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Menopause

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Is this the start of the peri-menopause? TMI Warning.

851 replies

ScarahStratton · 16/10/2011 17:25

Normally I have nice, light, regular periods. No cramping, no pain or bloating (I know, I've been incredibly fortunate).

This month I am having the period from hell. Very heavy, feel like I've put on 2 stone in as many days, and absolutely horrific cramps that nothing is shifting.

I've spent hours in a steaming hot bath today, and just want to crawl into bed with a big mug of tea and LittleDog to cuddle.

I'm 44.

OP posts:
Mouseface · 13/01/2012 21:31

Hello, thank you Sarah Smile xx

Okay, so, I've toyed with the idea that I am entering menopause early. I have no medical or past history to go off as both my mother and grandmother had full hysterectomys at 31.

But........... I've always had issues with my plumbing from the age of 17. My 'bits' didn't seem to work like everyone else's did. I felt ill weeks before I came on, I've suffered miscarriages, and the worst time of my adult life, my DH and I lost triplets at 16+5 weeks gestation.

I have always blamed myself for them dying inside me, like my plumbing wasn't up to scratch. Although I had a DD at the age of 23, no complications etc.....

So, to present day, Nemo (some of you will have heard me chatting about him and being the uber proud mummy that I am on here already) will be three in May, I'll be 37 tomorrow.

In the last six months, my periods have gotten longer apart, heavier when they do arrive and the symptoms in between, harder to put up with.

Night sweats.
Day sweats.
Memory loss - milk in the cupboard, iron in the fridge, that sort of thing.
Mood swings high enough to reach the moon and back again.
Sobbing to hysterical laughter.
Sex drive through the roof to I'd rather knit Shreddies with the Nanas.
Food cravings, sweet, sour and odd.
Weight gain, weight loss, constipation like I've never known and the reverse of that too.
Breakouts, flushed skin.

I'm sure that there's more but I can't remember what.

Help.

My last period was December 7th. It was heavy (flooding) and so very painful that it would make me loose my breath at times.

So far, in January, nothing. Nada. Nowt has appeared.

I know that 'worrying' about it makes it worse but I'd like to get some sort of hint as to when it might show. 10 days since it was 'due'. I was always 28/30 day cycle.

Not any more.

Any wise words for me? A cuppa and a hug or a partner in crime in the same position as me?

crazynanna · 13/01/2012 21:41
oldsilver · 13/01/2012 21:51

Oh mouse it does all sound familar - apart from the big gaps inbetween Envy When you see your GP they will do loads of bloods and probably send you for a scan to rule out fibroids etc. Then as crazy says, there are options.

I think we have discovered that all good things like chocolate/drink/fags are bad for us - even though they keep us happy (ish)

Oh and a quick tip, you can get over the counter Iron tablets cheaper than a prescription - they normally ask if your GP has said you take them but at £3 for 60 it works out cheaper this way!

crazy you are never going to forgive them for that are you Grin

Today I forgot where I keep my plates ... only lived here nearly 10 years Hmm

Mouseface · 13/01/2012 21:53
alemci · 13/01/2012 22:04

I am 44 and my periods are all over the place. I haven't had one for about 6 weeks. I feel miserable and bad tempered much of the time.

I have night sweats which are horrible from time to time and sore itchy breasts. I do get bad cramps and sometimes I get period pains before I start for a few days'.

sometimes I get them 15-21 days apart. It is all over the place.

crazynanna · 13/01/2012 22:05

No I am not oldsilver...it was gonna be the highlight of my sodding year! Angry

crazynanna · 13/01/2012 22:06

Does anyone get weird shivers/tingles down the body usually at night? And no...I am not thinking of Rabbitcam!

oldsilver · 13/01/2012 22:26

It's not one I recognise crazy I am twitchy though, thought it was that steroid injection wearing off, there's a nerve particularly in my hand that makes my thumb leap all over the place, it's very disconcerting - but no, no full body shudders.

Sounds about right alemci .

crazynanna · 13/01/2012 22:34

It's like a shiver that goes from head to toe...usually wakes me from sleeping.

