Any young peri-menopausers out there?

2

Replies

  • tlrcwr
    tlrcwr Posts: 12 Member
    Hi! Just joined this group. I turned 39 in April and it feels like a switch has been flipped. I've gained 4 lbs in a month - it's ridiculous, and my period is coming every 23 days for the last several months. Nothing I do affects it, and it's getting depressing. I am due for a visit to the obgyn in August, and I'm going to pursue the testing to see what's going on, but I'm pretty dang sure based on all of the symptoms and the fact I've been noticing changes over the last 2 years that perimenopause is here.

    I have got to figure out how to get this weight off - strength training seems to be part of the key, as is dropping all the carbs. :/
  • KentWhiteRabbit
    KentWhiteRabbit Posts: 92 Member
    Hi there, I just found this group. I'm 42 and my partner and I have been trying for a baby for 4 years now. Drs can't find anything wrong and as I have kids already (from previous marriage) they aren't too bothered about looking to hard, but with my periods being unpredictable and suddenly very heavy over the last year I'm guessing it's peri menopause. Mood swings are my main worry as they can make me hell to be around! I've been waking suddenly in the night too but no hot flushes (yet).

    My Mum, Aunt and Grandmother all had problems and ended up having hysterectomys in their 40s, so I was sort of expecting problems. Luckily Drs aren't so quick to offer that as a solution these days.
  • alvalaurie
    alvalaurie Posts: 369 Member
    45 over here and started having all the lovely symptoms about 3 years ago. Last year I finally started missing periods (which at first I thought was awesome), but now it's quite annoying never knowing when Aunt Flo will make her appearance! My Mom started into this late in her 50's so I'm not sure why I'm the lucky one, but I look at the bright side, we'll be done with this whole mess long before some even start into it! :drinker:

    Hang in there! You're amongst great company!! :bigsmile:
  • reneepugh
    reneepugh Posts: 522 Member
    I'm 37. I believe mine was brought on by my tubal ligation I had after my daughter was born. My anxiety is awful as well as hot flashes/flushes, muscle cramping, headaches. You name it I've got it. I can't believe it's happening this early either. Did I mention it's like pulling my own teeth to lose weight also. I have tried everything.
  • Mustang_Susie
    Mustang_Susie Posts: 7,045 Member
    I'm 37. I believe mine was brought on by my tubal ligation I had after my daughter was born. My anxiety is awful as well as hot flashes/flushes, muscle cramping, headaches. You name it I've got it. I can't believe it's happening this early either. Did I mention it's like pulling my own teeth to lose weight also. I have tried everything.

    For some more info about your weight read the "Hormone changes and weight gain" thread in this group :smile:
  • kimiel51
    kimiel51 Posts: 299 Member
    I'm 48 and have some of the symptoms now for a few years. Still have the period though :(
    It's very hard to adapt to getting old, but my husband is dealing with low-testosterone issues, so I don't feel as bad.
    The hard part is still wanting sex, and he doesn't :(. Well, he does, but he doesn't get the desire because of the low-T, and that's hard to take as a woman too because we want be be desireable.
    It's a matter of telling yourself that it's life, and we have to find a balance to our self-worth, rather than age.
    Taking vitamin supplements definitely helps with the night sweats !! I take a good green powder vitamin supplement every morning and the difference is huge ! I never had hot flashes, although I do feel warm overall most of the time.
    I can't stress enough that vitamin supplements are huge in squelching alot of the symptoms.
    Yes, what supplements are you speaking of?
  • Just_Ceci
    Just_Ceci Posts: 5,926 Member
    Menopause hit me shortly after I had a miscarriage at 43.
  • Jubjub99
    Jubjub99 Posts: 3
    I hadn't checked this thread for a while, and it makes me feel so much better that there are many of you sharing this same experience!

    For a great article that gets at the painful, sometimes humorous truth of menopause, see Sandra Tsing-Loh's article from The Atlantic in 2011, "The ***** is Back": http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2011/10/the-*****-is-back/308642/ I re-read it whenever I need some empathy!

    On another note, are there young peri-menopausers taking oral contraceptives for menopause symptoms? My doctor suggested that or the estrogen patch, and I am leaning toward the pill. How long does one stay on the pill for menopause?
  • Mustang_Susie
    Mustang_Susie Posts: 7,045 Member
    I hadn't checked this thread for a while, and it makes me feel so much better that there are many of you sharing this same experience!

