Dreadful, dreadful period, menopause or something else?

[doglover17]

Morning. My first post on here. I wonder if anyone can help?
I am having such a dreadful period this month. I started bleeding on Weds eve but only really got going last night with heavy mostly brown blood. All week long I have had nausea on and off, so three days before I even came on. Dreadful burping (sorry) and the worst thing, horrific, really horrific period pains for almost three days. Sorry to be so lame but all I have wanted to do is curl up and cry, or sometimes even curl up and die!

I am on a 28 day cycle, and this period is spot on time wise. Normally I get a little cramping and maybe a little PMS but it is very mild. Absolutely never had a period like this before.

I am 42 years old and wondering if this is the start of menopause? Should I go and get checked out (I am not one to go to the doctors so that idea fills me with dread)?, or is this just one of those things and I should wait it out.

Thank you so much for reading.

Oh poor you :(
It's rotten isn't it.

These things are not usually directly linked to meno and you are on the young side- average age is 52- so unless early meno runs in your family it's unlikely BUT not impossible that you have unbalanced hormones.

You could have a fibroid that has grown or you could have undiagnosed endometriosis.

I used to have terrible period pains as a teen, then they disappeared and I've had a couple of horrendous ones - almost fainted one night at home and felt I was going to die from the pain and sweating/ sick feeling- since going onto HRT which has made periods heavier but still has many bonuses for me.

I've had some scans etc and all was ok but what was interesting was that one recent scan showed up a type of old endo scars which had never been found before, despite having had regular scans ( for other gynae stuff.)

Sooo- I think you ought to go to your dr and explain and see what they say. Ideally you should be sent for a scan - ultrasound.
They might suggest you give it another 2-3 cycles to see if this is blip or not.

Hope you feel better soon.

Thank you so much. That is great info. I need to take it all in. I am still feeling absolutely horrid with horrific cramping that ibuprofen is not shifting, so my concentration isn't great! Not a good work week!!

the start of my periods stopping was an incredibly heavy period at work - I just about made it to the toilet when I felt myself getting wet at my desk, then flooded the cubicle floor with blood as I pulled my tampon out. I had to leave the office post haste, with my coat around my waste to hide bloody trousers :(

I was early 40s.

After that it wasn't so bad - periods just got more and more irregular for a couple of years, with longer and longer in between, until they eventually stopped. The hot flushes and night sweats didn't start until some time after my periods had stopped.

I never bothered to see the GP.

Snap! Not this period but the one before, that is exactly what happened to me, severe bleeding episode, but at a diviner party!

That has weirdly made me feel a bit better, that this is likely just the start of menopause and nothing sinister. Thank you

Dinner not diviner party.....

I had no period problems AT ALL- just to annoy you!
I missed a couple around 52, had a run of normal ones all light and lasting about 3 days, for a few months, then missed around 4 and that was it until a couple of really light ones when I was 54.
I went on HRT after they stopped as the hot flushes and insomnia made life and work very hard.

If your periods stop or get very infrequent before age 45-47 you must see your dr about HRT- this is not actually an 'option' - it's recognised as essential to prevent osteoporosis.

Oh how I wish I was you ab987 ;-) I read today that the menopause can last ten years. Holy mother of god, I am in deep shit in that case. This has / is the worst period of my 30 years of having the bast*rd thing.

Still cramping and the nausea and grassiness..... Just f'ing horrible. Still, I am very aware that some people are suffering with far worst conditions :-( but when is it going to end....

Gassiness not grassiness, oh my.....!

Do you think you might have been pregnant?

I'm only asking because two of my v.early miscarriages were like this. I wouldn't even if known if I wasn't obsessing over pregnancy tests.

That thought crossed my mind too LadyNexus but ever so briefly. I have unexplained infertility. Haven't taken birth control since my late 20s. There is only one lovely and cherished child in this household and they are adopted. So, the possibility of pregnancy is probably akin to the chances of winning a lottery ticket. The bleeding is also not heavy, in fact quite light for me, for now.....

The cramping is still so awful and ibuprofen just doesn't do anything. The pain is pretty much constant. I am so fed up of it and probably being a massive wimp, so I am sorry for going on about it.

