Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Babsm67 on October 02, 2015, 07:37:16 AM
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Hi, these fluctuating hormones are sending me haywire! After having the dreaded pms for 14 days, (I made a note of it on my calendar), I finally felt my mood lift dramatically at the tail end of my period on Wednesday (day 6). I thought, 'Great' but then, yesterday afternoon, I felt like I had been 'hit by a sledgehammer' with such, sudden extreme tiredness that walking my dog in the sunshine was a major effort (I would normally feel really energetic doing this). Also felt 'flat' initially then became really tearful for no apparent reason. Ended up falling asleep on the sofa at 9 30 & my husband had to wake me up at 11 15 to go up to bed! Fell asleep then woke up with a start at 1 35am after having a nightmare (woke up feeling shaky in a sweat) then slept right through to 7 am when the alarm went off & felt slightly jittery.
I cannot understand why I shou!d be feeling such extreme tiredness all of a sudden but I don't like it - it feels like, to borrow another lady's quote, that I am 'walking through treacle'. Does anyone else experience this? I'm 48 & still having periods each month, although the last cycle was 26 days (slightly longer than of late as it had been as short as 23 days). I normally experience insomnia as well (along with other delightful peri symptoms!). Everything seems to going topsy-turvy (I normally used to feel very tired BEFORE my period but not on this scale). X
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Yes, I definitely get bouts of it. The worst, which was down right frightening, was before I realised it was connected to hormones. I would be fine one minute and then the next, literally unable to hold my head up. It stopped me from driving (luckily I was on holiday from work at the time). I would also get slight nausea and the chills at the same time. Around the same time I found out I was estrogen deficient, so I assumed that was the cause. However, since then, from taking various forms of HRT/the pill, I realise it's actually high progesterone that does it for me . Now, it's more of a momentary thing - perhaps once a month - but in those early days, it would occur for a few hours at a time, without warning. Very scary - I feel for you x
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I had this too, but i do think a lot had to do with my total lack of sleeping and continued anxiety. Now I am sleeping and getting to grips with all the other stuff, so far so good.
Hope you are feeling better this evening. :bighug:
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Hello Briony & SadLynda, thank you for replying & for the hug (I need that right now). I am wondering if it is something to do with progesterone because, this evening, I have behaved exactly as if I have pms. My husband, son & myself went out for a meal at a local pub chain &, unfortunately, the only spare table was right near a large group of people who spoilt our evening by throwing food around, part of which hit my husband. He asked them if they wou!d mind not throwing it around near us & we proceeded to move. One of the group called my husband a 'Stroppy w@#@#r out of his earshot but within mine. I'm afraid I lost it & said how dare he insult my husband to which I was told 'Go away, you stupid b@##h'. (I shou!d have just walked away in the first place). I stormed out after saying 'What sort of man insults a woman?'. Ended up getting a Chinese takeaway which I haven't eaten & am in tears. Needless to say, I am in the doghouse & am in despair because I cannot seem to control my mood anymore. :'( I must add, I am waiting for an appointment to see a gynae GP about hrt - I had considered emailing Dr Currie but didn't get round to it; maybe I should. Xx
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Ditto ... everything you have descriped could be me ! And probably a lot of women on here. the insomnia the tearfulness, the in ability to tolerate other people... although what you described sounded like a bunch of selfish morons ... i couldnt have kept my cool either.! The tiredness is so awful though, i agree. especially when nothing seems to let up ... we still have all the same demands made on us! thats what i struggle with. :-\
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Should have added that i am of the same thoughts ... trying some hrt. (although a year ago i was told it was low progesterone that was my problem.... but i feel things are shifting and i may need some oestrogen in the mix. ) x
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Hello Madbloss.
I don't blame you for being angry with the people at the next table, I'd have wanted to throw their own food over their heads but of course wouldn't be brave enough to do it lol.
I have been on Evorel 50 mcg patches for six months and I have noticed that I am much more tolerant than I used to be. I think the HRT has certainly taken the edge of my irritability and I am finding it a lot easier to be with people now.
Wishing you well and I hope you get the help you need.
Take care.
K.
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Hi Madbloss, I get exactly the same thing - despite being in a foul mood with everyone around me, those few days of total tiredness are my favourite as they're the only time I get respite from insomnia! Having no energy to do anything is a pain but going to bed with droopy eyelids knowing I'm going to actually fall into a deep sleep is lovely - wish I could bottle it up! As soon as my mood lifts, I know that the lovely sleeps are coming to an end.
So glad to hear I'm not the only one who feels like this - I tried to explain it to my GP - she nodded but I knew deep down she didn't really get what I was talking about!
I wouldn't be too hard on yourself - you stood up to a bully, nothing wrong with that.
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Hello everyone, thanks for your encouraging & kind replies - I really felt like I was in a black hole last night after that incident. With hindsight, even if I didn't walk away & ignore those horrible people, I should have complained to the manager of the pub. Had an atrocious night's sleep & ended up getting dressed at 4 30 am! I was due to get up at 5 45 as I was going into work to do overtime from 7-11 am. Felt shaky so I took part of a 5mg valium tablet which worked to help me to relax (but not get too relaxed!). I have those tablets for 'emergencies'.
