Perimenopause...Aunt Flo Question

[PatsGirl]

Aahhhh, the beginning. Dropping from every 28 days to every 24 or 25 days is the start (at least for me it was). That's the easy part, now my period comes when it feels like it, sometimes 28 days, sometimes 31 days, sometimes 24 days.. you just never know I hate the unknown but hate being unprepared even more so liners have become my best friend this past couple of years -- never leave home without em

Even worse is how heavy they've become. What used to be one light, three heavy, one light is now six heavy duty, anemia causing days and sleepless nights.

My GYN told me a few years ago that it'd get worse before it got better. The hot flashes have begun so things are progressing normally I'm going to try to get through this without hormones but my doctor thinks that an anti-depressant will help with the lack of sleep and thus the mood swings that I mostly take out on my kids -- isn't that why we had them? Oh, that's right, at my age they should be out of the house and on their own, not starting middle school.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

my doctor thinks that an anti-depressant will help with the lack of sleep and thus the mood swings that I mostly take out on my kids -- isn't that why we had them? Oh, that's right, at my age they should be out of the house and on their own, not starting middle school.

I'm on Prestiq, which is an anti-depressant. It's also given to women for hot flashes, so hopefully I will be spared those as long as I'm on it.

 

[kristilew]

And the only thing worse than all these symptoms..... is to get them just as dd is entering the lovely world of hormones. No wonder my dh works out of the country whenever he can

 

[Disney Doll]

I was very lucky as I didn't get the hot flashes, my brain actually started to clear up (I figured it was because I went off wheat) and I started to be better emotionally. Aunt Flo still visited regularly. That is until the last 2 times she came to visit. The first one I was camping in a tent trailer. Thank goodness we were parked near a flushable. I spent hours in there with a book. I couldn't leave. I actually was getting really worried because she really decided to visit and we were an hour away from the nearest hospital. I ended up fainting at the little store. On the staff there was an EMT who looked at me and told my dh that they should call and ambulance. My dh told her that it was okay I could just go and have a nap. . After my Dr told him that I could have died he told her that he would take me to the hospital the next time. Thank goodness the next time Aunt Flo decided to visit she decided to not visit as hard . That was it. She hasn't visited in over a year and a half now. I am hoping she is gone forever.
tigercat

They usually consider you menopausal when you ahve had no period for one year.

I am 46. My period used to be as regular as clockwork...you could literally practically set your watch by it. For the last 3 years or so, it has become unpredictable...sometimes coming twice a month , sometimes not coming for 3, 4, 5 months...which would make me even more ...no baby for me at age 46 thanks! These last few months has been once a month, but not necessarily 28 days apart...more like 20-25.

And men wonder why middle-aged women are cranky.

 

[pppiglet]

I've been on the pill for 30 plus years. I'm 48 now and I do get migraines, but not as bad as I use to. I'm always on time and it's very light. DH won't get a vasectomy and since my doc says my hormones are still raging, I choose to stay on the pill and not chance getting pregnant! I don't really have any other symptoms yet.

 

[Rella Bella]

OH I so identify! I was never ever regular. Could never conceive. But then OMG I turn 48 and suddenly... every... 30... days... like... clockwork!!!!! Now I'm 53... still going strong!!!!!!!!!! Aaaarrrrrrgggggggg!!!!!!

Peri is no fun.... hot flashes, memory lapses, irritability, stupid drivers.... I could go on. But if you haven't seen it yet there is a great web site to help us deal with it all with laughter!


Minnie Pauz "Humor Replacement Therapy"!
There is a ton of cartoons... plus lots of stories that make you feel like your not the only one.

Like... I'm not the only one who left my car running while I attended my ds entire football game, the whole 2 hours! Good thing I had just gotten gas.
Sad but true.

 

[Lassie Lynne]

Well, I was forced into menopause due to a hysto and my DH thanks my Gyno every day for his precribing me HRT, because I couldn't take it for 6 months afterwards and boy......talk about being a ding-bat . I am much more happy too!

 

[Laurabearz]

They usually consider you menopausal when you ahve had no period for one year.

I am 46. My period used to be as regular as clockwork...you could literally practically set your watch by it. For the last 3 years or so, it has become unpredictable...sometimes coming twice a month , sometimes not coming for 3, 4, 5 months...which would make me even more ...no baby for me at age 46 thanks! These last few months has been once a month, but not necessarily 28 days apart...more like 20-25.

And men wonder why middle-aged women are cranky.

This describes me to a tea, except I am 45

It sucks. No Hot Flashes yet but I am waiting

 

[Tigger&Belle]

But then OMG I turn 48 and suddenly...

