Hi everyone,

I'm pretty new to the boards, have posted a couple of times.

I think I'm perimenopausal, although dr's refuse to acknowledge and will not test me because I'm only 38 (mom finished menopause by 40). Anyway, I have so many symptoms and my cycles are all over the map...not regular and certainly not consistent...not sure if it will be a very heavy month or a light flow month, 5 days or 8 days...who knows! This month was 2 days of brown "yucky" spotting followed by one day of extra heavy "yucky" followed by 2 days of light. On day 3 suffered a terrible migraine with extreme nausea - thought it was a sinus headache at first - still suffering sinus problems. My question is this, do peri symptoms carry on all month long? With pms, I used to feel badly for approximately 2 weeks out of every month and then once my period arrived, I would get some relief and feel good again. At this point, I am feeling badly most of the month with a couple of good days sprinkled in between. The anxiety is not letting up, insomnia is bad again, I fall asleep only to awaken at 3 am for the rest of the night. Although, last night, I feel asleep at 8 pm (couldn't even stay awake to watch Lipstick Jungle!) and slept until 7 am this morning without any interruptions and I could have kept on sleeping if I didn't have to get up and get everyone out the door. Again, Is this normal? I am so worried, I'm the one in this household that runs on average of 4-5 hours of sleep per day. I was just so drained yesterday. Also, I have been having night sweats again, my hair is wet underneath and my body feels sweaty but pj's are not soaked. Then I will feel completely chilled out of nowhere...throw all of the covers on me and heating pad too only to get extremely hot and have to throw everything back off again. Windows up then windows down in the bedroom. Today in the shower I was using all hot water and felt completely chilled from within...is this normal?

It's just so odd to have one symptom or another almost every day of the month, never feeling just quite right, do you know what I mean? I keep feeling like I'm trying to come down with something, but no. I don't mean to complain, I just worry and worry about this. Any advice? I feel like I'm losing my mind, I'm really scared.

Thank you so much,
Tracey

Sounds like peri to me! When it started, most of my symptoms were at their peak the week of my period...when estrogen was at it's lowest point. By Day 6 or so the insomnia, waking, nightsweats and any anxiety would let up some and I would sleep like a baby for a few nights. By the time I hit meno the symptoms pretty much lasted all month long. But everyone is different - some have one symptom clear up only to get another, others find things get much better as time goes on. There is just no good way to predict unfortunately!

I am really in the thick of peri - my last 4 cycles spacing out 72 days, 56 days, 24 days, and 23 days. My symptoms are worse right before my period (especially on the longer cycles), but I am kind of crampy on and off all month. As I stated in another post, my cramps are worse during my period now than before peri - almost like when I was a teenager. But I definitely notice symptoms all month long.

I've noticed that my cramps are getting worse too, just as bad as my teenage days. After having 2 children, it eased up a bit, but now they are back full force, I find myself taking more Motrin and lots of hot baths.

I'm glad to hear that someone else has varying symptoms month long.

Take good care.

Hi Tracey,
Try not to worry too much. Your symptoms are absolutely classic! You do sound as if your peri is progressing rather rapidly. It may mean that you will get through it quite quickly but it is likely to be one h*ll of a ride. The best predictor for menopause timings remains the experience of your mum.
Pop in here each day and describe your struggles. You will find that it will really help with the fear and it certainly helps others who are struggling along with you. This site is better than having your own private doctor and psychiatrist rolled into one!
Do search the site by your symptoms and look back into the past as well as using the board 'live.' The info available to you on this site is amazing!


XIII

XIII,

Thank you so much for your reply. You are absolutely correct, the ladies and wisdom on this board are priceless and worth so much more than all of these doctors.

Thank you also for making me feel normal. If only my dr. would acknowledge this, maybe I could have some inner peace to deal with this and get through it. If only this nasty anxiety would leave me alone. Thinking back now, I believe that I began peri about 3-4 years ago, but I didn't put 2 and 2 together. My periods were still running within a certain cycle range (24-28 days) but suddenly became heavy. I had additional symptoms that I overlooked only because the doctors and the books all say that in order to be perimenopausal, one's cycles must be irregular. And while mine were occurring within the same week every month (give or take a few days) other symptoms were being overlooked. It began with dizziness and anxiety out of nowhere that swept me off my feet and quickly progressed to panic attacks with agoraphobia - there was a period when I was afraid to leave the house. Symptoms that I believed to be related to my blood sugar (my mom is hypoglycemic and my grandmother and aunt are diabetics) were occurring. Insomnia, depression, mood swings, acne, and hair loss appeared several years ago. Lack of interest in sex, incontinence, and a sudden increase in my cholesterol - both good and bad. Looking back, maybe these were overlooked as peri symptoms as I didn't put the puzzle together. I was treating each symptom separately, not together and thought that everything was due to being an overworked, overstressed wife and mother. I don't know, maybe I'm trying to hard to relate these occurrences to peri, time will tell.

Anyway, I should correct myself, not every single day of the month is bad. I thank God for every day. It's just that there are more bad days than good as I compare my cycles to years past. Oh well, part of life.