    For a great article that gets at the painful, sometimes humorous truth of menopause, see Sandra Tsing-Loh's article from The Atlantic in 2011, "The ***** is Back": http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2011/10/the-*****-is-back/308642/ I re-read it whenever I need some empathy!

    On another note, are there young peri-menopausers taking oral contraceptives for menopause symptoms? My doctor suggested that or the estrogen patch, and I am leaning toward the pill. How long does one stay on the pill for menopause?

    BC artificially delays menopause and your doctor needs to take you off every once in awhile to see if you are in menopause or not.
    I would speak to your doctor and fully research all the side effects and potential long term effects synthetic, chemical estrogen can have on your body.
  • Jubjub99
    Jubjub99 Posts: 3
    Anyone doing HRT? I'd love to hear what others have tried, whether synthetic hormones, bio-identicals, vitamins, or other supplements. Thanks for sharing!
  • CarmenSRT
    CarmenSRT Posts: 843 Member
    Anyone doing HRT? I'd love to hear what others have tried, whether synthetic hormones, bio-identicals, vitamins, or other supplements. Thanks for sharing!

    I used HRT for the first year,because the hot flashes were darn near debilitating. It was a good choice for me. :wink:
  • JoJoDoerr
    JoJoDoerr Posts: 173 Member
    Just turned 40 in April and have been in HELL for almost 2 years already! My doctor had said that since I had a tubal when I was very young (21) it could have contributed to early onset.

    I have hot flashes, moodiness, crying out of no where for no reason, trouble getting a good nights sleep, and then really weird stuff too like hives for no reason or feeling like there is something on the left side of my throat just after "that time" that lasts about a week. Been to my family and gyn and only explanation I get is "hormones do strange things" I dread what is ahead if things are already this nuts!
  • SJandM2000
    SJandM2000 Posts: 29 Member
    Think I may be the youngest person here! I started having peri-menopause symptoms when I was about 26/27... Had testing done at 29 which showed I have a very low egg count. I'm 30 now and about to have some more tests to see how quickly my egg count is going down but basically the thought is that if I wanted more children the only way of achieving it would be a vague hope via IVF with donor eggs. Thank God I had my kids young!

    My mother entered the menopause in her mid 30s and all 5 of her other sisters also entered the menopause young, but so far I am the youngest in our family yet. :( I hope this won't affect my daughters, but judging by the other females in my maternal side of the family it's not looking great for them.

    I'm really struggling with weight loss at the moment and I think it may be down to this... I am not suffering too badly with symptoms anymore - was really bad up until about a year ago, had every symptom in the book and was utterly miserable - I just get the occasional symptoms here and there now. I have very irregular periods still and they're my main issue at the moment other than the moodiness, insomnia, itchy crawly skin, total lack of sex drive and occasional hot flush....
  • melanieparker13
    melanieparker13 Posts: 110 Member
    I am 47 and been having symptoms for about 1 year. periods are starting to be irregular and moodiness is terrible.
  • fit4lifeUcan2
    fit4lifeUcan2 Posts: 1,458 Member
    For me I was skipping my periods for a couple of months and then would get it out of the blue. This was going on for a few years. Lately i've been getting it every 2 weeks and very heavy. I called my dr. and he said in many women this happens just before they completely stop getting periods. Anyone have this? Can't wait till I completely stop getting my TOM.
  • TheRealParisLove
    TheRealParisLove Posts: 1,907 Member
    I started into Peri-menopause in my late 30's. Still going through it at 43. I'm down to maybe 5-6 periods a year, but when I was going into peri-menopause, I was menstruating every other week. It sucked!

    My mood swings are much better now, but I'm having a harder time with weight control and hot flashes these days. I mostly get the hot flashes at night, so my sleep has been disrupted for the better part of the last year.

    Everyday is a new adventure!
  • TheRealParisLove
    TheRealParisLove Posts: 1,907 Member
    Hello ladies. I'm 46 and dr. confirmed that I'm in peri-menopause. I have been getting hot flashes since I was 42 and irregular periods. I used to miss a month then get it regular again then miss again. Now I'm having phantom periods. For 2 to 3 weeks I'm bloated and cramping and feeling like any minute I'll get it but nothing happens. It was easier when I just got my period and got it over with. These phantom periods last much longer and are worse than if I just got my period. Anyone getting phantom periods?

