Sudden change to 'clockwork' periods?

[Solo2]

My period has just started one week early (23 days since the last). Almost every singel period I've ever had has been 28 days although maybe two to three times a yr, it might be 25 days. Once, last year, when i had extremely bad full blown influenza, it was delayed by one week.

Could this unexpected early period be a sign of perimenopause speeding up? I say 'speeding up' because for the last two yrs or so, I've been aware of what I think are perimenopausal symptoms - especially huge angry outbursts (and I used to be v calm and appeasing), disturbed sleep, water retention and inability to lose weight, memory problems, stress - but not remotely depressed.

I'm 47.8. Is one strangely timed period sufficient to suspect something more sinister or given my age and the other symptoms, do I just assume that I'm moving another step into the perimenopausal landscape?

I think it could be! I am exactly the same.

I recently had some blood tests that indicated that i could be in early menopause. I can't have HRT because of my medical history, not sure I would want it anyway.

May have to look around for some alternative treatments.

maybe we should start a support group.

Me too, but am a few years younger. I'm fairly sure it's the begining or menopause.

Oh great! Ah well, I knew it was coming...I don't think I'll be going down the HRT route. I suppose my hope is to ignore the symptoms as much as possible and that there's light at the end of the tunnel?

Does the hormonal landscape that you end up with, POST menopause, allow you to feel calmer and less angry and rejuvenated, with your memory back as it was - or is that just a myth and it's now downhill to the end??

Utterly, utterly normal. For your age!
My cycles became shorter leading up to meno right down to a 17 and 19 day cycle at one point.
(In my teens I went 35 days and was always 32 ish days right up to my 40s.)

Believe me, your cycles can go from 2 weeks to 6 weeks to months without one!

Having said that, I found that mine were regular in that i didn't miss any right up to age 52.
I have friends in their early 50s who are having periods twice a month then none for 6 months or more.

Cannot answer the second question as am on HRT- feel fine and hope it continues when I come off it!