In exactly 2 hours it will be my birth minute....48yo, or as I said earlier, the 9th anniversary of my 39th birthday.

 

[DebbieB]

It does really suck doesn't it???? Heck...I went througha time last year where Aunt FLo was coming to visit every two WEEKS for 4 or 5 months. I was SICK of THAT lady.

Someone told me that she's a mean old b*tch.

Seriously, I had the same thing. When I hit around 40, I started going 24 to 26 days rather than 28 to 31 I had before. Now I'm almost 49 and it's been running long. GYN said "you're getting there......"

 

[barkley]

in the same boat here-they got more frequent then just as i was begining to see them taper off with longer lapses of time in between dd 'became a woman' and my cycle started syncing with hers and i was back to where i was several years ago (i'm always tempted to mention this as one of the downfalls of being a later in life mom when threads asking for opionions on that subject come up ).

btw-since the subject has been brought up, anyone with migranes should REALY look at their family history of strokes before using b.c. pills. migranes can increase your risk of strokes (both mine were shown to have been triggered by migranes) and b.c. pills are a big no-no if you have any kind of predisposition. i never considered myself to be at a risk but after the fact when my neurologist heard how many of my family members were stroke victims he pointed out that i like most people was under the misconception that it's normal for the elderly to have strokes-which is not the case, it's moreso normal for stroke victims to be elderly, but multiple elderly family members who have had them can spell out a trend that could impact younger family members if they have other stroke contributing factors going against them (and in my case it was the migranes and major stress).

 

[PatsGirl]

in the same boat here-they got more frequent then just as i was begining to see them taper off with longer lapses of time in between dd 'became a woman' and my cycle started syncing with hers and i was back to where i was several years ago (i'm always tempted to mention this as one of the downfalls of being a later in life mom when threads asking for opionions on that subject come up ).

That is not even funny DD should be starting anytime soon if head-spinning similar to The Exorcist is any sign

 

[Pixiedust34]

I do wonder how I'm going to know what's really going on with me, since the pills are regulating things.

That's what I wonder, too. If there is a little spotting, I wonder if that's menopause setting in or a reaction to an antibiotic, or something else????. Will we continue to stay regular as menopause sets in while we're on the pill?

And the only thing worse than all these symptoms..... is to get them just as dd is entering the lovely world of hormones.

Our dd is 10. I can relate! LOL
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Tag Fairy, for the love of all that is holy, please stay away from this thread. Thanks!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

barkley, I don't know that I really have a family history of strokes, however it is a good reason for me to stay away from the pill. I certainly have the migraines and the stress level is HIGH.

 

[inaminute]

I was always regular, then a couple of years ago, things changed a bit. I'd have it one month, skip the next, have a real light one, then very heavy. It would be normal 28 days, then two weeks later. Or, it would last for two weeks. Or I'd have it two days, then skip a month.

Now, I haven't had a visit since August and I'm thrilled. I'm just hoping it's over and done--forever. FWIW, I'm 53 and the only person among friends my age who still has to worry about those visits!

 

[Denine]

I am on the pill 365 so I don't know about that end of things.

However, my eyes have been soooo dry and bloodshot lately. I can't stand it. I have read this is a sign of peri menopause as well.

At least with the pill I don't get the mood swings or hot flashes either.

 

[jsmith]

wow-this is interesting-im 48 and over the last few years mine have gotten more regular-i used to be all over the map-and heavier-which is a bad thing-im absolutely anemic and fighting having hysto-but wonder how the heck long this will last.

 

[Biscuitsmom31]

I just turned 35 and my aunt is already out of whack. I was never a heavy bleeder but lately . It's awful. Every time I go to the restroom or take a shower it's like I have to clean up a crime scene. It's especially hard to deal with at work.

Can you have an elective hystorectomy (sp?)? I can't do the pill. It makes me psycho.

 

[Debbie7452]

This thread has been both alarming and somewhat reassuring. I think I can relate...I'm 42 and have two teenage girls AND a screaming 2 yo...I don't nature intended these symptoms to coexist with these family dynamics!

I was on the pill for years until I had a severe attack of ulcerative colitis caused by a blood clot due to the pill.There was no warning or clue before that happened. I could have had lifelong complications, but did not. I got had to give up the pill...hence the DS 2. Oh wait...I guess he qualifies as a life long complication

 

[Briarmom]

Tig, I can't believe you're 48! You look so much younger!

I have had an IUD for a few years. I pretty much have no periods. I'm ok with it. Could you get one of those?