Perimenopause? Are these symptoms?

[YesItsAPeacock]

I'm 39, 40 in October.

My period started yesterday and this morning I had the most intense, insanely painful cramps I've had since I was in my teens. I vomited from the pain. It was absolute agony.

I've also been itchy all over my body since yesterday. A kind of light itch, that moves around. No rash or anything. This used to happen to me from time to time and now I'm wondering if it's somehow hormone related.

I used to get very bad menstrual cramps in my teens, but I also had very irregular periods. In my early 20s I was diagnosed with PCOS. I was on the pill to help with these symptoms for most of my 20s and 30s. Came off it 18 months ago. Since then my periods have been very light, and regular as clockwork, which was novel.

I really, really hope this morning's pain doesn't become a regular occurrence. I was writhing around, unable to think, unable to breathe properly.

Could this be perimenopause?

It could be anything. Don't immediately jump to the conclusion that you are peri-menopausal, this has happened once in recent years. Itching could be an allergic reaction to something you ate the day before.

Wait and see how your next period is. If you have another really bad one, seek some professional advice.

I do feel sorry for you about the severe pain which must have been dreadful.

Thanks, I'll start keeping a symptoms diary and see what happens. I didn't eat anything new or unusual yesterday though. Mind, there's a lot of pollen and stuff around here at the moment. Wildflowers going to seed everywhere. This feeling is just on my skin though, no runny nose or anything.

Ugh, I had completely forgotten how sodding awful the first day of my periods used to be 20 years ago. I really hope it was a one off.