So Totally Not Fair

[C-Girl]

So I finally find out at 47 that I'm celiac, and now I learn my body is trying to go into early menopause because of it. I'm so very

Not Ready For This. Has anyone else experienced this? Will hormones help? I'm in abject terror. I thought I had at least another 8 years before I had to worry about that. MFing gluten. Stupid immune system. Damn you genetics.

[kareng]

I don't think starting menopause at 47 is really early. Seems about normal.

[C-Girl]

Not for my family. My sisters and mom were mid-50s.

[pricklypear1971]

Look, autoimmune diseases are the great unequalizers. They tax your whole body.

Yes, very good chance your hormones are less than optimal. Yes, you can take hormones.

What you need to look at are nutritional deficiencies, key hormone levels, and adrenal health. Improve those and your hormones may self regulate.

I use natural progesterone cream - it helps me.

It's normal to enter peri menopause in late 30's. That can go on for years. You may be further along, though, by your description.

[IrishHeart]

Ah, the onset of menopause....so much fun.

 

I started a horrible peri-menopause at 39.

I put up with that nonsense for 8 LONG years. I had endometriosis, fibroids, uterine cysts,

bleeding 2/4 weeks, nighttime sweats and anxiety. I peeled off layers of clothes while I was teaching at the front of a lecture hall.

I am sure the students were worried  I would just some day go all the way down to bare skin.

I could melt ice when I walked on it.

 

My GYN tried to help me with estrogen. She tried everything, in fact. Made it worse.

I had to have a total hysterectomy at 47.

I could never carry to term and all those miscarriages were surely connected to undiagnosed celiac.

The whole infertility thing was a freakin nightmare. But I did not know I had celiac back then.

 

With your celiac now in check, it may not be all that bad after all. Take heart!

My point is...... your onset is really quite normal (although the average age is 51, I think.)

 

Natural progesterone cream can be helpful. Hormone replacement has side effects.

Weigh your options carefully.

 

Embrace it. Being free from ghastly monthly periods is really quite  liberating, IMHO. 

Take care.

[notme]

i am 51 and awaiting the first sign....  ?.....  my poor (4 years younger) sister has already been suffering with the peri- for a few years - i mean, TERRIBLE!  i am feeling so sorry for her    and it's always so not fair to her.  she always lived like a normal human and i was the wild child.  i smoked and drank and ran around while she stayed home and behaved herself.  now, the only sign i see that is slightly different is that i used to be straight 28 days, you could set a clock by my regularity.  now, it's plus or minus 5 DAYS - definitely kinks my style, but not earth shattering.  who could ever tell if i have mood swings HAHAHAHAAA.......

 

i creep myself out - you know how women are dispensing eggs that we have had for ever - i'm all naming them:  Claw, Double Head, Flipper, Twentytoes, etc.  all my mutant old egg baby children.  ughghghggggghhhhhhh 

 

have a nice day! 

[IrishHeart]

 who could ever tell if i have mood swings HAHAHAHAAA.......

 

 

 

good point! 

[anti-soprano]

i creep myself out - you know how women are dispensing eggs that we have had for ever - i'm all naming them:  Claw, Double Head, Flipper, Twentytoes, etc.  all my mutant old egg baby children.  ughghghggggghhhhhhh 

 

 

This is HILARIOUS!! 

 

On a more serious note, when picking your poison for menopause (au naturale or hormone replacement), keep in mind that the hormone replacement may be better for your heart (verdict still out), but may not be so good at preventing certain cancers.  You may want to consider your family history.  Someone described hot flashed to me once as a temporary fever- it's your body cleaning house.  Maybe that will make it easier to bear?  I'm not there yet, so I can't speak from experience.

 

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My best to you-

Shellie