Is It Over Yet? The Perimenopause Thread
Replies
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Is It Over Yet? The Perimenopause Thread
52 ... and still ... nope.2 -
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I'm 46. My periods were regular about 18 months ago, then I went on the pill for 6 months. Since coming off (over a year ago) they have ranged from 43 days apart, to 19. My GP says its nothing to do with the pill and that I'm perimenopausal. Still, whenever I am over a week late, I can't help.but take a pregnancy test. Anyone get pregnant naturally after the age of 45 here?
My OH got a vasectomy 7 years ago. Best. Birth. Control. Ever!1 -
My last period was almost 3 weeks long. This time it's been almost 5 weeks with no end in sight. I've emailed and spoken to my GYN several times during this, and am annoyed that *I* had to be the one to suggest I take progesterone to make it stop. Yanno, one of us has a medical degree and the other has Google...
I'm anemic anyway and despite taking @ 400% RDA of iron between food and supplements am now feeling lightheaded after walking up stairs, etc. Emailed both my primary and GYN about this, and asked for iron levels to be tested. Interestingly, when my primary put in the order, she included an STD panel, which I thought was funny since I've been monogamous for 7 years, but I imagine other women might find extremely offensive.
I went to the VA to get my blood drawn (and give a urine sample, which was a surprise.) The campus had closed the secondary entrances and were stopping people after they came in the main entrance and asking about Covid symptoms. It was nice to see 100% correct mask usage within the facility.
When I last saw my GYN in March she was all doom and gloom, but she must see these unending periods as a sign that menopause is close, because today she expressed optimism at her ability to get me to menopause without having a hysterectomy.
I'm hoping this lightheadedness and bleeding tapers off soon as activity is crucial for my mental health anyway and right now it is swimming season, and I really want to get in the pond.0 -
kshama2001 wrote: »My last period was almost 3 weeks long. This time it's been almost 5 weeks with no end in sight. I've emailed and spoken to my GYN several times during this, and am annoyed that *I* had to be the one to suggest I take progesterone to make it stop. Yanno, one of us has a medical degree and the other has Google...
I'm anemic anyway and despite taking @ 400% RDA of iron between food and supplements am now feeling lightheaded after walking up stairs, etc. Emailed both my primary and GYN about this, and asked for iron levels to be tested. Interestingly, when my primary put in the order, she included an STD panel, which I thought was funny since I've been monogamous for 7 years, but I imagine other women might find extremely offensive.
I went to the VA to get my blood drawn (and give a urine sample, which was a surprise.) The campus had closed the secondary entrances and were stopping people after they came in the main entrance and asking about Covid symptoms. It was nice to see 100% correct mask usage within the facility.
When I last saw my GYN in March she was all doom and gloom, but she must see these unending periods as a sign that menopause is close, because today she expressed optimism at her ability to get me to menopause without having a hysterectomy.
I'm hoping this lightheadedness and bleeding tapers off soon as activity is crucial for my mental health anyway and right now it is swimming season, and I really want to get in the pond.
Ferritin results in - 1.7. Dr. suggested I go to an emergency room for an iron infusion, which they do not do at the VA campus near me.4 -
kshama2001 wrote: »
Haha. I'm 55 and still having periods irregularly. The longest I've gone is 166 days -- twice!! and the periods themselves are lighter. Every time I get past 100 days I'm hoping that is the end of it. I only get hot flashes in the summer, and right before the AC kicks on, so I'm always wondering, "Is it a hot FLASH, or is it just hot?"3 -
@L1zardQueen continuing our NovaSure Endometrial Ablation from the other thread here. I messaged my GYN about it and she replied,
"I think Novasure Endometrial Ablation is an excellent technique that can be used for women with abnormal bleeding. However, it can only be done in women who have a "normal endometrial cavity" - unfortunately, your fibroids are distorting your endometrial cavity as seen in your last MRI. Therefore, I do not think you are an appropriate candidate for Ablation.
Let me know if you would like to speak to the Interventional Radiology folks about a Uterine Artery Embolization."
