Do all of the perimenopause symptoms disappear after menopause? I am 48 and I'm finding that I am super sensitive and get my feelings deeply wounded, very easily. I also get mini panic attacks, which I have not had before. I'm really getting pretty sick of myself. I do find that natural progesterone cream helps, as well as trying to focus on helping others... but I sure wish I could be done and over this stupid vulnerable feeling...

Just before I started taking Vit D in late November 2007, I had an attack of either something perimenopausal (I'm 45) or SAD, I don't know, but I just felt really really depressed for no good reason, almost tearful. A few days before that I was a puddle of tears because of a careless comment a neighbour made. I just didn't recognise myself, as I'm usually a fairly cheerful, happy-go-lucky type of gal.

Two days after the unfounded tearful moments I started taking Vit D3 (4,000IUs/day) and I've felt fine since. Less bad-tempered with my kids and husband and cat, better concentration and no depression or irritability prior to my period. Just generally more balanced and calmer about life in general.

Do you already take Vit D3? If not, now would be a time to try it out! It can't hurt, from what I've read. Check the "Great Vit D Experiment" thread on the challenges sub-forum if you need more information and want to hear about other people's experiences.

amanda

Susun Weed has a chapter on anxiety/irritability in her book The New Menopausal Years. Apparently a lot of women get panic attacks, anxiety, or wake up with anxiety at night. She says it could be a symptom of the adrenals being stressed during hormonal changes during menopause. One recommendation is keeping a bottle of sage tincture by your bed with a glass of water and sipping a dropperful if you wake up with the jitters or suddenly feel a crash of depression or low spirits.

Here's one source for sage extract:

http://67.199.53.69/sage-liquid-extract-sm-sag.aspx

You can also make a tea from garden sage. It's found in the fresh herb section at supermarkets and sometimes at farmers markets, and you can use that to make a great tea; or you can buy dried garden sage at health food stores. Sage has plant estrogens. Red clover as mentioned above is another good one.

There is a wealth of information from Susun Weed's books and writings online; you can do a google search for links.

Just THINKING about sage extract calms me down! That sounds heavenly!

Didy: Avena has a lot of great remedies for women:

http://67.199.53.69/female-reproduc...m-products.aspx

I esp. like the Into the Flow formula and the Moontime Belly oil (the oil is great for cramps). I've also gotten good results from the Motherwort extract; calming and good for the heart. And the Rose Petal Elixir is amazing, it tastes intensely of roses and it's very relaxing.

Thanks! I'll do some perusing!! How wonderful to know that we are not alone in this journey!

If I recall correctly, sage has phytoestrogens. If that's the case, I believe that would interfere with thyroid hormone, for those with Hashimoto's or other forms of hypothyroidism. I love Susun Weed though!

Editing to give a link; this has a lot of info about sage: http://www.wellness.com/reference/f...sing-and-safety

Excerpt:

<<Sage essential oil may have estrogenic activity. Extracts of the leaves of sage may abolish hot flashes and night sweating in some menopausal women.
Use cautiously with thyroid hormones, due to possible additive effects.>>

So just be careful if you have a thyroid condition.

You might be right about sage's effect on thyroid, not sure about that. It's always good to get lots of info on any remedy before taking it.

But re your note on sage essential oil, just wanted to clarify: a concentrated essential oil is a VERY different substance compared to an extract/tincture (plant preserved in alcohol). I've read that sage essential oil is one of the oils that should be used with great caution; it's not that widely available, and I wouldn't use it myself.

So when I said "extract" I meant tincture. Hope that clarifies.

I understand. I just keep an eye out for estrogenic foods because I have a thyroid condition. I do love fried sage leaves tho...have you ever tried them? Yum. Just put them in a little olive oil. Low-carb too!

Great reminder Amanda! I do take D3....when I remember! I'm really faithful about all of my other supplements, but D3 is one that I keep forgetting. I will put it in a more conspicuous location! Thanks!!