Am I starting the menopause?

I am suffering from stress (after an knee op and being made redundant from a job I loved) and my periods have become very irregular (once every 2/3 months) (for the last 8 months) I have become depressed (but dont want to take medication that will turn me into zombie)My doctor says this is normal..but I feel soo low...is this what I have to look forward to?

In your other question you say you are 53, so yes, I am pretty sure you are due for the menopause. The good news is that you can get a hormone replacement therapy to make some of the symptoms improve, including the depression. You need to ask your doctor for a blood test to make sure you dont have any other related issues like hypothyrodism which can make you tired and depressed even further. Regular excerise ( just brisk walks) and vitamins will help you too. If it makes you feel any better, women in my family go thorugh menopause in their early thirties so you dont need to feel so old or depressed about it. You already, according to your info, have 2 kids so you probably dont want anymore so on the bright side you dont have to worry about menstrual cramps. You can join a women support group where you can discuss how this experience is stressful and maybe you wont need meds afterall.

I couldnt tell you if you are, but I can tell you that my mother swears by Flaxseed for relief of menopause sympton, especially the hot flashes.
Ok...
Start the B6 supplements.
That won't make you into a zombie at all.
If you want to know if you are in menopause, have them run the hormone tests.
If you aren't.
You need some treatment for depression.
There are alot of options out there, and a lot of medications to help you that won't turn you in to a zombie.
Good luck.
You didnt give your age, but your Ob/Gyn can do a simple blood test to determine if your menopausal or Peri-menopausal.
it could b a variety of things. how old r u? maybe your just depressed and stressed out. i thought menopause started in the 40's.
I started the menapause at 45, and i went through hell for a long time. I went on HRT from the doctor, that made me ill. So i decided to try sorting it myself, and went to the health shop. They gave me Black Cohosh, which is meant to be brilliant, but it didnt work for me, so i went back and they gave me the next best thing, which was Sage, and that didnt work . I was giving up until i read an article in a magazine, it said try these tablets for a month or your money back. So i did and they are wonderful!!!! My hot flushes are down to 3 or 4 a day. where i was having them on the hour, my skin has improved as i had spots, and i feel much better in general. The name of them is Wellwoman. Thats it just that wellwoman tablets you take 1 a day. You must try them.
Hi

GP can run a simple blood test to check your hormone levels and tell if menopause has started.

If you are feeling low and depressed try St Johns Wort, a herbal remedy which works like antidepressants and won't turn you into a zombie. Herbal remedies can still have contra indications and side effects so check out the information on them first or check with GP that it's safe to take if you are on any medication.

Try alternative therapies such as reflexology. It's great for balancing hormones and relieving stress. To find a qualified reflexologist you can do a postcode search on

http://www.aor.org.uk

Take regular exercise as it releases hormones such as endorphins - the body's feel good factor.

Take up a new hobby or try some voluntary work to get you out and about meeting new people.

Good luck, but if you don't feel better soon go back to your GP for a chat, don't suffer alone.