My previous GYN suggested had UAE but I was turned off by reading the Adverse Effects: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uterine_artery_embolization#Adverse_effectsThe rate of serious complications is comparable to that of myomectomy or hysterectomy. The advantage of somewhat faster recovery time is offset by a higher rate of minor complications and an increased likelihood of requiring surgical intervention within two to five years of the initial procedure.[7]
Complications include the following:- Death from embolism, or sepsis (the presence of pus-forming or other pathogenic organisms, or their toxins, in the blood or tissues) resulting in multiple organ failure[10]
- Infection from tissue death of fibroids, leading to endometritis (infection of the uterus) resulting in lengthy hospitalization for administration of intravenous antibiotics[11]
- Misembolization from microspheres or polyvinyl alcohol particles flowing or drifting into organs or tissues where they were not intended to be, causing damage to other organs or other parts of the body[12]
- Ovarian damage resulting from embolic material migrating to the ovaries[citation needed]
- Loss of ovarian function, infertility,[13] and loss of orgasm[citation needed]
- Failure – continued fibroid growth, regrowth within four months[citation needed]
- Menopause – iatrogenic, abnormal, cessation of menstruation and follicle stimulating hormones elevated to menopausal levels[14]
- Post-embolization syndrome – characterized by acute and/or chronic pain, fevers, malaise, nausea, vomiting and severe night sweats; foul vaginal odor coming from infected, necrotic tissue which remains inside the uterus; hysterectomy due to infection, pain or failure of embolization[15]
- Severe, persistent pain, resulting in the need for morphine or synthetic narcotics[16]
- Hematoma, blood clot at the incision site; vaginal discharge containing pus and blood, bleeding from incision site, bleeding from vagina, fibroid expulsion (fibroids pushing out through the vagina), unsuccessful fibroid expulsion (fibroids trapped in the cervix causing infection and requiring surgical removal), life-threatening allergic reaction to the contrast material, and uterine adhesions[citation needed]
I was really excited about the NovaSure procedure
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Ah bummer, that stinks. @kshama2001
I had fibroids too. Twenty years ago, in order to get pregnant, my ob/gyn removed most of the fibroids I had but he could not get them all. After this, I did conceive through artificial insemination. Yay! Kiddo is almost 21 now.
But my cycles we becoming nightmares. Not being able to leave the house or getting caught out when I did leave for anything length of time. I have many horror stories regarding my periods.
So when I was about 40, my doctor ordered a colonoscopy. She was looking for cause of my severe anemia. I guess she never thought to ask me about my periods. Even if she did I thought my periods were just heavy, but looking back, there was nothing heavy about them. Lol
When I finally had NoveSure done, the surgeon said he got 90% of the lining but could not get the last 10% because of the lingering fibroids. And because of that I still had cycles but they were unbelievably better. I guess having fibroids will make a difference in outcome.
Hugs, sweetie, I hope you get some relief soon.2 -
So much of what I am reading in this trhead this resonates. The last two or three years I had periods it seems to be two weeks on (and really heavy bleeding, like being a teenager again), one week off. My iron/feratin levels were in the basement. I had fibroids, and cysts (which burst)... I finally stopped having periods in the summer of 2018, when I was 54 (and 1/2). I need to book a checkup with my gynae once that is allowed again, but overall menopause has treated me well (few hot flushes or sleep issues, though my brain feels a bit foggy). I would say that I feel feel miles better now than I did two years ago, apart from a decided spare tyre... but that is starting to shift now I am back on mfp and logging food again.3
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Well, I learned something new in the menopause symptoms department: frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/frozen-shoulder/symptoms-causes/syc-20372684
Orthopedic surgeon said it is triggered by hormone imbalance: insulin (diabetes), thyroid (hypo- or hyper) or menopause (!). He said most of his patients are postmenopausal women. I'm not, but I'm hoping to reach the 1-year mark within a year. 166 days is my longest stretch, and I'm presently approaching that for the 3rd time. Bright spot is nothing is torn or requires surgery, but it is very painful and takes 1-2 years to be back to normal. So depressing. Ceased all strength training 2 months ago. Have dozens of tedious exercises for it, and they HURT. Inflamed ligaments deep in the joint won't stretch, and that is what restricts range of motion. The only thing that speeds recovery, he says, is a steroid shot deep in the joint. That sounds pretty unpleasant, too. It's my next step if insufficient progress after 2 month of exercises. I asked if there were other joints that experience ligament "freezing" due to hormone imbalance, and he said no. He is a shoulder specialist, though.
