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.

where do I sign up ?

Sorry I vanished, IBS issues last night.

I have taken Tranexamic Acid in the past but I find it doesn't help because I only (sorry, TMI alert) gush for 2 days. And I mean gush.

I go through a full box of super-plus tampons and a pack of Always ultra towels every single time.

The pain is unbearable. I am on morphine for my disability anyway but I also take co-codamol 30/500 strength and Diclofenac.

I used to have three days off work at one point (now full time carer for SN DS)

I have been to see my GP who referred me to a gynea who told me I am far too young to experience the menopause and that there was actually no way of telling

Regardless of the fact that I have night sweats, day sweats (my internal thermostat is buggered! ) cramps that make me want to rip my insides out, I ruin underwear and trousers, stain bedding........

The worse thing is if you're away from home and it happens. Maybe we should start a support group?

A thread in General Health for those who go through this every month? Obviously I say month......... I mean 14 - 45+ days!

Adversecamber Sympathies...have done the jumper around my waist loads of times. Also,when getting in peoples' cars,I alwaystake a newspaper to sit on (cab drivers' particularly look at me oddly).
Hope you don't mind,but had a little chuckle at the 'evil ovary/good ovary' scenario [hsmile]

Meee too.
All of it, I just feel like I have been taken over by some Alien and I don't know myself or my body anymore.
I was diagnosed Peri and think there was a side order of BPD.
Heaven help any one who is nice to me because I want to bury myself in their arms and marry them!

I fill up to anything from Tracey Beaker, adverts and held back sobs through an entire episode of The Body Farm last week.
It took me ages to work out how old I am on the bus with DS (much to his amusement)

My tastes have changed too.

Tell me that an exorbitant amount of chin hairs is also a sign of PM? Please.

Themaster - I do have a couple of thicker hairs that grow on the lower part of my face, they only usually last an hour before they are obliterated! [hgrin]

But yes, I've noticed a lot of changes over the past year or so. I seem to be 'ovulating' all the time so have cramps for most of my cycle, if you can call it that.

Oh to be a man for a while each month.

I am crying about thoses ads on TV for the African babies....I literally weep buckets ,and I never did last year. A cat across the road the other day had a squawking bird in it's mouth, I was snotting and everything
Hormonal Annie or what! I am usually a hard nosed caaahh!

Also,I have so many chin hairs,I am looking like a cross between Brian Blessed and a Wolef !

crazy - I have to turn adverts like that over normally because 1. blubbing and 2. I start the rant at DC about how lucky they are blah, blah, blah.

I am going to the drs on Wednesday for blood tests. I fear i maybe peri menopausal too. I'm 40. My periods are coming too often and I have pmt almost the whole month, sore boobs, anger, feeling low, indecisive, paranoid, teary etc etc etc. I just want to feel normal again!

I have a full on beard now and if I don't religiously pluck my chin each night by morning I have the 5o'clock shadow look.

Flaming marvellous eh??

I got pretty mad on that TV tread Scarah, so you weren't being menopausal there I assure you.
Can't really advise though, I was on the depot injections for years so didn't get periods, then after breast cancer I had to go on tamoxifon and come off the depot.
I just never got another period and practically no side effects at all.

What TV thread? Would like share some of my grumpiness

Do you know what....we sound such an attractive lot

Hi ladies,

I am only 32 (33 next week) but I am wondering if this is happening to me too. Until about 2 years ago I was a regular 28 day cycle but in the last year my cycle has been this:-

22 days
28
26
22
24
26
28
16
26
25
16
23
23
23
16

My GP doesn't seem bothered but I think it is really weird! Should I push him for some sort of tests?

Thanks

hi everyone

this is all so familiar unfortunately.
i have had almost six months now of irregular periods - for the last three months its has settled into a 14 days spotting and three weeks really heavy gushing.using 1 pack of towels a day at least.please please please let the end of this be in sight.
i did have the flushes,forgetfulness,night sweats etc but only for about a month or so.
my mother went through meno at 46 and i am 1 year younger so hopefully this is it.it didn't last too long for her - maybe 6 months.so fingers crossed.
good to hear all your stories as you don't feel so alone.

I'm feeling a bit perkier today on account of a decent haircut and a hairdresser who seemed to get the whole not wanting to look like mutton/not wanting to look 10 years older either dilemma.

AND she said I looked too young to have a child of 24. I loved her for a moment. Then she blew it completely - when I said my youngest was 9 I could just see her thinking "but you look too old to have a child of 9". Caah.

One thing I've noticed - don't know if it's age or PM or just me - but I procrastinate to ridiculous levels these days. Anything vaguely challenging that I don't really want to do and I seem to get paralysed with self-doubt and worry. I used to just get on with stuff regardless. For example - I need to ring the accountant to make an appointment to go through some stuff - the accountant scares me a bit and I don't really trust myself to understand what he says and so I've been stalling for days and days now. A few years ago I'd have just bloody rung him and if I didn't understand I'd have told him so. But socially etc I've got way more confidence in myself - I can talk to any random stranger. It's all very odd.

AngryFeet - If you aren't happy with your cycle then you need to go back to your GP and ask if they will do some bloods to check your hormone levels.

I take it you aren't on the pill or any other form of hormone contraceptive?

Gosh mycat have you been to your doctors? I don't think I could cope with that.

no not yet scarah - its not painful at all.just inconvenient.hope its all over sooner as its so grim.

MyCat - your GP can give you tablets to stem the flow and in some cases. if you were happy to go ahead, they can give you contraceptives which will make your periods lighter, or even stop for a while.

I had the contraceptive injection when it first came onto the market and it stopped my periods for 18 months, I know the Mirina coil can sometimes help.

Have you tried Tranexamic acid at all?

No. not using any contraception as DH had the snip 3 years ago.

Yes I think I will go hassle the GP again. Thanks.

I'd go to the docs AngryFeet, I seem to remember a doc once saying to me that 20+ days was counted as normal but there are a fair few 16's there, any other 'symptoms'?

My already rocky confidence has taken a battering. although over different things. Have learnt to stick up for myself in some areas and am a jelly like amoeba on others.

My skin is mostly though, although the absence of chin hairs is made up for by nipple beards

Well I have definitely become more hairy over the last couple of years - chin and back in particular . Have had trouble sleeping for a few months. No hot flushes though.