It's been six months today since I last got my period.
Menopause thus far has been a breeze. This is not common, but it’s probably because I’m on mood medication. It is really nice not to have PMS or tender breasts or leaking or surprise middle of the night flooding or any of it. I feel lucky.
Different but similar relief from the PMS, period, leaky side of it. I’m got a hormonal IUD around a year ago and thank the good gods every day for the freedom, lack of pain, and lack of inconvenience. And that’s not including the stability and confidence around feeling like I finally have control over my reproductive future.
I tried hormonal IUDs and wasn’t a great fit for them (hormones have always been really difficult for my body to handle) but I LOVED copper IUDs for many years. I’ve known so many women who raved about hormonal IUDs…lighter periods, reliable birth control–what’s not to love!?
So happy your IUD works for you. I shout from the rooftops any time I’m able to about IUDs. Best birth control ever!
I’m so happy for your breezy menopause, but happier still that I’ve been hearing about and having so many conversations about peri and menopause in recent times. We’ve come along way from “The Change” being some spooky, hidden thing that women shoulder alone…it makes me so happy that women are discussing their experiences with one another and demanding/finding good care when they need it.
I’m not there yet, though I believe I have entered peri. I had an ablation last fall due to pretty severe, chronic cycle-related anemia and it changed my life. I definitely understand how you feel about not missing the leaking, middle of the night surprises, etc. That part of having a period being (mostly) gone for me has truly been a game changer.
Question for you, please only answer if you’re comfortable: is the mood medication you are taking hormonal, like specifically for hormonal mood issues? Or traditional psychiatric medication?
I’ve definitely known several women who said menopause was very easy and wonderful for them. My own mother suffered pretty terribly with it, but I also know she received no care and didn’t take anything to try and ease things…so I’m trying to gather as much information as I can on what is working for others. I’m hopeful that I will have an easier time of it than my mother.
Congratulations again. I wish you a continued easy breezy path. Thank you so much for sharing this with others, it’s so vital that women run into conversations like this. Some women still don’t know that we’re out here, talking about all of this!
Thank you so much! My medication is for bipolar type 2 and anxiety disorder and I was on it long before menopause hit, but it seems to have made things very smooth sailing indeed. The one I think is making the biggest difference is naltrexone, which I take for an anxiety disorder called trichotillomania, but it has a profound effect on my mood as well, and honestly I recommend it 10 times more than an SSRi. It has had a massive impact on my life overall. It is normally used for alcohol abuse treatment, I don’t have alcoholism at all, so this is an atypical use, but what a difference it’s made. Also I have lost tons of weight on it as they also use it for bariatric patients. Like 50+ pounds. Bitch is skinny!
My mentally ill mother became psychotic (not using that lightly at all) when she hit menopause. It was before using psych drugs became commonplace in society, and I think it had a profound deleterious effect on her psychiatric disorder. She could only be described as violent, dangerous, and manipulative after “the change”. Her behaviors since then have been frightening and alienating, she has BPD so she’s already incredibly difficult but now she is positively malignant and we are estranged, so I am vastly relieved to be having a completely opposite experience.
I’m really glad we talk about it openly too! I am not sure how many women on Lemmy are of this age group, but my hope is to let everyone know that it’s ok to use medication to manage the mood swings. It’s a huge difference. Thank you!
I’m glad to hear that your medication is so helpful for you! I am also (mostly) estranged from my mother and understand what it is like to navigate all of this without a mom. It’s so strange, trying to piece together clues from what I know of her experience and then match them up to my own to see if we are the same, if I’m her daughter in the way I experience perimenopause while not really being her daughter in so many other ways.
I’m sorry menopause caused your mother to take such a turn. I bet she’s really far from alone in that. It seems to have such profound emotional and mental health effects on some women. I’m lucky that age dulled my mother’s edges, even if our past and the person she used to be makes it impossible for me to trust or be close with her now. At least she settled into something more peaceful with age–your mother sounds so miserable and emotionally dangerous.
Thanks again for sharing your experience. I’m so proud to take part in these conversations! We are not alone and what’s happening to our bodies is not strange or bad. We deserve care when we are struggling and camaraderie as we adjust to new seasons of life. I’m so happy for all women who feel comfortable sharing, and for those who lurk and learn and feel less alone because of the women who share!
Estrangement is hard but also sanity saving, isn’t it? Like no way I could go through my entire life dealing with her manipulation. My mom is extremely dangerous and right now is apparently working on breaking up my brother’s relationship, she HATES that he’s gay so she spends a lot of time insulting and belittling his partner. And it’ll work. He has no spine with her.
I am sorry you are in the same boat but glad you got away from your mom. There’s no safety in these relationships.
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