Anyone else experience this?0 -
Pre can start as early as age 28 and Post can end at the age of 38. It varies with genetics, etc. My grandmother had twins at the age of 44, boy was she surprised after having 10 other children. Our mileage will always vary.
Frozen shoulders. Very interesting. I'll share this with the neighbor man over yonder who's hiding out in his shop. He's suffering with the cold shoulder as his wife is taking a pause from men. She's mid headed towards full stop.
Thanks for sharing.2 -
I love my GPs common sense Earlier this year I was diagnosed with IBS and I am perimenopausal. I am still working around my IBS and though I am doing well I am still very much learning the signals and my triggers.
When I had my annual contraception pill check and told het that my mum had her last period at 56 She just looked at me and said "Keep that pill going for a year longer You first need to be rebalance your bowels and then we can discuss the next imbalance".
Phew that is a relief to have a GP with common sense.4 -
2 years ago the hot flashes started and freaking 15 lb gain & bellyfat. (My nutrition/exercise was ok, so I do believe gain was from menopausal symptoms)
It's been a battle and between broken leg and covid I'm still trying to change body comp.
It's freaking annoying but whatever..just can't wait to not have to buy feminine hygiene products, but my luck I'll need bladder shields 🙄
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Well, I learned something new in the menopause symptoms department: frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/frozen-shoulder/symptoms-causes/syc-20372684
Orthopedic surgeon said it is triggered by hormone imbalance: insulin (diabetes), thyroid (hypo- or hyper) or menopause (!). He said most of his patients are postmenopausal women. I'm not, but I'm hoping to reach the 1-year mark within a year. 166 days is my longest stretch, and I'm presently approaching that for the 3rd time. Bright spot is nothing is torn or requires surgery, but it is very painful and takes 1-2 years to be back to normal. So depressing. Ceased all strength training 2 months ago. Have dozens of tedious exercises for it, and they HURT. Inflamed ligaments deep in the joint won't stretch, and that is what restricts range of motion. The only thing that speeds recovery, he says, is a steroid shot deep in the joint. That sounds pretty unpleasant, too. It's my next step if insufficient progress after 2 month of exercises. I asked if there were other joints that experience ligament "freezing" due to hormone imbalance, and he said no. He is a shoulder specialist, though.
Anyone else experience this?
Not sure if related, but I've had golfer's elbow for two years in December 1 -
Still no signs of menopause. I'm 54. My sister, who is two years younger, started having hot flashes two years ago and has not had a period for eight months.
Anyone have the uterine artery embolization procedure for fibroids? I had a consult with a radiologist and towards the end he said, "Or you could just wait for menopause." It has to be close!
I don't want a hysterectomy and every time I read about the possible adverse effects of UAE I don't want that either. All the doctor could tell me about the possibility of those happening was "less than 1%." I'd like more clarity on that 1 in 101 is a lot different from 1 in 10,000 or 100,000.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uterine_artery_embolization#Adverse_effects3 -
Well, I learned something new in the menopause symptoms department: frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/frozen-shoulder/symptoms-causes/syc-20372684
Orthopedic surgeon said it is triggered by hormone imbalance: insulin (diabetes), thyroid (hypo- or hyper) or menopause (!). He said most of his patients are postmenopausal women. I'm not, but I'm hoping to reach the 1-year mark within a year. 166 days is my longest stretch, and I'm presently approaching that for the 3rd time. Bright spot is nothing is torn or requires surgery, but it is very painful and takes 1-2 years to be back to normal. So depressing. Ceased all strength training 2 months ago. Have dozens of tedious exercises for it, and they HURT. Inflamed ligaments deep in the joint won't stretch, and that is what restricts range of motion. The only thing that speeds recovery, he says, is a steroid shot deep in the joint. That sounds pretty unpleasant, too. It's my next step if insufficient progress after 2 month of exercises. I asked if there were other joints that experience ligament "freezing" due to hormone imbalance, and he said no. He is a shoulder specialist, though.
