Feeling a bit dim - is this it?

[floofyapogo]

As the title says - I thought things would be a bit clearer and that perimenopause would be something I'd notice but . . .

I had perfectly normal periods until 2nd November 2013. 25-28 day cycle.

I had absolutely nothing from then until 7th December 2013, thought my period was starting but it was only enough for me to see when I wiped, looked like old, brownish blood too.

Today, more than 9 weeks after my last period, I had the same again - one instance of there being a wipe of blood when I went to the loo. No more than that.

I have the usual back pain of a period, and a bit of stomach cramping, but I never really get any other symptoms, have never had PMS or something I can track.

I'm nearly 48, was still getting pregnant until about 18 months ago (have done test, all negative and have no pregnancy symptoms anyway).

Can it just stop like that? Thank you so much for any advice.

Yes it can be just like you describe.

Head over to www.menopausematters.co.uk they have a wealth of advice there.

Mine started like this too.

Also should have said - have checked 'list' of other symptoms and don't seem to have any of those

Cross post! Thank you - will check that site out now . . .

Mmmn - still not sure. I suppose I just expected it to be more noticeable. My mum had a shocking time of it for years, before, during and after and, while I always said I would never be like that, I didn't expect it to be like this either .

That website - the fashion advice, the photos, the £15 an answer to your email problems . . .

Mine was very boring to begin with but has increased over two years. My main problem was sleeping actually, and the odd flush which I put down to alcohol. Not everyone suffers, you may be lucky! A blood test to check fsh levels is indicative (but not definitive) of menopause. I'm on hrt because of my age but I know it's not everyones cup of tea!

I did get my FSH checked after my last mc and it was low, then it got much higher quite quickly (think it went from 6 to 12 in a year).

I suppose you mean is this the end of periods or the start of them going haywire?
It's likely to be the latter!
It's evidently quite unlikely for periods to just stop like that. Most of us seem to have a pattern of missing periods, followed by a run of normal cycles, followed by more missed cycles and at the same time the blood loss can be hardly there, to flooding.

Mine stopped quite late- around 54- and I missed a few cycles during the final year as well as having some really short cycles of 17 days and very light bleeding.

Talking to friends I've found that no one is the same. You might find your periods suddenly return to normal for a while then the pattern changes again!

Yes, I did mean was that the end of periods! Women in my family seem to stop in their late 50s, but I guess everyone is different. I'm a bit shocked really and want them back . . .

Late 50s would be VERY late and most drs would do tests if a woman was still bleeding in her late 50s- especially if it was irregular bleeding.

The average age for meno in UK is 51. From what you've said I'd say it is unlikely that your periods are now over for good! It's more likely to be the start of a few years of it all winding down.

At 48 i would say you are most definately perimenopausal! I'm 38 and already in perimeno so think yourself lucky you have made it this far

Went to GP today about something else and mentioned it. He said he thought it unlikely to have stopped completely and they could do some blood tests given that I've been getting pregnant regularly until recently. Also said I should definitely stay on the pill for now (family history of women having babies in very late 40s too).

I actually feel like I'm ovulating today - lower back pain, and it's reminded me that I definitely have had EWCM last two months, so am still none the wiser. He asked for a urine sample too. I'm definitely not pregnant but I suppose they just have to check.

I genuinely don't know anyone else in RL this age who has gone through it yet which just shows how skewed your own experiences and contacts are!

My mums periods stopped when she was 40. Mine have been going wrong for the last 4 years. Went to the doctors 2 years ago as from being a regular 26 day cycle girl, it was going randomly from day 33 to day 9 back to regular again for a few months. Blood tests revealed nothing. Late last year started getting really bad boob ache/swelling. Explained all to doc, and within 3 days I was in hospital having a mammogram with the 'C' word being mentioned. Luckily it was fine, and doctor now thinks down to perimenopause (though blood tests haven't proved anything, but hormones are all over the place, so doctor says different days would give different results).
Anyway... now 4 years down the line my last period was almost 60 days ago, however it was so painful I was on the floor in agony, frozen cold and dripping in sweat (funny, but that's the sort of pain I had when my periods first started). The cycle before that was only a 16 day cycle with a very light period. No idea when next one will arrive!
Other symptoms:
Boob ache mainly better (take 2000+ml Evening Primrose Oil daily)
Forgetful
Tearful
Sad
Miserable (not depressed, but a general low sort of feeling)
Inability to lose weight - great ability to gain it
Aching joints (or maybe that's just me!)
Hair thinner (sadly only on head), doesn't grow very quickly
No nigh sweats just yet...

Ask for a cycle day 3 blood test. This measures your FSH levels on day 3 of your period. If your FSH is higher than 10 it's likely that you are heading or already in perimenopause. You may not be but it usually happens mid to late 40s. A friend of mine had her last baby at age 42 and went into perimenopause soon after. She is now 50 and hasn't had a period for over a year. Perimenopause can come on that suddenly and lasts between 2 and 10 years until the final period.

Chilli - what an awful experience for you. I hope things get better with the pain.

erilou - I don't know when day 3 is! My last FSH was 12, as I posted above, but that was after a mc, so may not even have been accurate.

floofywhen you said you'd been PG often and recently does that mean you have had a baby(ies) recently?

I'd say many of my friends were all done and dusted with periods by the age of 49-50, and I was later than most going on to 54.

Sorry... forgot to mention... I am 45!
Also I now get all worried about stuff for not much reason (not panic attacks as such), but feel very odd.
I will attempt to get a Day 3 of period blood test - the problem with this is not knowing when next period will arrive - and having to wait for it to arrive to then know - and the chances of getting a doctors appointment at that short a notice for a blood test are probably zero!
I've done loads of research about perimenopause on internet... so much varied info, I think everyone suffers differently, some really badly and some not at all. I just want it to all be over really! Much easier.

No, no baby recently Jaffa . . .

Wish my periods had of been regular and normal up until most of you ladies ages.I wouldn't have minded if i had been over 45. I nstead i get bloody perimeno in my mid/late 30s and suffering so badly! Not good when i so would have loved to have had another baby!

Floofy - a day 3 FSH blood test is on day 3 of bleeding, although it can be tricky if periods are irregular as you can't always get to have a blood test on that day as you can't plan ahead. Doctors seem to be booked up weeks in advance. What i have done in the past is to book a doctor appointment and ask for one of the speciman bags with the form attached and when i get my period i just go to hospital pathology lab and get blood tested there and then. An FSH isn't bad at all. Recently mine was a massive 20!!

FSH of 12 i meant to say.

Yes, I know that - what I meant was that, given what is happening, I can't tell when Day 3 would be as I'm not really bleeding. I'm not sure it matters anyway, not for me, as I know I won't have another child at my age and with my history. I really just posted this to see if others had gone from regular to this - and it seems they have. I appreciate you all taking the time to let me know of your experiences, it seems so much more relevant really than generalised websites.

If i were you, as soon as you see any blood, brown discharge even, count that as day 1 of your period and then get test done on day 3. Good luck, hope all goes ok.