I put this in General Health and then I find this topic.... I think I may be joining you?

[DrBanner]

So as the title says I put this in General Health to resounding silence (OK so I was a bad time zone and its not as exciting as some of the late night threads.) Anyway then I found a couple of threads under this topic and I wondered if I'm perimenopause and if I am - what can I do?
Any help /advice or even

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For the majority of my life, my periods have been nothing more than a minor inconvenience. Relatively light, no major physical issues or even hormonal ones. After my second child about 5 years ago they did become heavier but again nothing particularly difficult to deal with. I do know I've been very lucky here and some people suffer their whole lives.

But now - in the last year - it starts about 24 hours before when I just want to crawl into a dark space and weep, then stomach cramps followed by migraines - all of which would be bad but I guess livable. The worse is the Rage - it builds up inside me and I find it really hard to control it.

This last weekend has been a disaster - hence posting now - a couple of other issues including my father having major surgery have added to the stress levels. I spent the weekend either avoiding the family because I knew I was struggling to control my emotions or exploding at DH because he questioned how I was putting a bike lock on one of the kids bike's. Even the kids got caught up in the storm although I tried my best to avoid this - but sometimes I just feel like I will implode with emotion. Come Monday 48 hours after my period started and as always the Rage has past and I'm left with the tail end of the weeping.

Any one else? Or more importantly any one else with tips on how to control this. I'm 43 so don't know if the change is due to my age and potentially maybe moving towards menopause, not sure what else it could be to have caused the change. But god I could do with some help to improve things. Thanks

Hi DrBanner, I think many peri-menopausal women would recognise themselves in that post!! You can have a blood test which can confirm. I think it's worth it because then at least you know what you're dealing with.

43 is still at the young end for menopausal symptoms, but you should't put up with horrible symptoms just because of age.

The cause may well be the start of menopausal changes, but the symptoms still need management, so it might be worth a trip to the GP.

Supplements might help - evening primrose?

Thanks I think I should go to the GP - it just seems so "silly" to go for my period, but its just getting worse and so obviously tied up to when my period starts (I'm relatively so mild mannered normally!). I'll start evening primrose as I assume it can do no harm in the mean time.

Thanks again for answering - it just seemed so uncontrollable this time.

It's not silly to go, if it's starting to sffect your life and relationships.

43 is definately not too young for menopause i'm sorry to say. I'm 38 and in perimenopause/premature menopause. Having lots of horrible symptoms which started around 3 years ago and are getting worse. Actually i have recently started a support thread on this board for women suffering a premature meno, meno under 40 years.