Anyone else experience this?
I also experienced frozen shoulder at menopause - started when I was 49 and lasted about 2 years. First shoulder froze completely and was excruciatingly painful (I’ve had 2 herniated discs and three 10 lb babies and this was the worst) and did loads of therapy. I honestly think it was just time that helped. By the time I got to the specialist that shoulder was already thawing and the other one was starting to freeze. I had three cortisone shots in the second one and it never froze completely like the first one - I still needed physio on it though. I am now 55 and have close to 100 % mobility, just a slight imbalance. If it is early enough the cortisone can help. (Idk of it is too late I know this is an older post just saw it).2 -
TWell, I learned something new in the menopause symptoms department: frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/frozen-shoulder/symptoms-causes/syc-20372684
Orthopedic surgeon said it is triggered by hormone imbalance: insulin (diabetes), thyroid (hypo- or hyper) or menopause (!). He said most of his patients are postmenopausal women. I'm not, but I'm hoping to reach the 1-year mark within a year. 166 days is my longest stretch, and I'm presently approaching that for the 3rd time. Bright spot is nothing is torn or requires surgery, but it is very painful and takes 1-2 years to be back to normal. So depressing. Ceased all strength training 2 months ago. Have dozens of tedious exercises for it, and they HURT. Inflamed ligaments deep in the joint won't stretch, and that is what restricts range of motion. The only thing that speeds recovery, he says, is a steroid shot deep in the joint. That sounds pretty unpleasant, too. It's my next step if insufficient progress after 2 month of exercises. I asked if there were other joints that experience ligament "freezing" due to hormone imbalance, and he said no. He is a shoulder specialist, though.
Anyone else experience this?
I also experienced frozen shoulder at menopause - started when I was 49 and lasted about 2 years. First shoulder froze completely and was excruciatingly painful (I’ve had 2 herniated discs and three 10 lb babies and this was the worst) and did loads of therapy. I honestly think it was just time that helped. By the time I got to the specialist that shoulder was already thawing and the other one was starting to freeze. I had three cortisone shots in the second one and it never froze completely like the first one - I still needed physio on it though. I am now 55 and have close to 100 % mobility, just a slight imbalance. If it is early enough the cortisone can help. (Idk of it is too late I know this is an older post just saw it).
Thanks for commenting and you have my sympathy for having it in BOTH shoulders. So glad it resolved for you. Mine did too! The exercises were pretty awful but they did the trick in about 6 months. Soooo grateful for that. Interesting perspective on comparative pain.0 -
kshama2001 wrote: »Still no signs of menopause. I'm 54. My sister, who is two years younger, started having hot flashes two years ago and has not had a period for eight months.
Are you sure?
What Are The 34 Symptoms of Menopause?
https://mpoweredwomen.net/medical/what-are-the-34-symptoms-of-menopause/
I've been in perimenopause since my early 40s. I turn 54 next month. So ... probably about 12 years now. In that time I've gone through several phases. I didn't understand some of the early phases because I was looking for the most common symptoms like hot flashes and I wasn't experiencing much if any of them. If I had understood what was going on, those years would have been easier.
It really wasn't until I reached about 50 before I started having hot flashes ... and haven't stopped since.
Although even the article I linked to says, "Irregular periods are among the earlier symptoms of perimenopause in most women." but what they don't say is that in the early years, your 28-day periods might start coming every 21 days or even more frequently. In the middle they go all wonky and finally later you start missing several months of periods only to have them start again.
In the last year I went 8 months with no periods and figured I was finally well on my way ... and then I had a full, long period in October. Now it has been 4 months without and I'm hoping this is finally it and I'll go another 8 months without. But who knows.
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kshama2001 wrote: »Still no signs of menopause. I'm 54. My sister, who is two years younger, started having hot flashes two years ago and has not had a period for eight months.
Are you sure?
