Under Construction just like YOU - keep checking back for more info :)
Note: Not intended to diagnose or prescribe. The following is a selection of information you may find helpful on your Peri Menopause journey.
Some women start their PM journey in their 30's, though it is more common to begin in your 40's. Changes can be subtle or severe. Millions are needlessly suffering due to lack of information and resources. I hope this page helps empower YOU and is a reminder that YOU ARE NOT ALONE! THIS IS A PART BEING A WOMAN. One of my older friends commented about PM one day: "Have you had the PM rage yet?" At that time I had not, but wow did I remember her words when it hit a few months later! The same person took a metaphysical approach to PM. She said we sweat most where we are holding in our unexpressed emotions. "PM is like a rebirth, you ride the waves and relearn who you are now. You are like a phoenix, consuming itself to rise renewed and restored for the second half of life where you focus more on your goals rather than those of others."
What is it? Peri Menopause (PM) is the body beginning to make less estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone as we age past child bearing. Our ovaries may or may not continue to send eggs for fertilization each month. In our 40's we can have periods without any egg. Our bones can be affected.
How long does this last? It depends on YOU. Some women are in PM for one year, then they are in menopause (no periods for one year). Most women are in PM for 1-10+ years, most commonly 8 years in healthy individuals. What you did in your teens and twenties will now come into effect.
Sadly the most common form of care for women in PM is: birth control, and SSRI's. Also common are hysterectomies where the ovaries may be removed or left. Having a hysterectomy - full or partial - often brings little relief and creates new problems, as does birth control and SSRI's. Reading the comments on PM videos is heartbreaking. The medical torture and abuse women go through is terrible. What can we do? RESEARCH LIKE YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT. Keep asking questions. Educate your doctor about what you are learning. Become your own advocate.
SELF CARE Deep breathing exercises to help reduce high stress and cortisol levels. Self-Hypnosis - see videos links below. Retrains and empowers YOU to use your own chemicals. Walking Swimming Weight bearing exercise - protects the bones Tai Chi - improves flexibility, keeps you in touch with your body, reduces injury, and strengthens the whole body. Gut health is important for eliminating estrogen and other nasties. Keep inflammation in the body low - helps keep cortisol low, better mood, fixability, brain health. Reduce sugar significantly. Reduce or eliminate caffeine and alcohol. Lower your stress - take time during the day to nap, walk, talk, be in nature, etc. Get a good nights sleep - sleep is restorative, prioritize sleep, Unscented baby wipes - carry them with for personal hygiene and travel. Great for freshening armpits, wiping up after a hot flash, keep fresh down there anytime. Remove and eliminate as many synthetic dyes, scents, and fabrics as you can. Read labels like a detective. If you are going to wear synthetic clothing, put on a base layer of silk or cotton so the fabric is not directly on the skin. Get rid of air fresheners, scented candles, scented laundry soap, scented bath products. Substitute with natural products like essential oils, ozone, etc. Take up a new hobby - lowers cortisol, meet new people, sharpens brain,
Many people say that in PM we should eat to support our cycle. Ideally these should come from foods, not just supplements. Meses phase - days 1 - 7 we need more calcium, magnesium, salads, fruits and vegetables, blood building foods. Follicular phase - mid cycle day 10- 14 High carbs, exercise, Ovulation and Luteal phase - end cycle day 14 - 28 lower carbs, minerals, magnesium, rest,
What is the world saying about women's health? In a not so distant past, the PM years were called "wandering uterus" "hysteria" and "metal illness". Many male doctors told women they were not having enough sex, thus the medical technology of the "vibrator" was invented because doctors were getting tired to manually stimulating so many women in thier offices. Countless women were subjected to medical torture and committed to asylum's due to the hormone changes of PM. In high level sports, it is said, "A female is ready to go pro when she stops having her period due to her training regimen." Several people have commented that after this point is when these athletes begin to break bones and have severe injuries. Many women end up on SSRI's and cycle through several because of the side effects. Many women are given hormone replacement therapy (HRT) but this is not without side effects and concerns. For some women, HRT is life changing and they get their lives back. For others it is hell on earth, leads to cancer growth, and ultimately a full or partial hysterectomy. Even after all that, they still do not have relief.
