Hot flashes, perimenopause and crushing depression...

[Anonymous]

I thought I'd be one of the lucky ones to escape hot flashes, since I'm in my 50s, I've been feeling fine, and I still get my period every month. Whoops! Two weeks ago, I missed my period, and started having hot flashes. They are unpleasant, but bearable, but at the same time I was hit by a crushing depression. Has anyone experienced this? I was expecting weight gain, hot flashes, moodiness in perimenopause, but this heavy depression has come out of the blue. I know it's a chemical thing, not something triggered by an event because basically everything is going well. I feel especially badly because DH just got some good news, and I'm sitting around crying all the time at the slightest thing, e.g. a news story in a magazine, a child's illness, whatever. I've been taking fish oil thrice daily for a few days, but I can't tell if it's helped or not. If this has happened to you, did it pass, or did you need medication/exercise to get out of it? I don't think I need therapy -- it has to be caused by a sudden drop in estrogen, I'm assuming. Any thoughts? I just saw my MD, and she said I can take antidepressants if I want, but I'd rather avoid that, which is why I'm trying fish oil. I've never experienced anything like this before -- I suddenly understand what depression feels like.

[Anonymous]

You might want to contact the National Institutes of Health. I recently received a notice from them (that they sent out to women over 50 (or 55 can't remember) within 10 miles of NIH) that they were doing research on mood disorders and perimenopause.

It was a fascinating solicitation. (I'm in research and evaluation so these things interest me.) It was a lovely card (like a greeting card) talking about how perimenopause can affect moods and how we can all work together to improve things at this time of life and how I should call them for more information. They never actually said they were looking for research subjects but it was clear that that was the purpose. Maybe asking straight out had not been successful in the past.

I didn't call them because I have sadness and anxiety aplenty but it's for reasons other than menopause! But you might find it helpful. Sorry I don't have the card anymore but you could probably look on the NIH website and find it.

[Anonymous]

http://patientinfo.nimh.nih.gov/PerimenopauseRelatedMoodDisorders.aspx

[Anonymous]

OP here. I looked at the link. Yes it's a study of a bunch of treatments for depression in perimenopause. I don't think I want to participate, although I'd be interested in the results. And it's interesting that they are studying depression in perimenopause. I did not know depression was a symptom of perimenopause. I've had mood swings, but this huge depression coming on so suddenly is a big surprise to me.

I am doing OK taking fish oil and a natural mood elevator called 5-HTP that my nutritionist recommended. I've been taking two capsules of fish oil (Nordic Naturals) three times a day, and taking 5-HTP (Pure Encapsulations) in the morning and at night. I noticed that if I forget to take the fish oil at lunchtime, my mood starts to sink. Maybe this stuff actually does work?? I'm not a study, of course, but I worry about messing with my hormones.

[Anonymous]

I've had huge mood swings too - depression and anger where I'm ready to take off anyone's head!!

I've been taking low-dose birth control pills and they help a lot.

[Anonymous]

Stay away from hormon pills.
Otherwise, nature...

I was reading in some UK mag that some ladies actually found a great relief in donating bloood..
supposedly the build up of blood that normally would go away equals to build up of hormons and
iron..

for hormons flash o;ut you can take some diuretic supposedly it said as it is also sudden surge of hormonal
level that makes you act depressed etc.. but as far as hot flashes it is about iron. go figure

[Anonymous]

normal, hot flashes and moodiness, weight gain, hair on your nose and chin, impatience,all these and more are normal in late forties, even if you have your period