What Are The 34 Symptoms of Menopause?
https://mpoweredwomen.net/medical/what-are-the-34-symptoms-of-menopause/
I've been in perimenopause since my early 40s. I turn 54 next month. So ... probably about 12 years now. In that time I've gone through several phases. I didn't understand some of the early phases because I was looking for the most common symptoms like hot flashes and I wasn't experiencing much if any of them. If I had understood what was going on, those years would have been easier.
It really wasn't until I reached about 50 before I started having hot flashes ... and haven't stopped since.
Although even the article I linked to says, "Irregular periods are among the earlier symptoms of perimenopause in most women." but what they don't say is that in the early years, your 28-day periods might start coming every 21 days or even more frequently. In the middle they go all wonky and finally later you start missing several months of periods only to have them start again.
In the last year I went 8 months with no periods and figured I was finally well on my way ... and then I had a full, long period in October. Now it has been 4 months without and I'm hoping this is finally it and I'll go another 8 months without. But who knows.
How old are you now?
I do have some of those symptoms, but I think the anxiety was more likely caused by COVID, losing my job, and the uncertainty about unemployment benefits, and the hair loss to my big anemia episode last summer plus the aforementioned stress, etc.
My periods are the most regular they've been in my life, lol. There was a change though - for decades they used to be more like 5-6 weeks apart, and are now very close if not exactly 28 days apart.
What I mean is I don't have any of the "can only be explained by menopause" symptoms like hot flashes, missing periods (in the absence of undereating, which is not a thing for me, lol), and FSH level increases.0 -
kshama2001 wrote: »kshama2001 wrote: »Still no signs of menopause. I'm 54. My sister, who is two years younger, started having hot flashes two years ago and has not had a period for eight months.
Are you sure?
What Are The 34 Symptoms of Menopause?
https://mpoweredwomen.net/medical/what-are-the-34-symptoms-of-menopause/
I've been in perimenopause since my early 40s. I turn 54 next month. So ... probably about 12 years now. In that time I've gone through several phases. I didn't understand some of the early phases because I was looking for the most common symptoms like hot flashes and I wasn't experiencing much if any of them. If I had understood what was going on, those years would have been easier.
It really wasn't until I reached about 50 before I started having hot flashes ... and haven't stopped since.
Although even the article I linked to says, "Irregular periods are among the earlier symptoms of perimenopause in most women." but what they don't say is that in the early years, your 28-day periods might start coming every 21 days or even more frequently. In the middle they go all wonky and finally later you start missing several months of periods only to have them start again.
In the last year I went 8 months with no periods and figured I was finally well on my way ... and then I had a full, long period in October. Now it has been 4 months without and I'm hoping this is finally it and I'll go another 8 months without. But who knows.
How old are you now?
I do have some of those symptoms, but I think the anxiety was more likely caused by COVID, losing my job, and the uncertainty about unemployment benefits, and the hair loss to my big anemia episode last summer plus the aforementioned stress, etc.
My periods are the most regular they've been in my life, lol. There was a change though - for decades they used to be more like 5-6 weeks apart, and are now very close if not exactly 28 days apart.
What I mean is I don't have any of the "can only be explained by menopause" symptoms like hot flashes, missing periods (in the absence of undereating, which is not a thing for me, lol), and FSH level increases.
I'm 52 and have never had a hot flash or missed a period, but have recently gone from a set-your-clock-by-it 28 days my whole life to 3 weeks and have been living in a mental & emotional fog. We should probably start referring to it as the "menopause spectrum".
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kshama2001 wrote: »kshama2001 wrote: »Still no signs of menopause. I'm 54. My sister, who is two years younger, started having hot flashes two years ago and has not had a period for eight months.
Are you sure?
What Are The 34 Symptoms of Menopause?
https://mpoweredwomen.net/medical/what-are-the-34-symptoms-of-menopause/
I've been in perimenopause since my early 40s. I turn 54 next month. So ... probably about 12 years now. In that time I've gone through several phases. I didn't understand some of the early phases because I was looking for the most common symptoms like hot flashes and I wasn't experiencing much if any of them. If I had understood what was going on, those years would have been easier.
It really wasn't until I reached about 50 before I started having hot flashes ... and haven't stopped since.
