HI everyone!......Well, I just want to thank this forum first of because it's given me much support and strengh. I'm 42 and I think that I started peri two weeks after I turned 40. It started by having periods change. Some times I'd get long periods, then skip periods, then short periods, then very short and brownish blood periods, then up to three months missing periods. Then I started feeling sore joints about a week before a period. Later I progress to getting EXTREMELY anxious/panicky!.....I get alternating periods of bloating, gas, diarhea, constipation...worse a week before my periods. Now I have a new symptom. Other symptoms I've noticed is bad taste in mouth at times, dizzyness(this is quite scary!), and now is the newest symptom at the age of 42 which is nasal congestion. Now, it's not a cold or the flu as I don't have a fever or sore throat. It's now two weeks with this nasal congestion. Is this a possible symptom of peri?....I'm getting tired of breathing through my mouth. Today I'm feeling so anxious I can just cry!...help! I do have a hypothyroid and am on synthroid for it.

I also get the congestion right before my period,that and worsening of sinus drainage.i also get the loose stools.Sad isn't it.GOD bless

((((HUGS)))) I'm sorry you are having so much going on right now. It can be so overwhelming. (((HUGS)))

It is possible that your sinus problems are peri. There is a quote on this site by Dr. Phillip Warner, MD addressing this very thing..."...lack of estrogens can cause more irritation to mucous membranes including the sinus cavities."

Hope this helps.

Bella

You sound just like me! I am 44 and started skipping periods at 41/42...I thought that happend when you were at the end of peri! Guess not cause 2 years later I am still skipping. I also have the bad taste in my mouth. Sometimes I get dizzy and I get weird stomach things before my period starts ( thats how I can tell its coming)! As far as the congestion, I have that too. I tend to blame everything on peri..sooo.........lol I hope you feel better soon.

Welcome to Power-Surge!

I too get ALL those symptoms you have mentioned....I began around age 44, I'm now 48, post by 16 months (I think!)
but sadly am still suffering with a multitude of things, anxiety being the No.1...usually about my health!

Come here often...there is a lot of warm, caring lovely girls here...they will make you feel SO much better about this time in our lives.

Caz

Glorita:

(((((((((you)))))))))))))

I am sorry that you are having a difficult time. I, too, have all of the symptoms you describe and have noticed a worsening with seasonal type allergies. Thank God I have not experienced the constant nasal congestion. My peri symptoms started at 36.

Glad you are here.

Jeaninne

May I ask what you guys are taking for your sinus congestion? I've always had seasonal allergies with sinus congestion and was very happy on zyrtec-d. When that became available OTC; my dr changed me to Allegra-D; then peri symptoms started and seemed everytime I went to dr my BP was elevated. One time it was 144/98! So they tell me to stop taking the allegra d and take regular allegra. Was wondering if anyone had same issue. What can you use for sinuses that doesn't raise BP?

If it's just a stuffy nose, then we've had great results with 100-200 mg of grape seed extract (NOT grapefruit) It's quite good for allergies, also.

I have also had a sharp increase in sinus problems and allergy-like symptoms, the latter especially when people with legit allergies are suffering.

I am starting to have a theory on this...what does everyone think???

All of the pipes, tubes, veins etc...need estrogen to be plump and work well, when we lose estrogen all the normal functions start to either slow down or stop working as they once did. Like me my urinary tract was not working at all. I also had terrible sinus issues. Now I am on the pill and I feel the opposite now, it seems everything is tightning so much. My urine stream is so strong...before the pill it just dribbled out. It seems that the surging of hormones has my muscles, veins and sinus feeling really relaxed or too tight. It is such a strange feeling. Especially the two weeks before my period. Those weeks things are just horrible. Even on the pill I can feel my hormones surging on a few of the days. I always notice it around 4 pm and 8 pm. I know that is too weird. Other days I have no issues. Gosh I want this to be over with. My ears itch so bad from the tightening too.

lovelace, your theory seems absolutely reasonable to me !

The way I look at it ... if the dropping estradiol can throw off my temperature control part of my brain so badly that I have chills and break out into a sweat when I haven't even exerted myself, then there is likely all sorts of other stuff (damage, IMO) going on.

Lovelace,
Your theory is correct. I was just re-reading Vliet's book and she said estrogen does help with smooth muscle contractions and tone. But testosterone helps with muscle tone also.