Periods. Do they just get worse and worse

[winkywinkola]

and then you get the menopause?

I'm 43. The first two days of my period leave me utterly and totally drained. Unable to do anything.

I mean it was always a tiring time but this is ridiculous now.

Is this a typical pattern?

YES !!!
Same age and today I had to come home from work fell asleep with hot water bottle. Had pms for 10 days (my poor other half!) even my joints hurt.

And do they get worse after babies? My periods worse now than ever after baby no 2 last year. I'm 36.

I'm 46 and I've always breezed through periods until about 6 months ago - now I get a terrible headache every month the day before. Fed up!

YES!!!!

I am 43 too and mine have got gradually worse over the past few years. I now suffer horrendous flooding, clots the size of hamsters (no, I am not exaggerating) and feeling drained.
The pains have got worse too, now to the point they wake me up in the night.
And the migraines, one when period arrives, on when it leaves.

Horrible.

Went to see GP today, she has ordered a blood test, a referral to gynaecologist but thinks likely out come will be a coil...

Roll on menopause (but that could be 10 years away yet...)

All of the above and now feelings of nausea, too. Greaaattt!

Gosh, I was wondering this myself.
I was always told my heavy painful periods would sort themselves after having a baby.
Well, nope, they are worse.
Bastard.

Yes. I get nausea too. So bad I thought I must be pg! Pgy is better than this.

Get yourself checked out. It doesn't have to be like this. I finally went to the dr after years of thinking it was normal yo discover that it wasn't. I had huge fibroids and they were treated and things were bearable again. If you've already seen the doc and its all ok then you have my sympathy. Mirena was my saviour.

NO

Just so that you know it isn't the same for everyone.

We are all different. Mine just got lighter and lighter and then just stopped all together.

I never used to suffer at all but feel they get worse every month now

They are totally awful - longer and heavier every month. I'm 39 now and had enough as was having to plan around them. Just succumbed to another Mirena in desperation even though last one didn't really suit me. I just want to know they will stop at some point!

Reassured that is not just me though - I thought they got lighter with age

God yes!
Clots...check
Heavy bleeding in first two days...check
Rage...check
Bloating to the point of explosion...check
Headaches...check

Naffed off...check!

X

It looks like I am in the minority and have got off pretty lightly then.

I never had PMT either.

Yes here too! I feel ill, really ill and end up in excruciating pain. I have given birth twice, once without pain relief of any sort, and this is close. It ruins two weeks of every month. I am in the 'pre period' week and felt so unwell yesterday I had to leave work.

I saw my gp this morning as a matter of fact who has given me mefemanic acid and a referral to check for fibroids. I am happy with this as I was sure the default would be some form of hormonal contraceptive, which I don't want.

Yep Just been put back on the combined pill after years off any hormonal contraceptive because the level of bleeding was getting ridiculous. The only other option is the Mirena which isn't appropriate as we're considering TTC no.2 within the next year or so.

So now I'm trying to decide whether the side effects of the pill - occasional corking headaches, slightly dodgy tummy, ever so slightly worried it's affecting my mood - are worth having manageable periods.

I hate the fact there's no long term fix. I wanted to get my tubes tied after no.2 but that won't do a thing for periods, so it looks like the Mirena or the coil, neither of which I really want. I'm worried about the Mirena as the single pill seriously didn't agree with me.

I am like Bunbaker so far, except age 22-32 I had dreadful PMT & cramps & needed mefanamic acid, but not in last 15 yrs.

I often wonder why I am going lighter & lighter when so many women talk about heavier & heavier. I usually get 1-2 hours of mild-moderate daily exercise including (most typically) just 2-5 minutes at aerobic threshold 2-3 times a week. Could that exercise be enough to be a huge difference compared to vast majority of women who get no exercise at all?

Don't smoke & don't drink much, either.