The to her half thinks I should go to the Drs on Monday, he is serious about it, and I think regardless of what happens over this weekend I will go.

Huge thanks to you all for your messages and thoughts. It has meant a lot to me.

I had brown blood when pg, so I would POAS just to make sure that it's not a miscarriage. I know POAS is not a pleasant experience when you have infertility, but I think pregnancy should be ruled out before seeing your GP.

Took your advice BigBirdFlies and did a pregnancy test this morning, as took your point that it was probably best to rule it out officially before a doctors visit. It was of course negative, which I was mightily relieved about as with these symptoms I really don't think it would've been a viable pregnancy.

Horrible nausea this morning and still around now. The bleeding is very scant. The cramps have decreased, YAY, so that is a very good thing. Will see what the Dr says on Monday. Am probably making a mountain out of a molehill, sigh.

Thanks so very much everyone.

Dog- it may be something that is easily sorted. Bleeding like this is often due to low progesterone levels, because progesterone counteracts the effects of oestrogen. When progesterone levels fall each month you bleed. If you are not producing enough the lining continues to grow and you get a heavy bleed. A pill like the mini pill may be the answer. Pop along to the dr.

Well here I am again, good morning to you all! Thank you ab987 for your thoughts. Worth investigating for sure.

The cramps haven't entirely gone, just a little less painful. Sadly the nausea is still with me. This weird period seems to have come to a grinding halt. In reality mostly brown blood and some watery red/pink stuff. Nothing to write home about. Completely the opposite to last months niagra falls of doom!

I am not happy. Bad, bad week of work due to feeling so poorly. Crappy weekend. Am fed up of feeling so rough. This cannot go on much longer as when yo work for yourself no one else pays for your time off...

P*ssed off. Cannot go through this again next month!!!

Sorry that you are still feeling rough. Hopefully your GP will be able to come up with some answers, or at least the right questions to ask.

Thank you bigbirdflies. I have an appointment this evening. So, hopefully I'll get some answers.

Still got the nausea and a bit of low level cramping. Still having a little bit of brown bleeding.

My cycles have been regular as clockwork at 28 days, including this 'brown period'. Am now wondering due to the horrible cramps and brown blood if this isn't a cyst or as mentioned earlier in this thread, the start of endometriosis rather than early menopause.

I'll report back just in case someone in the future has similar problems and comes to this site looking for possible answers.

Again, thank you everyone who has been kind enough to read this thread.

Went to the Drs. Am being sent off for a scan in approximately 10 to 14 days. Having bloods taken this morning at the Surgery. Will report back, just in case it's of interest to future readers of this site, when I have some results. Still got the nausea, gah! Have a good day everyone.

Hi doglover,

I am marking my place as I am experiencing similar.

I am nearly 43. For the past year my periods have been very very heavy (and no longer bang on 28 days but anywhere between 24 and 29 day cycles - which is still 'normal' I know, but not that normal for me)

The last two months I have been experiencing gassiness and indigestion type pains in the week before I am due on. I am also getting period pains for nearly a week before bleeding starts. My periods are not normally too painful, I get a crushing headache instead.

Last week however, the cramping pain from my period woke me up at 4 am and I honestly thought I was in trouble. Have never known anything like it.
That period was a bit heavier that the last one too.

May need to head on up to the doctor's too (but am too scared too as I suffer from a touch of white-coat-phobia and health anxiety).

Hope this was a one off for you and results show you are in peri-menopause..

Hi BehindLockNumberNine, I am sorry to hear about your problems too. I hope you are going to get checked out? Given your symptoms you don't want to carry on with all of that every month poor you.

I have just rung up my Surgery for the results of my blood tests. The receptionist said everything is in normal range. I asked what they tested for and she said I had 4 blood works and they tested everything. I have no idea what everything entails. I guess, well, everything.....!

Do I take it then that my hormones are all OK and that I am not yet menopausal? Wish I'd asked more questions when I had the bloods taken...

I am still not great. Very bloated and could out last any teenage boy on a belching competition! The cramping and nausea is still around but not as bad.