Sparkle: Sorry that you are feeling so rotten at present - it seems to be after ovulation that many people feel like rubbish (myself included) & I do wonder if progesterone (or rather an imbalance of it with the oestrogen, is the culprit). I always get a headache either just before my period or during the first or even second day & it is always above one eye! Just waiting for that appointment with the gynae gp to come through. In the meantime, I have just started cbt to try & change the way I think! Plenty of work to do there! The job seems to be going ok - I have settled in & enjoy serving the customers - the early morning starts are not always great but, on the upside, it means I finish earlier in the day so that I am home in the afternoon. Definitely glad I stuck with it - as you said with that job you had, it was a case of giving it a coup!e of weeks :-) The atmosphere is much nicer than my old workplace. I hope you feel better soon x
Kathleen & Rosie C: I think hrt is definitely something I need as AD's do not agree with me which is a shame as they never used to cause the problems that I get with them now (I seem to be intolerant of different foods, alcohol, some chemicals, certain antibiotics, some people!!.........) ::)
Elsie: It's 'swings & roundabouts' with this isn't it? The fatigue comes, I sleep a bit better but my mood is foul or my mood lifts but the sleep is rubbish so my mood drops anyway! >:( Let's hope we all sleep better tonight! :)
Thanks again, all of you - your encouragement has cheered me up :-) :hug: xx
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Hi Madbloss,
I certainly get all of these symtoms, although at the moment if I string two hours of sleep together it's unusual. Last night took a sleeping tablet out of desperation and still woke in the night. Yet other times I get to ten in the morning and can't keep my eyes open. Infuriating! Nausea, headaches, tearfulness, mood swings, it's like being a teenager again without the good bits.
Good luck to you xx
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Hi Jedigirl & Sparkle, I get the same problems with sleeping - it doesn't matter how late I go to bed, I will STILL wake up early & I also experience weird dreams. Lack of sleep definitely makes me more anxious & less tolerant!
Jedigirl, sleeping tablets don't work as well with me anymore either - early this year, when I was in the midst of my breakdown, I would take a sleeping pill & wake at 4 am! Last night, I took a 5mg diazapam tablet to help me sleep - went to sleep around midnight & woke up at 6 am. That's actually extremely good in comparison to previous nights but I can't take them too frequently as they are so addictive. What you said about this 'being like a teenager without the good bits' is spot on - I've broken out in spots (excuse the pun!) although I think that's to do with alcohol intolerance (I drank some wine last night - I thought 'To heck with it!').
Sparkle: thank you :). The job was terrifying at first because I was 'plunged in at the deep end' but I am 'getting there'! Been in to work today & it was manic but I prefer to be busy - it is such a huge change from what I used to do but the atmosphere is much friendlier! Definitely glad I am there now :). Xx
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"lack of sleep" - is it that you wake each morning feeling tired, worn out, unable to rouse from eventual sleep: or is it that you don't sleep as much as you think you ought to? We need less sleep as we age ;)
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It's the former for me as well - my sleep pattern has been totally disrupted tonight as I did actually nod off at 8 00 due to being physically tired out from work & probably the after effects of a valium tablet from the previous night. I was awoken by my husband coming up to bed at 11 15 pm. I wake up in the morning & feel so tired & would desperately like to sleep more but there are things to be done so I cannot do that. Currently awake at 2 30 am & want to sleep but my mind won't 'switch off'. Sitting downstairs on sofa after I ended up sounding off earlier at DH about feeling 'emotionally neglected' (that's another story) & have messed things up yet again. I am so sorry for sounding so negative - I just want to get out of this black hole I am in :'( xx
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Madbloss,
They say lack of sleep is a form of torture :o
The racing mind thing is a huge problem for me at the moment, wish i had on off button. Hope you have managed to chat to DH today and feel a bit better now.
jg x
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Hello jedigirl, so sorry - I missed your reply yesterday. Thank you for your kind words - my DH was ok about what happened which speaks volumes considering how horrid I was. I managed 6 hours sleep last night - possibly because of diazapam still being in my system. Got to get up at 5 45 am tomorrow morning for my early shift so if I wake up early it won't matter for once! Hope you are feeling better today :hug: I have just started CBT to try & gain control of the 'racing thoughts' - I have got a LOT of work to do there! :oo xx
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Hello again MadBloss.
During this menopause adventure I have said some truly awful things to my husband which he has just taken on the chin! I think it is obvious, even to men, that we are struggling and this is causing us to lash out so they don't take it to heart. We both remember all sorts of outbursts from our children when they were teenagers and we never once loved them any less.
Wishing you a better day tomorrow and sending hugs.
K.
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So true, Kathleen. Lovely words x
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I have over the years been really sharp and nasty to DH :'( - he tells me he doesn't remember but I do …….
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That's the trouble, we torture ourselves over what we have said - I am terrib!e at doing this & then end up getting in a worse state! Thanks, CLKD & everyone else for your kind replies xx