Due to an unfortunate encounter with stage 4 endometriosis, I underwent a complete hysterctomy at 33. From there my health in general went completely off the grid, ranging from congestive heart failure, deep vein thrombosis, to osteoporosis. As a kid I had the best dental care at UNC-Chapel Hill's dental clinic from age 6-14. From there I had the standard braces for 2 years, but an unfortunate car accident where I sailed through the windshield due to a faulty seat belt lead to maxiofacial surgery on both upper and lower jaws. After the hysterctomy, within 6 months my teeth began to crumble en masse and within 2 years, I had lost 3.5 inches in height even with hormone replacement therapy, vitamin therapy, diet modifications, numerous root canals, and bi-monthly dental check-ups. I began developing extremely painful absesses that required antibiotics. And still my teeth continued to disentegrate. When I asked my family dr if there was any correlation with menopause and teeth loss, he broke out into laughter..."of course there is no correlation; that's patently absurd!" I felt like an idiot and all the more hopeless. However, my dentist said that the destruction of my teeth was due to nerve/root death. And due to the quirky turns of life, I had neither the funds nor the time to pursue dentures. At the lowest point, I had lost 28 teeth. I felt like a freak show. I stopped smiling, laughing in public because of the way my predicament was received. I was treated like a bafoon, and I lost my teaching job of 13 years, yet I have a Master's in English Literature. Research needs to be pursued with respect to menopause and dental problems. To others in a similar place in their lives, don't take "No" for a thorough or representative answer, and most of all, know that you are not alone, and most certainly not an anomalie of science.

Please seek out another medical opinion. There are several medical conditions that can cause the symptoms (hot flashes) that you are having. It may be menopause. This is easily confirmed by some simple blood work. It could also be related to some other underlying condition that needs some medical attention. Please ask friends/family for a recommendation for a family doctor, one who will listen to you and to what your concerns are. If it is indeed menopause, there are treatments for the hot flashes. You need to become educated regarding what really works. They call this "evidence based medicine". In other words, treatments that have been scientifically tested and are known to work. Not just some company that is anxious to take your money. Bu finding a good, caring MD or NP who will listen to what you have to say, run some tests to further evaluate, I'm certain you will get the help you need.

Sounds to me more like depression or another mental illness. If it's been going on for 10 years, steadily, it seems unlikely to be menopause, imo. I could be wrong, but my meno changes have been intermittent with really bad periods of depression and anxiety, and spontaneous return to my normal state of function, and normal periods normally lasting much longer than the depressive ones. See if you can try and get her to seek medical attention. Mrs H

Hi mumblet, I am also in perimenopause, and find life very challenging, as I also have "Fibromyalgia".....whatever that ends up really being. I had to give up milk because of G/I problems. Just be careful not to make cause and effect connections that are not true. I do this all the time, and I'm finding that I'm quite possibly making wrong connections. I think the hallmark of perimenopause is that NOTHING ever is consistent! But I think it makes us feel like we have some control, in trying to figure things out. My G/I tract is going crazy.......I have to sleep in a chair! I'm blaming this on lower estrogen, since I'm having alot more headaches, nausea, some face flushing, etc. sorry to ramble.........I'm just discovering that doctors aren't much help making sense of things. I think it's perfectly "normal" in "perimenopause" to have heavy periods, and then no periods. I'm surprised your doc said periods shouldn't start up after not having some. I have always heard that if you go for a year without periods, then start having, that you should definitely be checked out for problems. I would also make sure the rest of my body was being checked out for possible problems too, and not assuming it is all from menopause. Checking hormone levels can drive you crazy. One week my estradiol was 23, the next week it was 400. The same thing happens to my OB/GYN, so she doesn't even draw them any more. I would just stick to what makes you feel the best, and make sure your inconsistent periods aren't from some other problem (i.e. thyroid, etc.). Good luck mumblet.........this time of life for some of us is just absolute CRAZINESS!!!! :)