Where have my periods gone?

[cjctcb]

They've been missing for 5 months now and counting.

I've been to the GP and had multiple blood tests as well as supplying urine and stool samples. All came back fine, inclusive of the blood test they do for womb cancer.

I'm awaiting a full scan to see how my ovaries are, as I've previously had cysts grow to the size of grapefruits which resulted in one ovary being removed, along with said cysts.

I've been INCREDIBLY bloated since my periods stopped, to the point where I genuinely look five/six months pregnant (I'm not). It's painful, I sometimes feel nauseous despite not really eating and tired all of the time. Additionally, I get all of the symptoms I would usually experience with my period - headaches, bad skin, pain during ovulation, but no bleed.

Has anyone had this before? It's really getting me down 😔 and making me feel like a balloon that's expanded as much as the body can give. I'm ready to pop!

How old are you?

Sorry, crucial information!

I recently turned 35

I'm wondering if you're going through peri-menopause. You're a bit young for it, but it is definitely not unheard of, especially given all of the other issues you've suffered with.

This is a great article about peri...

i.stuff.co.nz/life-style/well-good/teach-me/113666670/perimenopause-lead-up-to-menopause-very-uncomfortable-and-poorly-understood

Are you having any other symptoms/issues?

When is the scan of your ovaries? Hopefully that would rule out ovarian cancer which given your symptoms I would want ruling out. You are quite young for peri meno so if this is the case, you need to see your GP to see what precautions need to be taken. Having said all that, there are a number of benign conditions it could be or just could be your hormones playing havoc but I think you need stuff ruling out.

Thank you very much for sharing that article!

I had thought about early onset menopause but wasn't sure whether insane bloating and an incredibly uncomfortable stomach was part of that? When I say uncomfortable I mean it feels consistently rock hard and swollen. I'm fit and active as much as possible and eat healthily, so it's not a case of having just put on weight.

Other symptoms I can think of all link again to the time when I should be having my period. They include severe hot flushes, mood swings and increased anxiety

I should add you are young for OC so hopefully ok but would still want that properly ruled out.

Op, I started peri-menopause when I was about 43, I'm 47 now, and insane bloating was one of my biggest problems. Truly, my stomach looked and felt like I was pregnant. Also, after a lifetime of clockwork periods, they went mental and sometimes I wouldn't have one for 3 or 4 months. I'm on HRT now and it's been a total lifesaver.

If you are peri, you need HRT to protect your heart and bone health.

Another issue I had was horrific anxiety which I had NEVER had in my life. It literally came out of nowhere.

@Aquamarine1029 pleased to hear that HRT has helped you! It does sound as though quite a few of my symptoms are similar, though this isn't something the doctor has mentioned...yet. At the time was anything else mentioned in conjunction with your bloating? And did you find anything helped ease it? Or just the HRT?

@BarbarAnna OC has been ruled out after several blood tests thankfully, though hopefully a thorough scan will do this too. Unfortunately that isn't until the end of next month even though the appointment was made two months ago!

@cjctcb phew - very glad to hear that. Your post worried me after what happened to Twitter Queen. Hope you get some answers soon.