Although even the article I linked to says, "Irregular periods are among the earlier symptoms of perimenopause in most women." but what they don't say is that in the early years, your 28-day periods might start coming every 21 days or even more frequently. In the middle they go all wonky and finally later you start missing several months of periods only to have them start again.
In the last year I went 8 months with no periods and figured I was finally well on my way ... and then I had a full, long period in October. Now it has been 4 months without and I'm hoping this is finally it and I'll go another 8 months without. But who knows.
How old are you now?
I do have some of those symptoms, but I think the anxiety was more likely caused by COVID, losing my job, and the uncertainty about unemployment benefits, and the hair loss to my big anemia episode last summer plus the aforementioned stress, etc.
My periods are the most regular they've been in my life, lol. There was a change though - for decades they used to be more like 5-6 weeks apart, and are now very close if not exactly 28 days apart.
What I mean is I don't have any of the "can only be explained by menopause" symptoms like hot flashes, missing periods (in the absence of undereating, which is not a thing for me, lol), and FSH level increases.
I'm 54 ... as above it does seem to be a menopause spectrum.
I've had hot flashes since my early 30s. I'm not convinced they can only be explained by menopause.1 -
Well, I learned something new in the menopause symptoms department: frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/frozen-shoulder/symptoms-causes/syc-20372684
Orthopedic surgeon said it is triggered by hormone imbalance: insulin (diabetes), thyroid (hypo- or hyper) or menopause (!). He said most of his patients are postmenopausal women. I'm not, but I'm hoping to reach the 1-year mark within a year. 166 days is my longest stretch, and I'm presently approaching that for the 3rd time. Bright spot is nothing is torn or requires surgery, but it is very painful and takes 1-2 years to be back to normal. So depressing. Ceased all strength training 2 months ago. Have dozens of tedious exercises for it, and they HURT. Inflamed ligaments deep in the joint won't stretch, and that is what restricts range of motion. The only thing that speeds recovery, he says, is a steroid shot deep in the joint. That sounds pretty unpleasant, too. It's my next step if insufficient progress after 2 month of exercises. I asked if there were other joints that experience ligament "freezing" due to hormone imbalance, and he said no. He is a shoulder specialist, though.
Anyone else experience this?
I am sorry I didn't see this post sooner.
I've had my first frozen shoulder at the age of 40, which is 10 years ago. The therapy then was cortisone injections to deal with most pain and then PT. That therapy hurt so bad, I sometimes was on the verge of passing out.
Now last year, age 50 I started to have the other shoulder to hurt like *** and I immediately knew what it was. I went to a shoulder surgeon who gave me two cortisone shots that did more damage than anything, nothing compared to the ones I got 10 years ago. I finally went to another surgeon (with a top notch reputation) and by then the worst pains were subsiding and therefore he was not pro for a third cortisone shot. He also told me that PT makes the whole thing worse as it tears the frozen ligaments apart and then they will take more time to heal. This confirmed what I already thought 10 years ago, that PT made it worse, not better.
By now, almost a year in (yes, confinement AND frozen shoulder makes a great combo
) and my shoulder is in full freeze but with the pain almost gone.
The second surgeon wanted to have my blood tested, but no diabetes, no thyriod probs and still a long way away from menopause.
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kshama2001 wrote: »kshama2001 wrote: »Still no signs of menopause. I'm 54. My sister, who is two years younger, started having hot flashes two years ago and has not had a period for eight months.
Are you sure?
What Are The 34 Symptoms of Menopause?
https://mpoweredwomen.net/medical/what-are-the-34-symptoms-of-menopause/
I've been in perimenopause since my early 40s. I turn 54 next month. So ... probably about 12 years now. In that time I've gone through several phases. I didn't understand some of the early phases because I was looking for the most common symptoms like hot flashes and I wasn't experiencing much if any of them. If I had understood what was going on, those years would have been easier.
It really wasn't until I reached about 50 before I started having hot flashes ... and haven't stopped since.
Although even the article I linked to says, "Irregular periods are among the earlier symptoms of perimenopause in most women." but what they don't say is that in the early years, your 28-day periods might start coming every 21 days or even more frequently. In the middle they go all wonky and finally later you start missing several months of periods only to have them start again.
