Mommy Talk Show Candid Conversation with a TV Mom
I’ve reached the phase of over 40 life where perimenopause is a REALITY and menopause is on the HORIZON. Perimenopause is a relatively new term for me. I’ve noticed many more commercials and products focused on menopause symptoms: the phase when a woman’s menstrual period ends due to hormonal changes.
If you’re not as familiar with perimenopause, think about it as “the calm before the storm” and the storm is full menopause. You’re more likely to feel perimenopause symptoms as early as your late 30’s and early 40’s. Here’s what I’m experiencing and how I’m coping. Along the way, I’m laughing through this weird stage and working on more memes like this:
Mood Swings
As if being a working mother and wife isn’t stressful enough, add extreme mood swings to the mix.
There are days I’m super productive and motivated. Within a moment’s notice, I could rationalize that 7 p.m. as the perfect bedtime.
My memory is worse now than it’s ever been. Writing lists help. But I also lose my lists AND I get frustrated with myself for forgetting.
Listen to your body. Pay attention to your emotions. Call your doctor or the nurse’s line at your OBGYN’s office.
Weight Gain
My metabolism has slowed a lot. A year or two ago I could make a few dietary adjustments and lose 10 pounds. Now, this weight is holding on for dear life. An occasional Zumba class helps with my energy level, but I need more intense, regular workouts to make a difference in the scale.
To help limit the amount of stimulants in my system, I’ve switched to cage-free eggs for breakfast, decaf coffee and organic creamer.
Body Temperature
This summer I noticed that while I sat at my desk or watched a TV show, I experienced “my own personal summer” known as a hot flash.
I am not a person who sweats easily, even when I’m working out. So sitting at home with the air conditioning on wouldn’t normally cause my body temperature to rise.
Hot flashes were worse when I sipped on wine because I raised my body temperature, so I cut back on the vino.
Missed Periods
Menopause is known as the end of menstrual periods. Perimenopause can bring changes in periods before full menopause. Your period could get heavier, lighter, longer, shorter or take a brief break during perimenopause.
Talk to your doctor the changes you notice. I wasn’t as aware that my period skipped two months this summer until my period tracker app alerted me.
Sleep Problems
Speaking of body temperature, night sweats this summer made it difficult to stay comfortable at night.
I don’t think I’ve slept more than six hours straight in more than a year. Granted my husband works an evening shift and A.J. still wakes us in the middle of the night for things. But I’m typically awake from 3-5 a.m. for no BLEEPING reason. Either I’m restless or sweating.
I keep a pen and notebook on my nightstand so I can write down my to-do list for the day since I’m awake anyway!
Fibroid Pain
This, by far, is the perimenopause/menopause symptom I wasn’t prepared for!
It also ruined my ability to sleep through the night.
Several nights this summer, I woke up to the kind of pain I’d had after my uterine fibroid surgery and while recovering from A.J.’s c-section delivery. Think of it as extreme menstrual cramps that keep you from walking.
The first time the pain woke me around 4 a.m. I just stayed in bed and cried until I could muster up the will to walk to my medicine cabinet for ibuprofen. Walking was the worst because somehow the lower belly pain was also causing sharp pains to shoot down my legs. I took four pills and prayed for the pain to subside.
After a few months of this, I visited my gynecologist and feared that I’d need a hysterectomy.
What my doctor told me: the uterine fibroids I’ve had for years are degenerating (or dying) because my hormone levels are changing. As they die, they cause excruciating pain. One glimmer of hope, each painful episode has been shorter and responded well to ibuprofen.
Thanks for sharing. The only thing I ever hear about menopause is the body temperature changes. Clearly there is so much more going on. I didn’t know about trouble sleeping.
Menopause fairy?? She sounds more like a demon lol. I fear that era of my life but also I am happy there are better way to deal with these systems more and more so thanks for the info!
Oh wow! Joyce, I learned some new things in the post. I’m praying the journey gets easier and thank you for sharing your story.
Wow I learned so much. I truly have a whole new look on women that go through this. I know I will have to go through this one day so I applaud the women who are going through with grace
I am going through this as well and it’s not fun. I started skipping cycles since I had A a 4yrs ago. But the symptoms have gotten stronger. The intense heat I feel inside my body is the worst for me. And like you said can’t loose a pound to save my life. Recently I’ve skipped 3 months of a menstrual cycles. But I’m still feeling the symptoms each month. And let’s not talk about my memory; I can’t remember anything. I’m staying positive because my Aunt is a raging woman right now. ?
This perimenopause is driven me insane. My biggest issue is insomnia, hot flashes and mood swings. My sleep pattern is all over the place. I am usually up till 5am with no sleep. I sleep with two different fans on and still sweat. My oldest Son has lost so much weight and still eats what he wants. I eat lettuce and scale seems to stay the same. I skip menstrual cycles months at a time. The last one was 3 months ago. Thanks for this laugh I needed it. I started perimenopause at 39.