I adore my husband. I don’t think I deserve such a loving man, and I go through times of crying daily out of gratitude.

As long as I have known him, he has been considered obese. Most members of his family are also overweight, and genetics do play a factor, but my husband has had a higher BMI than any of his family members for longer than the entirety of his adult life. I did not care about his weight initially, especially since he was more active than the skinny little thing I was.

This isn’t a matter of just not getting exercise and overeating. He exercised more than I did, and he still does (though I’m catching up in that area), and I’ve always been the one who eats more.

Since our marriage, he has gained more and more. He is only in his thirties; but he has recently begun to wheeze daily and use a walking stick, insisting he doesn’t need an electric scooter when I know that he has gotten to the point that he does.

I have also gained since our marriage, yet I am still on the slender side. Our bodies were built in completely different ways. My weight gain has come largely from pregnancy and perimenopause whereas his gain does not seem to have a medical explanation. At any rate, I would feel like a hypocrite talking to him about his weight gain when anyone can see that I have also gained. I also don’t want him to feel bad because my gain is not something worth caring about while his is something potentially dangerous.

Furthermore, my husband views me as a smart nonconforming woman who looks beyond appearances. He is more than used to skinny people exaggerating the health risks of fat people and badgering them to lose weight, and he thinks that I am a wonderful exception. The last thing I want to be is a shallow bitch who insists that her household to be perfect.

I wish there was a way that I could tell my husband that I am worried about him without coming across as shallow and clueless, and hypocritical. I also wish that my husband took better care of himself. He tries to take care of everyone else, never himself. Still, I can’t blame him for not being fond of doctors; I’ve seen their prejudice against him, thinking that everything has to be a result of his weight.

Help, please?

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My doctor put me on low dosages of estrogen 5 mg & progesterone 1 mg. but they did not help. My breasts ended up hurting so bad I could not sleep on my stomach at night and they did not help my hot flashes one bit. We tried this out for 1 month. She took me off of it and put me on Paxil 10 mg. and I will see her in a month. They do help for my hot flashes. Thats what my doctor said it would help besides my depression too. Has anyone had the same results or any advice on perimenopause synptems? I am 37 and no not too young just not real common at this age. Also is it posssible to gain weight at this time? Help, any advice or imput would be nice. Mature answers only. Thankyou!

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I am 20 and me and my hubby have unprotected sex about every 3-4 days. my last period was May 20th. before that i missed 3 periods and my doctor had to give me meds to jump start one because my boobs hurt so bad. about a week and half-2 weeks after my period ended i had some spotting. so now i will have missed 2 periods this thursday. im having mild cramps in my lower pelvic area, my boobs hurt, and in the last week or so ive gotten hungrier and im craving so many things all the time. (mostly brownies or fruit) my cervical mucus is thick white and sticky. i have also been getting hot flashes. I want to know if anyone else has had this problme. could i be pregnant, have PCOD, or early perimenopause. also how likey am i ovulating if im skipping so much?

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I’m 24 years old and have been with my boyfriend for about two years. We have a five month old baby together and I love him very much but he thinks I am cheating on him. The primary reason for this is because I have absolutely NO sex drive at all.

I know what you’re all going to say, you’re a new young mother, blah blah blah… but I know that’s not the cause and I have other symptoms that I believe are related.

- Constant exhaustion and fatique
- Severe insomnia (seems ironic given the constant exhaustion…)
- Unable to loose the baby weight
- Irritable and short-tempered
- Hot and cold flashes
- Loss of appetite
- Foggy memory
- Difficulty concentrating and paying attention (my mind wanders in mid-conversation with people, to the point that I have NO idea what they just said once they finish)
- Absolutely NO sex drive at all (my poor boyfriend will try and try to make me horny, but nothing ever happens, I usually end up giving in and having sex because I feel bad)

I know that these symptoms are not due to being a new mother, however, because I felt wonderful and my sex drive peaked when my baby was about 1-2 months old, then disappeared.

I googled my symptoms and it said that I have a hormonal imbalance where my estrogen levels are far higher than my progesterone levels… and that this typically happens during perimenopause and menopause… I’m only 24!!!

Oh, by the way, these symptoms were here BEFORE I got pregnant as well, I’ve been living with them for a while but they seem to be getting worse.

Please, does anyone know what is going on? Am I going through premature menopause?? What can I do to feel better and have more energy to play with my baby? How can I get my sex drive back? (my boyfriend has tried pretty much everything that you can think of, romantic dinner, foreplay, etc… nothing works so far)
Now that you mention it I have always had very low blood pressure. I didn’t think it was related because I’ve had it for so long.

Even when i was 9 months pregnant the nurse commented that I had the blood pressure of a 10 year old.

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ok so i’ve been farting alot today, and my stomach has been really upset. i took a dump and it was like all green and all watery. im not sure what this is but im sure its not Perimenopause (PMS) since im a guy.also i got sick today since my friend was purposly coughing on me in the morning
can some1 please tell me what this problem can be? Thanks!!!

