From my previous post, I am sure you figured out that I am Peri-menopausal. SHOCKER! Wait, you say I am too young? Funny thing is I thought the same exact thing. Read on about my hormonal shift and how I manage this perimenopausal life.
PERIMENOPAUSE
Perimenopause, for some like myself, sneaks up on you gradually, when you least expect it. You don’t feel the symptoms all at once, at least I didn’t. You really need to know your body. It started out for me with these emotional outbreaks here and there. Then the mood swings would occur, but nothing that threw a red flag in my face (although those were red flags). I thought I was exhausted all the time simply because I was running ( literally) like a gazelle and working out like crazy every day. I wasn’t the best about taking time off from working out before Sasha. I would work, workout for two hours, work more at home and sleep about seven hours a night. Never did I think about myself going through some hormonal changes.
THEN THE SHFT HAPPENED
After the birth of my third baby at forty-one years old, the shift hit me like a ton of bricks! The hot flashes would suddenly com on as I would be eating dinner. No matter the weather outside, I had to open the window. I would feel the sweat dripping down my back. I felt as if my neck up to my head was on fire. I became a moody bitch MOST of the time, struggling with irregular periods, and insomnia like no other and dealing with hidden depression. I hid the depression for many reasons, and I’m sort of glad I did. I wasn’t depressed all the time. It wasn’t affecting my work and certainly not debilitating me to the point where I couldn’t get out of bed. In my mind, why would I talk about it if I could contain it? I never wanted to burden anyone, and I used to think that if I talked about it, I would just be a burden.
I DID MY HOMEWORK
The one thing I always knew was that I would NOT allow any doctor to put me on birth control pills, anti-depressants, or synthetic hormones. This Fit Green Peri-Menopausal Mama did her homework, that’s for sure!
I finally found a place where I was able to sit with a team of doctors who listened with compassion and discussed WITH me an approach to treat my health issues. The people I trust are over at Maze Wome’s Health in Harrison, NY. Melissa Ferrara is a nationally board-certified family nurse practitioner. She specializes as a female sexual dysfunction clinician.
My first appointment was on February 1st.2018. That afternoon, I dropped Sasha to school and headed right over there. I Filled out a few pages of psycho-sexual history and medical history. Some questions made me blush. I answered many of the questions relating to sex and marriage that I never thought about until I read and answered them. Honestly, I answered all of the questions.
Before Melissa came in, I met with Helen Leff, who is a sexuality counselor. She went over my questionnaire and answers with me. I never felt more comfortable talking about such personal topics. Speaking with a woman on this topic is way more comfortable than speaking with a man. Helen took many pages of notes, and I liked talking with her. She was compassionate, understanding, and so sweet.
Meeting Melissa, I felt even more optimistic about a positive outcome. She had a very cool demeanor, and I loved her holistic approach. She listened to me and made me feel understood. Before she could say whether or not I was perimenopausal, we had to do blood work. She wanted to check my estrogen // progesterone // DHEA // Testosterone levels. In the meantime, she did a pelvic exam. She said everything was fine.
EXPLAINING HOW I WAS FEELING
I explained to both Helen and Melissa that my hot flashes are unbearable. I also told them both that between my mood swings and my lack of desire for sex, my husband may pack his backs and leave town. They laughed as did I, but deep inside, I was serious. Melissa suggested Estrogen and Progesterone until my blood work comes back. This is an efficient way to relieve symptoms of perimenopause. This will also reduce the severity of hot flashes and the risk of osteoporosis. I wasn’t worried about osteoporosis, simply because of all my years in the gym and my diet.
***Progesterone and estrogen are essential hormones in a woman’s reproductive system.
THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT ESTROGEN
Estrogen stimulates the release of eggs, and progesterone prepares the womb for egg implantation.
In all women, our supply of eggs diminishes over time. As the number of eggs falls, so does estrogen production.
When your estrogen plummets, hormonal and biochemical fluctuations can lead to changes in your brain and nervous system. Remember those mood swings, irritability, fatigue, hot flashes, night sweats, stress, anxiety, and depression I mentioned? Yes, those.
Progesterone, in my opinion, is the “Holy Grail.” I remembered how I felt when I was going through IVF to get pregnant with Sasha. I remember feeling INCREDIBLE, my skin glowed, and I was almost euphoric every damn day!
THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT PROGESTERONE
Progesterone can boost your energy by stimulating your thyroid and heating up your metabolism. After ovulation, your body temperature will go up a half degree.
What I love about progesterone most is that it crushed my mood swings and allowed me to sleep like a baby.
I have noticed that my skin glows even more since I started using the progesterone, and my hair is shinier. I always had great skin, but it looks plumper!
Progesterone also combats autoimmune disease. It reduces inflammation and regulates detoxification enzymes. Before Melissa explained how Progesterone counteracts estrogens effect on breast and uterine tissue, I was scared that taking estrogen would cause cancer in my body. I have also read that it may have a role as a treatment for breast cancer in the future!
TRIAL AND ERROR
I have been seeing Melissa at Maze Women’s Health now for a year and eight months. We didn’t have the perfect combo of estrogen/testosterone/ progesterone, as there is a lot of trial and error. Some months I would feel amazing, and other months I would feel blah. The key to my success all this time has been continually communicating with Melissa. I meet with her every eleven to twelve weeks for my blood work. When I meet with her at that time, she will also give me a new testo-pellet that is small than a tic-tac. She inserts it into my glute muscle, and throughout eleven to twelve weeks, it gives my body what it needs to balance along with the estrogen and progesterone.
GRATEFUL FOR MAZE WOMEN’S HEALTH
I’m so thankful I found Maze women’s health. It’s so important to listen to your body and know that there are people who can help you. You aren’t crazy. You may be hormonal, and there is something you can do about it. Maze Women’s health has proved that we don’t need to suffer through perimenopause! Know this. NOONE is going to have your back like you for YOURSELF. You need to be your own advocate. You need to research and educate yourself. Know the facts and get to the people who can help you. Don’t stop at one doctor. If your gut is telling you something is up, well, my Goddess, you keep researching until you are satisfied.
If you have any questions, I am here to answer you with answers from my personal experience. Stay tuned for my updates and blog posts talking about perimenopause and how to deal.