    I've never heard it phrased that way before, but this is exactly what happens to me, too. I get all the symptoms of menstruation except for actual menstruation. I thought maybe it was psychological because I was so regular when I was younger, that my brain is just telling my body that it is time to feel this way, and therefore I do.

    I've been using an ovulation tracking app to monitor my cycles, and I'm only getting periods every 45-57 days. I like this much better than the 2-3 times a month I used to get when I first started into peri-menopause.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    Hello ladies. I'm 46 and dr. confirmed that I'm in peri-menopause. I have been getting hot flashes since I was 42 and irregular periods. I used to miss a month then get it regular again then miss again. Now I'm having phantom periods. For 2 to 3 weeks I'm bloated and cramping and feeling like any minute I'll get it but nothing happens. It was easier when I just got my period and got it over with. These phantom periods last much longer and are worse than if I just got my period. Anyone getting phantom periods?

    I've never heard it phrased that way before, but this is exactly what happens to me, too. I get all the symptoms of menstruation except for actual menstruation. I thought maybe it was psychological because I was so regular when I was younger, that my brain is just telling my body that it is time to feel this way, and therefore I do.

    I've been using an ovulation tracking app to monitor my cycles, and I'm only getting periods every 45-57 days. I like this much better than the 2-3 times a month I used to get when I first started into peri-menopause.
    I wish mine was either longer OR shorter lol. Mine will go 60-80 days for a while, then every two weeks for a while. One annoying thing is the "phantom" period, yes, because for me, the PMS can start on day 26, and last until the period finally comes, 20 or 40 days later!
  • Mustang_Susie
    Mustang_Susie Posts: 7,045 Member
    insomnia, itchy crawly skin, total lack of sex drive and occasional hot flush....

    Totally describes me.
    I haven't had a period since the end of December...
  • SJandM2000
    SJandM2000 Posts: 29 Member
    Mine were horrendous, so my Dr insisted we try the mirena coil. Even then they're still all over the place, just a little bit lighter than they were... I'll go 40-50 days without a period and then suddenly have several 2 weeks apart, and then nothing again for awhile. It's driving me insane as I never know what my body is doing.

    And as for weight loss, since this all started, you can forget it. I used to have a great metabolism and was very slim and now I'm just an overweight blob. I've reached 14 stone now and can't seem to shift down or up. Just stuck here... :(
  • dawniewest
    dawniewest Posts: 37 Member
    bump
  • christineellis
    christineellis Posts: 296 Member
    Hello ladies. I'm 46 and dr. confirmed that I'm in peri-menopause. I have been getting hot flashes since I was 42 and irregular periods. I used to miss a month then get it regular again then miss again. Now I'm having phantom periods. For 2 to 3 weeks I'm bloated and cramping and feeling like any minute I'll get it but nothing happens. It was easier when I just got my period and got it over with. These phantom periods last much longer and are worse than if I just got my period. Anyone getting phantom periods?

    Wow. I'm 46 and just started this... Phantom Periods are the perfect description. For the last 3 months I have felt like my period was coming on time, then nothing. After 83 days, I just started a real period this week! I was hoping I was done...guess not.
  • christineellis
    christineellis Posts: 296 Member
    I started peri-menopause right before I got pg with my daughter when I was 36.
    I think it was my irregular cycle that got me pg in the first place.
    Anywho, after I had her, that seemed to re-set my body and I was back to normal for a few years.
    But between 40 & 42, I went back into peri-menopause and am definitely moving towards full menopause.

    I had issues in my mid 30's as well. I though it was fibroid related, had a myomectomy, went on birth control and then tried to get PG and had 3 miscarriages. Had my twins at 38 and it must have reset me for a while as well - got PG 4 months after the twins! I had no problem losing weight after my son was born, but a couple of years after that started back down the road of night sweats/night chills; heavy, shortened periods; tried ablation, but it didn't work (i have a heart-shaped uterus and the Novasure wouldn't deploy!).

    Went to a naturopath, tried bioidenticals for a while, then quit them. Just a real ongoing saga. I am ready for it all to be over and done with now! My mother has been telling me for years to get a hysterectomy and I just keep trying to work through this all. It has to be over soon, right? I have no idea about family history because all the women in my family have had hysterectomies before they were 40.