PM - The spiritual / metaphysical journey Phoenix, Molting, Rebirth, Awakening - Whatever metaphor you choose to call it is just fine. I have found several women talking about their PM journey as spiritual or metaphysical, similar to the story of my friend above. She took the metaphysical approach. Sweating of the breasts meant she needed to express for self love and confidence to herself. Her approach was Shamanistic and Holistic. The body is designed to heal itself if we stop and listen, ask what it needs, and provide that. To do this, YOU must become your top priority. Women are taught to give, nurture, create a home, be submissive, and more from a very young age. Between the ages of 16 - 39 most women are having babies, working, giving, giving, giving. Then one day they wake up from this "trance" and wonder, "What about me?" This is when you see marital issues, divorce rates go up, women who stayed home now go to work. Their children are grown to an age they could survive on their own, and the instinct of self preservation kicks in, all during which PM begins to happen. This really could be considered a spiritual rebirth. Women often begin changing deep inside before it manifests into reality. Those thoughts on the back burner become desires. They are free from the constraints of providing for helpless human beings, and are now free to realize and remember their own dreams. Those dreams they had when they were single. I have heard of so many women micro dosing mushrooms, having a DMT experience, attending spiritual retreats, etc., all in an effort to "find who they are". Who are you when you are just YOU? Not the mom, wife, provider. What are YOUR needs, wants, and desires? Women are embracing their rage as sacred and expressing it through full moon rituals, primal screaming, journaling, Tai Chi, Martial Arts, art, and more. Some women embrace the hot flashes and honor them as burning ceremonies, in which their minds and bodies are burning away every unexpressed and repressed thought, emotion, idea, and desire. Women in high profile careers often embrace things like homemaking skills: canning, sewing, cooking, weaving, simple or minimalist life styles, etc, to fulfil the desire to be feminine again. Several women also change religions and embrace Buddhism, or other feminine embracing practices. They step away from the repression and male domination that most religions are based on. Some abandon religious beliefs all together and embrace a more fluid concept of "spirituality" or truth in all beliefs, all the world is one. As we pass though PM into Menopause, I believe we are being prepared to provide the wisdom and hold space for the upcoming generations. You are not becoming old, you are becoming who you were always meant to be - strong, resilient, full of wisdom, providing nourishment with your skills and words. Just listening over a warm cup of tea, then speaking from the place of wisdom. Not old, but sacred, supportive, and beautiful. It is 100% okay to let go of old beliefs that no longer serve you. It is 100% okay to pursue YOUR dreams. It is 100% okay.....
Visual Reminders From various internet sources: Facebook, web, (I do not claim rights to these images, they are property of their creators, shared here for educational purposes only, no fees are being charged to access these images)
PERI MENOPAUSE SYMPTOMS In no specific order: Mood swings, new or worsening aches and pains, bouts of anger, bouts of new or worsening depression, bloating, weight gain especially around the mid section, hot flashes, dry mouth, metallic taste in mouth, dry skin, oily skin, thinning hair, bruise more easily, thinning skin, Hair falling out, longer periods, heavier bleeding, longer time between periods, chills, cold ankles, dry eyes, new or worsening allergies to environment or foods, vaginal dryness, more frequent UTI or yeast infections, new and strong body odors, bowel issues, sleep pattern changes, less tolerance for stress, food intolerance or sensitivity, lack of sex drive, stomach ulcers, acid reflux, AND MORE....
Hemorrhoids: A note on hemorrhoids - new or worsening H may appear during PM. Relief can be found though dietary changes, less sitting or standing (Depending on your work - If you spend many hours sitting, you will need to stand and move more. Too much movement or heavy lifting, you will need to sit and rest more) H symptoms - anal itching, bleeding (seek medical support is bleeding) issues with bowel movements - small stools, hard to pass, bulging or H outside the body during and after elimination. Witch hazel on a small bit of cotton, placed on the anus can bring great relief. Sitz bath - sitting in a shallow dish or bath of Epsom salt after a bowel movement, and several times per week. This helps soothe and shrink H. Baby wipes - carry unscented baby wipes and use them after every trip to the bathroom, not just to stay fresh, but wiping with a soft, moist, material after a bowel movement does not irritate the H. Many people wipe too hard on their H and cause more damage. The wipe can also be used to push any bulging or external H back in the anus when done eliminating. Probiotics, Enzymes, and Magnesium can also make life easier. White Oak Bark as a supplement, has help some individuals with H relief and shrinking the H significantly, when used with dietary and life style changes. The surgical methods have mixed results. They offer, cutting, draining, removal, and banding prcedures. DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH and remember, you do not have to suffer alone.