In the last year I went 8 months with no periods and figured I was finally well on my way ... and then I had a full, long period in October. Now it has been 4 months without and I'm hoping this is finally it and I'll go another 8 months without. But who knows.
How old are you now?
I do have some of those symptoms, but I think the anxiety was more likely caused by COVID, losing my job, and the uncertainty about unemployment benefits, and the hair loss to my big anemia episode last summer plus the aforementioned stress, etc.
My periods are the most regular they've been in my life, lol. There was a change though - for decades they used to be more like 5-6 weeks apart, and are now very close if not exactly 28 days apart.
What I mean is I don't have any of the "can only be explained by menopause" symptoms like hot flashes, missing periods (in the absence of undereating, which is not a thing for me, lol), and FSH level increases.
A few other things ...
Possibly my first symptom was irritability ... flying off into rages and overreacting to things. I didn't know what was going on. Now that I think back, it was like how I was in my teens when everything started and the hormones were going wild.
About the same time, I started being dizzy for a couple days before my period started. Once they started, the dizziness went away. Evidently that was another symptom, but I didn't know it at the time.
Missing periods has been one of the last things on the list I've experienced!1 -
Reading the thread and seeing the discussion on vertigo answered a bit why that came up suddenly last year. When I started googling that and another symptom MS was the google answer.
Peri makes a bit more sense for me. Cycles have been all over the place the last 2 years. Had spotting at ovulation and now it's the phantom periods with the waiting if something would actually happen that month. Having the bloating with no release is a pain.
My mom didn't know when hers really started as she did hormones early and ended after but it's approximately within my age now. She and her mother never discussed so she didn't know for her mother.
I'm 44.1 -
kshama2001 wrote: »kshama2001 wrote: »Still no signs of menopause. I'm 54. My sister, who is two years younger, started having hot flashes two years ago and has not had a period for eight months.
Are you sure?
What Are The 34 Symptoms of Menopause?
https://mpoweredwomen.net/medical/what-are-the-34-symptoms-of-menopause/
I've been in perimenopause since my early 40s. I turn 54 next month. So ... probably about 12 years now. In that time I've gone through several phases. I didn't understand some of the early phases because I was looking for the most common symptoms like hot flashes and I wasn't experiencing much if any of them. If I had understood what was going on, those years would have been easier.
It really wasn't until I reached about 50 before I started having hot flashes ... and haven't stopped since.
Although even the article I linked to says, "Irregular periods are among the earlier symptoms of perimenopause in most women." but what they don't say is that in the early years, your 28-day periods might start coming every 21 days or even more frequently. In the middle they go all wonky and finally later you start missing several months of periods only to have them start again.
In the last year I went 8 months with no periods and figured I was finally well on my way ... and then I had a full, long period in October. Now it has been 4 months without and I'm hoping this is finally it and I'll go another 8 months without. But who knows.
How old are you now?
I do have some of those symptoms, but I think the anxiety was more likely caused by COVID, losing my job, and the uncertainty about unemployment benefits, and the hair loss to my big anemia episode last summer plus the aforementioned stress, etc.
My periods are the most regular they've been in my life, lol. There was a change though - for decades they used to be more like 5-6 weeks apart, and are now very close if not exactly 28 days apart.
What I mean is I don't have any of the "can only be explained by menopause" symptoms like hot flashes, missing periods (in the absence of undereating, which is not a thing for me, lol), and FSH level increases.
I'm 52 and have never had a hot flash or missed a period, but have recently gone from a set-your-clock-by-it 28 days my whole life to 3 weeks and have been living in a mental & emotional fog. We should probably start referring to it as the "menopause spectrum".