    46 and counting...
  • Mustang_Susie
    Mustang_Susie Posts: 7,045 Member
    I started peri-menopause right before I got pg with my daughter when I was 36.
    I think it was my irregular cycle that got me pg in the first place.
    Anywho, after I had her, that seemed to re-set my body and I was back to normal for a few years.
    But between 40 & 42, I went back into peri-menopause and am definitely moving towards full menopause.

    I had issues in my mid 30's as well. I though it was fibroid related, had a myomectomy, went on birth control and then tried to get PG and had 3 miscarriages. Had my twins at 38 and it must have reset me for a while as well - got PG 4 months after the twins! I had no problem losing weight after my son was born, but a couple of years after that started back down the road of night sweats/night chills; heavy, shortened periods; tried ablation, but it didn't work (i have a heart-shaped uterus and the Novasure wouldn't deploy!).

    Went to a naturopath, tried bioidenticals for a while, then quit them. Just a real ongoing saga. I am ready for it all to be over and done with now! My mother has been telling me for years to get a hysterectomy and I just keep trying to work through this all. It has to be over soon, right? I have no idea about family history because all the women in my family have had hysterectomies before they were 40.

    46 and counting...

    Hysterectomy isn't the magic answer either as it messes with hormone levels as well...:grumble:
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    I started peri-menopause right before I got pg with my daughter when I was 36.
    I think it was my irregular cycle that got me pg in the first place.
    Anywho, after I had her, that seemed to re-set my body and I was back to normal for a few years.
    But between 40 & 42, I went back into peri-menopause and am definitely moving towards full menopause.

    I had issues in my mid 30's as well. I though it was fibroid related, had a myomectomy, went on birth control and then tried to get PG and had 3 miscarriages. Had my twins at 38 and it must have reset me for a while as well - got PG 4 months after the twins! I had no problem losing weight after my son was born, but a couple of years after that started back down the road of night sweats/night chills; heavy, shortened periods; tried ablation, but it didn't work (i have a heart-shaped uterus and the Novasure wouldn't deploy!).

    Went to a naturopath, tried bioidenticals for a while, then quit them. Just a real ongoing saga. I am ready for it all to be over and done with now! My mother has been telling me for years to get a hysterectomy and I just keep trying to work through this all. It has to be over soon, right? I have no idea about family history because all the women in my family have had hysterectomies before they were 40.

    46 and counting...

    Hysterectomy isn't the magic answer either as it messes with hormone levels as well...:grumble:
    It's the default in my family as well. But it's not for me. I need the gradual change. I once had a mirena removed and the hormone "crash" was horrible.
  • Mustang_Susie
    Mustang_Susie Posts: 7,045 Member
    Hysterectomy isn't the magic answer either as it messes with hormone levels as well...:grumble:
    It's the default in my family as well. But it's not for me. I need the gradual change. I once had a mirena removed and the hormone "crash" was horrible.

    Oh, that sounds just horrid...:noway:
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    Hysterectomy isn't the magic answer either as it messes with hormone levels as well...:grumble:
    It's the default in my family as well. But it's not for me. I need the gradual change. I once had a mirena removed and the hormone "crash" was horrible.

    Oh, that sounds just horrid...:noway:
    It was. I'd never do that again.
  • Mustang_Susie
    Mustang_Susie Posts: 7,045 Member
    Hysterectomy isn't the magic answer either as it messes with hormone levels as well...:grumble:
    It's the default in my family as well. But it's not for me. I need the gradual change. I once had a mirena removed and the hormone "crash" was horrible.

    Oh, that sounds just horrid...:noway:
    It was. I'd never do that again.

    Did you kill someone or sit in a dark room crying for days on end? :sad:
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    Hysterectomy isn't the magic answer either as it messes with hormone levels as well...:grumble:
    It's the default in my family as well. But it's not for me. I need the gradual change. I once had a mirena removed and the hormone "crash" was horrible.

    Oh, that sounds just horrid...:noway:
    It was. I'd never do that again.

    Did you kill someone or sit in a dark room crying for days on end? :sad:
    Crying and staying away from people. I quickly got bio-identical progesterone and started supplementing. Took a few cycles to get things going again. But the "crash" was about a week long.
  • lkhaycook
    lkhaycook Posts: 23 Member
    Does anyone else experience dizziness or get lightheaded?

    Lightheaded & dizzy at times, definitely.