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

[ScarahStratton]

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.

Ooh, look after yourselves everyone.

I'm just off out for a birthday meal with friends this evo - to a Chinese.

Should be nice in spite of some snow flurries !

AC - I'm hoping that yesterday wasn't too traumatic for you xx

My DD reached teenage years yesterday, I felt soooooooooooo old! I'm not though.

The injections for my back condition haven't worked, if anything they have made the pain worse. The consultant called me last night to discuss things and has decided that he needs to see me asap.

Let's see just have long his idea of 'asap' is shall we?

How are you all? It's very quiet on here..... my period actually lasted the longest it has for a while at ten days. So much pain and clotting after I thought I'd gotten away with it too.

Oh well, counting down until the next time whilst waiting for my bloods to come back.

Hi mouse

My dd will be 13 in April. A bit apprehensive about teenage years, also nervous for some reason about her starting her periods. It's all such a hassle isn't it ?
Must make sure she has some protection to use in her school bag.
Kick me up the backside someone to get my arse in gear on that one !

How is everyone today ?

Hi everyone,
I'm new here, but I wonder if any of you could help me?

I started to have peri symptoms about a year ago - mainly shorter cycles and insomnia/night sweats. About 6 months ago my periods started to get really erratic. Sometimes they come every couple of weeks, sometimes they never really stop at all. But now I've also started getting really painful bowel movements - but only when I'm menstruating.

I'm kind of worried about this last symptom. Does anyone else who's peri also get painful bowel movement when they are menstruating? I personally haven't seen it listed anywhere, but it does seem to come up as a symptom of endometriosis. I'm a bit concerned because both my mother and grandmother passed away of ovarian cancer ...

Any advice appreciated ladies!

I don't think it's likely to be serious or anything to do with your ovaries.

However, given your family history, are you being monitored regularly for ovarian cancer? I thought that where there was such a strong family history, women were given annual scans and C125 blood test? if this has not been offered you really ought to press your GP for it if you are over 45.

I think the painn is just due to relaxed muscles during a period. Many women gets loose stools and other bowel issues during a period. have you had children? You might have a slight rectocele- bowel prolapse- which is worse during your period and could cause some pain- is it harder to "go" then as well?

Thanks for the reply ameiliagrey,
Monitoring for familial ovarian cancer (ca125 and scans) is still in the trial phase - so some women are getting it but it hasn't been rolled out over the whole of the UK yet. I think you're right that it's probably nothing to worry about it - I haven't had a pregnancy so don't think it's anything to do with a prolapse. Because it's a new symptom for me, my 'rational' side says it's just something to do with getting a bit older (45) and being peri menopausal. But because I don't see it listed anywhere as a regular symptom of peri I sometimes get a bit overanxious about. I should probably just go to my doc and see what she has to say ...
thanks again for taking the time to anwer :)

Are you sure about the monitoring? I 've a friend who has been monitored for 10 years due to her mother having had ovarian cancer. I'd push if I were you.

Hello, may I join you for moral support please?

I'm almost 44...have a lot of the symptoms: worsening menstrual migraine, cycle going to every 23 days from the usual 30, clotting and periods lasting 6 days, chin hair, clumsiness, tiredness, no energy, joint pain, not so much hot flushes but definitely feeling 'warmer', insomnia, weight gain around the middle, needing to use deodorant more , procrastination and not wanting to do anything around the house (though this maybe due to being SAHM to two under 5s...) and total PMS from hell... poor DH and DS aged 4 :(

My DM had hysterectomy at 50 due to period problems and really had bad time of things..hoping I won't be as bad... too scared to see GP about it...having reflexology at mo which seems to be helping and plan to go back onto high dose Evening Primrose oil along with Spatone sachets to top up iron....

Welcome surrey they do tend to do things a little different nowadays Hysterectomy is usually the last option.

can I just add that i don't think there is any evidence that evening primrose helps hormone related probs.

It might help PMT related breast pain but that's all.

ameliagrey - thanks, I'm taking the evening primrose oil for sore boobs, something I forgot to add to my bloody long list...

oldsilver - my DM actually begged and pleaded for a hysterectomy and got it and it wasn't that long ago..late 90s... just don't want to go down that route myself..

