Hi all,

I turned 38 in October and have always had regular periods. My last period was an entire week early (started on 12/14). It wasn't quite as heavy as it normally is. I didn't freak out, though I was a little concerned. Anyway, tonight, I have started spotting. I'm not sure if I'm starting my period or not. Time will tell. NOW I'm freaked out. I haven't had a pap in almost 2 years. I was scheduled for one earlier this month but had to cancel b/c I had to be in court for my mother's alimony hearing. I'm going to call monday and see if I can get asap.

I'm somewhat prone to anxiety, and of course, I'm worried that I have cancer or some other God-awful thing. I know that no one here can diagnose me, but I would like to know if this is normal for peri, and if I'm at an age that peri usually starts. Also, am I going overboard with my morbid thoughts about this? (I probably am, but I just cannot seem to help myself. Sometimes I'm my own worst enemy.)

I don't have night sweats or anything like that, although I have had heart palps off and on for a few years. I had a nuclear stress test and all is well. I can't really think of any other symptoms.

Any info would be appreciated. If anyone has had a similar experience, I'd love to hear from you.

(I don't know why this crap always happens to me on a friday - when I can't get to a doc!)

As everyone on the boad will tell you, "When in doubt, have it checked out". If nothing else, just to put your mind at ease.


I started my menstrual oddities around your age. My Mom told me it was "the change" starting, but I went into immediate denial. I assumed that meant "old age", so it scared me. I should have listened to my Mom. She was a wise woman.

What you're going through sounds completely normal and par for the course as far as pre-menopausel symptoms.

snowonder,

You are not too young to be experiencing some perimenopausal symptoms. Peri can last up to 10 years. I started changes in my cycle at around 35 and had my first "weird" feelings at 37. And for the next 10 years I did experience many of the 34 symptoms at different times. Unfortunately I didn't know what it was caused from until I stopped having periods at 46, when I finally found this website. You are so fortunate to have found it already. My life would have been a lot less stressful if I had known that some of those symptoms were hormonally driven!! And of course, nobody even suggested it!!

Hi,

I had the same thing happend to me when I was your age. (I'm 44 now) ..I would get a period early, then get another one 2 weeks later then spot. It lasted about 2 years. Then at 40 I started skipping periods, and I am still skipping 4 years later! I remember thinking I had some form of cancer too, so I got to the doctor. Of course peri never entered my mind and the doctors, of course, never mentioned it either. All tests were fine. Peri seems to be easier for me now but I think it's because I know what it is!

You will be fine. Get checked out by the doctor so you will feel better and then get ready for the ride of your life! Atleast you will know what is happening to you and you will have this great site you go to for help!

Hi Sno:

You are definitely not too young to be starting peri. I was 36 when I noticed the anxiety and what not. Started having trouble with my periods a few years back. Now I either skip some or have them every 2 weeks. I am 45 now soooooo hoping to getting close to stopping the periods completely.

Absolutely, I agree with the others, when in doubt check it out.

Welcome to PS. Happy New Year.

LOL ... I am the same way with Friday issues!!!

I started having peri symptoms at 38.
How old was your mom when she started? It's always best to get checked out - but it is also a good idea to write things down, and educate yourself.

First and foremost, get yourself in for your pap asap. I suffered with peri symptoms starting at 36 (now 38), finally had a check up after putting it off for years. Turns out I had pre-cancerous cells which lead to a hysterectomy and also had a uterus full of fibroids. Now that the fibroids are gone the peri/hormonal symptoms have nearly subsided. Not meaning to scare you, just being honest with my experience. Thank God I had my check up and thank goodness the crappy symptoms are nearly all gone. Get your booty to your gyno!

Thank you all for the responses! It does put my mind at ease somewhat. I won't feel completely better until the doc says I'm ok.

I'm still spotting. I'm wearing a panty liner, but haven't bled thru one yet. It's mostly when I wipe, but sometimes there's blood in the toilet. Weird. I wish it would stop.

My mom was in her early 40s when she started having weird stuff happen. She was 48 when her period stopped completely. When I told her what was going on w/me, she said that it's probably my body starting to change (meno or peri). She's usually right, so I'm hoping she is this time.

