Women - can we talk about Menopause a minute?

[neverlandsky]

Had a hyster with ovaries saved. Peri started at 37. Early 40s I’m in the thick of it now. What has been helping and a godsend CBD 20:1 THC gummy that I cut in half that I take 2 hours before bed.

Layers are your friend for hot/cold flashes.

 

[maxaroni]

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

the cold spells were so bad when I’d get them, I could not get warm. I tried everything and it didn’t warm me up, just had to wait until it passed.

 

[Christine]

I went through menopause at exactly age 51. My very last period was on my 51st birthday.

For me, I had extremely regular periods, down to the the minute all my life. Right around age 49, I had a year where I skipped maybe two periods. Then the next year, it happened maybe 3 times. Then I had my last period and another one never came again. Ever. It was totally weird and fast. Along with those times where I started skipping periods, the middle of the not hot flashes came. Then they left as I had more periods. Then they came back at age 51 and I had them for 4-5 years. I'd say that I'm mostly done with them but occasionally I will now get a little warm in the middle of the night. I don't feel like a blazing furnace anymore thank goodness. I do have to keep my bedroom much cooler than I used to and I'm never "cold" all the time like a used to be. Otherwise, I haven't had very many other changes. I'd probably have to say that I feel better. I used to have very heavy periods and was always borderline anemic. Couldn't take oral contraceptives so I just lived with it. It's nice that I don't have those awful symptoms anymore.

 

[DisneyOma]

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.

Have you thought about getting an endometrial ablation? That's what I had done after years of heavy, long periods. Seemed like I had it more often then I didn't and I was exhausted all the time. One light period after it was done, then nothing. It was wonderful relief! I was 54 at the time; they said I could still get pregnant as my ovaries looked like a 20 year old's (heaven help me, no thank you!) I have no idea if I've gone through menopause as I've had one hot flash a few years ago and that was it.

 

[Aladora]

I was thrown into surgical menopause at 38 after having tubes/ovaries removed due to BRCA2+ as well as previous breast cancer. I was on HRT for 10 years with no symptoms but stopped about a year ago and man, the hot flashes are TERRIBLE!

 

[disneychrista]

Have you thought about getting an endometrial ablation? That's what I had done after years of heavy, long periods. Seemed like I had it more often then I didn't and I was exhausted all the time. One light period after it was done, then nothing. It was wonderful relief! I was 54 at the time; they said I could still get pregnant as my ovaries looked like a 20 year old's (heaven help me, no thank you!) I have no idea if I've gone through menopause as I've had one hot flash a few years ago and that was it.

Yes I have thought about it. I might talk to my doctor when I go for my annual. I am kind of hoping that things are winding down and I’ll just be done. The Nuvaring helped, with less side effects than progesterone, but the doctor said the risks at my age when I didn’t need birth control was too high.

I am with you on the getting pregnant NO THANK YOU.

 

[DisneyOma]

Yes I have thought about it. I might talk to my doctor when I go for my annual. I am kind of hoping that things are winding down and I’ll just be done. The Nuvaring helped, with less side effects than progesterone, but the doctor said the risks at my age when I didn’t need birth control was too high.

I am with you on the getting pregnant NO THANK YOU.

For me, it was a simple procedure. I went to the medical building (not a hospital), I got prepped (hospital gown, IV), they put me under, I woke up after, they watched me for about half an hour or so, and had my husband bring me home. Stayed in bed for the rest of the day, took it easy for a few days (summer vacation so no work anyways) and went on with my usual activities. I did get a bit nauseous after the procedure, but I always do with anesthesia, even with the preventatives they use. At least it wasn't the dry heaves I got after my gall bladder surgery

 

[chattadisser]

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.

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!

Get your hormones and FSH (I think that's what it is) checked. I had my last DD AT 35 and after that my cycles were all over the place. Combine that with having two small kids, I went on Murena for BC. One of the side affects is not having period while on it. It was a great side affect but it was also the last time I ever had a period. Even after having the Murena taken out and waiting for my period to start I kept asking my gyro to check my hormones as I had all the symptoms of peri-menopause. Was told I was way too young to be worrying about that. Eventually my regular PCP, who is a woman, tested me and I was already through menopause by 40. Apparently the FSH number is how they can tell where you are in the menopause cycle. I was labeled as premature ovarian failure. I've been on hormones for a few years now and I am just now getting to where I feel like I'm back to baseline. Basically my advice is if your doctor isn't listening to you, go to another one and keep going till someone listens. It's very frustrating. I had even seen an endocrinologist before asking my PCP to do the test.

 

[mom2rtk]

I was on the pill for most of my adult life (took continually to suppress periods completely). It kept my endometriosis under control. So I was in no hurry to come off. My doctor let me stay on it until I was 55. Then I stopped, had one period and..... nothing. Stepped right into menopause with minimal fanfare. I get an occasional "warm flash" and sometimes wake up with a cold flash, but that's about it.

 

[Sandy51]

Started having symptoms in my late 40s, but my last period was at 55-on my birthday!

