Alcohol and Perimenopause

[jane jane]

I tend to be a thread-killer, for some mysterious reason, so I hesitate to start one only to have it die! But in my recent self-exam process, in the past few months, something has occurred to me: I think my metabolism is changing as I approach "that age." I'm in my 40s, have always had regular, non-problematic periods, no noticeable weight gain, but...the mood swings are getting bad, and my response to alcohol is changing. Anyone else notice this? I didn't put a warning about "women only" on this thread, as husbands may want to comment, too!

[Finding My Self]

Alcohol and Perimenopause

Jane Jane - Yes, oh yes, oh YES!! The body stops making the enzyme that deals with alcohol (or any poisons but that's the one we 'chose' to inbibe!) at peri-menopause... hence the fact that so many of us here are women 'of that age' or who say it all 'started' about then!!

Menopauses should come with a health warning! Of the PERI menopause....general thinking seems to be that the ten years before menopause itself (when the menarches actually stop) ARE HELL!! Even if the actual menopause isn't....as in not too many hot flashes etc.... but it's the b***** mind during the peri.........aaagh! You are so not alone! (50 and nearly through I think....but I'm definitely going backwards to puberty! Irregular, moody, heavy/light, painful and now I've got near permanent acne again!!!! Aagh!

BUT I gather it gets better after it's all over! (Maybe like stopping banging your head?!?! But I don't care why! Just bring it on!)

[Leebo]

Alcohol and Perimenopause

JJ,

I also am in my mid 40's.. I only started gaining weight a couple of years ago and I attribute that to not taking care of myself.. (stopped exercising regularly - which I had always done, diet changed, etc, ), stress factor was extremely high due to a horrible divorce from 2001-2004 so things just went to shit for a few years and of course my drinking escalated. However, in the past year or so, my drinking took on a whole new dimension.. I almost felt like a switch would turn on and it was like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. And whichever the bad one was, that was me. I was evil, violent, horrible - and as a norm, that is not my personality. And as I reflect on it now, the amount and frequency of drinking - I am not even sure how I was functioning.

I have remarried.. and my husband does drink.. and there were a few times it is a miracle someone did not get hurt because of drinking.. that is why I am here. Even though I have drank for years.. and drank too much.. it got to a point I knew drinking was going to either kill me or cause me to cause harm to someone else... I had truly lost control..

So I guess in response to your thread.. was part of problem actually hormonal combined with drinking?? I don't know for sure.. but I do know that my response did change and it was not pretty!! And the timing would be about the same as yours. You did not actually say how your response to alcohol was changing.. hopefully yours is not as dramatic as mine!! :eeks:

Leebo

[bird]

Alcohol and Perimenopause

Yes, I am 47 and the past few months have been very different. I cant handle alcohol like I used to. My moods are terrible and the past 2 months I have missed my period and are having hot flashes mostly in the eve. I put on alot of weight after I had kids and now I am losing it a bit by bit. My alcohol cravings are not as bad but when I do drink I get drunk very fast and very tired next day. Alot of other changes going on in my head. I dont like the mood changes but I feel like I am blooming otherwise. Sort of like when I was in my early 20s learning new things everyday..bird

[MyHeartIsDrenchedInWine]

Alcohol and Perimenopause

I started drinking at age 42, never a "problem drinker" before that age. It just seems like a lot of crap hit the fan at that age and/or I just couldn't "deal" anymore....too many straws broke this camels back and I just started drinking. The mood swings are bad, the insomnia is bad, and I DEFINITELY drink more after I ovulate. Everything is fine and dandy for a good two weeks and then once I ovulate, I turn into an emotional wreck that can't sleep and drinks too much.

Yes, I am a card carrying "perialkie" member....looks like there are a few of us here!


PS I am 46 ; )

[bird]

Alcohol and Perimenopause

Not the past 2 months but before that I always got drunk the day before my period started.bird

[laura anne]

Alcohol and Perimenopause

Very interesting everyone. I'm 48 and have noticed I have periods of anger and sadness. No changes as far as alcohol is concerned. And Finding My Self - I know what you mean about the acne! I have it something awful! Started last year. Glad to hear someone else has it but so sorry to hear its you.

