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[FitnessPleese]

I am new here. I have not had a period in two years. I am about to be 50. Last month, I finished nursing school. LOTS of stress the last two years. Two days after finals, I woke up with shakes and anxiety. Not on any meds. Long story short. Extreme high B/P, anxiety, chest pain, three ER trips, yes. EKG good, blood work good, etc... I have been sober for 10.5 years. So Primary was thinking an endocrine issue with the blood pressure situation. did 24 hour urine collection, etc. Finally, she referred me to Endo, did a CT scan and no... Not Addisons, Cushings, thyroid etc... But, he asked about my periods. I told him none in the last two years. I have had mild symptoms, and thought I was in the clear. He said just because absence of peiod, does not mean at that time I wasn't still producing the hormones, estrogen etc... So he did the fsh estradoil, etc.... I guess it is menopause. Not sure what stage. I feel on some days like DYING. Anxiety, shakes, nervousness, I now have a coffee sensitivity, higer than usual cholesterol, blood pressure flucs, loss of appetite due to the stress and reading more into it that I have another condition. MADNESS!!!! Gyno is retiring next month. I seen her the day before this all happened. But the ENDO said something about putting me on the birth control pill. I am about to start a new job, take the board exam to become a nurse. This is bad timing. I do not feel like me... Who am I ? Some days are good. One minute I am me. PLEASE HELP LADIES. I am crying.

[Uptick]

Hi FitnessPleese, sorry to hear about all those nasty symptoms, it does sound like menopause though. If you haven't had a period in two years, you are postmenopausal. It's a rollercoaster. You can try the BCP at your age, have you ever been on them?

[FitnessPleese]

Yes!!! Years ago. So, my question is..... Will I resume a period being put on the pill??? Also, I am a non smoker, no breast cancer, clots, etc... Also, my calcium seems elevated but IS NOT over the range. What other remedies that I can buy?? Magnesium, black cohash, etc??? Thanks for your reply. Do you know of anyone that was on the pill for menopause?? My guess is it will even me out. I am not doing good.

[Uptick]

I can't be of much help regarding BCP postmenopause, but there are some information that you can retrieve on other threads. I don't think they're prescribed for postmenopause, though. Are you keen on taking HRT? I wouldn't take supplements without your doc's approval, some of them have contraindications. I suppose you have been stressed with nursing school finals and stress takes its toll on adrenal glands. I have noticed that no matter the age of menopause (12 months without a period) something else happens around age 50 that can cause symptoms similar to menopause. Some call it adrenal fatigue but there's no robust scientific data on this syndrome yet. Al I can advise is mindfulness and breathing exercises.

[CLKD]

Hi! 2 years without a bleed is menopause. 

Your reaction was probably due to the stress of the Course Work etc. you have done.  Your adrenaline went into overdrive as you came 'down' from the routine of studying.

Some find that any benefits from alternatives drops off when hormones drop.  Ovaries will continue to give a burst occasionally which can throw up awful symptoms.

Put Birth Control Pill into the search box to see what pops up, make notes ;-)

Good Luck in your Exams..  Eventually you can train as a Menopause Nurse ;-)

Some find that keeping a mood/symptom/food diary useful too.  Wonder how good your diet has been whilst studying, anxiety surges can happen if the body is hungry!

[Alicess]

Hi FitnessPleese,

if you take birth control pills you don't need  to have a periode. You can take the pills back to back without a break. That way you will also surpress the fluctuations in (peri-) menopause much better. Because you are still young it's often adviced to start with BCP.  HRT, Qliara and Zoely don't surpress your cycle as they are less potent.

[Flan747]

That’s so interesting Alicess
I never thought about BCP my hormones fluctuate so much even though I’m on HRT and don’t have a bleed due to the coil I can still count 28 days and k is I’m going to have a rough time !

[Uptick]

Hi FitnessPleese,

if you take birth control pills you don't need  to have a periode. You can take the pills back to back without a break. That way you will also surpress the fluctuations in (peri-) menopause much better. Because you are still young it's often adviced to start with BCP.  HRT, Qliara and Zoely don't surpress your cycle as they are less potent.

Hi Alices, she hasn't had a period for 2 years, do you think she's still having fluctuations? I'm just asking because I think the term perimenopause should be the time around menopause, including a couple of years postmenopause and not the time just before menopause.

[CLKD]

Peri-menopause is up to the last menstrual period which is 'menopause'.

Peri doesn't continue but the ovaries: even after surgery : can continue to give bursts of oestrogen = symptoms we hoped would have gone.

[FitnessPleese]

Thank you all. The last lab I was waiting for came back, the cathecolmines one. I have a slight elevated norepinephine. It could signal that adrenal gland tumor that I was previously thinking I could have. CT shows a "nodule", the ENDO doc says. I reached out about the lab number as it was in red and got me all upset... But they will be in touch tomorrow. I just know I am not the same woman. It is hard to believe menopause makes you feel like this.... I am never had anxiety. NOT LIKE THIS. chest pains. Shaky limbs in morning. PLEASE explain this to me please ladies as I am crying again.

[CLKD]

Waking with anxiety may be a sudden surgery of cortisol, the waking hormone.  Used to leave me terrified. 

Red means it needs to be flagged.  How did you get that?  Usually it's passed to a GP or Consultant to explain.  Let us know how you get on.

[FitnessPleese]

It goes to "my health record". It is slightly elevated. BUT I am in a state of sorrow. Also, my b/p is great one minute and then later is goes up a little bit. Not too bad, but this is just so much. I eat clean pretty much, I work out, no smoke, no drink. I am trying to eliminate toxicity from my thoughts.

[Alicess]

Hi Uptick, yes, I do believe we still have fluctuations, even if we don't have a period anymore. I think our cycle continues and because our body notices the level of hormones is not sufficient it will keep searching for a balance. Other hormones are involved too; estrogen, testosterone etc have an effect on many other processes and they are all part of our cycle. I remember my grandmother told me she could still feel the day of her ovulation, she was 83.

I always assumed peri- menopause is the time before menopause, before your last period. I wrote peri- and menopause because I feel that although you are 'officialy' menopause that doesn't mean your fluctuations/ symptoms are less. Some women don't do well on HRT and it's possible they need a stronger option.

Flan747, I hope you can discuss trying another HRT of maybe BCP with your GP or specialist.

FitnessPleese, I'm sorry I can't be of more help.

Alicess

[FitnessPleese]

YOU ARE A HELP. Just replying and caring and acknowledging me. I am so lost, so confused, so worried. I am about to take state boards and start a new job. How can I ?? I am about to be 50 this month. A real healthy 50 year old up till now. Like I said, two years n period, no symptoms aside a few hot flashes, some moods and some irritability. But in December, WOW!! It came at once. Doc did all types of labs. Have not had them explained to me.

[pricey]

Hi FitnessPleese,

I don't have any answers I'm afraid- struggling myself and can relate to many of your physical and emotional troubles. I have a senior role and the pandemic has made it all the more stressful. It's challenging to keep on top of things when you feel so horrendous.

I have found magnesium helps me with rapid heartbeat and missed beats. It can also help with sleep. I'm currently not taking HRT or any hormones at all.

Just to let you know there are people thinking of you.

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