“Hello this is Sam Galloway from The Autistic Perimenopause in New Zealand.
I'm currently inside a blanket fort I've built myself.
I'm hoping my cats and kids don't try and come and take it off me while I'm recording.
We are just going into Autumn here in New Zealand which is fantastic because I've been boiling and hot flushing all the long summer so it's nice and dark here in the evenings which is good.
Suits my mood.
I hope wherever you are in the world it's bright and cheery. Goodness knows we need it. ☀️
Today I just wanted to talk through my neurodivergent perimenopausal discovery timeline which is just an explanation of how I came to self identify as autistic, ADHD, highly anxious, and also recognise that I was in, still am, in perimenopause.”
Listen for more! 💕🎧 ▶️
Fun fact: The Autistic Perimenopause: A Temporary Regression is fuelled by caffeine. If you would like to buy me a coffee, the button above will take you to my page. Thank you! ☕️
Is your neurodivergent perimenopause self-discovery story like mine?
How is it similar?
What are the differences?
I look forward to chatting with you in the comments! 💕
PS: I wish I could live in my podcasting blanket fort forever!
PPS: I have been an AI sceptic for the longest time, but I just asked Chat GPT to summarise the transcript into a bullet point list because I don’t have cognitive capacity…
I am trying to train myself to train Chat GPT to provide me with minor assistance. So full disclosure, this is an AI generated summary list using my own words verbatim from the podcast episode. Sharing for other NDs with processing differences, cognitive issues and just a need to read rather than listen. Also helpful for my own recall.
I wonder if this might be a useful system too for people with perimenopause symptoms who would appreciate a way to communicate their issues to medical staff without needing to verbalise it all in person.
You can just stream of consciousness into a voice note or similar recording system, get the transcription, and ask Chat GPT or other AI to summarise it for you.
Print/email to give to your doctor and reduce the verbal processing demands on yourself. It can be helpful for those of us with reduced/temporarily reduced executive functioning skills.
ChatGPT said:
Here’s a bullet point summary of the items and symptoms that led to Sam Galloway’s diagnoses of autism, ADHD, anxiety, and perimenopause:
Early Life and Family:
Moved to New Zealand at age 36-37, with two small children.
No awareness of neurodivergence at the time, despite working in special schools and seeing atypical traits in her children.
Physical Symptoms:
Dry Eyes: Felt like sunburn, ongoing despite treatment; misdiagnosed due to age, a possible sign of perimenopause.
Dental Issues: Underwent a gum graft, later realized dental problems can be common in perimenopause.
Genital Issues: Thrush-like symptoms and torn labia unresponsive to treatment; resolved with vaginal estrogen.
Non-Stop Bleeding: Severe menstrual issues leading to sensory overload, fatigue, and low iron.
Hair Loss: Recurring hair thinning around the front hairline.
Bloating/Weight Gain: Bloating and weight gain around the middle after Mirena IUD insertion.
Hot Flashes: Ongoing and problematic, particularly during summer.
PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder): Recognized retrospectively as a lifelong issue linked to hormonal fluctuations.
Mental Health and Cognitive Symptoms:
Anxiety: Always had anxiety, exacerbated by living in a tsunami zone.
Cognitive Dysfunction: Forgetfulness, loss of focus, struggling to complete tasks, trouble remembering names, forgetting how to drive, and difficulty following through with a standup comedy routine.
Suicidal Ideation & Depression: Extreme depression and thoughts of not wanting to live, with a significant loss of self.
Rage: Uncontrollable and spontaneous outbursts of rage, possibly linked to meltdowns.
Neurodivergence and ADHD Symptoms:
Autism Diagnosis: Received a formal autism diagnosis in late 30s, which was validating but revealed missed ADHD symptoms.
ADHD Symptoms: Cognitive dysfunction, hyperfocus on special interests, rumination, poor time management, and inability to remember basic tasks or make decisions.
Difficulty with Tasks: Struggled with self-care, including washing hair, cooking meals, and exercise due to fatigue and lack of motivation.
Perimenopausal Symptoms:
Hormonal Fluctuations: Major mood swings, fatigue, inability to engage socially, and poor self-care during perimenopause.
Medication Issues: Struggled with finding effective hormone replacement therapy (HRT), experienced mood stabilizer side effects (insomnia), and was unable to access ADHD meds due to supply shortages.
Testosterone Use: Started testosterone to help with symptoms but still faced bloating and weight gain.
Bloating and Weight Gain: Persistent bloating despite managing other symptoms.
Hormonal Treatment Trials: Tried various HRT options, including estrogen patches, gel, and progesterone, while struggling with side effects.
Medical Interventions and Waiting for Treatment:
Hormone Blockers: Zoladex to manage hormone fluctuations, temporarily placed in chemical menopause.
Future Surgery: Awaiting hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy (removal of uterus and ovaries) to manage perimenopausal symptoms.
Mirena IUD and Biopsy: Had Mirena IUD fitted for bleeding control, but faced complications; a pipel biopsy was also done.
Continued Symptoms: Ongoing bloating, depression, and weight gain attributed to hormone imbalances and progesterone intolerance.
Key Takeaways:
Experience of neurodivergence (autism, ADHD) and perimenopause overlapped, complicating the understanding of symptoms.
Struggled with finding the right treatment, including managing medication side effects and accessing necessary care.
Despite challenges, there has been some improvement, but fluctuating symptoms still persist.
This summary encapsulates the main points of Sam’s experiences leading to her diagnoses and ongoing struggles with neurodivergence and perimenopause.
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