Ok, I give up... Menopause it is

 Purple streaks!   One of the things I keep threatening to do, though I have had hot pink streaks in my hair.  LOVE IT!  Want to see pics!

Jan

Lora,

Please know that my heart is with you. I had a total hyst at 29 ( never pregnant here) and here I am still fighting hormones.

It sux. I am now on Premarin and Wellbutrin (sometimes used for hormones too) and t seems to be helping somewhat.

Meow meow

I was 32 when I had mine (and never pregnant either), so I understand.  With my history of blood clots, hormone replacement therapy is out of the question, so I just hope that my symptoms are mild l**** my mom's were.

Lora

Oh my goodness.  Timely post.  I just asked my doctor yesterday if I should be tested for peri-menopause.  The last couple of months I've had hot flashes but didn't know it.  It dawned on me a week ago what they might be.  I had a hysterectomy 14 years ago and just have one ovary, but I did have 3 children.  I'm sort of afraid to look too much into all the "symptoms" of menopause because I'm afraid it'll depress me.  LOL  I'll be 44 in May.  I just don't feel old enough for this.  I have two friends that just celebrated their 40YO surprise babies 1st birthdays.

I'm 18 months out so no idea if my hair loss is still related to that, the fact that I'm really short on regular protein, or menopausal symptom.  And BTW why did no one tell me that my beautiful, incredibly long lashes would become these short stubby things that aren't even worth putting mascara on?

My doc suggested running an FSH to see what my levels are.  I told him to hold off for now since I'm just starting to be symtpomatic.  If it gets bothersome, I will test.

The eyelash issue is more likely related to your nutritional status then the normal post-op hair loss issue, since everything I read on the telogen effluvium indicates that body hair other than head hair is not involved.

44 does seem quite young, especially since you have had kids, but from what I understand frin reading, perimenopause can last for a number of years.  I am new to all of this, though, so I can only base that on the little bit I have read recently.

Lora

The doc said if I was in peri-menopause there's really no way to know how long it'll last.  I can't remember when my mom went through it.  I want to say she was 48 or 50, but that's just a guess.  

Woke up this morning determined to get as much nutrition and protein and water as I possibly can from now on out.  I've had 60 ounces of water, so that's a start.  Still need to work on eating though.

Well don't I just have one foot on both sides of the menopausal line? I still have my menstrual cycle, but am so wishing that it would just end. I mean come on, I've been doing this cycle for 41 years (no pregancies) and its just TIME for it to be over. Because while I still have a menstrual cycle, complete with cramps, PMS, *****iness and bloat (and road rage but since I drive alone, no one really knows about that), I also have perimenopausal symptoms of night sweats, hot flashes, memory issues, sleep issues, and all the other issues that accompany menopause.

I'm 53 and have decided to age gracefully (at least in my own mind), but this bleeding every month can just damn well stop...I will not mourn when it finally disappears. And while I'm not quite ready to become "the crazy cat lady" (thank goodness I don't own any cats), I do envelop and relish all that getting older brings (well beside having "my own personal summers" and night sweats), the maturity and wisdom of being my age, having been there and done that pretty much with all that I ever wanted to, and being in a pretty fantastic decade of my life.

But please can I stop buying tampons pretty soon? Please, please.....

 I have to admit that it has been REALLY nice not having to worry about periods, cramps, etc. for the past 17 years.  The trade off, of course, was knowing I would never have any children, but still...

It's pretty crappy that you are getting "the worst  of both worlds"!  That would be annoying as hell, especially since women who have not had children generally go through menopause earlier than women who have had children.  I guess you're just "special". Hope it ends for you soon!

Lora

Welcome to the club.

The only good thing about being obese is all the hormones on board acted as estrogen so I never felt a thing going through menopause. I had some hair loss too but it was so thick you wouldn't know the difference.

It figures the one thing that would make HRT a lowered risk of cancer and a good option for you is outweighed by your other history.

Menopause was the hot topic at one of my high school reunions since it was all girls the same age. This too shall pass.

 The subject did not come up at our 30-year HS reunion almost 2 years ago, but we are planning a group birthday party for June 30th (since most of the graduating class turns 50 this year!), and I think it's a safe bet that the subject will come up then, LOL!

Lora