The Next Phase of WomanhoodAre you a curious what the next phase of life will be like, or are you already there? This forum will be for discussion of the Crone phase of life, filled with wisdom and new challenges. Come in and talk about your experiences and fears, your joys and hopes.
I'm turning 34 in June. I have Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis, so I'm wondering if some symptoms may be due to those illnesses. Also, I'm on Prozac and Trazodone for bipolar disorder.
Anyhoo, what I'm experiencing is:
more mood swings and raw anger
being hot all the time
irregular periods
impatience
no appetite, but gaining weight in spite of it
more raw anger and frustration
What do you think?
I don't go to the doctor on a regular basis, my bipolar is managed by me and by telling my PA what I need and my RA and Lupus is managed by Ibuprofen for pain and Emergen C and LOTS of rest.
I think perimenopause can start as early as your 30's. Do you know about the elder women in your family? That can be a good indicator, if they've not had hysterectomies or something else to stop the cycles.
What you've described sounds like what my mom went through with it, but hers was 'forced' with a hysterectomy. Her sisters all started pausing in their 40's, so I know what to look forward to when I get there.
Do you have an NA or anyone else you could talk to? Even OB nurses? (I mean after telling us here)
I'm not a doctor/psychiatrist but I do work in mental health.
Trazedone is an antidepressant that can actually aggravate bipolar disorder symptoms. It's usually used for Major Depressive Disorder.
Paxil is an anti-anxiety drug - its for depression, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder
Paxil and Trazedone both have indications for causing weight gain as a side effect.
So if you're diagnosed with bipolar disorder I would be wondering why you are not on a mood stabilizer. Lithium, Depakote, Tegretol, Zyprexa, Lamictil, Seroquel - these are mood stabilizers and might be more effective in managing mood swings. You talk about anger, frustration, impatience and mood swings - I'd look at your psychiatric medications right off the bat if you have been actually diagnosed with a mood disorder and not major depression or an anxiety disorder or both of those combined. Theres a big difference in how those illness are and should be treated. The other symptoms, hot flashes and irregular periods - lack of appetite - may or may not be involved but you said you're managing your bipolar with a PA? Did he diagnose you as having a mood disorder (bipolar?) - because I don't get why you're not on a mood stabilizer. I'd seriously suggest that if you meet criteria for Bipolar disorder, you see a psychiatrist for evaluation, diagnostic second opinion and medication assessment to see if you're on the right medications for what you're dealing with.
I could be dead wrong of course.
Anyway - I'm rambling, but my first reaction was that I'd want to know why you're taking an antidepressant and an anti anxiety med but no mood stabilizer. If you're on these medications and mood swings are worse - I'd start with readjusting the medications.
good luck.
__________________
~Barb
Mama to 18yo Chelsey, 8yo Zoey & 5yo Roman
Zoeys 8th birthday!
Location: True health flows from loving relationships, good food, time spent in nature, daily hugs, inner work, meaningful work and breathing thankfully for the richness of this life.-Kate Gilday
Posts: 22,721
My thoughts too, Leah, without having all the medication knowledge is that may be the first problem. (thaks Barb for your insight)
Sometimes things build up in the system and you get reactions later.
I woudl defiantely take milk thistle or dandelion root for your liver trying to precess meds and hormones (even if you are not experiencing menopause yet, we know how those hormones are anyway)
menopause they say averages 13 years from start to finish. Very likely you could be in this transition at 34.
Of course eat healthy, plently of leafy greens and orange veggies and support your body that way for now.
Soem women do black cohosh and they swear by it. Some get no relief from it. I woudl hate to see you add that to your life right now with medications. Just becuse of your liver having to do so much.
Do you knwo the female history in yoru family? what do you feel in your heart is going on? Do you think you are menopausal?
I honestly just don't know.
I've been on and off Prozac for 15 plus years. We've added the Trazadone in December due to my inability to sleep at night and anxiety, assumingly caused by the Prozac. I've tried various other anti depressants and Prozac seems to be the only one that works. The combination of the two that I'm on now seems like a magical elixir. Only now, after months on the two am I noticing these symptoms.
It seems to be only when I am ovulating that this happens. Also, the pain when ovulating is getting worse. Nothing debilitating, just sore ovaries moreso than before in my life.
Location: True health flows from loving relationships, good food, time spent in nature, daily hugs, inner work, meaningful work and breathing thankfully for the richness of this life.-Kate Gilday
Posts: 22,721
Hmmm that is interesting.
It sucks so bad that the drugs we need to balance out lives or keep us alive even, have side effects that we often need more drugs to balance out.
Do your liver a favor and get the dandelion root tincture or milk thistle or eat burdock alot.
I amy have soem extra dandelion root tincture in a few weeks, but your HFS will have some. Or make yourself. i can tell you how if you want.
Trazadone was a godsend for me when I was diagnosed with cancer. I was in a state of shock for weeks...I thought I was going to die...lol
I did not sleep well for weeks and one day I took my kids old tazadone and zzzzz city...lol
Took before biopsy and surgery too...that was the only way I could rest.
no matter what.
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