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.

Oh My God, have read this and realised i have most of the symptoms

I just though i was losing my mind and a crabbit, fat cow

animula - I just laughed at the dr at that point, either that or I would have cried and I don't do crying!

There are days that the alarm clock goes off and I'm counting the hours down til I can go back to bed - the record for going to bed is 6.30pm, well before the kids bedtime, but I was so tired I couldn't function, I find this really scary but thankfully this isn't the norm, yet.

Anyhow, at least, here, I know I'm not alone :)

note - I do blub lots (but in my own privacy, not in front of people)

I thought of this thread today while I was having my hair cut.

My hairdresser is a friend, roughly the same age and we have been invited to the same do in December. The conversation was a bit like this:

Me: Are you going to (wavey hand gestures) the thing in December?
HD: Yes, you? It's at, you know, (long pause)
Me: Yes, whatshisface's pub
HD: That's it. What is his name again?
Me: (Very long pause) Erm...
HD: Come on, you must know, he is going out with your SIL, isn't he?
Me: Yes, I think so. Is he?
HD: What?

Happily, she still has her hairdressing skills.

Hi all, I've been having irregular periods, very hot, some sweats, moody, tearful to extremes. I had the test and came back as post meno but I'm still bleeding. The GP told me to ignore the test results and deal with the symptoms. My options were marina coil and that's about it. I'm on AD's and rarely tearful. I do have lots of insomnia, I feel very forgetful and can't concentrate very well. My symptoms started at 37 and I'm 40 now. I don't think the test is the best indicator. I guess I'll just have to wait until I've gone without a period for over a year. Oh, and I have times when I feel very very very horny. [hblush]

How do you tell if you've got a Mirena though? I have no periods at all, have got hairs on the chin though, am forgetful and sweaty at night. I'm 48 so would expect to be at least peri menopausal. Can they do tests even if you have a Mirena?

Witchy - I know I am being silly. I don't FEEL ill so there is unlikely to be anything seriously the matter. I worry because I know I drink too much wine, so am now worrying about my liver, and diabetes etc etc. I went to GP in the first place as I was not sleeping, had loads of stress at work and just got to the point where she was passing tissues and discussing whether I got the chance to discuss my problems at home/with friends etc.

She is lovely though - signed me off for a week, with express instructions I was leave the housework, meet friends and go for a walk/go shopping and do nice things. It was wonderful! I then had a follow up appointment - think she wanted to check if I was actually depressed or whether it was just exhaustion. That's when the menopause discussion came up. I am overdue for a smear test, so the plan is that I get the bloods, ring her to discuss then get appointment with gynae for smear, breast check etc, discuss my hormone levels etc The medical system in Belgium appears to be thorough!

Trouble is I really am quite phobic about these things, so there is nothing MORE likely to give me anxiety and sleepless nights that a battery of medical tests! Though I know logically it is much better to find out if there IS anything wrong with me than to bury my head in the sand.....But still. I am working up to it!

SO when we come out the other side, do we get our memories back?

Never mind memories, I keep thinking I'm going to run someone over or get lost on my way somewhere I go all the time - it's all very worrying. Someone please come back and tell whether we do get our wits back. [hgrin]

Putrifyno, if it makes you feel any better I have to take one of my kids with me if I have to have a blood test, injection etc as I'm a wuss of the higher level (if I take a child with me I can't fall apart and be pathetic!); would draw the line though at taking a child in for anything gynae!!!

When I went to the Dr's to begin with I'd foolishly said that I'd been looking on google and said that some of my symptons pointed to ovarian cancer (note, never look at google or try to self diagnosis), so that was checked out too.

I have some fabulous friends and they know what I'm going through and are amazing at helping when they can - we all work and are all in the same boat, but sometimes just talking and listening works wonders.

I go to bed really early during the week (late for me is 9.00pm) and is a standing joke with my friends and I do try to watch what I eat and drink BUT that is so much easier said than done

'I keep thinking I'm going to run someone over or get lost on my way somewhere I go all the time - it's all very worrying. '

You said it, bucketbetty!

On a particularly bad day for tiredness and mental fog, just before my very irregular period started, I managed to reverse into the ONLY other car parked on our street. I don't know how I did it. My husband still doesn't understand how I managed it. Fortunately nobody was hurt and the damage was minor (but will cost me £700 to mend the other guy's car).

Katisha - in answer to your question - no, names have gone forever!

A conversation with me now is like charades where people have to guess who I am talking about whilst I try describing people in sign language.

I think the menopause emoticon should have a moustache and/or beard and be blurry to portray the fog that we are living in. [hgrin]

Doctors prescribed Iron tablets for me because of the tiredness - I do notice if I don't take them. Also gave me Provera but sometimes I'd already started "rusting" before it was time to take them so there was no point. Might try again.

Wept through the second half of Hollyoaks this evening

Oh Lord.

at rusting - that's it exactly.

Haven't read the whole thread (sorry!) but just wanted to say that I am supposed to have an early menopause because of a particular combination of chemotherapy that I was on several years ago. When I was 40 I started to have lots of peri-menopausal symptoms, and went to my gp who said it was likely that it was starting, only to discover 3 months later that I was pregnant with ds!

Spotted this on the news today.

And hazey, my MIL told me to watch out because she was told that it is easy to get caught out during the early stages of menopause as your body/hormones are all over the place and it is easy to lose track of what happens when.

hazeyjane

Oh yes...the grey pubes Mine look like they have a permanent dusting of talcum powder

And just after the period,I always have the same dirty dream that I am Geronimo's white squaw being ravished

The link is interesting as I am evil smoker....

Me too...

And me....

celia that T shirt made me grin as in a loose conversation with my Teen age son I told him he was in trouble because I was going through the same as him but just older and............... errrrrrrrrrrr................ wiser!

Oh yes, dirty dreams CrazyNanna, I have a sort of recurring one about being very, Very rude in public places ... and then I realise I am day dreaming them as well!

I had one grey pube. And plucked it. Don't. Pluck. Pubes. Makes your eyes water a wee bit!

I like 'not caring' what people think, and I think it gives me a confidence of some sorts sometimes. I have grown into and earned this body and it tells my story.

Oh thank God you mentioned it Mittzy. The lust, when does it go away?

On the subject of sex, after someone on FB linking to I am planning to redirect my life....

No grey pubes yet, but plenty of grey hairs on my head.

Another night of hot sweats and another night of Broken sleep.