This is what menopause looks like. Why isn't it talked about more? Are women ashamed? No one ever talked to me about it. I had no idea why I was feeling so off lately and then on a tv show, a woman about my age started menopause and she was a raging awful person. I decided to look up pre-menopause symptoms and I had like almost all of the ones listed. It was time for my annual wellness visit anyway so I told my Nurse Practitioner to throw on a hormone panel. When I went in, I described everything I had been going through the previous few months. Fatigue-I've suffered from insomnia for decades now, but now even with my medication, I am not well rested and somedays I need an afternoon energy drink or nap. Irritability-like I seriously was angry all the time, super irritated and annoyed with everyone in my family, but especially my poor husband. Belly fat-after losing a good portion of it a few years ago when I started living a healthier lifestyle, the Mom belly was back and wouldn't go away. Crap eating-the sugar cravings were back that I had been able to curb when I started eating better and exercising a bunch. Libido changes-we're talking like zero. Migraines-I've had them for years and have a prescription med, but don't like taking it most of the time because I have to take 2 to lower it to a headache and they make me a little dizzy and sleepy. But after trying 4 different ones, this is the only one that seems to help. So most times I just suffer through it. Depression-I was diagnosed about 12 years ago with bipolar depression and anxiety and have occasional bouts of depression, but usually it's just a blah day and I'm down for no reason. Now, I was experiencing days where I felt like I was drowning. Like totally weepy, overwhelmed, stress, anxiety, the whole gamut. Well, sure enough, my hormones were out of whack and my NP said I was starting menopause. It sucks. I am on a new medication to help with hormonal imbalances and an additional bipolar med to help with depression. And taking my anxiety meds just on those days where I need extra help to function. I hate taking them since they make me super tired. So this is what pre-menopause looks like. I am 46 and people keep saying that I seem too young, but that's the fun thing, it hits every woman differently. I just want women out there not to be ashamed to talk about it. I have literally been telling all my women friends to excuse my moodiness and oversharing probably because I want them to know this is what it is. This is what happens and it sucks, and I pray it doesn't last for years like I've read, but someday this too shall pass.
