I am going for a Blood test on monday. i have had one done about 2 years ago it said i was border line for my age, I am 39 now, 40 after christmas, i am being treated for a hormone imbalance, at the moment and have been for a year, i have pills to regualte my periods as they came twice a month something i never had before i was always regular even under stress, The past year has been hard i have suffered with most things, palps- terrible sleeping patterns - moods swings - bad dry skin that appears on my face right across my nose to both cheeks looks like bad ezcema and can literally goes over night, i sit and cry just on one day of the month, i get awful stomach cramps - my eye sight isnt as good ihad my eyes tested recently, and had new glasses for computer and reading etc, i have noticed and pointed out to my Dr i get a few black hairs that sprout from my chin not a beard thank god, and on the top half of my legs not loads but very course hair, I didnt realise how worried about this test i was until i wrote a previous topic,
My concerns are what if the test shows up Normal, for my age, the thought that i will be disbelieved, i am sure my husband will think i am making it all up, the lightheadedness off balance thing has plagued me for the past year, I am worried i will be disbelieved, then and i may doubt myself,as well. what a vicious circle, how can anyone feel so awful with these hormones, I havent felt like me in along time, i am not as active as i was, for fear of the off balance, I am a very insecure person, the thought that people will wonder if i am genuinely suffering concerns me, I am not saying I want something awful just some assurance that i am not feeling like this for nothing,
As i am having the test monday i cant take my tablets to regulate the periods otherwise they will give a false reading on the test, I know i will be awful to live with, i have prepared my family saying if i shout i cant help it and dont mean it, i shouldnt be doing this at my age surely,
Mine started when my skin started getting brown patches its been downhill since then the dr said sun sensitive i have never had it since or before in the summer, that disapeared then something else and so on,
Can someone give me some reasurrance here, I have read so many topics where they showed the hormone test to be normal, how do you cope then. my thyroids are fine.

Dear Someone,

I fully relate to your fears, concerns and dilemna of wondering what your tests will show. Could they come back normal? Yes, they could. But just hang on a second. My tests, despite being 49 could also show as normal 'sometimes', in fact all Perimeno women's tests can show 'normal' sometimes, but that does NOT make us non Peri, or non Meno. You know your body, as I knew mine at your age, and I begged a Dr for hormone tests; he laughed at me and did the tests to prove to me I was too young for Peri. The tests did come back normal in my case, and I went on to self-diagnose myself as an anxiety ridden mess. In hindsight, I wish PS was around then, as the symptoms I had were the same as now, only now is H*LL. The symptoms are worse, but the same, if that makes sense.

Like you, I have the few hairs on my chin, and I removed them with an epilator, and strange but they didn't come back....although I did hurt myself doing this, and you can read that saga in the "Am I losing my mind" forum.

About your face. That that you describe sounds very much like I had, and it would come and go, and it was only when I was 47. My Doc thought it was a form of rosacea, and gave me some "Metrogel" to use on it, and this gel did take it away on the couple of days I had it per month. I don't get it now, but it made me miserable as you.

If your test does show up normal, that means nothing at this time of 'our' lives. You could be 50 and still get normal results to a Doc. But as my Doc/Gyn [One of them] says, "I treat the symptoms, not the test results" , and I am way into Peri, and it does show up on tests now, but it took years for that to happen, and at other times my tests can appear normal, so I stopped having tests until last week, and now am waiting on results.

How do you cope? By being believed by women here that KNOW 100% that your symptoms are Peri. They reek of Peri to me, and if need be, you can feel free to show your husband my post, because the guilt I put myself through on so-called normal results was horrific pressure, and I would not want another woman to do that to herself.

Go by symptoms, not test results. You are Peri, and I was Peri at your age, in fact, I was Peri at 35-36.

Trust your body, and trust your husband to believe you by showing him symptoms written in articles.
My eyesight also took a dive this year, and looking at the PC is a time I always need glasses now. You are now where near alone.

I wish you all the best, and please let us know how you go.

Hugs,
Viktoria

Brown patches on your skin can also be from low cortisol....You may want to see an endocrinologist to check for this....adrenal gland issues (cortisol) and also the thryoid while you are at it. You are not alone in how you feel....we here will ALWAYS believe you! Check the thead on this site about adrenal fatigue (low cortisol which may cause the brown patches) and see what the ladies say there. Joan

Just wanted to add my two cents - I had a hormone test along with a complete blood count a couple months ago. It came back normal. I know I am in peri - my periods are all over the place, I have the errant facial hair (gross!!!), muscle aches, high, high anxiety. You know your body - you know what you're experiencing.