 

[Lynne G]

I took pills until my doctor told me at age 50 I’m done, because of the risks being so much higher staying on it. So I did quit it, and was kinda scared, as I was done having kids since my second as born when I was 36. But two very light periods after stopping, then nothing. So I guess I went into menopause, or close to it, when I stopped the pills. It is freeing, and so far, just normal stuff that happens as I age and “barren”. And oddly, I never have had hot flashes, just sometimes, cold flashes at night. Then I’m accused of hogging the covers. I hope all is well with you, and yes, get another advice if you are not sure your doctor is right telling you.

 

[fly girl]

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’ve been on BC for years. (Off when trying to conceive, but back on afterwards.)

Night sweats were my first symptom. Followed by mood swings - so much that I annoyed my own self (that gave OBGYN a chuckle.) This started around age 44.

I’m 47 and my OBGYN believes with my symptoms (now including face breaking out like a teen, and lack of periods on the pill) that I’m in peri menopause. Since the pill can help with hormonal changes associated with menopause and I have no adverse side effects, she’s keeping me on it until I hit 50 then we will reassess my next step. Works for me! If this helps control all these changes, sign me up.

 

[quandrea]

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.

There are meds to help with the heavy periods. I take them. They are not hormonal based, but deal with clotting. They’ve really helped me. I got anemic from heavy periods. Anemia causes insomnia. Once I got my iron up and now I take the meds for heavy periods, I sleep again. Progesterone gave me mild depression too. Years ago on the pill.

 

[indimom]

For me, it started almost overnight the year I turned 45. I went from 12 regular cycles a year to 4. The next year I had one cycle and that was it. The hot flashes, brain fog, and weight gain went into overdrive at the same time. (For the record, I hadn't been on birth control since my 20s, so I didn't have that component. I'm 48 now. I still have regular hot flashes. Some of the supplements you can buy over the counter have been helpful with that, especially at night. I'm working on the weight I gained, slowly but surely. A
I've got 3 sisters, two older, one younger. None of them are as far "through" menopause as I am. All are having some symptoms. The youngest appears to be closer to the finish line than the older two at this point.

 

[WDWEPCOT]

I was on Birth Control and was 50 - I have endometriosis and my Dr did the blood work and said I was no where close (ugh) next year go to Dr - get blood work - your done - so in the course of 1 year my blood caught up to what my body was already telling me
My changes were subtle but there - it would be another year after before things calmed down - I had nothing to go by as most women in my family were deceased or had a hysterectomy
I really believe subtle changes start in your mid to late 40s but everyone is different
I wish you good luck ! It’s a journey

 

[SandyinMonterey]

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'm 54. I missed 3 continous months of my cycle last fall. It then returned for a couple of months then I missed one month. I just went to my Gyn. a week ago and she said menopause is defined as one year with no periods.

 

[tasha99]

I'm 54 and haven't missed a period yet. They do seem to maybe be coming faster though--every 3 weeks instead of every month. Maybe that's a sign that I'm starting. My mom said her periods stopped at 57, and I've read that your mother's age at menopause is the biggest predictor for when it will happen to you. I have mixed feelings about it. My periods are pretty painful sometimes, so I won't miss them. On the other hand, I started at 11, so it's been a long time, and all the hormones that go along with having them can be protective for heart disease, etc.

 

[Silver saucer]

I was on the pill for most of my adult life (took continually to suppress periods completely). It kept my endometriosis under control. So I was in no hurry to come off. My doctor let me stay on it until I was 55. Then I stopped, had one period and..... nothing. Stepped right into menopause with minimal fanfare. I get an occasional "warm flash" and sometimes wake up with a cold flash, but that's about it.
[/QUOTE

^^^
This! Pretty much says it all.
I took the pill continuously to suppress periods for years until I hit 50. Went off pills. Had period or two then nothing. I had occasional hot flashes where the roots of my hair got hot. Otherwise that's it for menopause. My mum didnt have any issues with menopause either.

 

[LoveSpringsteen]

I'm 54 and haven't had regular, monthly periods since I was about 52. I may get light spotting, then nothing for months. I went off the pill around age 40. I had an ablation in my mid-40s due to very heavy bleeding/clotting and being anemic. That took care of the heavy bleeding, thankfully, but I continued to have regular periods afterwards. My Mother had a full hysterectomy in her 30s, so I don't have family history on menopause.

I'm not experiencing hot flashes, but I rarely sleep through the night any more and I gain weight so easily. At my last GYN visit, my doctor said I wasn't yet in menopause because I hadn't gone a full year without a period.

 

[LiteBrite]

My periods got irregular around the age of 52, stopped for several months when I was 53, and then I had one last heavy period. I read that you actually hit menopause 12 months after your last period , so for me that was not long after I turned 54. We made a holiday of it, called it "Menopause Day", and went out for a fancy dinner, lol.

My symptoms during the couple of years leading up to that were pretty mild. Some hot flashes, nothing too terrible, a little bit of moodiness, that was all. I feel like overall I was really lucky, seeing what some of my friends went through.