I would love to hear from others.
Thanks again...I will be here often!
Tracey

Welcome, Tracy! You have come to a good place. Peri has been just awful to me. I'm like you in that I didn't put 2 and 2 together until just a few months ago. I think I've been in peri for a few years, too. 2-3 years ago, my periods started to become slightly irregular and I developed some skin problems (rosacea) and started having trouble sleeping through the night. Then, just about a year ago, I developed some gastrointestinal problems (GERD). I treated the rosacea and GERD. THroughout the past year, I've been feeling worse and worse - just about like I have the flu - lots of nausea, hot/cold spells, dizziness, loss of appetite. Just a few months ago, I started getting lots of hot flashes/night sweats. That's when it hit me that I must be in peri. I've only had 3 periods in the last year. I've had lots of tests - GI , bloodwork, CAT scan, MRI and everything keeps coming out normal. I went to my OB/GYN about a month ago. WHen I told her how I was feeling, she said that I was definately in peri. She did an FSH test which came out pretty high (77). Then she said that I was menopausal and shouldn't be having any periods at all and that she was pretty sure that was my problem. Now what to do? I've been taking HRT (PremPhase) for 10 days now without much relief. I still feel lousy, am not sleeping well at all and am having night sweats (these are actually a tiny bit better), but all in all, the HRT isn't helping. At this point, I tempted to just stop taking it and ride out the storm. (By the way, I'm 51). Once in awhile, I get a day where I feel really good, like my old self, so I know that I am still in there someplace. It's very discouraging and hard to get through most days. This forum gives my hope that better days are out there somewhere!

HI Tracey and other ladies,
I too am new to this site. just came across it today and glad to find it! I have been in similar situation whereby noone can confirm if i am peri-menopausal or not. However, I think we all know our own bodies best and if given the right information, should be able to recognise changes. Unfortunately I think I'm peri-menopausal. although my periods are still regular, although heavier and bad cramping (like when i was younger) and blood tests have shown a negative, I am suffering from all the other symptoms, which you and some of the other ladies on this forum share.

I would say if yr mom finished M at 40, you could put 2 and 2 together that you're in the same category, but how good is it that yr mum finished at 40? when some womens can go for up to 10 years (so i have been told).

What bothers me the most, and i'm wondering if anyone has the same symptoms, are these God awful tingling sensations in the top and back of my head, like an electrical current sensation. coupled with this is this fuzzy feeling like dizzines (although I'm not spinning) but it makes me feel like this is only going to lead me to fall down. they seem to be more prolific during ovulation. This has caused me to take a break from working full time as i felt like a nutter, sitting in meetings and getting this sensation whereby i couldnt concentrate on anything else but this buzzing in my head and would have to excuse myself. Off course i suffer from migraines, burning flushes on the face, body, fatigue, anxiety bla, bla, bla and essentially over this thing already. would love to see if this is normal> BTW i have had CT scans and my head is "normal". I find the only thing that tends to help this is to either have something to eat and/or lie down. apart from this the docs tests say i'm again "normal". Love to hear from anyone on this.

cheers
Linda

I will answer with a yes. It is all month. You now officially have pms all month long with absolutely no relief.
My only relief has been an AD.

casa, you symptoms are classic. the lightheadedness/dizzies that are really just irritating, the tingling. You are in a boat with a bunch of women, so welcome.

the threshold of peri is a very terrible place to be. I thought I was dying with a 2yr old baby. Just come here and get your hug that you need. You are strong and really, in reality healthy. You WILL make it!

Linda,

So sorry to hear your symptoms but relieved I am not alone in having the pre-ovulation burning/electrical sensation in the back of my head! It really puts my mind somewhat at rest! I too have had to cut back on work I am working from home two days a week (sometimes more when I feel really bad) and this is almost more stressful....makes me worried I will lose my job! I am trying to ferret out when I have my worst symptoms and see what I can do for management. I did read two wonderful books..."Before the Change, Taking Charge of Perimenopause" by Ann Louise Gittelman and "What your Doctor May not Tell you About Premenopause" by Dr. John Lee. These have at least given me some tools that have helped a bit in terms of what vitamins, minerals, etc to be taking for support and symptom management. I sweat by magnesium now for the palpitations! If only I could get this LH surge/electric feeling resolved AND get quality sleep I think I could manage! Take care and good luck!

Hi Tracey,


you've already gotten some pretty good answers here .... but just to throw in my two cents, YES! Peri symptoms can definatley last all month. ... mine do! It's either one thing, or another, EVERY DAY! Yep! And i also find now, that that pre-period feeling down in the lower abdomen, is hanging around a lot more now, instead of just before my period.
Yeah, this can last all month long.

Hi Peri

Thankyou for replying. What a flood of emotions for me to find that this is all normal. I feel like a fruit cake half the time, and really you are very much on yr own dealing with this. Thanks for yr words of encouragement. The hug is a really great offer.

cheers
Linda

Hi Curiousity

Sounds like we are in the same boat. Thanks for yr suggestions on reading I'll look into these. Yes i can pretty much handle all of the other rubbish by the uncontrollable head is not good. Let me know if you discover the secret to eliminating, and vice versa, that is if there is something. All the very best to you also.

Linda