Thank you so much you have made me feel better i will post what the results show this time, my Dr said mine was roscea also i had never heard of it, but it itched so, my Dr gave me some cream but i was allergic to it, and it made it far worse red and angry seems i am allergic to something in it as i was given the same sort of thing for a bite this summer, and did the same thing, went angry my Dr was shocked, as it doesnt usually happen, i was never this sensitive to things, i cant use bubble bath unles its baby stuff, so my body is of the scales somewhere.
My thyroid test was fine had that one done, my Dr is very good and patient with me, so that is a blessing. i am a worrier but have found that i get anxious now when there is no reason to be, if that makes sense it depends on what time of the month it is not what stress i am going through,
I hope normality returns soon, take care and thank you

I am 44 and haven't had a period since February this year, but have been experiencing peri symptoms for approximately the last five years and during that time have had a number of tests to check hormone levels. The first test showed raised FSH levels and yet a test quite some time later was normal. At that time I was still having periods and one GP told me that the test results could vary depending on the stage of your cycle the test was taken at and yet another GP told me it makes no difference. I have had further tests since and the levels of FSH were extremely high. I know how frustrating it is to feel so unwell and know something is happening to your body only to be told that all your blood tests are fine, but although it's nice to know for sure that you have a reason for feeling so lousy, the end result is that we still have to deal with all the symptoms and many doctors are just not sympathetic when it comes to menopause unfortunately and even though I've had tests confirming the onset I still feel incredibly guilty for the effect the way I feel has on my family. I have a very understanding husband and we have a seven year old daughter and at the moment I have so many bad days with stomach problems, fatigue, aches and pains and anxiety, I don't have the energy or inclination to be doing all the things I'd like to be doing with them, it takes all my effort to do the things I have to do like cooking, shopping, washing and ironing etc. Whatever your test results are, you are still having to cope with the symptoms and that isn't easy but PS does really help. As someone said earlier let your husband read the replies to your post to help him understand what you are going through. It's not easy for our families either, how can they understand when we don't even always know what's happening to us. Good luck, let us know your results. I was actually sent for more tests yesterday, thyroid, hormone levels etc because I was feeling so unwell but I won't have the results for about 10 days.

I agree with the other posters. You definitely will get different hormone readings b/c that is what perimenopause is all about. Its about the years leading up to when you stop menstruating. During those years from all that I've researched your hormones just bounce around. If one is bouncing too low and the other high you can have many different types of symptoms. Then they may level for awhile and then start jumping again. Taking HRT helps some people and I may try the natural bios after my next test comes back, but I'm not 100% sure of that route. I only have one ovary and I've been falling slowly through hell for 2 years. But, prior to that when I was about 41 I noticed little changes taking place. I'm 47 now and as I sit here my low back and hips are throbbing and I am not sure how much I'll get done today.

Taking the vitamins, herbs, and de-stressing, etc. can help you a lot too. Read Dr. Northrup's Menopause book; its huge and filled with all that kind of information. I've been following that regimen for awhile and I feel mostly okay except for the rage and back spasms that come when a period is supposed to be here and isn't.

There is a book for men on menopause that I made my husband read. Now you're not there yet, nor am I but it explains how the hormones affect us. Its called "No, It's Not Hot In Here", or have him read these posts, or even look at some of the Perimenopause books that are out there.

Good luck to you and feel well.

Colleen

I know what you mean about not being believed.As a31 year old if I tell someone I am starting perimeno they give me the look.You know the one that says,no way you are too young.I then say,I know how I feel,its peri.My hormone tests came back normal.I said,well I don't feel normal.My dr agreed finally when I kept insisting that these problems were getting worse with every cycle,and that my always 28 day cycle was going haywire.I am now taking a low dose bcp,zovia.It helps a great deal.I pray more,value my life more,and am "trying"to learn how to relax.GODbless.

I know that look only to well at my age, let alone your age my god i was like you had one period a month regular as clock work had awful stomach ache every month and sore boobs at ovulating time, since this i have two periods a month and no mid month cramps, or anything funny how we get used to the pattern then when it changes, we miss the routine. i wonder if i will ever get used to these feelings, still it could be worse if all i have to worry about it a lighthead at times 24 /7 then i should be grateful my mum used to just pass out in the street, i dont know how she carried on going out,

I just recently found out that early meno runs on both sides of my family!I will say that I am holding onto the hope that since I started early,I will finish early!!GOD willing.I am with you on wanting my old reliable cycle back,even if it did mean horrible cramps,but naow that I am on the bcp,I know when I will bleed and for how long.I also have much less peri symptoms!!I truly hope you too find some relief.GODbless.

Thought I"d chime in here too, since my blood tests just came back and showed 'normal' hormone levels (whatever that means.) However, my thyroid tests are out of whack. Make sure you doctor does a TSH, free T4, and thyroid antibiodies. Some of your symptoms sound like they could be from thyroid problems. I'm seeing an endocrinologist on Monday so I"ll know more then.

Don't worry about any doctor not believing you. In fact, if that happens, I'd fire that particular doctor. You know your own body better than anyone else!

A fellow believer,

Robin