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I have just now turned 39. I had a year and a half of stomach aches, severe acid reflux that had to sleep sitting up in bed for 3 months, severe bloating, diarrhea, constipation, anxiety, panic attacks, humming in my ears, smelling strange smells, sinus attacks, eyes wattering and itching, anal and vaginal area itching attacks, nauseau, throat itching, metal taste or bitter taste on tongue. I have been diagnosed with Raynaud’s Disease in my hands and feet and I have 2 thinning discs in lower back with slight bulge to left side in L4 and L5 area.

I lost 20 pounds as the food I was eating was not sticking and my immune system and digestive system were not working together and told doctors this but they did not listen to me. I had every test done for digestive issues and all came back normal from CT scans to colonoscopy and my body after 8 months said time out! So far 4 gasterologists later from 4 different hospitals - a total of 7 doctors all together. The only thing the gasterologists could come up with was to diagnose me with IBS - trash can diagnosis and anxiety and all wanted to give me a low dose antidepressant but in reality no one knew what was wrong with me and seriously thought about going to the Mayo Clinic in Florida. I told them to go take a hike as that was given to my brother and he is no longer with us anymore.

So I went on my own diet thanks to a nutritionist out in California who helped keep some weight on me during all the doctors visits and horrible tests. My body is very sensitive to those drinks you have to take before scans and radioactive iodine and all - which one made me break out in hives the next day and the drinks made my skin turn yellow and blue and have a panic attack right in the doctors office. I now take 50% soluble and 50% non-soluble natural gluten free fiber everyday, take 1 natural multi-vitamin, 1 align pro-biotic and 2 viactive chews for calcium every day. I have stuck to a 95% gluten free diet of eating lots of brown rice, vegetables, some fruits, white meats and more natural sugar like agave syrup and have not had any milk products for over a year and I started working out and doing pilates to keep my stomach calm. I have been following this regimen since this summer and finally gained back 5 pounds and the anxiety and panic attacks have subsided and other symptoms are not so severe. Sometimes I have to take an acid reflux pill or digestive enzymes as I tend to get so bloated but that is once in a while. My friends say I look so much healthier now but not 100% perfect.

I also have been keeping track of my periods and they have been consisten since being off the pill of 17 years for over a year now. I will say my vaginal area and anal area gets very dry and my period sometimes ghosts and this past month was late. I also have noticed that my worst symptoms - those mentioned above take your pick as it changes monthly but I get 3 days of an attack and comes right around day 12, 13 and 14 when I am ovulating. My periods start typically right on day 24 of the cycle and lasted sometimes for 14 days but lately is now about 8 to 12 days and sometimes it is just there and no flow and then gets really heavy. I just get the sense that all these crazy things have happened to me like my mom when she turned 37 but she was diagnosed with full fledge menopause at 39 and my grandmother at 35. I have not had the hot flashes yet and my blood tests a year ago did not show that much fluctuation in hormone levels.

Lastly, I bought a ph balance home test. I was curious to see if maybe my ph levels are off. I took the tests in the morning each day before 9 am and noticed that my acidic levels and alkaline levels fluctuated everyday and maybe got one to 2 normal readings a month. I would taste metal on my tongue about 4 months ago and this month the bitter taste on my tongue has come back. Once again, one of the symptoms that I mentioned in first paragraph comes to revisit and I never know what it will be each month but yep started on day 12, 13, 14 during ovulation. So I drink apple cider vinegar and water mixture and usually that makes it go away the next day but sometimes it comes back but it has been 4 months since had the bitter taste so why is it back again?

So here is my question - is it all related to early menopause or something else? I have now been living with this for 2 years and thankfully I have it mostly under control but will I have to live like this forever and do I simply just have IBS? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. I have a gyno appt on Monday and will be taking my journal with me to show my gyno and see if he will retest me for perimenopause. I am scared to turn 40 now as my mom said that is when she got the hot flashes and she was in the hospital with the hives as well - menopause was not fun for her - must be her Hungarian/European blood in me? Ha, ha Thanks for your comments ahead!

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I’m 44yo; was diagnosed at 42, I think this was caused by depo shot and fact that I’d been on it for five years. I have had many "pregnancy" scares, very heavy periods out of the blue, then none for months at a time. Right now, I’m having an issue w/very sore nipples and cramping. I was having hot flashes all the time, but that has subsided for now. Anyone been in this situation? Any advice would be appreciated.

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My aunt is 47 years old & is experiencing HORRIFIC peri-menopause symptoms.

She & I have researched HRT & have decided she WILL NOT be taking it, due to the MANY negative side effects.

We know there is a better way to great health, i.e. diet, exercise & nutrients, basically, a life-style change, if you will.

That being said, what vitamins have helped you to COMBAT the perimenopausal symptoms?

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Or does it only happen around your period?

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I am only in my early 40s but I am showing signs of perimenopause. I am wondering when is the best time of the month to test my hormone levels? Also is it even worth the trouble? I will be going to my regular doctor to also check that it is not something completely different going on.

