MENOPAUSE OR NOT?

[Lissiluffman]

I am about to turn 48 in a few weeks. My periods have always since day one been regular as clockwork, 28 days on the dot and normal flow with usual cramping.....and nothing has changed, they are still spot on!
BUT....I am extremely bloated, I look about 6 months pregnant all the bloody time and my boobs are sooooo tender and swollen (I dont mind the swollen bit, that can stay!) and all the veins have popped out, they are unbearable and my granddaughter seems to think they only there to help her to get up, which she does by digging her elbows in them really hard, and all the time....OUCH!
So, everyone is telling me AND i am reading it everywhere online that first menopause symptom is stopped periods. So what is going on? Am I menopausal or not and if not what the frick is going on with my bappy's??? Any ideas? I don't do doctors.....

[GreatFuckability]

well, the only way to know if you are peri-menopausal would be to see a doctor, the internet can't tell you.

[Spring2016]

Doctor can order a blood get that will let you both know.

[Lissiluffman]

Aren't there enough women out there experiencing this to at least tell me if you are starting the menopause is it possible to still be having totally normal periods?

[Lissiluffman]

I don't need a diagnosis just some advice, I would not take anything a doctor gives me anyway so there's not point in seeing one

[BrightOranges]

It sounds like perimenopausal and you would still get your period.
Either that or you are pregnant!

[SueDunome]

Peri-menopause is the time before actual menopause (when your periods stop). During peri-menopause, women experience symptoms such as you have described, also hot flushes, night sweats, body aches, etc. It is not uncommon for a woman to be in peri-menopause for a period of up to ten years before menopause. I'm guessing you could be peri-menopausal, go and see your GP.

[Crispbutty]

I'm 47. Never had the symptoms you describe. My periods got further and further apart over a thee year span. I last had one in February this year and in the last six months I get quite frequent hot flushes and wake up during the night.

[SueDunome]

BrightOranges x-post

[Yorkieheaven]

You wouldn't take anything a doctor prescribed? Why not?

And really you should get medical advice. Totally totally not want to frighten you but my mil had a swollen Tummy and had ovarian cancer.

It's very silly to look up the Internet for diagnosis. Go see either the doctor or nurse at your practise.

[NightLion]

Sounds more like pregnancy symptoms than menopausal symptoms. Have you done a pregnancy test? I thought i was perimenapusal when i fell pregnant age 42. I fell pregnant with my second age 44. I'm 48 now and believe i am perimenapusal. Instead of clockwork 28 day cycle, i went through a period of very heavy bleeding roughly every 2 weeks to almost nothing. It's now been 10 weeks since my last period. My body has changed, but not in the way you describe.

[Marynary]

I am a similar age to you and going through the menopause but I don't have any of the symptoms you describe. Obviously symptoms may vary from person to person, but I wouldn't assume that yours are related to the menopause particularly as your periods are still regular. You need to visit your GP.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

I'm 50 now, my periods went from very regular to nought.
Last one was due Feb 2014!

I get hot flushes
Extreme fatigue
Memory Brain Farts

But I did get bloating , because I have IBS type disorders.

Last blood test I had said I was 1% away from PeriMenopause (so not even The Real McCoy )

You do need to see your GP, its not something you can hazard a guess at

[Cisoff]

I would (probably unreasonably, but still) worry about something more sinister if I had persistent bloating having never experienced it before.

[birdladyfromhomealone]

I am 52 and not even peri yet :( I have missed 2 periods this year and thought that was it but now regular again. I am constantly hot but I am overweight and although my boobs have got bigger since I gained weight they are not sore or tender.
The only time mine were veiny was in pregnancy.

[Topseyt]

I am 50 and perimenopausal for several years now.

Periods changed from bang on 28 days and now vary wildly between 3 and 6 weeks, with bad flooding. I am hotter than I used to be. My sleep patterns are rather arse about tut and my memory is definitely not as good as it was.

If you are perimenopausal you will normally still have periods, though the regularity etc. may well change.

Why on earth would you not visit the doctor? Medical matters should not be second guessed. My MIL did that. She decided her aches and pains were an old back injury playing up. Not true. She had cancer.

[Topseyt]

*arse about tit. Auto-correct fail again!!

[cafenoirbiscuit]

I'm the same age as you, op, had hot flushes for 2 or 3 years now, cannot shift weight, but periods have only just started to become erratic. No sore boobs though. We're all different I guess.....

[MonsterINTHECupboard]

I get sore boobs occasionally. Periods started going wonky 5 years ago. Last period was exactly a year ago. I'm 47. The first time I got sore boobs (about 3 years ago), I was worried, they were swollen and they really ached. I needed to wear a bra all the time. The doctor (very quickly) sent me for a mammogram and although all was fine, it was recommended I take Evening Primrose Oil daily. Occasionally still ache, but not so much. I've had some night sweats (awful), but have found symptoms tend to come and go in phases. Currently going through a phase of sweating, literally dripping in sweat, most of the time. Impossible to lose weight too. I took HRT for about a year, then stopped. However, I didn't have any of the above symptoms until about 2 years into my periods going all over the place (from being every 26 days since I was 16). I'd go to the doctors and mention the boob ache, mine got me a hospital appointment for a mammogram the very next day. Could you be pregnant?!

[Lissiluffman]

Defo not pregnant, you have to have sex for that to happen lol!
Please stop talking me to go to the doctor and then stating some awful possibility, it's not helpful! I haven't seen a doctor for 15 years I self diagnose and self treat with natural remedies that really work, it's just what I do and won't be changing it! I don't need a doctor for menopause, it's gonna happen I just want to hear some other people's experiences, not be told I might have cancer or suchlike (nice!!) which I know for a fact I don't!! #epigenetics
Thanks guys 👍🏼

[ghostyslovesheep]

sorry OP but your thread title is very shouty and a question - so you should expect people to answer your question - or advise you that they can't but a qualified medical professional may be able to

or you could start a thread such as 'AIBU to ask you all to share your experience of early menopause and it's symptoms'

no need to be snitty with people

[rosie39forever]

hi you may not need a doctor for menopause symptoms but the bloating is not a normal symptom and does need medical advice, will probably be nothing but what if it isn't? Surely worth one visit to the docs?

[BlackDoglet]

I'm not sure they're menopause symptoms either.
It could be one of many things from something very minor to very serious. You can't take that chance. If I was you I'd make spot and get yourself checked out. You can then choose to take Drs advice/tests/meds but I wouldn't second guess.

[BlackDoglet]

spots = appt appointment