jamie, I walk in the park near my house 3 or 4 times a week. First started off huffing and puffing 6 months ago when I finally could get out of the house to walk. With barely making it back home at that time but, now it’s gotten easier over the last several months. It really helps. I’m eating mostly plant based foods right now and trying soy milk. My brain shut down on me completely when this hit. Trying to get it back up to speed has been so hard. Just here waiting for the lights to turn back on. I’m sorry your suffering too. I was just at the end of my rope with this today. I needed to vent. I told my family I would stop talking about it for the next 30 days. Just started supplements that take that much time to kick in so, I’m praying they do. I’m doing everything I should be and the shifts in progress have been so slow. It’s depressing. I just want to wake up normal already. I know we all do. I know everyone goes through it. I just never expected this - this bad. Although, my mom had it bad so, maybe it’s genetic. I don’t know.
Thanks Jamie. I don’t think it’s typical in my family but that’s still terrifying. I wish there was something safe and doctors would do more research and realize how dehabilitating peri and menopause can be. I’ve read of women having to quit their jobs because of it and I’m just in peri and feel like I’m losing my mind.
i understand i as well stopped hoing to doctors cause i was tired of hearing same thing too its hard to deal with and very fustrating
Thanks very much for your reply and encouragement Marinab. Pro Estro was just recently recommended to me on this site by another poster. It is a female hormone balance and menopause relief supplement that can increase estrogen levels. It is highly recommended on line too for symptoms so, I figured I’d try it. So far 5 days on. No side effects and feeling more energy. You have to give it about a month though. I’ve read on line most hit menopause by 51 but, everyone is different. I’m praying that’s me but, I could be just like you running past that. Hope you feel better too soon! Take Care!!!
Hi, thank you Sakura, Cancer does not run in my family. My mom was the only one to ever take HRT and apparently, it can cause a lung fungus which is what my mom died of. She started at 48 and passed at 52 and had been healthy all her life up until that time. Although, that was several years ago. I don’t know if things are different now but, from what I’ve read on line the risks are still high for several cancers. I’m not bias to anyone taking them though. If you can take them and they help you great. I think I just have a higher risk for problems though with my mom’s circumstances surrounding it. Let me know if you find anything out about the cyclic hormones that sounds promising. I know how hard the anxiety is. I’m sorry you are suffering with that and I can’t imagine having PTSD at the same time. The anxiety alone is so rough. I take an otc natural relaxant for that and it’s just starting to help more so than anything else. I think I sent you that in a previous message and post. Thanks for your caring reply. It really helps when your feeling so low on certain days. Today was my day. Take Care!!!
That’s exactly where I am right now. Is it population control? I mean seriously, they need more research and new approaches to this. So many women are suffering. Some one should screen for your age, your symptoms. It really seems like know one really knows how to handle it in the early stages before meno and it’s just dismissed by all till that time. It’s very sad.
It took me about three years, each year a bit better. The first year was horrendous. Things are starting to calm down now that I’m finally missing cycles.
Of course other symptoms are popping up, hot flashes and joint pains, but I can deal with those compared to where and how I used to be.
I’m even starting a pilates class. Can’t quite do everything as my shoulder is still frozen but doing the best I can.
Three years ago I thought I was going to die and could hardly get off the sofa to walk to the bathroom.
Thanks for sharing that info. I don’t blame you for steering clear of HRT and appreciate the warning. What happened to your mother is awful. My aunt took HRT like 30 years ago and stopped because of the warnings at the time, tho she luckily didn’t get ill and is alive. My older sister is also taking progesterone and past menopause and so far okay but I think estrogen is the most dangerous. I will do a lot more research before I consider anything, even the cyclical hormone thing. I’m already nearly 48. They are doing a study on cyclical hormones in Irvine I think. I wish doctors cared enough to do more research and help us with safe options. Take care as well and thanks for the kind reply and support for the anxiety. 
i have all your symptoms. and its scary awful and all that goes with that
for anxiety and muscle pain i take magnesium. i mixed it in my water and drink througgoit the day but mostly at night..
year 3 of menopause. willl this ever stop
Suzanne that’s great things are finally settling down for you. How long have you bee in peri and how many months have you missed your periods?
In reality I’ve probably been in peri since my early 40s when I would get night sweats and digestion issues. But really bad symptoms hit me when I turned 51 and that’s also when my periods started changing.
Lately I’ve been averaging 4 months of missing periods in a row. I’ll be 55 in January.
so you’re still having periods? Would you say that your symptoms have improved? Last year this time I felt so much better but what I noticed is that I was having periods but since Im skipping months , its back feeling awful like it was at the beginning.
Well not sure if I’ll get another period. Will see. But the really bad symptoms are gone. I guess some women would say what I’m experiencing now with hot flashes and joint pains would be too much to handle, but really, I’ll take it over the other stuff I went through. At least I can function now.
I still have some rough days, but overall, since periods are going away, things are getting better.