I think I'm losing my mind. I got up this morning and called the doc's office to make an appt. I couldn't understand why I kept getting their answering service. Afterwards, I called my mother, and she wasn't at work either. When I called her at home and asked why she wasn't at work, she enlightened me on the fact that it's sunday. Geez! That's what I get for trying to get things done before having my morning coffee.

Anyone know what the typical age is when women start having problems like this (due to peri)? I know it's different for everyone, but what's the average age? I think I read somewhere that if you start your period very early in life, you're likely to go thru meno earlier. I don't know how true that is, tho. I started when I was 14.

How old were you when you first got your period? What kind of symptoms were you having that sent you to the doc? Do you think your symptoms were peri-related or just related to the fibroids and other problems you were having? Thank God you got to the doc when you did! That's the kind of thing that scares me. I'm usually good about getting my paps done, but I've had to put it off twice this year due to court dates (for my mom's divorce/alimony case). What kind of luck is that???? Geez.

I started my cycle at about 14. I had a classic menstrual cycle with predictable cycling etc until two years ago. Symptoms initially only sent me to my family Doctor who thought AD's would treat my problems and that it had to be anxiety/panic disorder. The gyno was the last resort to see if possibly I could be placed on hormones, just happened to find out the other problems at that time (well I take that back she lost my pathology report for 8 months). For the eight months following my gyno visit I was on bcp's which actually helped all of my symptoms, you may look up my posts on that (there is a huge thread on bcp's that I responded in).

My symptoms over the span of time were anxiety, panic, unpredictable cycling to the point one month I though "omg, I'm pregnant", heavier flow and sometimes very light flow, clotting, cramping, numbness in my arms, legs and face, heart palpitations and I am sure there were others I have long forgotten. I do think part of my symptoms were/are peri and the fibroids sucking away my hormones exaggerated that. Since I still have my ovaries I still go through my monthly spell of moodiness, the munchies, back pain, and I get a nervousness along with heart palpitations and still my cycle fluctuates sometimes it seems to come on within a couple of weeks sometimes it goes the full cycle etc they only good part is there is no bleeding or cramping. It isn't abnormal to be in your 30's and suffering with peri but if that is what is going on be prepared for the Doctors to tell you that you are to young *eye roll*. Be persistent and do start journaling through your cycle to get a feel for what is going on and when so you can hopefully see a pattern.

Again visit your Doctor first and then go from there. Just don't accept, "you are to young" or "you have anxiety/panic disorder".

I've had panic/anxiety for awhile. Years, actually. I don't get panic attacks very often, thank God. My anxiety is more health-related. I don't take any meds for it tho.

The only time I can remember ever having a "female problem" is when I was trying to get pregnant with my daughter. My son was born in the spring of 1995. I started trying to get prego again in 1996. For some reason, I was spotting mostly after intercourse, but periods were normal. I can't remember what all my gyno did as far as trying to find out what was wrong. All the tests came back normal. As a last resort, he put me on Doxycycline (strong antibiotic), and that seemed to do the trick. It did a number on my tummy tho!!!

I did have a tubal (via Filshie clips) 2 months after my daughter was born, but that's never been a problem.

Thanks for the info and advice. I'm seeing my gyno on wednesday. I'm so ready for that appt. I'm hoping he can at least help relax my nerves a bit. I know he'll be doing the regular yearly physical, but what else should I expect from this visit? What else do you think he might check out in order to find out what the problem is? I'm going to remind him about my mom having precancerous cells in her cervix, which required her having the LEEP procedure. She's fine now. This happened about 12 years ago. She was around 50.

Thanks again for the support!!!

You may ask for a hormone screen. Also follow up on your pap as well. I never in my life dreamed my Doctor (ex now) would lose my report for eight months. I think the main thing is to explain the issues you have been having and ask what he recommends. If you haven't already, they may schedule you for a base line mammo, which I need to do this stuff keeps getting earlier and earlier! Good luck on Wednesday and let us know the outcome.