This was true for me too -- the going from very predictable 28-day cycle to 21-days. I don't remember the fog part
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Antiopelle wrote: »Well, I learned something new in the menopause symptoms department: frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/frozen-shoulder/symptoms-causes/syc-20372684
Orthopedic surgeon said it is triggered by hormone imbalance: insulin (diabetes), thyroid (hypo- or hyper) or menopause (!). He said most of his patients are postmenopausal women. I'm not, but I'm hoping to reach the 1-year mark within a year. 166 days is my longest stretch, and I'm presently approaching that for the 3rd time. Bright spot is nothing is torn or requires surgery, but it is very painful and takes 1-2 years to be back to normal. So depressing. Ceased all strength training 2 months ago. Have dozens of tedious exercises for it, and they HURT. Inflamed ligaments deep in the joint won't stretch, and that is what restricts range of motion. The only thing that speeds recovery, he says, is a steroid shot deep in the joint. That sounds pretty unpleasant, too. It's my next step if insufficient progress after 2 month of exercises. I asked if there were other joints that experience ligament "freezing" due to hormone imbalance, and he said no. He is a shoulder specialist, though.
Anyone else experience this?
I am sorry I didn't see this post sooner.
I've had my first frozen shoulder at the age of 40, which is 10 years ago. The therapy then was cortisone injections to deal with most pain and then PT. That therapy hurt so bad, I sometimes was on the verge of passing out.
Now last year, age 50 I started to have the other shoulder to hurt like *** and I immediately knew what it was. I went to a shoulder surgeon who gave me two cortisone shots that did more damage than anything, nothing compared to the ones I got 10 years ago. I finally went to another surgeon (with a top notch reputation) and by then the worst pains were subsiding and therefore he was not pro for a third cortisone shot. He also told me that PT makes the whole thing worse as it tears the frozen ligaments apart and then they will take more time to heal. This confirmed what I already thought 10 years ago, that PT made it worse, not better.
By now, almost a year in (yes, confinement AND frozen shoulder makes a great combo ) and my shoulder is in full freeze but with the pain almost gone.
The second surgeon wanted to have my blood tested, but no diabetes, no thyriod probs and still a long way away from menopause.
Isn't it the worst? I would some days just sit on the couch and cry from the pain. I used to go to the "massage" appointment which was torture, then it would start to calm down after a couple of days, and by then the anxiety of having to go to the next appointment would start. I honestly wouldn't wish it on anyone. Cortisone did help with my second shoulder though, it never froze completely like the first one.
If it ever happened to me again I think I would just wait it out and let it run it's course. The first time the need to "do something" had me going to physio, massage, chiro and anyone else who I thought might help. I doubt it sped up my recovery at all. Just cost me a lot of pain and $$$1 -
FWIW, my shoulder surgeon said he did not have good results with patients in his practice who had PT vs. those who did prescribed exercises gently on their own (which still hurt like a *kitten*). He was happy to prescribe PT, but he said it made patients cry and did not speed recovery compared to patients who did prescribed exercises on their own.3
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FWIW, my shoulder surgeon said he did not have good results with patients in his practice who had PT vs. those who did prescribed exercises gently on their own (which still hurt like a *kitten*). He was happy to prescribe PT, but he said it made patients cry and did not speed recovery compared to patients who did prescribed exercises on their own.
Indeed, my new surgeon said the same thing. I am now waiting it out without PT and I have a much better feeling about it.2 -
So I'm in a very weird place.
Specifically, it's called perimenopause.
I feel like this category warrants its own thread, since technically, we have not achieved menopause (12 months without a period) but we never know what's going to happen, when...and we only loosely why. (Or is that just me?)
So, who's on board? Get on the peri train, woot! Here's the haps with this old bird. I am 49, have been in ovarian failure for I believe seven years now per labs but my periods only began to go wonky two years ago. Before that, I was like clockwork including ovulation signs so who the kitten knows. I assume it is basically cobwebs in there by now with some mummified Knight Templar propped up against one ovary or something, and yet...the periods just keep on coming. But...weirdly. Two in a month, nothing for a couple months, long, short, whatever.
I am currently on my longest cycle ever - 90 days (I track on fertility friend).
Is it over yet? Will it ever be over? Who knows...in the meantime...shout out if you're peri!
Nooo 49 is not old!!!! 🌻
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I’m 45 and have been in peri for at least the past 5 years. My cycles shortened to 21 days, then every 2 weeks, then I had a super long 2+ week period and now nothing for the past 2 months (with exception of minor spotting). I’m praying it’s the end or that they will at least start the creep to being further apart.1
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