Women - can we talk about Menopause a minute?

[Piglet843]

I was reading on the Insomnia Thread (b/c -same) and the ladies were talking about Menopause being a contributor to their insomnia and other issues.
I have a lot of other symptoms of Menopause lately too - the night sweats, regulating temperature, gained some weight and such.
But I am afraid I won't know if/when it is M or not. See I've been on Birth Control Pills for nearly 25 years. I just yesterday had a Milestone Birthday, so maybe it is time...
My mom had a complete hysterectomy in her 30's so I don't have that to go on.

What age did you know you were reaching M?
How did it start for you?
Any insight is appreciated...

 

[usnuzuloose]

I was reading on the Insomnia Thread (b/c -same) and the ladies were talking about Menopause being a contributor to their insomnia and other issues.
I have a lot of other symptoms of Menopause lately too - the night sweats, regulating temperature, gained some weight and such.
But I am afraid I won't know if/when it is M or not. See I've been on Birth Control Pills for nearly 25 years. I just yesterday had a Milestone Birthday, so maybe it is time...
My mom had a complete hysterectomy in her 30's so I don't have that to go on.

What age did you know you were reaching M?
How did it start for you?
Any insight is appreciated...

I had a full hysterectomy in my 30's. I never had M symptoms . I am 59 now and no longer need to shave. I hope you can get answers.

 

[hulagirl87]

looking forward to reading more about this as I feel like my time is coming. My mom had a hysterectomy in her late 30's as well, so another who doesn't know what to expect. Though I don't know how similarly symptoms are from mother to daughter. My mom started her period at age 10 and I didn't get mine until I was 14.

 

[AgentMama]

I believe you can have bloodwork done to find out if you're pre-menopause or in it. I have a friend who went through menopause while on the pill and didn't realize it.

 

[E&Cmom]

I am 51. I am in premenopause. I started getting symptoms about 2 years ago. My periods are still regular but are shorter and heavier. I get dizzy spells, more headaches and my hands, arms and face get really hot at times for short periods but no sweats. my iron is on the lower end which doesn’t help with my symptoms. I do suffer from insomnia but not sure if it is related as I have always been an awful sleeper plus work shift work ( day/ night rotation). No clue how much longer I have . My nurse practitioner asked when my mom was done as they are often similar but she passed away when I was 26 and I never thought to ask. I think it was in her 50s as well though.

 

[Piglet843]

I believe you can have bloodwork done to find out if you're pre-menopause or in it. I have a friend who went through menopause while on the pill and didn't realize it.

I may have to do this - that is my fear

 

[NAB]

They say you should reach Menopause by 52.

Having said that I have PCOS and have been taken pills to bring on a period every other month. Well my family doctor noticed I was still taking them my gynaecologist didn’t take me off. He took me off them last March and now at 58 in menopause. Haven’t had a period since last March. Your in menopause when you haven’t had a period in a year. At least that is what I was told.

Hate the temperature thing. The hot flashes and being so hot at night is the worst. We have the a/c on but I still need a fan on . I can only flip my pillow so many times in a night...lol

 

[aprilgail]

I was reading on the Insomnia Thread (b/c -same) and the ladies were talking about Menopause being a contributor to their insomnia and other issues.
I have a lot of other symptoms of Menopause lately too - the night sweats, regulating temperature, gained some weight and such.
But I am afraid I won't know if/when it is M or not. See I've been on Birth Control Pills for nearly 25 years. I just yesterday had a Milestone Birthday, so maybe it is time...
My mom had a complete hysterectomy in her 30's so I don't have that to go on.

What age did you know you were reaching M?
How did it start for you?
Any insight is appreciated...

Had my daughter when I was 36 and about 2 years later was in peri menopause and by 40 in full blown menopause- SO happy not to have to deal with periods anymore since then LOL- it was the BEST!

 

[barkley]

you can start having signs/symptoms only to have them stop and begin again years later. i started EARLY-in my early 40's for a few years but then everything went back to normal (i always had very regular cycles). interesting thing was the timing of the screaming halt-it happened right at the same time my dd started her cycles. i remember thinking that there was a connection b/c i recalled that when i worked within work units of women it never failed that over time all of our cycles would adjust and be in sync with one another. sure enough when mine kick started it fell into sync with dd's. it took a few years but menopause started up in earnest in my late 40's. i'm 60 now, still get the occasional hot flash but mostly at night (over the years dh has gotten used to all the covers being tossed onto him without warning).

 

[Piglet843]

They say you should reach Menopause by 52.

Having said that I have PCOS and have been taken pills to bring on a period every other month. Well my family doctor noticed I was still taking them my gynaecologist didn’t take me off. He took me off them last March and now at 58 in menopause. Haven’t had a period since last March. Your in menopause when you haven’t had a period in a year. At least that is what I was told.

