Are these "normal" symptoms of menopause?

[MyBoysAreFab]

I am 50, definitely early-menopausal in that I am having mild hot flashes, and my periods are changing. (and I am a grumpy cow)

My periods were always really regular. In the last year they have been less so. I now haven't had one since 4th August but for about 2/3 weeks have had that sort of cramping feeling you get - not the painful ones, more the feeling that you can tell your period is on its way. Also my middle feels huge and bloated as do my boobs. All the usual symptoms you might expect but have had them for longer than normal. I have had almost constant low back pain. Also when I wake up in the morning every bone in my body feels stiff and sore.

Are these all "normal" menopausal symptoms? I am a bit worried as we are going abroad in the October hols and (a) at this rate my period might start when away and (b) I will look like a heifer in my bikini.

I am perimeno at the moment - so not into full meno yet, but although some of the symptoms are familiar, I would be worried that you have had them continuously for quite a while

I would go and get checked at your GPs

Hope you can get things sorted before your hols

Are you in the US- you talk about 'flashes'?

No, I am in drizzly Scotland! Meant flushes, sorry.

:)
Well all your symptoms sound 100% peri normal to me.

Joint pain and aches are very common.

Sorry- not what you want to hear.

Yep, sounds familiar.

Sorry, sounds completely normal to me (but of course you should see your GP if you are worried) but i have had episodes of this too, whenever the gap between periods has extended - longest wait was two 1/2 months earlier this year, and I got the bloating, bigger boobs and 'any minute now' feeling too...like permanent PMS . Good news is when I came on all symptoms vanished for a while...but I'm late again now and they are creeping back...

oh AND the joint pain...AND the stiffness - am52 and been perimenopausal for about a year.

I get hoorendous joint pain,plantar fasciitis too ! My feet just don;t work in the morning & my hip is really painful. I had an episode couple of weeks ago where I could barely put any weight on my legs, they ached terribly all the time & were so painful, restless legs at night & a general feeling that my legs were going to drop off ! Had a period & they eased. I've now got another period 2 weeks later but no symptoms at all. I'm almost 50 !

I feel like I'm falling apart .. and libido ? What's that ???

Oh dear god! Sympathies to all of you. I did think that the symptoms were probably all "normal" and am not unduly worried about them but could live without them too.

It's weird the constant feeling periods are about to start, and my legs seem to ache all the time at the moment. I suppose I should be grateful I am not suffering the horrendous flooding episodes I have read about.

The bloating is most annoying. I ordered - with huge trepidation - a bikini online for our holiday. I haven't owned a bikini for about 25 years! Although I am not slim and have a saggy tum it looks ok but for the fact my bosoms are heaving out of the top, and there is nowhere for my tum to hide. Off to buy a Demis Roussos kaftan to drape artfully over me.

I'm 49, I ache all the time too, going upstairs is hard work. I have to hang onto the bannister to haul myself up. I've also got crashing exhaustion, like being pregnant, I often feel too tired to move

Get yourself a nice one piece with tummy control section:)

yes I ache sooo much recently coupled with constant bleeding. have started a thread if anyone has had a hysteroscopy.

anyone experienced period every 3 weeks?never happened before.thanks

Hi yes I did every three weeks for about 5 years which led me to where I am now. Two periods in the last year and horrid sweats and all other kinds of horrid symptoms.

me too. Not had a period for about 2 months now and had the tests at GP which said I was definitely peri. It's shit and your symptoms sound just like mine. Though practically Poundland have the Kira supplement for 50+ which are the menopause specials even though I am not fucking 50+

I will be 50 in two months time and I ache all the time too. No hot flashes yet, but periods slightly irregular in the same way as you OP. I hadn't put the aches and pains down to peri-meno. Will it get better then, eventually? Would extra oestrogen take this all away? .

I am 53 and have had no period now for six months. However in the three years leading up to this I sometimes had periods every two weeks, sometimes every two or three months, once went six months with none, then three in 6 weeks.

Thankfully no other symptoms other than one hot flush in the middle of prague when it was minus one degree and I stripped down to a T shirt!

Hi there, I'm 51 and have been diagnosed with a large fibroid which causes pain,discomfort and sometimes heavy bleeding during my periods. My GP has kept me on the contraceptive pill because he says it's basically the same as being on HRT but with the added protection of contraception,but I still have mood swings, irritability, night sweats and cry at the drop of a hat. Apparently the fibroid should shrink after the menopause so surgery isn't going to be offered to get rid of it (and I'm too active a person to want to go through a hysterectomy and have to rest anyway!!!). Is anyone else still on the pill and getting menopause symptoms?

You might be much better off changing to something else:

The Mirena ( stops bleeding altogether in many women)
Acts as a contraceptive
Gives the progestogen part of HRT

Then you can have oestrogen alone as either a patch or gel.
This may control the sweats etc far better than the pill.

Also these will have a lower risk of serious side effects- stroke etc- than the combined pill.

Discuss with dr?

I can't have a coil because of where the fibroid is, it would displace the coil - Dr has discussed that with me and ruled that option out.

hellly, hrt stopped me aching altogether.

I've been off it for 3 years now, and am not very achy - occasionally stiff, but not the constant achiness of early meno.

Pip

If this is what your GP advises, maybe you should be referred to a gynae- a 2nd opinion always worth seeking.
There is also the option of Tibolone (HRT with a slight difference) which does not stimulate the uterus lining or fibroids- a friend of mine takes it as other HRT made her fibroid grow.

I think you should ask for a consultant's opinion- rather than MN!- because there are options about there.

its a classic age for thyroid problems too so blood test could be worthwhile

Thank you for your responses. I had a blood test which didn't show any abnormalities but it also didn't show up what stage of the menopause I'm at because the pill masks it.