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.

I was trying to explain to DH about the "red mist" that descends. He seems to think that I should be able to control my emotions more effectively...hahahahahahahahaha!

I currently have no less than 7 different anti-perspirant/deodorants because none of the fuckers actually work. I can shower, put on clean clothes and spray myself into a coma and by lunchtime I feel self-consciously whiffy. [hsad].
I was out with younger friends, one of whom said she was really hot. I immediately piped up with "Ooh, yes I'm sure I've been having hot flushes yada yada yada" She looked at me like this and said she'd meant she was warm because we'd been eating curry. Can we have a perimenopausal emoticon please? It would be an amalgamation of all the current ones plus one that was sobbing...

I have just read the NHS symptoms for perimenopause. This one sounds particularly delightful

"Vaginal symptoms
During the time leading up to the menopause, you may experience vaginal dryness, itching or discomfort. This can make sex difficult or painful (known as dyspareunia). These symptoms combined are known as vaginal atrophy."
I am going to name change to Fanny Withers...

...I should be Fanny Cobwebs atm

PMSL at Fanny Withers.

Just call me Snow White

Christ, is itching a symptom? I've been really itchy for the last week, feels like ants are crawling over me, particularly on my head, face and arms. I'm doomed aren't I? GIVE ME A WEEPING EMOTICON NOW! Sorry, I mean please, um what was I saying?

I am so the bloated one...and maybe the psycho a leeetle bit

Yes CeliaFate the itching is bad. I have bent myself into some scratching positions that would impress the director of a blue movie.

@ Fanny Withers

@ vaginal atrophy

I have suffered a lot in the last couple of years with anxiety, feelings of impending doom, crying for no reason, complete lack of focus - I can procrastinate for Europe. Plus more recently - really restless nights and waking at 4am not being able to go back to sleep. I have been putting it down to stress - but ALL these things are on the symptoms list. My lovely GP prescribed some "essence of passionflower" stuff to help me sleep. I find wine more effective though.....but that makes me feel worse the next day.

Cyb - I took it as soon as I got period pains, which is normally 6 days after my period ended, and then would wait for the bleeding, two tablets and then as prescribed so I think it was 4 lots per day.

I have also been on Norethisterone in the past, again, this didn't help. Nothing with any hormones in has ever worked, the coil, pill, mini-pill anything like that.

My mum had a hysterectomy at 31 as did my nann. I've had problems since I was 17 when they first discovered my endometriosis. It cleared up a little after DD. But then we got pg with triplets, who died at 16+weeks so I had to have them removed surgically. All was well for a few months and then it started again, the flooding for a few days and the unbearable pain, fainting, feeling sick constantly for two weeks before starting to bleed.

I really am considering a hysterectomy. DH and I would love more children but have DS who has complex SN/LD. And to be fair, he still needs 24 hour care.

Phew, that was a long answer to you Cyb, sorry!

Loving the menopausal dwarves

You is well luvverly Mouse (( )) xx

My period finished yesterday and to all intents and purposes I started cramping again this morning, with what someone described down thread as 'bad ovary'

But I am in a bloody amazing mood, want to bonk someone furiously and have a mountain of energy which is rare but welcome.
I sometimes feel as if I must be 'in heat' and that my wanton state of arousal must emanate from me....

Mittzy -I have visions of you lying in wait for the postman/milkman/any unsuspecting random stranger to wander by to expend your energies on

Croissant and

I think if I was more 'Mittzy' in RL than who I actually am, there might be more than a grain of truth in that!

keeping an eye on this thread as it seems it is all starting to happen

mitzy found the upside of it

Celia my BF had that poem at her wedding

Oh dear, I think you've all confirmed my suspisions.

Thankfully I don't have the night sweats but my normal 26 day cycle has changed to 28 (so getting longer) and I am constantly tired. So tired that DP thinks I'm ill and should take a visit to the GP. I'm irritable, irrational, unhappy, I cry, I procrastinate. My period is vile, big clots and a super super plus extra super strength lilet only lasts about 3 hours at most and it's the size of a sausage roll!

My poor DP gets the wrath of my tongue (and not in a good way ) every other day and he's about to shovel me out of the door.

I can't remember a thing, even names of everyday items just seem to be on the tip of my tongue but elude me. I have white hairs, yes white, growing out of my chin along with a rogue one in my eyebrow, AND my pubes are going grey!!

In some ways it'd be great for it all to finish but in another way it's somehow accepting that I'm getting old (43) and I'm turning into one of those sad, dried up old bitter and twisted women you see on the bus being horrid to young girls (think "In our day we never wore..(insert insult here)"...)

Wow Butter - you've done well to get to 43 and only just started to get grey pubes! One of my GBF (gay best friends) has been dying his for the last 6 years! And he's 34!

Don't you just love being a woman.

Putrifyno - I had the 'full works' of blood tests last year, it's one blood test but a bit more blood was taken. I was checked for hormone levels, anaemia, thyroid, calcium levels and a test that indicates any high levels of illness (really hard to describe here!), I also had an abodominal scan but everything came back fine felt like a fraud :(

I've been back to the Dr once because the tiredness was overwhelming but all that was advised was to rest more (with children nigh on impossible during the day, lol!). I normally end up apologising for wasting their time, but I know that it is hormones going up and down. I've kind of told myself to shut up and put up.

Yes to the caffiene and alcohol thing, I cut out both for a month to see if it made a difference, it did with the heat but did sod all for the tiredness.

And the smelling bit - I posted on here a while ago about using Driclor it frickking hurt like hell to begin with but now the armpit areas are fine and don't get any nasty whiffs.

Just makes you glad to be a woman doesn't it, NOT!!

Come on, m'dears: think of Joanna Lumley. Let's not be too downbeat.

There are loads of women who are peri-menopausal and postmenopausal but are just not "out". Sarah Jessica Parker and Elle McPherson probably are. Kate Bush - and she's great. And my brain is too porridgey by this time of night to think of anyone else - but you get my drift.

Does anyone have any brilliant ideas about the tiredness? I am completely and utterly exhausted.

witchywitchoftwobigones - Is your GP mad ? Where are you supposed to get this "more rest" from?

Oh, and hello BiWi!

Kept on meaning to say hello on the thread and kept forgetting ....

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