Laura

[meditation mama]

Alcohol and Perimenopause

yes, yes, yes, yes, yes....

There is a TON of research on the subject. Amuse yourself - take a tour around google and you will see....

Just another one of the lovely presents life give us women as we get older - arrgh...

MM

[Accountable for Me]

Alcohol and Perimenopause

My mother started to drink heavily in her late 40's with the onset of menopause. She is 57 now and is pretty addicted to drinking her voddy each night, after work, and on the weekends now, as a result. She refused medication from her doctor for her (HORRENDOUS) mood swings and turned to the booze.

She never drank much before this.... Just as MM said, there is a ton of research on this. Google it and see. I know this is something I will have to be aware of in my future too.

[Accountable for Me]

Alcohol and Perimenopause

OH, and jane jane... You aren't a thread killer. I think we all feel that way from time to time. I know I have posted on many threads and then that was it. LOL

[jane jane]

Alcohol and Perimenopause

Glad to know I'm not alone and/or going crazy! Thanks for input. I'll do some research...

[middlepathpilgrim]

Alcohol and Perimenopause

Love the "periachoholic"! That's me to a tee although it's always in retrospect... too much wine the night before and voila! Period starts. If only I could put it on a calendar and lock myself (or the wine cabinet) up before it sets in, like a werewolf on a full moon I'd be golden.

I used to be so regular, now it pretty much shows up when it wants. In March I got the Marina (sp?) IUD and that has helped some with the heavy periods, but when I replied "no" to the mood swings questionnaire, my diplomatic husband suggested I rethink that reply and bid a hasty retreat from room.:H

No joke, though. Dr. Jekyl and Ms. Hyde is right. Unfortunately I have no reference as to when this will be over as all the women in my family either died or had hysterctomies (my spelling leaves a bit to be desired this morning, apologies) by the time they were 40.

Off to work to share Ms. Hyde with the working world. Snarl, growl.

Gloria (aka Pick of the Litter today)

[beatle]

Alcohol and Perimenopause

ughh, as if things weren't hard enough. Now all this to look forward to? (early 40s here).

p.s. jane, keep up the good work-- you are not a thread killer, whatever that is.

[Cosette]

Alcohol and Perimenopause

This is exactly what I have been experiencing. I am 51 and have only had a "problem" with alcohol for the last 6 months. I CRAVE it - and I never really drank at all before. (I craved beer with my first child but since I dont like the taste of beer really it was never a problem) I have told both my GP and therapist that I believe this is all related to menopause and they are polite but seem totally suprised by that thought. What is it that we stop producing at this time?

Cosette

[jane jane]

Alcohol and Perimenopause

Middlepath, that's a good point about having no role models for this stage. My mother and sister both had hysterectomies (as did all Mr. Jane's female relations) in early 40s or before, so I seem to be blazing a new trail! Leebo, my responses are not quite as dramatic as yours, but still, quite frightening to find that alcohol does a whole new trick as we age. Just hearing that others find this true has been a tremendous help. I wish I'd been warned beforehand!

As we're on the subject of aging female bodies...has anyone else noticed their hair thinning? My red-blonde-horsetail-thick hair was always my pride and joy---down to my bottom in college, shoulder-length after having the girls---I mean, strangers in airports would stop me. No kidding. Vain about it? You betcha! But in the last 5 years, I've had to bob it shorter (chin level) because it was---HORRORS---beginning to get a bit stringy!

The nice hippie girl at the health-food co-op where I shop suggested BioSil drops---to rebuild cells, enhance nail/hair/skin quality. I've been taking the drops for a year now, and the results are great. I highly recommend it. It tastes like poison, so what I do is put the drops into an empty gel cap (available at pharmacies). Google it---and try it. I'm a believer.