High Risk and Perimenopause/Menopause

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NYCMs
NYCMs Member Posts: 35
edited June 2014 in High Risk for Breast Cancer
High Risk and Perimenopause/Menopause
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  • NYCMs
    NYCMs Member Posts: 35
    edited April 2014

    Hello,
    It's been over a year since I was diagnosed with LCIS.  I've had my mammo and MRI this year and was told they are fine.  

    I am 50 years old and have been feeling awful!----SO sleepy, lethargic, moody, fuzzy minded, unproductive, hot--this is not at all like me. I finally realized it must be the effects of perimenopause as I've been missing periods. I really need help--some days I can barely function. 

    I live in NYC:  Does anyone have advice on a specialist I can see regarding what I can do to help my with the symptoms?  I do not want to take anything over the counter as I know we are not supposed to fool around with anything hormonal, but honestly some days I really cannot barely function.  My breast "specialist" was not at all helpful to me.  Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer. 

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  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited April 2014

    NYCM, some women have some relief with symptoms taking the antidepressant Effexor. 

    Hormone replacement would be contraindicated with LCIS.

    I can sympathize. Perimenopause was awful for me. I could not sleep, was exhausted all the time, and my normal easy-going personality disappeared for a while-I felt homicidal or suicidal half the time. Before all that I never even had PMS. It does get better. 

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  • NYCMs
    NYCMs Member Posts: 35
    edited April 2014

    OMgoodness! That is awful!  Glad you got thru it okay.

    That is very interesting.  I have never taken an anti-depressant before. I am not depressed, but like you…how can you possibly have a good day if you don't sleep well at night?  I tried taking a tiny bit of Ambien but I don't want to do that every night, and even tho I slept more it was totally un-restorative sleep.

    I will look into it.  Thank you SO SO much for your advice.

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  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited April 2014

    I thought it was weird-it was like my sleepy switch had been turned off at night. I had always been a good sleeper but I found myself reading almost all night, then dragging during the day. I was just not sleepy at all at bed time.

    The Effexor helps hot flashes too for some women.

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  • Janet456
    Janet456 Member Posts: 507
    edited April 2014

    I'm coming up 52 this year and beginning to think that the hot flushes and insomnia will never end - sigh.

    No HRT for me either due to DCIS..... oh and I've lost my waist and fat seems to be sticking everywhere.

    Who'd be a woman eh!?!?! xx

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  • NYCMs
    NYCMs Member Posts: 35
    edited April 2014

    Oh my goodness!  I can't imagine feeling this way for years!

    I also gained 5 lbs.  I thought it was the holidays but we're way passed the holidays.  Are you doing anything for your symptoms? On the contrary I sleep SO MUCH.  This past weekend I slept late…took a nap in the afternoon and went to sleep early…but STILL feel sleepy when I wake.  Also I used to exercise 3-4 times a week.  Now when I have a good workout it takes forever to recover!

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  • Annette47
    Annette47 Member Posts: 957
    edited April 2014

    I had been having lots of peri-menopausal symptoms prior to being diagnosed at 45 years old.   Insomnia, weight gain, my cycles were getting more frequent, heavier, and lasting longer so it seemed like I was bleeding half the month.  Oh, and with fibrocystic breasts, I always had cyclical breast pain that was lasting longer and longer each month too.

    The ironic thing is that Tamoxifen, which so many people complain about actually seems to have relieved most of that.   I've been sleeping very soundly, my cycles are longer and lighter, and while I haven't lost weight, I haven't gained any more either.  The breast pain is pretty much gone.    A few mild hot flashes, but well worth it!  If only it hadn't taken a cancer diagnosis to get to this point, LOL.

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  • Janet456
    Janet456 Member Posts: 507
    edited April 2014

    I'm not doing anything about it - well other than moaning about it

    Some mornings I feel like i'm about 90 years old - I keep telling myself that it can't go on forever - *fingers and toes crossed*

    Annette - glad you've got some relief from it - although sorry for the circumstances xxx

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