Okay, so just a quick update on the achy breaky breast situation. I realized that this swollen, tender, stabbing, heaviness of breast symptoms are a common sign that estrogen is running high. I also realized that I have not been eating my weight in cruciferous veggies. Just kidding about eating that many lbs of broccoli. But... in perimenopause, especially in the earlier phases of peri, not only does the progesterone production go down, but the estrogen levels can spike irradically and then drop.
I was taking DIM/CDG the extracted active compound of cruciferous vegetables. DIM essentially supports excess estrogen to be processed by the liver. There are two metabolic phases of the liver and DIM pushes the estrogen through the 1st phase and CDG helps get the job done through the 2nd phase.
I started taking my DIM/CDG supplement again and my breast tenderness went away a week before my period arrived. Now I know it worked because that never happens! Usually the tenderness subsides on my DAY 1 when estrogen and progesterone are at their lowest anyway.
Now, before you all go buying up the DIM supplements, do your own research and ask your doctor.
There is great literature out there to support DIM for support during breast cancer treatments etc. I wish they would do research on DIM for unopposed estrogen symptoms and pms.
Timely article - my dear friend just had a double mastectomy last week and my friend group has been talking a LOT about boobs lately. I agree, there is a lot of information out there about breast cancer and period related discomfort but nothing about perimenopause symptoms.
🩷 Your friend group has been hit hard recently. You are the light and love that lifts them up. I hope your friend is doing well from the surgery. This is a major adjustment for her and I know she must appreciate being able to talk about all of this with you. 💛
"I joke that I no longer need to step on the scale to figure out my weight because I use which direction my nipples are pointing instead." OMG!! Truth!!
Oh the changes we are not told about! Nipple direction for sure. And how to roll them into a bra or the point when you pass the pencil test (which is not a test I wanted to be able to pass lol). So glad we can finally start normalizing the conversation around changes and embrace them instead of wishing for the size and shape of breasts we had when we were younger.
Thanks for stopping by, Susan! I love how open you are to discussing this. I thought my comments section for this article was going to be crickets. For me once I realized why my breasts were changing it made it much easier to accept.
Oh, Kristi... if you're starting to get hot flashes you're starting to get into the thick of things. Yeah, migraines tend to get worse when perimenopause is ramping up specially if you've had them in the past. 3 out 4 of the ladies I had lunch with deal with migraines. Watch for triggers that may become more "triggery." Thanks for popping in and leaving a comment. Means the world to me!
Oh I'll comment on anything related to the pause lol. We're all in it, might as well talk about it! And yah, I'm being really mindful of triggers these last few months. I'll take all the help I can get.
Okay, so just a quick update on the achy breaky breast situation. I realized that this swollen, tender, stabbing, heaviness of breast symptoms are a common sign that estrogen is running high. I also realized that I have not been eating my weight in cruciferous veggies. Just kidding about eating that many lbs of broccoli. But... in perimenopause, especially in the earlier phases of peri, not only does the progesterone production go down, but the estrogen levels can spike irradically and then drop.
I was taking DIM/CDG the extracted active compound of cruciferous vegetables. DIM essentially supports excess estrogen to be processed by the liver. There are two metabolic phases of the liver and DIM pushes the estrogen through the 1st phase and CDG helps get the job done through the 2nd phase.
I started taking my DIM/CDG supplement again and my breast tenderness went away a week before my period arrived. Now I know it worked because that never happens! Usually the tenderness subsides on my DAY 1 when estrogen and progesterone are at their lowest anyway.
Now, before you all go buying up the DIM supplements, do your own research and ask your doctor.
There is great literature out there to support DIM for support during breast cancer treatments etc. I wish they would do research on DIM for unopposed estrogen symptoms and pms.
Great article! Breast tenderness (especially with PMS) was one of my first symptoms.
Thanks, Jenn! I appreciate you stopping by and leaving a comment. Glad you liked the article!
Timely article - my dear friend just had a double mastectomy last week and my friend group has been talking a LOT about boobs lately. I agree, there is a lot of information out there about breast cancer and period related discomfort but nothing about perimenopause symptoms.
🩷 Your friend group has been hit hard recently. You are the light and love that lifts them up. I hope your friend is doing well from the surgery. This is a major adjustment for her and I know she must appreciate being able to talk about all of this with you. 💛
"I joke that I no longer need to step on the scale to figure out my weight because I use which direction my nipples are pointing instead." OMG!! Truth!!
Maybe I can use them as a compass too! Thanks for swinging by, mag!
I am so grateful for all you share! I will be starting on HRT Monday, largely thanks to you. Keep writing! You are helping so many of us!
Thank you, Amanda! I appreciate your kind words! Let me know how things are going for you in a few weeks or if you have any questions.
Oh the changes we are not told about! Nipple direction for sure. And how to roll them into a bra or the point when you pass the pencil test (which is not a test I wanted to be able to pass lol). So glad we can finally start normalizing the conversation around changes and embrace them instead of wishing for the size and shape of breasts we had when we were younger.
Thanks for stopping by, Susan! I love how open you are to discussing this. I thought my comments section for this article was going to be crickets. For me once I realized why my breasts were changing it made it much easier to accept.
Lots to unpack here.
To answer your question, I don't think I've had breast issues (yet, maybe?) I'm just starting to hot flash though, and what a picnic that is.
Also, my migraines have gotten worse in the last couple of years and I can only assume hormonal changes are responsible.
Oh, Kristi... if you're starting to get hot flashes you're starting to get into the thick of things. Yeah, migraines tend to get worse when perimenopause is ramping up specially if you've had them in the past. 3 out 4 of the ladies I had lunch with deal with migraines. Watch for triggers that may become more "triggery." Thanks for popping in and leaving a comment. Means the world to me!
Oh I'll comment on anything related to the pause lol. We're all in it, might as well talk about it! And yah, I'm being really mindful of triggers these last few months. I'll take all the help I can get.
Thank you for the reminder about getting a breast exam! So important especially as we start to enter perimenopause!
Thank you for emphasizing that point and stopping by!