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CynthiaWVirginia -> RE: The Peri-Menopause/Pre-Menopausal Hell thread (4/17/2010 2:25:51 AM)
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I'd have to look up my last chemo, because that's when it started.
During the other 3, I had Rituxan, Vincristine, Cytoxan, and Prenisone, and my period stayed normal throughout. I can't remember what that last chemo was, but I lost my period while having it. Then, those sudden blasts of heat from hell started. The nights were the worst, all night long it was blankets on, blankets off, for what felt like hundreds of times. Sometimes the hot flashes aren't so bad, sometimes they're severe.
I've always had migraines, but these were and are almost always with me, the only thing varying is the intensity. The oncologist got smart with me one time because I stopped taking some pill he was giving me for them (they weren't doing anything to help, and the side effects sucked) anyway... when I whined about it once, he told me "Then you must enjoy pain."
He has such a hateful job that I try to be nice to the little pr**k. [;)]
Anyway, it's been around 4 or 5 years now, with no end in sight. The gyno I went to refused to give me HRT. I've had NHL, not breast cancer, ovarian, etc.
Another thing I've noticed since starting menopause (perio or whatever) is that my panic attacks get triggered more often, and differently. Usually without the expected triggers, and right when one is hitting, I taste/smell heparin (what they inject into my portacath to keep it clear every 6 weeks, and I can smell/taste it at that time) and that taste/smell overwhelms me with nausea. So now, I'm enjoying hot flashes and playing Pokemon on my D/s machine when WHAM, I "smell/taste" that odor, and I lunge for some perfume to overpower it and avoid hurling. I also get a feeling of guilt hit me at the same time.
I don't know how much of that is due to rampaging hormones, and how much is survivor's guilt. Part of the reason I was absent from here for around two years is that a friend of mine got sick and took almost a year to die. Two Dec. 24ths ago. There was nobody here for her but me, and I had to become medical power of attourney and then legal power of attourney, and the shiite from that never ends. I learned more than I ever wanted to learn and had a very bad year. I'm also so tired of doctors and medical smells that I could scream, so I have put off doctor appointments for myself that I shouldn't have. I'm way overdue for my gyn, physical, and blah blah blah. Also, during nasty weather I don't make appointments, as I may be unable or unwilling to get off my hill.
After reading several different threads here, my to do list is building up, lol.
As for moodiness, no. I only get to enjoy my enhanced panic attacks, that now are served with a side order of vertigo. During these, I've noticed that my blood pressure goes up into borderline.
I witnessed my mother's mood swings years ago, after she'd had a complete hysterectomy. She was Senora Psychopath, whenever she was late for or had forgotten her hormone pills.
Ladies, I'd thought there was a connection between more frequent and more intense migraines but no doctor I've mentioned them to ever put two and two together for me. I only get around 3 periods per year, but the pain is like someone drove an ax into my skull, and I couldn't get anyone else to understand the intensity. I've had to stay in the dark and keep mostly to my bed for that week, believe me, it's not a Tylenol cured headache. Thanks for showing me that there is a definite connection.
And exhaustion. When the hot flashes intensify, those are the weeks when I'm exhausted 24/7. Sometimes I go maybe a few months between having bad flashes and just low level ones. Whenever I have a period, I don't get any hot flashes at least from ovulation time until 4-6 weeks later.
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