Hello All. First, I'm 44 y/o. Four weeks ago I didn't know what a hot flash was. I was hitting the treadmill for an hour about 5 nights a week & feeling I could handle most anything. I had sexual desire & I felt relatively confident about my looks and things in general. All within a month, I've developed hot sweats so intense my entire night consists of covers on, covers off, covers on, covers off, night sweats, you get the picture. I feel as if there has been some weird shift. I feel mentally different, less emotionally stable. I can't remember anything, I haven't had a period in 44 days, I feel old for the first time in my life, my libido has vanished and I feel as if a part of my formerly happy and free spirit has just vanished and it's been replaced with this hopelessness I never had before. I've always been described as dynamic and pretty but I feel the opposite. I lay awake this morning at 5:30 a.m., after a sleepless night, thinking...where did I go? What happened to me? I know it's rare to get so many menopausal symptoms nearly simultaneously but everything I've described is really happening. It's as though one day I woke up a different woman. This feels like a crisis I can neither understand or stop. I can't afford a therapist. I've scheduled an appointment with the ob/gyn doc. In the meantime, please someone, tell me I'll get better. I am scared and sad. I miss my former self so much.

MemphiSue, it's early days yet, don't let it get the better of you. I know what it's like and if you've read any of my posts on the Menopause forum you'll see I get the sweats.

Your's happen suddenly (and at a fairly young age too!!) mine happened suddenly at 52 (total hysterectomy).....so to be plunged into it all of a sudden ....I know what it's like!!

Start with you ob/gyn and see what he/she suggests first. How long until your appointment?? That's where I started after my operation and he (also the surgeon) prescribed Prozac for the hot flashes....they reduced the flashes somewhat and make it easier to cope with everything. Not that I'm telling you to get Prozac.....that's just what has helped me cope and look for other natural treatments.

Look for a good menopause book (or check out some sites) so you become more informed on what is going on with you body. Library is always a good place to start rather than buying books.

Stay in touch and we can compare notes!!

Read the information in the LOOK menopause post and learn...