HERBAL and FOOD support Not intended to diagnose or prescribe. Do your own research and check for compatibility with any prescription medications you may be taking. Consult a qualified healthcare provider as needed. What works one month may not work the following month - you body is continually changing during this time. This is NOT a complete list. Listen to your body, research, try food based nutrition before taking a supplement. Choose organic and whole foods when possible.
Herbs : Dandelion - liver support Slippery Elm - bowel regularity Milk thistle - liver support Evening Prim Rose oil - hot flash relief Stinging Nettles - high iron Passion Flower - mental calmness for sleep, stress reduction White Willow bark - pain, inflammation lowering White Oak bark - teeth and bone health and hemorrhoid relief Holy Basil - emotional support Vitex or Chasteberry - Black Cohosh - (may cause bleeding) Blue Cohosh - (may cause bleeding)
Supplements : Magnesium Epsom salt foot soaks or baths - provides magnesium B Vitamins - all Selenium Iron - plant based. (every 3-4 days or daily when having period) Trance minerals - healthy salt Iodine - liquid, one drop bottom of each foot each day Calcium - all forms - foods sources, more during period Holy Basil - calming Cognium (Natrol) - brain fog and mental stamina (also long hall covid brain fog) DIM - GABA - mood, sleep Vitamin D - bone and mood health Probiotics - gut health - happy gut = happy body Wild Yam Cream - natural progesterone/estrogen Vitamin A - eye, bone, health and more Castor oil - skin and all over body support Potassium -
Foods : Fats : Nuts, Butter, coconut oil Fermented foods : provide natural probiotics - Kiefer, sauerkraut, kimchi Fish : Tuna, Salmon, Sardines, Halibut Fiber : Prunes, dried fruits, leafy greens, Celery - fiber and minerals Yams - hormone support Red beets - blood building Coconut oil - vaginal dryness, dry skin whole body, yeast infections,
Homeopathics : Consult a Homeopathist to find your personal remedy as needed. (see also my video and info on making your own homeopathic remedies) https://www.willmarhypnosis.com/homeopathy.html Sepia - mood, bloating, menstrual issues,
Essential Oils : Caution: test on skin before use to check for sensitivity. Dilute with coconut or other oil for topical application. Caution on any internal use. Rose - relaxing, skin, hair, face, whole body, emotional support, heart center, deodorant, Lavender - relaxing, mixed with carrier oil on put on pad helps with vaginal yeast infections, deodorant, Tea Tree - anti bacterial and anti fungal, used straight or cut with carrier oil - into vagina for cooling and fight yeast infections, drop on pad or undies also keeps things fresh on a daily basis Holy Basil - emotional support, Ylang Ylang - feminine, emotional, deodorant, Orange - skin, deodorant, Thyme - lung, calming, brain Sage - mental clarity,
VIDEOS - Peri Menopause info Not intended to diagnose or prescribe. These are video recourses which i have found helpful. The symptoms of PM vary greatly from woman to woman, as does age of onset and more. PM is a personal journey of rediscovery, growth, and letting go. You will feel.... I have included long and short video links. Keep researching until you find answers! Sarah Talks Perimenopause: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmGZYAhheg1TD155ivKEhBdzqWSMc8KJk&si=tihk_BbpXyTAcMrl
VIDEOS - Self Hypnosis and Relaxation These recordings and videos are thigs I find useful when I feel the PM symptoms hitting hard. Note on Hypnosis - If you are not adept at using Hypnosis, it may take a few times to begin to notice the difference in yourself. See out a few personal hypnosis sessions to gain further insights as to what is happening and how YOU experience hypnosis. Some people go very deep and others take several times before achieving the desired level of relief. Never use while driving or when full attention in needed. It is best to make time in your day and be undisturbed so you can fully have the experience.
TAI CHI I have really enjoyed this YouTube channel for Tai Chi. Easy moves, short videos, a great morning routine! As we enter PM, our bodies no longer need high intensity exercise, we need gentle bone and flexibility sustaining exercise. Weight lifting, Tai Chi, Yoga, walking. These keep our fascia flexible and moving. When fascia gets tight, you get frozen shoulder, new aches and pains, longer recovery. Gentle movement releases suppressed emotions, thus releasing the fascia. He has longer videos, but start short and work your way up. The first 3 days I was sweating and out of breath with the 10 minute video.
Resources : Amye Scharlau, a Hypnotist based in Minnesota, has a passion for working with Peri Menopause. Her website is : https://www.amyethehypnotist.com A couple good books she recommends are : The New Rules of Menopause: A Mayo Clinic guide to perimenopause and beyond by Dr. Stephanie Faubion https://www.amazon.com/dp/1945564113