I am sure I read it is a symptom of menopause but not too common....bloody great so I get it!
It's awful...it makes me grit my teeth Sad

Mouseface · 14/01/2012 18:03

So, I've hit 37 today and at 11 days late, there's still no sign of my period. I'm NOT pregnant, I can't be, we use condoms and are very careful.

I think that my cycle is just fucked. Has been for the last six months. Sad

I'm off to cook dinner and will be back tomorrow. xx

crazynanna · 14/01/2012 18:31

Happy Birthday Mouseface !! Smile

6 months is fuck all baby....try 8 years Grin

Enjoy dinner....

MardyBra · 15/01/2012 00:41

Happy (belated) birthday, mouse. Take care of yourself, my lovely.

crazynanna · 19/01/2012 11:50

And we're back! Grin

Thank Christ for that!

Got to go to work Peris'...will see ya later

oldsilver · 19/01/2012 17:40

Yay yay yay yay Blush

MardyBra · 19/01/2012 18:07

I just thought you might like to know that my iperiod app tells me I am Day 57 of my cycle. I'm sure I'll pay for it at some point though.

Massive night sweats last night though. Woke up with my hair all wet and sticking to my head.

crazynanna · 19/01/2012 19:41

Beat you Mardy...day 63

Was getting the hot flushed last month...put they have disappeared Confused
Not that I'm moaning...
Insomnia is not too good atm....I hate my broken sleep...hate it.

But with the Iron tabs and the lack of needinga bloodtransfusion period...I feel not too bad Wink

Best shut up before it comes to bite me in my quite ample these days arse.

CeliaFate · 19/01/2012 19:46

I went 68 days without a period, then had the one from hell. No pain or warning it was going to happen. Thank God I was at home and didn't have to go out! Grim.

oldsilver · 19/01/2012 19:58

My last one was only 5 days long Shock What the jiminy cricket was that all about Hmm Still very jealous of you lot having months inbetween as opposed to just a 16 day gap - my time will come.

Glad the Iron tabs are working crazy

I am having massive night sweats but not sure if that is down to the fact I have a massive COLD and am feeling a bit sorry for myself too - grrrrrr. And DP is actually being far too nice (bit of a 180) so I can't have a proper grumble either!

MardyBra · 19/01/2012 20:31

olds my cycle is anything from 17 days to 57 (and counting). I'd been on a 22(ish) day cycle for years to this is very unusual.

MardyBra · 19/01/2012 20:34

Just gone back through my app and the cycles are:

57+?
21
51
17
27
23
26
30
22
22
24
17

Confused

Glad I didn't go on the mirena coil as the GP wanted me to, as I would be putting the longer cycles down to that rather than my advancing old age.

crazynanna · 19/01/2012 20:39

Mardy it was my 16/17 dayers that pricked my GP's spidersenses to start investigating me for fibroids. She reckons they were not periods...but 'mid-cycle bleeding'...and I do remember a couple of thoses short months...I didn't really get any symptoms...but then I don't always do Confused

CointreauVersial · 19/01/2012 21:29

I have got my life back since going on Mercilon. Everything is somehow more on an even keel. I don't feel like killing DH, and I can actually leave the house during my period.

Maryz · 19/01/2012 21:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

crazynanna · 19/01/2012 22:05

Welcome Maryz ...welcome to the sweat room Wink
Make sure you come back...we will investigate your cycles and ensure you know all that is happening to you is ok really Smile

Mouseface · 20/01/2012 09:20

Hello!!! I am so glad this is back up and running. Still no sign of a period here so I'm just going to forget this month. In fact, I'm just going to get on with life and deal with whatever it throws at me as and when.

Can one of you remind me of that when I have a meltdown in a few months! Grin

I'm going to keep a track of my 'cycle' Hmm from my last period so I can see if there is a pattern. Looking at the lovely Mardy's cycle, there isn't likely to be a pattern is there?

Thank you also for my Birthday wishes Smile.

Off to Nursery with Nemo in a while to sweat my way through the two hour session. Even outside, I need to get my coat off for fear of expiration!

Well done for getting the thread back BTW Smile xx