Vim & Vigor - Fall 2012 - Gwinnett Medical Center - (Page 45)

“The mood swings and rages where I’d lose complete control were probably what freaked me out the most,” she recalls. “I would scream so loud that I would lose my voice and start shaking. It was just rage. Absolute rage. And then I would swing over to depression. And the depression would be so dark and heavy that I would start crying, and I’d cry for two or three days at a time. And then it was like a switch would go off and it would pass, and then I’d feel completely normal.” How to weather it: Gass compares the moodiness and irritability that many women feel during perimenopause to premenstrual syndrome or postpartum depression. “It’s good if women can realize it’s a phase; it’s not going to last forever,” Gass says. Emotional health during this pivotal time of life requires a healthy balance between self-nurturing and the obligations of work and caring for others. “It’s an important time to get enough sleep, exercise,” she says. “Stay active and engaged and get out of the house to do things that you find rewarding and enjoyable.” When lifestyle changes aren’t enough, hormone drugs (such as oral contraceptives or estrogen therapy) may help stabilize moods. Other women may benefit from selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as Prozac, Zoloft or Celexa. The important thing to realize, Gass says, is that the need for hormones or SSRIs is temporary. Mixed Signals If you’re a woman age 38 to 40, chances are your hormones may have started going a little haywire as your body prepares to enter “the change” known as menopause. Most American women experience menopause, when their periods fully stop, between ages 40 and 58, with the average age at 51, according to the North American Menopause Society. Valeria F. Savage, M.D., an Ob-Gyn at Gwinnett Medical Center, warns that there are symptoms that you shouldn’t automatically chalk up to perimenopause. “Be aware of things that would raise a red flag at other points in your life,” Dr. Savage says. “Menopause gets blamed for a number of things that probably aren’t menopause.” If you experience the following conditions, for example, report them to your physician: • Heavy bleeding. “A characteristic of menopause is irregular bleeding, but it could also be a sign of a problem, such as endometrial cancer or hyperplasia,” Dr. Savage warns. • Depression. For more than a simple case of the blues, “if you are suffering from depression, you should seek help from a professional,” Dr. Savage says. Sunny SkieS AHeAd It has been 12 years since Miller was first jostled by hormonal whims. She entered menopause a few years ago, and she has now reclaimed her happy—and healthy—life as an active blogger (“The Perimenopause Blog,” theperimenopauseblog.com) and a graduate student pursuing a master’s degree in health and human development with a focus on healthcare consumer advocacy for women’s health. “I’ve discovered there’s a real need to blog about this topic, from the perspective of a woman who has ‘been there, done that’ and who can empathize, have compassion and reach out to women to say, ‘Yes, it’s real. And no, you’re not going crazy.’ ” Better yet, as Miller has realized, perimenopause is just a passageway to a new part of life when many women feel more confident, empowered and energized than ever before. online To find a gynecologist in your area who is affiliated with Gwinnett Medical Center, visit gwinnettmedicalcenter.org/physician. Need a Gynecologist Near You? Find One Online Vim & Vigor • FAL L 2012 45 http://www.theperimenopauseblog.com http://www.theperimenopauseblog.com http://www.gwinnettmedicalcenter.org/physician

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Fall 2012 - Gwinnett Medical Center

Vim & Vigor - Fall 2012 - Gwinnett Medical Center
Contents
Phil’s Feature
Good Times for a Good Cause
Warm Fuzzies
30 Days to Better Sleep
I Can’t Ask My Doctor That!
He Said, She Said
Hold On to Your Health
Still A Screening Star
Your Joints: An Owner’s Manual
Weighing Your Options
No Greater Gift
Weather Alert
Virtual Health
PrimeTime Health
From the Heart
Putting Everything in Place
Out of the White Coat
Transforming Healthcare

Vim & Vigor - Fall 2012 - Gwinnett Medical Center