Is this the beginning of peri....actually quite excited

[madchocolatemum48]

I'm 49 and my period is really late, always been 21/28 day cycle girl. I'm on day 40 now and still nothing. Had the built up (PMS) but that's all gone again. Periods have always been painful and heavy so I would be glad to see the back of them.
I have been having bad palpitations on and off for a few months now.
Bad headaches.
Completely exhausted.
My mothers periods just stopped when she started menopause apparently and the thought of mine doing the same is wonderful.
I am not delusional in thinking it's all plain sailing but I would be happy if this was the start of things.

Definitely NOT pregnant. Hubby had the snip years ago.

probably not, sorry!!

I can miss a period then things get back to normal, just as you think you're getting somewhere it comes back

Well, I'm 49 and I am currently 6 months without a period and had my hormone levels checked 10 months ago and they were 'post menopausal' levels, so it is possible, but, I hate to tell you, I have had haywire cycles and debilitating physical symptoms for most of my 40s. If you are only just noticing changes, it could still be some years for you yet.

I think it sounds like the start, but that means exactly that, the start.

My DM had completed her menopause by the time she was my age, so maternal experience isn't always a good indicator.

My periods have been irregular for nearly two years now. I think I'm single-handedly keeping the panty-liner industry in profit (having always thought them a pointless item before) as I never quite know what will appear or when.

Sorry to be the one bringing bad news but post meno you are at risk from a whole load of other serious health issues that are related to low oestrogen.
These include osteoporosis, heart disease, diabetes from weight gain and vaginal atrophy!

The International Menopause Society published a paper this week that gives a very detailed account of why women ought to consider HRT as a means to staying healthy into old age.

It's here if you want to read it

The paper is entitled "Prevention of diseases after menopause"

www.imsociety.org/downloads/world_menopause_day_2014/white_paper/wmd_white_paper_english.pdf

Thanks for the replies ladies. I know the end is a long way off but at least this could be the beginning.
I know what you mean about panty liners AuntieStella. I hate them, they are so uncomfortable.
I will start checking out how to take care of myself though before it all kicks off.

To be fair, that paper Pinkfrocks cited, says that HRT " may " be useful in its overarching conclusions. "May" in scientific papers means "It sometimes works but it sometimes doesn't." Reassuringly the paper repeatedly and hugely (rightly) endorses lifestyle as fantastic preventative medicine. What bothers me is, it seems like most/all? the authors have conflicts of interest (financial support from drug companies, maybe that can't be helped for researchers at their level) & it barely manages to cite any Cochrane reviews. The SystReviews it cites tend not to be strictly about MHT/HRT, either.

I'm fully aware of the meaning of 'may' thanks!
There is never going to be any funding into HRT I think apart from that by drug companies because it's hardly a priority area for the NHS, is it?
I'd expect organisations like the IMS and the British Menopause Society whose board members do not necessarily have a conflict of interest to scrutinise research before they make comments based on the research.

This is a good source of information

www.thebms.org.uk/news.php

I'm fully aware of the meaning of 'may' confused thanks!

(Serious question) then do you know what the difference is between "can work" and "may work" in scientific papers. Because I'm well confused what they mean reading between the lines. I think 'can' might be weaker, as in "It worked at least once (stat. significance) but it may not work again and we don't know why" as opposed to "may" which translates as "It often works and we usually know why when it didn't work"

I think the funding situation is probably fairy complicated, Charities fund, too, maybe with opposing conclusions.

May" in scientific papers means "It sometimes works but it sometimes doesn't."

I thought you'd answered that point here.

I have had breaks in periods of up to eight months. Then the blighters have started again!

Oh, and I recommend cloth liners. Much softer. Easy to launder and much cheaper.

I am excited to possibly be peri too. My periods used to 28 days like clockwork. For the past year they've been anywhere from 25/26/27/28 days. Have had hot flushes at night, palpitations, tiredness.

