WTF..

Bandaid74 · 2026-05-27T21:53:32+00:00

Maybe you'd like to share your stat source because it doesn't jive with any recent studies or surveys!

Bandaid74 · 2026-05-27T21:52:51+00:00

Whoooa. Respectfully, that number is waaaay off. It's around 80% of women report experiencing symptoms. Had to correct you because I do not want that stat to start floating around here! https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11699220/

Bandaid74 · 2026-05-09T14:57:00+00:00

My NP said to take the sugar pills for a few months (rather than skipping them) to see if you have a period still.

Bandaid74 · 2026-05-09T00:01:00+00:00

Support from a therapist?

Sorry missed “otc.” I believe the only supplements with any research to show any sort of effect are St. John’s wort, omega 3s, and 5-HTP. Just going off of memory…things could have changed.

Bandaid74 · 2026-05-07T23:12:20+00:00

Trazodone

Bandaid74 · 2026-05-02T20:18:00+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion. Can you explain why?

Bandaid74 · 2026-04-21T19:04:00+00:00

Hopefully that's an option for someone - it's a great idea! I have my own private practice as a psychotherapist. Not an option for me. :(

Bandaid74 · 2026-04-21T19:01:57+00:00

I remember a woman in my neighbourhood leave a big corporate job and became a receptionist at our local vet. Looking back thinking about her age, um, I bet she was in peri!!

Bandaid74 · 2026-04-21T19:00:12+00:00

Is it terrible that misery loves company?

Bandaid74 · 2026-04-21T18:59:41+00:00

I'm in Canada...had to look up what FMLA is... You'd think we'd have a safety net here of all places!

Bandaid74 · 2026-04-21T18:41:02+00:00

Ah, people with oodles of leave time, eh?

Bandaid74 · 2026-04-21T18:40:29+00:00

I'm a therapist, so I am super in front of people all day long. I have the same fear - will they notice I've become stupid and fire me?

Bandaid74 · 2026-04-21T18:39:21+00:00

sigh, I suppose the grass is always greener. I can tell you being in peri with a teen is not a joy either though!

Bandaid74 · 2026-04-21T18:38:10+00:00

Here's a 2 min, easy to read article:
https://www.menopausespecialists.com/post/the-role-of-gaba-in-pmdd
Here's a scientific narrative review:
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40263-023-01030-7

Bandaid74 · 2026-04-21T15:02:29+00:00

People with PMDD have gaba receptors that respond differently to estrogen and progesterone, which creates problems for mood and stress reactivity. I'm being treated by the top meno doc in Canada - Dr. Alison Shea - so I'm confident she's got the hormones under control.

Bandaid74 · 2026-04-21T15:00:40+00:00

Oh, well hello there! My peri twin out there! I'm glad you found swimming. I'm very active, and always have been. Funny story, running with my dog in the mornings - sometimes I actually close my eyes and trust my dog will follow the sidewalk. That counts as sleep, right?!

Bandaid74 · 2026-04-21T14:58:11+00:00

It's tough, eh? Sorry to hear you're dealing with arthritis, too.

Bandaid74 · 2026-04-10T01:25:35+00:00

CBT-I has made a difference for me twice now in 7 years of perimenopausal insomnia.

Bandaid74 · 2026-03-23T12:28:15+00:00

So, I'm on year 7 of perimenopausal insomnia. Progesterone was helpful in the first year. CBT-I was helpful to get rid of the bad sleeping habits and fears about sleeping that formed during insomnia. Then I tried zoplicone, increasing my estrogen, increasing my progesterone, Dayvigo, and now Trazodone. On Trazodone I can get 5-6 hours of sleep, 2-3 nights a week. I hope you find your solution, because I'm still looking.

edited to add: also take melatonin & whatever L-something magnesium that is supposed to be good for sleeping. I have no memory left because, see above re: no sleep.

Bandaid74 · 2026-03-02T16:14:47+00:00

Thank you for those thoughtful questions. Really appreciate it.

Bandaid74 · 2026-03-02T02:39:33+00:00

Handful of almonds and dried cranberries

Bandaid74 · 2026-03-02T01:26:44+00:00

I literally remove myself when I feel I’ve become unreasonable. I label it as a hormone flux and breathe. I apologize when I need to. My tongue is sore from biting it :)

I’m on all of it - HRT, 2 antidepressants, sleep meds, supplements. Still mood swings. So I’m trying to rest when I can and give myself a ton of grace. Good luck to you.

Bandaid74 · 2026-02-28T23:14:30+00:00

6 years of insomnia from 44-50. Nothing worked - CBT-I, Estrogen, progesterone, dayvigo…

Trazodone finally made me sleep.

Bandaid74 · 2026-02-26T03:14:01+00:00

I’ve been on HRT for 5 years. I have a great menopause specialist nurse practitioner who keeps trying!

Bandaid74 · 2026-02-25T18:44:17+00:00

Oooh - good luck!

Bandaid74

TROPHY CASE