I think as women we are so pressured to do everything "naturally" - age gracefully. But that's ridiculous. If you are suffering needlessly (to the point where your mental health and functioning is seriously impaired), then it is an act of love to do what you can to help yourself heal. Sending you love and strength on the guinea pig journey!
And how many women will take their own lives because they think they either have to ride this nightmare out, or take matters into their own exhausted, overfilled hands?
It’s all too much! I consider this a real societal crisis. Without knowledge and community, autistic perimenopausal women feel trapped, ashamed and are truly at risk. It breaks my heart.
I’m a slow processor also and the peri/menopausal symptoms are agonizing. I’m a single 55-year old with a 14-year old. I’m trying so hard to be happy around my kiddo, but kids are wise and know when mommas aren’t doing well.
Sending you a huge hug. We need to find our own path with menopause and figure out a way that works for us. I know that my terribly dark moods disappeared when I started taking HRT.
I’m not sure but it sounds like referring to injections I had as I had been going through so much that you wrote about (prostrap?). Personally best thing ever. Wishing I hadn’t gone through with hysterectomy to be honest as now been thrown into menopause which stating is aweful is an understatement. The fake menopause I was in due to the injections was brilliant in comparison.
Oh that sounds so tough, I’m so sorry to hear that your hysterectomy has affected you so negatively 😭
Thanks for sharing your experience though, because I’m sure lots of us here would love an elective hysterectomy (is there such a thing..?) to get out of perimenopause.
Are you getting enough hormones added back in with HRT/MHT?
Urgh it’s so frustrating what we have to put up with. At least you aren’t having to deal with the sensory overload and dread of frequent heavy bleeding any more x
The shoulds are so annoying. They are like ingrown nails in the mind that our lives have grown around.
I was thinking about this the other day, these blocks that control me in my unconscious mind and i hate being controlled by these shadowy figures that there “should” be a safe place to disclose these should thoughts and feelings and that maybe just maybe the light shining on them would take away some of the power they have. Why is it so hard to talk about them though even as I type this…I mean im autistic so “should” be immune and rejecting to social norms but im not.
“Shoulds” are the worst. Great to be aware of them so we can notice and kick them to the kerb before they grip hold of us! Social norms are also the worst, and deserve a good kicking too 😆
I’m so interested to hear more about this. I’m creeping closer to 50 everyday and I keep waiting for the day to come where I don’t feel like a confused shell of a person I used to be…I’m grateful that hrt has helped control the irrational rage that was driving me to the edge, but my cognition, functioning, physical symptoms are still awful - in fact I think they are sometimes declining further. Often I feel I have early onset dementia 😔 then remember it’s likely ‘just’ menopausal…it’s awful! My youngest is only 9, I want better for them. Better for me. I look forward to reading more 🙏🏼
Oh I really understand and empathise, my youngest is 9 too and I feel the same. I think we all jump to the conclusion that it must be early onset dementia, but more than likely it’s perimenopause. Awful, awful perimenopause… 😭
Thanks to you for sharing such a personal journey. It’s clear you’ve been through a lot, and your decision to try GnRH analogs makes sense, given everything you’ve experienced. Not easy to navigate all this, especially with the added layer of autism. I hope this treatment brings you the relief you’re looking for. Wishing you strength as you move forward!
Hit fine by accident - wanted to also say that the lack of understanding of women’s health is so hard to fathom. How has this research not been done already? How have there been longitudinal studies on all this? Why are we still in this world where women’s healthcare feels more like a black art than a science?
I think as women we are so pressured to do everything "naturally" - age gracefully. But that's ridiculous. If you are suffering needlessly (to the point where your mental health and functioning is seriously impaired), then it is an act of love to do what you can to help yourself heal. Sending you love and strength on the guinea pig journey!
Yes, 100%!
And how many women will take their own lives because they think they either have to ride this nightmare out, or take matters into their own exhausted, overfilled hands?
It’s all too much! I consider this a real societal crisis. Without knowledge and community, autistic perimenopausal women feel trapped, ashamed and are truly at risk. It breaks my heart.
I’m a slow processor also and the peri/menopausal symptoms are agonizing. I’m a single 55-year old with a 14-year old. I’m trying so hard to be happy around my kiddo, but kids are wise and know when mommas aren’t doing well.
Thank you for sharing this!!
Oh it’s so hard to act happily when feeling awful, and kids are so perceptive 😭
Sending you a huge hug. We need to find our own path with menopause and figure out a way that works for us. I know that my terribly dark moods disappeared when I started taking HRT.
Thanks, Suzy. I’m so glad HRT was enough for your moods to lift!
HRT works for me as more of a protective buffer, but I’m still a victim to the fluctuations of my own hormone levels 😭
I’m not sure but it sounds like referring to injections I had as I had been going through so much that you wrote about (prostrap?). Personally best thing ever. Wishing I hadn’t gone through with hysterectomy to be honest as now been thrown into menopause which stating is aweful is an understatement. The fake menopause I was in due to the injections was brilliant in comparison.
Oh that sounds so tough, I’m so sorry to hear that your hysterectomy has affected you so negatively 😭
Thanks for sharing your experience though, because I’m sure lots of us here would love an elective hysterectomy (is there such a thing..?) to get out of perimenopause.
Are you getting enough hormones added back in with HRT/MHT?
I am now on oestrogen patches at what seem to be the right level. The menopause rage has finally reduced to manageable levels.
I am glad I had the hysterectomy overall as no more monthly agony and bleed outs but the menopause really has kicked my ass.
Urgh it’s so frustrating what we have to put up with. At least you aren’t having to deal with the sensory overload and dread of frequent heavy bleeding any more x
The shoulds are so annoying. They are like ingrown nails in the mind that our lives have grown around.
I was thinking about this the other day, these blocks that control me in my unconscious mind and i hate being controlled by these shadowy figures that there “should” be a safe place to disclose these should thoughts and feelings and that maybe just maybe the light shining on them would take away some of the power they have. Why is it so hard to talk about them though even as I type this…I mean im autistic so “should” be immune and rejecting to social norms but im not.
“Shoulds” are the worst. Great to be aware of them so we can notice and kick them to the kerb before they grip hold of us! Social norms are also the worst, and deserve a good kicking too 😆
I’m so interested to hear more about this. I’m creeping closer to 50 everyday and I keep waiting for the day to come where I don’t feel like a confused shell of a person I used to be…I’m grateful that hrt has helped control the irrational rage that was driving me to the edge, but my cognition, functioning, physical symptoms are still awful - in fact I think they are sometimes declining further. Often I feel I have early onset dementia 😔 then remember it’s likely ‘just’ menopausal…it’s awful! My youngest is only 9, I want better for them. Better for me. I look forward to reading more 🙏🏼
Oh I really understand and empathise, my youngest is 9 too and I feel the same. I think we all jump to the conclusion that it must be early onset dementia, but more than likely it’s perimenopause. Awful, awful perimenopause… 😭
Unnerving you both mention dementia…i was googling that last night because it feels like what im experiencing
Thanks to you for sharing such a personal journey. It’s clear you’ve been through a lot, and your decision to try GnRH analogs makes sense, given everything you’ve experienced. Not easy to navigate all this, especially with the added layer of autism. I hope this treatment brings you the relief you’re looking for. Wishing you strength as you move forward!
Thank you ☺️
Hit fine by accident - wanted to also say that the lack of understanding of women’s health is so hard to fathom. How has this research not been done already? How have there been longitudinal studies on all this? Why are we still in this world where women’s healthcare feels more like a black art than a science?
Yes, totally agree! Because patriarchy. It makes me so angry too!!