Hate the temperature thing. The hot flashes and being so hot at night is the worst. We have the a/c on but I still need a fan on . I can only flip my pillow so many times in a night...lol

Ah - good info.
Guess I should mention, this milestone Bday was 40 - not 50. That is another reason why I am questioning what is going on with me. I haven't had a period in years, because I take the pill back to back.
I guess its not common to start at this age is it? But I sure seem to have symptoms...

 

[Piglet843]

Had my daughter when I was 36 and about 2 years later was in peri menopause and by 40 in full blown menopause- SO happy not to have to deal with periods anymore since then LOL- it was the BEST!

Ahh! ok - good to know. I had my son at 35, now I just turned 40 - maybe it is happening...

 

[Piglet843]

you can start having signs/symptoms only to have them stop and begin again years later. i started EARLY-in my early 40's for a few years but then everything went back to normal (i always had very regular cycles). interesting thing was the timing of the screaming halt-it happened right at the same time my dd started her cycles. i remember thinking that there was a connection b/c i recalled that when i worked within work units of women it never failed that over time all of our cycles would adjust and be in sync with one another. sure enough when mine kick started it fell into sync with dd's. it took a few years but menopause started up in earnest in my late 40's. i'm 60 now, still get the occasional hot flash but mostly at night (over the years dh has gotten used to all the covers being tossed onto him without warning).

Oh gosh - this is interesting.. its like being haunted by your M - it never really goes away

 

[disneychrista]

My mom went into menopause between 38 - 40. At 49 I’m in peri-menopause with irregular, very heavy, long periods. No hot flashes. I do have boughts of insomnia. Looking forward to being done with it. My doctor put me on progesterone but it made me not feel well (mild depression) so I stopped taking it because I’d rather deal with the heavy periods.

 

[Karin1984]

I may have to do this - that is my fear

Do it. Then you know where you stand. It removes the doubts you have. And as for fear, it is not something that can be stopped.

 

[happybaker]

I had bloodwork done a few months ago because I've been on the pill and turned 51 late last year, so the doctor offered it up as an option, since I've have occasional night sweats, dry skin and tiredness. I had to go off the pill for a few weeks prior to the test. I haven't gone through menopause yet, but I decided not to go back on the pill right away either just to see what would happen. The last couple of years my periods have been very heavy, but since going off the pill, I had to more normal-like periods and then nothing the last two months.

 

[easyas123]

I believe you can have bloodwork done to find out if you're pre-menopause or in it. I have a friend who went through menopause while on the pill and didn't realize it.

Currently my experience -

Ah - good info.
Guess I should mention, this milestone Bday was 40 - not 50. That is another reason why I am questioning what is going on with me. I haven't had a period in years, because I take the pill back to back.
I guess its not common to start at this age is it? But I sure seem to have symptoms...

Perimenopause in your early 40's isn't unusual. I've been "enjoying" it since then, but didn't realize it until a fair bit of time had passed and got to discussing things with my Dr.

Add me to the list of people whose mother (and aunts) had hysterectomies in their early 40's and so have no direct wisdom to share.

 

[PollyannaMom]

What age did you know you were reaching M?
How did it start for you?
Any insight is appreciated...

Late 40's. My periods became more irregular, and I was moodier. Interestingly, I had more cold spells than hot flashes.

 

[CGB]

I *thought* I was in the initial stages of menopause about three years ago: night sweats, insomnia, regular periods started again (despite BC that had stopped them for years), and feeling out-of-control each month. I talked to my gynecologist and she just nodded her head like "yep, that happens at your age." Then my flows got heavier and longer and again, I *thought* that was supposed to happen right before it all stopped. Yeah, no. I ended up in the hospital with uterine fibroids (with no prior knowledge of even having them). Four blood transfusions and a massive estrogen shot later, I underwent a uterine fibroid embolization that blocked the artery to my uterus (but not before confusing literally everybody that came in to look at me). The fibroids were small but right next to my uterine artery. Male doctors pushed for a hysterectomy but thankfully a younger female gynecologist led me to my newer solution. Afterwards, I began reading up on estrogen dominance as I searched for a reason for it all happening. I learned about endocrine disrupters and changed all my health/beauty/laundry products,as well as cooking pans & plastics. It's made a world of difference. I'm still on BC (at 51) but I no longer have any symptoms remotely related to menopause. I just wish I'd known how much xenoestrogens & the other chemicals could affect me years ago.

 

[disneychrista]

Late 40's. My periods became more irregular, and I was moodier. Interestingly, I had more cold spells than hot flashes.

No one really talks about “cold flashes” related to perimenopause. But I get those on occasion as well.

 

[luvnwdwgal]

I started my period when I was eleven. Around the age of 51 my periods started slowing down and then were just spotty. That went on for a couple years and then nothing at all. I’m 58 now. Fortunately I have never had any menopause symptoms other than I think I’m a bit more emotional but that’s it.