I am 36 and I am menopausal, will I get a hairy chin (and other questions about early menopause)

[ranting]

Got my blood test back from the docs yesterday and I am apparently in the menopause!!

After getting over with shock, she then tells me that the flooding that I was experiencing the year before I had dd could have been the start and that was 6 years ago. I have probably been perimenopausal for 6 bloody years.

I thought this wouldn't happen for at least the next 15 years, I feel a bit robbed and I don't even want anymore children.

I can't be the only one here who is going through this early, so please tell me your experiences of the early menopause.

I'm currently awaiting my blood results on hormone levels-my gp thinks I'm peri-menopausal (I had a hysterectomy last year due to ultra heavy and painful periods and now they think my retained ovaries have given up the ghost).The last 6-8 weeks I've been on planet moron-forgetting names/appointments,angry,moody,spotty,hot/cold,night sweats and zilch libido (high and healthy drive beforehand )

I'm 32

I'm and feeling a little lost,ancient and shit really.

I've been put on oestrogen pessaries and I'm waiting to see if I need HRT-due back at gp's next week -groan,I have a image of me transforming into my grandmother over night!

Oh and my chin has to have a daily plucking regime

PW, you have described how I feel about the whole situation, including the libido thing, far more accurately than I originally did.

Really sorry to hear you too and that much younger than me aswell, are the hot flushes driving you mad aswell? I was up 6 times last nights with the sweats.

Hmm yep-first thing that happened was the night sweats.At first I thought the duvet tog was too high,or wearing too much in bed (vest and knicker set (hmm))or even nightmares-silly me,just farking night sweats, wasn't it! My sleep is SOOOOO disturbed-I wake sweating at least once a night on a good night...4 times on a bad one.

Has your gp suggested HRT yet? Mine is pushing it as of my early age and all the risks that occur with that (groan).I go in for my blood results tomorrow and I'm bloody dreading it..like the nail in the coffin.

I'm unsure of what to take or what will suit me.I'm still reeling from all the symptoms.Dh is feeling sorry for himself too (grin) although he's been a utter star during my past few self absorbed weeks.

Here's to a sweat free night!

Any news PW? How did you get on today?

I've got to go back after I've researched my options, apparently I have to make an appointment to talk to the doc about 'managing my menopause' Dh asked if I'm going to do my share of the HW this week, I told him, 'not right now dear, I'm managing my menopause'

The doc did say that HRT is not the only option and to have a look into all the options, trouble is I went and had a look at a couple of menopause sites and scared the shit out of myself. Apparently I/we can look forward to oestoporisis and teeth getting weaker, not to mention all the other associated pitfalls.

God, night sweats and disturbed sleep - what joy! On a serious note though, you should ask for a baseline bone density scan which should be repeated in a few years to see if your bone density is being affected or not.

Re HRT I decided, after much soul searching, to take a low dose form (femiston 2/10) - at least until I'm 50ish (was first diagnosed with menopause at 38, then fell pregnant and then started menopausal symptoms when my dts were about one year old).

like you I was terrified (still am in some ways) but at least the brain fog and night sweats are abating or greatly reduced and my mood swings are a thing of the past!

Well,my results aren't off the scale-hormones are within 'ok' range but she did say they can fluctuate from test to test-so I'm gonna stick with my oestrogen pessaries(they stop me squeaking when I walk )and ride it out until I really really need HRT.I'm scared of the side effects of HRT tbh,and it would mean taking it for another 20 yrs.

I'm really interested in maybe managing 'it' by diet,worth a go eh?

Oh ranting,I made the same mistake of frightening myself silly,I'm refraining from reading meno sites/forums.Dh got some library books out on 'it'(educating himself on what he's in for!),but just seeing them lying around with ds's craptoys made me feel depressed.

{sigh}

Get yourself on HRT girl! you need it for your bones and there is no real risk taking it up to the age of normal meno- ie 51-52.

I am 53 and have been on it for 3 months mainly for bad sleeping patterns and hot flushes- not so bad, but embarrassing at work.

PW, the hormone levels can fluctuate though, so I've read, so maybe go back and ask for another test at some point.

After reading the advice of KDK and HF, (thanks ladies) I am considering the HRT option, simply because of the osteoporisis, which worries me tbh. I'm going to book an appt with my usual doc next week and go through it with her.

At last a thread which may be able to help me!!
I have had long heavy periods since the birth of my last baby 6 years ago.The last 2 years have been hell.
I,ve had a Laparoscopy,Hysteroscopy and the Mirena fitted twice.
Initially the Mirena coil worked reducing my blood flow by 99.9% .....result!
But it has come out twice now,and the severe back pain I get in the weeks before it comes out has made me decide that perhaps the coil isnt right for me.
I asked the doctor if I was starting with the early Menopause and he laughed saying I was much too young.I am 37.
My Mum suffered with very heavy periods and was told although in most women their periods stop,in some cases they can increase greatly before they do eventually stop....
I thought perhaps this may be the case for me?
Although,I dont have night sweats...I am always hot {havent worn a jumper in 6 years} I have NO sex drive whatsoever,itch all over my back head and neck.
One result from my blood tests was that I wasnt producing enough Progesterone.....
Some have recommended Depo Vera,but I have high blood pressure too and wondered how safe it was?
Is the Depo progesterone only?
I think it may be the oestrogen which worsens my blood pressure...
I am desperate now.Coil came out last Wednesday and I am still flooding ,losing large clots.....{sorry tmi} I dont want to become anaemic again..
any suggestions?
ps; I really dont think I,m ready for uterine ablation or a Hysterectomy just yet.

