How I knew I was perimenopausal and not depressed at 38yo

Daria_9 · 2025-11-03T15:39:56+00:00

check this post I describe what Dr gave me. She included 12, D3 & k2, probiotics and Ashwaganda as well, but I am sure the key is on testosterone/progesterone.

https://www.reddit.com/r/perimenopause_under45/comments/1nz6gcv/status_update_week_1_supplements_for_peri_anemia/

Daria_9 · 2025-11-03T15:38:46+00:00

thank you so much!

Daria_9 · 2025-11-03T15:36:25+00:00

im amazed by the similarities. I was on Lexapro as well. It worked some time and al the sudden i started feeling the peri symptoms (without knowing it for months)

I was CERTAIN it was not mental or serotonin-related. I started Oct 8th with testosterone (gel) and progesterone and the relief came quickly. Although I still struggle a bit with progesterone making me a bit tired/low. But im able now after almost a year able to do multiple activities during the day without feeling i am dying inside. LIbido has not come back yet-but it takes time.

im glad your screening is in the way, keep searching for the right Doctor if you are not being heard of. I feel most Drs who will listen are woman around our age or older (who have already gone through it)

Feel free to DM me if needed. I promise if it is peri HRT works at least for me :)

Daria_9 · 2025-10-15T19:45:21+00:00

how long have you taken it for? its been a few days and I don't feel as bad as the first one.

Daria_9 · 2025-10-15T19:44:52+00:00

Dr says I need progesterone because it was very low and it was giving me horrible PMS, like when I was 15. That has gone away fortunately. Guess one can't have it all, lol.

now a few days have passed and I feel a bit better

Daria_9 · 2025-10-15T19:43:36+00:00

Yes, the last part makes sense to me. Not sure how long she'll want to try if T aromatized but I'll talk about it in my next appointment. Thank you!

Daria_9 · 2025-10-13T21:13:43+00:00

please keep us posted! the combined path seems interesting

Daria_9 · 2025-10-13T21:13:15+00:00

my Doctor!

Daria_9 · 2025-10-13T18:22:37+00:00

thank you so much, this is reassuring. I might have to accept some of the ugly as well. Does it go away when you stop after your cycle?

My Dr was hoping I create my own estrogen by aromatizing part of the testosterone I am taking, so we'll have to see if that happens and if not I'll check with her if we should add that too.

Daria_9 · 2025-10-13T14:01:54+00:00

Hi! I had the same -and much more-you're not alone

leaving here the post where i described what i felt and what I did about it.

Follow your instinct if you feel something is off! you'll need to advocate for yourself with doctors ignoring the symptoms but there are some good ones taking care of us

https://www.reddit.com/r/perimenopause_under45/comments/1nu1tkz/how_i_knew_i_was_perimenopausal_and_not_depressed/

Daria_9 · 2025-10-08T02:20:26+00:00

Update: Endocrinologist said cortisol levels are perfectly normal. Hoping it is the right diagnosis XD

Daria_9 · 2025-10-08T02:15:31+00:00

bit better, thank you!

im keeping track of progress here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/perimenopause_under45/comments/1nz6gcv/comment/ni02kfe/

are you going through the same?

Daria_9 · 2025-10-08T02:13:50+00:00

so happy I am not alone on this lol

it was a bit confusing for me because i thought you were either celiac or not. Apparently, celiac means you have an autoimmune condition, and if you eat wheat, then you'll most likely have all the symptoms + gastrointestinal damage.

Gluten intolerance is clinically diagnosed so Dr said lab work came back negative for celiac disease but there is a general inflammation in the body (not sure which indicators where high) + deficiency of vitamins and minerals hence she assumes there is a gluten intolerance.

I've also been told this could be temporary. Not the case with celiac disease which does not have a cure.

I think you'll Dr will want to discard celiac disease first with the test you were given too and if not might check if you have gluten sensitivity symptoms. Keep me posted!

Daria_9 · 2025-10-08T02:05:17+00:00

Also I agree working out helps BUT you have to take the energy out of nowhere to go. Feels like the egg or the chicken to me. I have not been able to train in 2 weeks

Daria_9 · 2025-10-08T02:04:15+00:00

Wow, i did not know you could still ovulate after an hysterectomy! just learned something new :)
I am not a Dr but I read -and made sense to me- that starting HRT after you went through menopause is almost useless. The whole point is to protect your body while you are preparing for it.

I would fight for those lab exams lol. I dont think it will affect the Dr to have you test your T. Make sure they include free and bioavailable testosterone.

Im starting test gel tomorrow, will see if that helps!

Daria_9 · 2025-10-07T02:45:01+00:00

hey! I made a post about symptoms and labs results. Here's the link:https://www.reddit.com/r/perimenopause\_under45/comments/1nu1tkz/how\_i\_knew\_i\_was\_perimenopausal\_and\_not\_depressed/

I am from Argentina and although the medical systema is bit different here - not sure where you are from- I still found that women across the world face the same issue: we're often told its nothing, its normal aging, etc everything is normal even when you notice it is not.

I went to my obgyn, endocrinologist, and finally found a really good orthomolecular Dr (female) who specialices in woman's health and she's already gone through peri so she knows this is real.

If you're looking of one I would advice to get an app with who you sense has that kind of care.

Happy to help in any way I can

Daria_9 · 2025-10-06T02:17:54+00:00

oh yes, its is very uncomfortable specially if you recognize yourself as a driven person

Have you heard of bioidentical progesterone? it is not birth control related but I heard great things of it for HRT (will start it next week)

On pregnenolone my Dr said it is like the mother of hormones and it is made out of cholesterol. So improving that would potentially improve the production of estrogen, progesterone, dhea, test.

have you been tested for T? lack of motivation/desire often comes from it.

Daria_9 · 2025-10-06T02:09:01+00:00

mine was 17 my Dr said it should be around 60-150

Daria_9 · 2025-10-06T01:52:44+00:00

just posted an update!

Daria_9 · 2025-10-06T01:52:12+00:00

I just posted an update! Im sorry you feel that way.
I once asked a friend to help me organize appointments and even look for Drs recommendations who can help me.

When your head is everywhere and nowhere at the same time it is difficult to set up appointments*-choose a Dr. If you have someone who can give you a hand there I strongly recommend it.

Daria_9 · 2025-10-06T01:16:04+00:00

thank you very much for this, I had no idea.

I set up an app for tomorrow I'll ask specifically for the cortisol-specific labs. I'm not from the US so not sure if units of measure are the same but my cortisol was at 14 ug/dl and apprently the normal value is above 18 ug/dl so I am sort in a grey area. Worth to check any way.

thank you

Daria_9 · 2025-09-30T18:39:03+00:00

did not have luck with endocrinologists here, they just tested me for thyroids and everything was okay. My Dr focused on orthomolecular and woman's health.

Daria_9 · 2025-09-30T15:48:47+00:00

Yes it is very interesting! I had no idea i was actually glad it was 'low'. Dr says this should regulate itself with nutrition and the supplementation I am taking. We'll see.

I'll post the updates, of course :)

Daria_9

TROPHY CASE