Just checking in. I had a few days of nothing after my 50 odd day period. Now I seem to be having an old period if that makes sense?

No pain as such, just older blood.

I hope you're all okay? Keep posting and checking in. Mwahs to all xx

Just checking in. Yes I know what you mean about an old period mouse. Sort of rusty, I think olds called it.

Anyway what I want to know is why it's always when I've changed to some lovely clean sheets that I get a massive night sweat and have to wash them again.

Hi ladies......

Posted under another thread but hopped over to here.....

I'm off to the hospital tomorrow for bloods and a scan to investigate my stomach pains...... Now I don't have the form with me and can't remember what checks I'm due to have done on my blood but am I right in thinking that if I'm on day approx 12, they are not gonna show up whether I'm peri?

I'm pretty sure I am, periods all over place for past 2 years- 26-126 days, heavy, light, old, very painful ovulation, sudden irrational mood swings, loss of libido, dryness..... Just missing the sweats I think!! I'm 39.

Welcome jerkin and good luck with your appointment tomorrow. I do know the tests don't work at certain points of the cycle but can't remember when. I came up negative but my cycle was all over the place though. I hope they manage to relieve some of your symptoms.

Sorry, my spellcheck has turned jerin into jerkin!

I quite like jerkin......lol.....

Hopefully someone will be along soon who'll know and I'll check when I get home tonight exactly what they'll be screening for...... Well the abbreviations at least......

I don't seem to have so much pain at the m

At the moment.....always the way eh?

Still, it is still there....

Blood tests done - full blood count, CA125 and a couple of others- not sure anything that's gonna look for looming menopause......

The wait for a scan appointment is approx 3 weeks.....But I should get blood results early next week.......

Well......

I have been away from here for a bit as I was feeling spookily ok. Last bollocky period was end of November....no symptoms...felt the best I have in ages...

Bollocky thing started last week...no warning...on the 43 bus
Oh well...'twas a nice break while it lasted.
Took Tranexamic tabs for the 1st time....they're like horse pills...dd going green at me wretching to get them down. Anyway they worked for like 2 hours...nice and light....then dire again,so don't really know if they're worth the effort.

Bit snappy....dd's friend has a bit of a nutty mum,when friend stays here she calls me all the time drunk and saying "send 'em in a cab if they're playing up...I'll send a cab" and it's midnight and they're not playing up Live and let live I usually say...takes all sorts to make a world.

She got a tongue lashing on Sunday! Feel now...oh well.

How are we all....waves to Mardy and Silver

Hag 2 reporting in

The constant flowage got on my tits and I've hurt my foot a bit very bad so decided to start again on the Provera - can't be doing with dashing upstairs and back or just plain dashing full stop

It was lovely having a proper gap and a proper non carnage like period - side effects I can deal with as and when they occur!

DP happier he no longer has a two week window of opportunity so to speak

Hello

Welcome Jerin (I too wanted to type Jerkin, sorry!) - I'm waiting for my bloods back, I'm going to call on Monday as I think they'll be back now.

Can I ask what CA125 means please? Is that a good or bad thing?

Olds - sorry to read that you thought you'd got it sussed and then BAM! Fecking mother nature eh? xx

TMI over DP though!

Morning all......

Good luck for your blood results mouseface....... Are they to confirm peri?

I thought, as I was reeling off all my peri symptoms, that that was what I was being sent for blood tests for........ It was only later when I checked the form and read the ca125 that I realised not. I think it is a test used to read protein levels which are raised in people with cancer, ovarian cancer. I'm a little bit la, la, la, la, la, fingers in ears, la la la la ........ And trying to stay away from google......

Shit!! I've (kind of ) said it out loud and now I'm scared.......

Am wondering if I am becoming a member of this gang!

My cycle seems to be getting shorter. Periods have changed - I now get day 3 off but then they last longer too.

I sometimes bleed mid cyle.

Insomnia, wooly head at times, needing to pluck hairs from my chin and recently discovered I have a few grey pubes .

I am 39.

GP has referred me for a pelvic scan and gynae. No bloods tho. Am waiting for appointments to arrive. Its been 3 weeks now and still not heard anything.