Evenmoremis, first off the Depo is progesterone, I was on it for a while but I had quite bad side effects after a couple of years, so came off it and I am now on Mirena.

I had flooding, like you seem to be experiencing, six weeks bleeding and a couple of weeks off, about 6/7 years ago, so was 30 at the time. I kept going back to the docs and they tried investigating it (this went on for about a year) and as they could find nothing, they put me on the pill, which seemed to solve the problem, until I came off pill and conceived dd, after I had her, I went back to the 'bleed for bloody weeks' bit, until they put me on the Mirena which has stopped all my periods.

Because of the night sweats and hot flushes (and lack of libido) I went to see the doc and she suggested a blood test to check my hormone levels as she suspected I might be having an early menopause, she was right. She also said that she suspects that the constant bleeding was the beginning, as flooding can happen during the perimenopause/menopause.

Menopause before the age of 45 is called premature menopause and it is fairly rare (affects something like 1% of women) but your doc is wrong, you can have the menopause at your age, actually my doc did say that she had seen an 18 year old who was menopausal. I think you need to see another doctor and get a second opinion, I completely sympathise because you know yourself when something's not completely right with your own body and it's irritating in the extreme when people dismiss it as just one of those things. Which the first doc did with me.

Been to the docs today and booked in for the Depo in 2 weeks.I mentioned the lack of progesterone and asked if I could be starting with the Menopause...he point blank said no.I didnt mention my other symptoms as I was there for my sinusitis too,and didnt want him to think I was hypochondriac!
I,ve got amoxicillin for that,ramapril for my high Blood pressure,hismanal for allergies.....I,m gonna be rattling when I walk!
I feel utterly wretched.
I was ok on the pill years ago [apart from high blood pressure} so am hoping the Depo wont turn me skitso either {sorry spelling crap}
I am still bleeding after nearly 2 weeks now.I wish I could still have the Mirena...it worked well for me till it came out
its like 3 steps forward 2 steps back
thanks for 'listening ' to me whinge and for your knowledge

If I were you, I would not go taking/having any more hormones of any kind until you have had a full range of blood tests to check your thyroid and your hormone levels. Low thyroid can cause all kinds of period probs as well as dry skin and low energy- such as your itching and dry scalp etc.

You can book yourself into a menopause clinic- there are dozens all over the country- just google- and talk to experts .

Age of meno does run in families but having said that I have 2 friends whose mums both had meno at 39 ish and yet my friends are still not there at 50+.

ooh thats good to know,thanks...
I had my bloods done at the doctors but they only tested it for thyroid,calcium,iron etc....not hormones...
which is what I asked for!

are these DIY tests reliable,do you know?
and how much are they about?

The tests you buy OTC are accurate BUT I doubt if they give as much info as having it done at the drs. I have had my bloods done twice this year; they show the levels of all your hormones, not just the FSH ( follicle stimulating hormone- the one which is high when you approach meno). I doubt if the OTC test will show your levels of oestrodiol and progesterone.

also, your hormone levels can fluctuate from one week to the next- my 1st test showed I was menopausal,( through the menopause) but then I went on to have 2 more periods over the next couple of months, and I had all the usual PMT signs etc etc. So tests just show the levels on that day- you really need to test 2-3 times over a month, or longer.

You might have to push your dr for these tests and for them to be repeated,as a 1-off isn't reliable.
I seem my gynae privately, so if more tests etc are needed it's not an issue of cost ( insurance pays) and he does what is needed.

thanks for that
I,ve just bought a menopause test today,but I will wait until I finish my antibiotics first.
I have just had the most awful rage at my kids today.....{feel very guilty now}
I,m not fit for anything at the moment.
hubby has buggered off fishing for the weekend.Why are men so selfish.
I think I,ll bugger off one day...for good

Poshwellies, Have the pessaries helped. I have been started on them and am keen to know how long it takes for them to become effective

bump for poshwellies

Oops didn't see you there

Been on mine just under a month,2 weeks with a pessary every night-there was a marked difference imo.My gp told me from then on in (pardon the pun) to use them as and when I feel I need to,I've used 2 this week but feel I could up that.

Not making much difference sensitivity wise at the moment (which is making me and frustrated)but I'm certainly not as squeaky as before (it was getting v. painful actually).

Hope it helps norks

Forget to say that my gp has put me on them for 3 months.

Thanks for that, it is the dryness and pain that I have been prescribed it for , so fingers crossed

hi ladies - just joined today and looking for a bit of advice. my son was born oct 06, and since then have been regular( though quite heavy at times) then this month, was due on 08/12, and still nothing. hubby has had the snip, so i know i cant be pg - so i was wondering if this is the start of the change? im 42, so i thought i was slightly too young for that, but reading some of your comments on here - maybe im not. ive had no other symptoms that are not normal for me (im always bad tempered, so say my husband and children lol)but it all seemed to stop so suddenly - i thought it was a gradual process over a couple of years.

thanks in advance for any advice you can offer x

Maybe you should start another fresh post for this as it is going to get lost in the OP one here?

I think you are jumping to conclusion! Being 2 weeks late at 42, or any age- is not unusual- it might be a one-off for all kinds of reasons- stress, illness etc etc.

It is quite common for periods to become irregular over as much as 10 years- I think I was about 47/48 when I began to have one odd cycle per month- then had my last ( maybe?) at 53.

Keep track of your cycles and if you miss any altogether and have any other symptoms, see your GP and request a blood test.

Well I was the original OP and you're welcome to hijack the thread any way you see fit, if you want to use it as a thread for those going through early menopause, this is fine with me.

As you were.