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I am hoping somewhere out there has gone through something similar. I never had a problem with insomnia before. I was diagnosed with anxiety disorder in my mid 20’s, but was able to control it with meds, exercise, diet, etc. I was weaned off two years later, and had not had any problems for 7 years. Even at the height of my anxiety, I NEVER ha a problem with sleep. Then all of a sudden, I moved out of state away from my parents, and starting having panic attacks and fell into a depression. There was a lot going on in my life at that time with multiple surgeries, a failing relationship, ill parents, ill pet, etc. Ever since then I had been on and off meds trying to find the right one bc they all seem to cause insomnia. Last February, I made the mistake of filling a prescription for Wellbutrin and Lamictal because I had tried so many others. I started the Lamictal and three weeks later stopped b/c I didn’t like how I felt. So, I started the Wellbutrin. Two days into it, I started having violent body jerks at night as I was trying to fall asleep. This lasted all night. I instantly stopped the Wellbutrin, but ever since then (and it has been over 2 years), I still have those jerking episodes, which, interestingly enough, happens now every month exactly a week before my period and once my period ends, it subsides. I’m scared that these meds damaged something neurologically and it’s irreversible. I am completely off meds. I’m too scared to try anything new, especially psych meds. I do have a history of childhood seizures, which is why I’m so scared. Has anyone else had anything similar? I’m also going to be 42. I’m thinking it could be perimenopause and the whole fluctuating hormone theory. I don’t trust doctors. All they’ve done is make matters worse and are too quick to want to prescribe something. I feel so alone in this.

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and what is your age. How long have you been in perimenopause?
I’m 31, have PCOS and don’t have kids.

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instead of conducting invasive surgeries (i.e., laparoscopies, etc.) and high fallutin reproductive technologies (i.e., IUI, IVF, etc.), esp. if chances are they will miscarriage again?

And yes, this issue is predominant among "advanced maternal age" (i.e., 38 years and older) but I think that luteal phase deficiency is an equal opportunity disorder.

And yes, I’m well aware of the controversy of prescribing progesterone post-ovulation, and the whole chicken/egg debate over whether the fault is with the woman’s corpus luteum and her "old eggs" or if INSTEAD it might be a legitimate hormone issue; i.e., perimenopause and a failure of the body to produce sufficient progesterone post-ovulation to support implantation of the products of conception.

I’m just wondering WHY the ob/gyn’s aren’t at least TRYING to employ progesterone BEFORE costly and invasive alternatives?

Feel free to share your success so others become aware of their fertility and reproductive CHOICES. Thank you

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I’m a 42yo female who has been experiencing bloating and flatulence over the last year or so.
At first, I experienced mostly distention and feelings of fullness which varied with the timing of meals. Lately, however, I have been increasingly flatulent thorough the day and seem to be experiencing night sweats at around 4-6 am. When I wake I am often cold and clammy with a somewhat pressured and churning feeling in my lower abdomen. I then pass lots of gas and then am able to get back to sleep. I wouldn’t consider myself constipated as I often have 1 or more BMs a day but I do sometimes feel the urge and kind of intestinal fullness. The few times of constipation has been accompanied with more bloating, nausea and migraine headaches. Once I defecate I feel better, less “toxic”.
I think my overall diet is healthy, I prepare the majority of my meals, use very few processed items and am moderately active on most days.
My past GP checkups were good with normal blood work. I am not overweight and my periods are typical. My only other issues were a reoccurring yeast infection(~5-6)that started during the onset of the GI disturbances and increased allergy symptoms and food sensitivities. Although “unsupported” by my GYN or GP somehow I felt it was linked to use of splenda sugar substitute.
To combat the yeast infection and GI issues, in addition to the Rx of Diflucan I also eliminated sugar and dairy, minimized wheat products and started taking Culturelle probiotic. This did not change the bloating or flatulence but I felt a decrease in my allergic reactions. Thankfully the yeast infections went away but now I seem to have a low grade Infection(?) with swollen glands in my throat and am having night sweats.
My research seem to indicated perimenopause but I don’t seem to have typical symtoms and the night sweats/hot flashes do not radiate from my chest per se, they seem to be systemic and associate with flatulence. I also feel “toxic” for lack of a better word.
Any suggestions as to how to approach this?

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I was sitting in an airconditioned room (which I am used to everyday, except that this time, the thermostat was really so low). I suddenly realized my acidity was acting up– sour taste in my mouth (three hrs. w/o meal) and suddenly I had very cold hands and feet and I felt the chill go through my whole body and I was very uncomfortable. It took 15 mins. for the cold feeling to subside (when I left the room). I hate the sensation– sour taste and super cold hands and feet (though I’m used to the winter season) but this one was different– like I felt really freezing inside the room while the temp. outside was 27. Could it be the aircon? Could it be because I was already hungry? Could it be because of the hyperacidity? Could it be due to perimenopause (just turned 40)? Could it be due to high blood pressure (which is usually normal and controlled)? Could this be because of the medication I’m taking– Coversyl? The feeling was so weird and made me a little nervous. That’s why I decided to go home at once and check my BP which was normal. I would appreciate your opinion.

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