I'm 44. My mum had an early menopause at 43.

lljKK I'm not sure why you linked to the Telegraph piece? It's from last year (I read the info elsewhere when it first came out) and all it's saying is that the WHI and the MW studies are shown and now believed to be flawed research. The quote from Cancer Research is not very detailed. What most consultants seem to think now is that there is no cause-effect link between oestrogen and b cancer, it acts more as a stimulus to existing cancer cells that can exist for 10 years before they are large enough to be detected. There is also speculation that the type of progestogen plays a part with some being safer than others.
Anyway- I think we've got side tracked from the main thread here. The BMS has lots of info if you want to read it.

because (in a plain English way) it cites the Cancer Research people who funded research (so example of not a drug company as only funders) and how Cancer Research still think there may be unacceptable risks to HRT but also discusses the controversy and some sources.
And it's not the DM.

I must had had menopause as am now 53, and no periods for 2 years.
About 4 years ago had hot flushes, but I had a bullying boss and was drinking a lost, when I left that job the hot flushes stopped instantly.

Maybe Lljkk we should start a new thread for this :)
My link to the IMS info was supposed to help women be aware of the latest thinking on how to be healthy in mid life.

The problems with statements like 'doubles the cancer risk' is that women don't know what this means in absolute terms: double can mean 2: million, rather than 1: million. People need to know the difference between relative risks and absolute risks.

Im 46, soon to be 47 and havent had a period since mid August. Keep missing 3 months then it comes back maybe a little irregular for a few months then I skip cycles again. Its been like this for nearly a year. I guess I am in peri menopause? My worry is mostly that I gain weight and I am also on 20mg of citalopram..... could that affect my period?

Greengarden I'm on my second period since the end of July. I'm lying in bed feeling awful with stomach and back cramps. I was changing super plus tampon hourly yesterday and also wearing a pad which has to be changed too. I'm 46. Thank god it's Saturday is all I can say. I dread how long this will last. The only good thing is I can go 3 to 4 months without a period , sometime it's 1 month or 2. I never know though. Some times I get terrible pmt , sometimes none. I have noticed that I'm warmer in work a lot and still in short sleeves during the day. Anyway I'm rambling a bit. Wish Panadol would kick in soon

I'm 49 and didn't have a period for a year, had hot flushes but no other symptoms then i started taking vitamin D supplements and my periods promptly came back, I've not taken any for a couple of months and haven't had a period. Is this coincidence or is it the vitamin D? I know lack of Vit D can cause lack of periods.

NCIS that's interesting. On a depressing note I have put up 2 lbs since yesterday morning. I admit to eating a bag of choc toffees and 5 choc biscuits last night ! Will need to make up for that today but can't face the gym or exercise so may just eat healthy. Men have no idea

I know what you mean lovetheleaves. I was scared to leave the house yesterday. I was getting an hour at the most with a super plus and a towel.
I didn't connect the dots before, never considered peri-menopuase. Then last month I was really late.
My mirena coil fell out ( whole different post) about 9 months ago so I have been marking on my calender when, how long, how bad etc my periods have been since then.
Periods have been erratic, cycle between 19-40 days, lasting 3-7 days, light spotting to heavy clotting. Not knowing is really frustrating.
When I factor in all the other new and wonderful things that have been going on with my body I am definitely peri-menopausal.
I actually felt a little sense of relief knowing it was all explainable, that the :
Scary heart palpitations where not heart disease.
Horrible headaches were not a brain tumor.
Elbow, knee and hip pain wasn't early arthritis.
Complete apathy towards things wasn't depression.
Lying awake worrying about everything wasn't anxiety.
Desire to suffocate my dh while he slept wasn't my marriage falling apart. ( possibly not menopausal related )
The list goes on but at least I don't feel as though I'm going mad now.

Hi madchoc I'm glad you mentioned headaches. I had the most horrible headache about a week ago and it lasted for about 10 days. It's all related. It's miraculously gone now. Thought my eyes were failing or I had a tumor too. Have to chance dropping dd to train station now, would normally go shopping on sat morn but going to come straight home I think .

I could have written your post madchocolatemum48. I have felt as though I was going mad, putting it all down to a very stressful year. My bloods suggest I am perimenopausal coupled with the symptoms makes things so much clearer. However I am young to have this at 40 so I am finding it a little harder to deal with juggling a young demanding family and a professional career with menopause symptoms. I thought I must be depressed, hellishly anxious but now I can just laugh it off as a 'senior' moment. Hopefully the supplements and iron will kick in soon and even things out a bit! As for periods, well they were 20-40days cycles with very light or very heavy clotty flow. Now I am at 92 days without and am embracing the idea of not having them, early days I know! The pantyliner business must love menopausal women.