I am 48 and have had irregular periods for a few months, it starts out normal but only last a few days and than it is either spotting or light or nothing for weeks and than it starts all over again. The cramps come and go not horrible but just there. Is anyone else haveing this. I am trying to find out what vitamins I can get the control the bleeding and the cramps. I heard B6 is good for cramps, which always seem to come at night. Have also the hot flashes. This can go on for years, I can handle the bleeding part but the cramps are getting crazy.

I think when they are talking years, they are talking from the onset. My Peri started with mood swings and emotional ups and downs at the age of 38. I was so witchy, I couldn't stand myself let alone expect anyone else to. I then went on BC pills at the suggestion of my Dr. My moods lessened but I continued to have symptoms of hot flashes, low libido, lethargic, brain fog, dryness (especially my nose) wake in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep, and occasionally cry at commercials.. The cramping... I had what I would have described as an ovary cramp. It was as though someone was scraping my insides. That would come sharp but only on occasions, usually right before my menses. Those are gone now and I haven't had a menses for about a year. I've been taking hormones for a year too, but mostly they haven't worked so I'm not sure if that counts.

I have recently started the torche type of hormones and it looks like they are going to work really well for me. Have you been checked for fibroids? They could be the source of your irregular bleeding but if it's not heavy, then maybe not. Sounds like you may be nearing the end. (like a couple of years, not 10).

I also have cramps starting just a week or so after my period ends. I feel as if I will be bleeding any minute again (thankfuly not though). Low doses of magnesium (VERY low) are supposed to help the cramps and from what I understand from my Dr., black cohosh for night/day sweats. I hope it dosen't go on the way it is for much longer. I am at my end right now. I am waiting on my Thyroid tests and HOPE that something is found because I truly can not believe that everything I am going through right now is peri related.
Girlsmom

To Looooooooong!

Welcome to Power Surge!

Have you had a recent checkup with your GYN? Excessive bleeding is usually nothing but the onset of peri, but when I had irregular bleeding I went for a checkup just to be sure all was ok.

That said, the length of one's peri and meno experience is unique to the individual. The good thing is that we share symptoms, so no matter how old we are or at what stage of the process we are, we can learn from each other and vent and rant with others who are going through or have gone through the same or similar things. I will be 56 in April. I had no periods for almost 18 months, and then they started again spontaneously. My last one was at the end of December. I am pretty sure I am one of the oldest bleeders on the site!!

There is a lot of collective wisdom here at PS. Come early and often. And please let us know how you are doing.

Best,
Marcy

I have practically every othger symptom, but the cramping. My periods went from heavy and reg. to coming at the same time, but flow was off and on and still heavy to the past year where I get them every other week sometimes and then they regulate again to do the same a few mo. later.

The irregular bleeding pattern seems to be different for each of us, some just stop while others continue on and on.

How long does peri last...snowmoon sums it up well...I am not sure it ends since I hear ladies speak of 6 years later still feeling awful, but if cramps is all you have certainly I would think that would end with your periods, and noone can say when that is not even a Dr.

As the others said the best is to be checked for anything that would cause abnormal bleeding...if all is fine then the abnormal bleeding is normal for this time.

Welcome you are among friends...MIkki

SOUDS LIKE FIBROIDS TO ME.THE DR.EXPLAINED THAT THEY REALLY NEVER GO AWAY,JUST TRAVEL FROM PLACE TO PLACE---THEY PROLIFIRATE IF TOUCHED,a HYSTEROSCOPY WAS THE ANSWER FOR ME.

Thank you all so much, it really is so good to have found a place that I can get some information from others going thru this or have been thru it. This is such a hard thing to go thru I just want it over already but that will not be happening any time soon but I can always hope and pray that it is. I am going to start taking the vitamin B6 or B complex, the complex has B6 and 12 and 12 is good for headache and I have also been getting miragines.
Thank you so much