Is this it!!!!

[Christywhisty]

Have spent the last couple of years being premenopausal. Heavier,painful periods, ovarian cysts. Periods down to 23 days some months.

Last period was the beginning of December, expected the next one at New Year, but nothing until last Saturday. This last week I have a very small amount of red blood every day.

I am 45 and most definitely not pregnant!

I just don't know, it is all so confusing Christy and must be worrying for you! Reckon I am perimenopausal as though periods still as regular, they are very odd - stop and start, sometimes heavy, sometimes light. Plus my moods and headaches are all the over the place - is the perimenopause really just like PMT all year, please tell me not! Hope someone else more helpful comes on with advise Christy!

It is confusing, pity we just can't get over an done with, one day just stop with all this messing about. Unfotunately to me it has felt like perminant pmt. My doctor wanted me take duphaston 10 days a month but that made me feel worse, she also wants me to have a mirena coil, but that scares the life out of me, heard too many horror stories

Was perimenopausal from age 39. Had my last period at 44, but continued with night sweats and hot flushes up until 2 months ago.

Now age 46, just had a post menopausal bleed which turned out to be an endometrial polyp.

Am definitely coming back as a man or a cherished cat.

christywhisty what have you heard about the mirena coil? i have had one for yonks with no problems(ok a couple cured quickly)

2shoes I not heard that it does any damage to you, just a lot of people feel a lot worse with it. Also a few people have problems with IBS with it and as I do have problems like that occasionally as part of pmt, I would have thought it would make it worse.
The Duphaston (progesterone) made me feel awful
and the mirena coil releases progesterone but a a much smaller dose, but I would probably be one of the unlucky ones.
I know a lot of woman are happy on it, but I just don't like the idea of it for me.

I'm 49, my periods stopped abruptly a year ago but on Thursday I suddenly started heavy bright red period which is still going on so interested in your post menopausal bleed cheshire kitty. I guess I'd better make an appointment.

I find it incredible that there's so little publicised about the menopause. Like in women's magazines, there's always some article for many an ailment, but none for the menopause (not that the menopause is an ailment, but from reading what I've seen here, a PITA).

I've just been to my GP this morning to try and figure out whats going on with my body...I'm 47, and have had erratic periods for a while. Nothing since last spring, then at Xmas very very light spotting for a day, same again late January.

GP thinks its my body attempting AF (and failing!) but is sending me for an endometrial u/s just to be sure. I've had loads of fertility treatment in the past, so want to be extra careful because of the hormones etc.

I feel a bit isolated, none of my RL friends seem anywhere near menopause yet (even those the same age as me) and I have two young children: mixing menopause and toddlers feels very odd

Well Af sort of arrived on Sunday (when 2nd one was due) for about half an hour then stopped again!
Elibean
I'm mixing this with 2 children that are just starting puberty DS is 12 and DD is 10 and they are both hormonal

you can get a test similar to a pregnancy test, wee in a pot style, which tells you if you're going through the menopause. available from local chemists

That sounds interesting (test above). I have had a lab referral to go the the hospital for bloods taking for nearly a fortnight but I honestly cant be arsed to go. Next week I go to the gynae so I presume they will tell me that I am perimenopausal.

Getting a few flushes, particularly when I bleed. Periods irregular, coming more often strangely. Had 2 bleeds after sex and one time with pain after sex. I suppose I am quite moody. My GP suggested natural oestrogen products. Once again, I couldnt even be bothered to go to Holland and Barrett to find something soya related.

Is apathy a menopausal symptom?

Apathy and depression, mood swings plus all of the things you are already experiencing.

You don't have to go into Holland & Barratt, you could do what I do and buy your supplements online. Healthspan and Healthy Direct are tow other sites I use, often they are cheaper than Holland & Barratt too.HTH

I hung on to my Mirena for far too long. They may work for some, but, aided by fibroids, my periods got so heavy I was reluctant to leave the house unless I had to. Picture this - being at a launch event, having a flood and walking slowly across a crowded room, hoping to make it to the ladies before the blood running down my legs reached my ankles. Not a good look! I'm much better off without it.

Last year I experienced very heavy periods - one went on for nearly 4 weeka - very depressing and my cycle was all over the place. I've realised that I now havent had a period for a very long time - probably this year and am experiencing hot flushes and sweats (though not going com pletely red). I've not had any other side effects re depression etc so I guess that makes me menopausal? Not peri- because judging from your emails that would still mean having periods. Is that right? a bit perturbed since I'm 44 and wasn't expecting this stuff yet.

You aren't menopausal until one full year after your very last period- so you won't know until you look back!

I would recommend an excellent book which should answer every single question on meno- it's called Your Change, Your Choice, by Michael Dooley, an eminent gynae. he is lovely . he is my dr and he is very down to earth and caring. His book is a godsend to all meno women, as it sets out in great detail all the symptoms etc etc, but also the natural and HRT approach. ( and he's not paying me to write this!).

You might go on like this for a few years-and then stop altogether in 2-4 years- average age of meno is 51, but it can happen anytime after 45 for some women. my cycles started going a bit haywire at around 47- the odd ( once a year) longer bleeding cycle, then a short cycle now and then, but as 53 I am still having the occasional period.

I have had practically no meno symptoms and feel great! If you read my previous post on positive experiences, then you'll see what i mean. Why did I see my dr? For other gynae reasons.