Hi,

This is my first time here.
I am 46....or is it 47...sheesh, can't actually remember. Anyway I have 3 kids, youngest is 17. I am most definitely NOT pregnant, if I were it would be the Immaculte Conception all over again.

Anyway, my problem is this, for 2 weeks of the month I get PMS, (Pass My Shotgun, Pretty Mean Sister etc etc) I have noticed my periods lightening up considerably to the point of almost nothing sometimes. On the month where I have intense back pain I don't get the mind games, on a moth where I don't have pain- I LOSE MY MIND.

BUT my biggest thing right now is this - I have begun to experience what I can only describe as the let-down reflex in this 2 weeks running up to my period. Is this possible??? I have never heard of anyone speaking of it. I breast fed all my children, so I sure do recognise the feeling.

HELP...........

Dear'misspepper'
It is very possible that you are Peri Menopausal given your age and symptoms.I was fully Menopausal at 39 so it would also have had to be the Immaculate Conception if I ever got pregnant again!.

The fluctuation in Hormones can have a pretty awful effect on the mind and make you feel that you are going crazy.The good news is that you are not.What you need to do is get your Hormonal Levels and your Thyroid checked out.Depending on results you can then make a plan with your Doctor of what you might want to take to help you with your symptoms.There are many options today.

I did not understand what you meant by 'Let-down'reflex.If you could describe it more might be able to help you

Welcome to the Site
Keep Posting
We are all in this 'fun and games'together

Warm Wishes
Elizabeth

misspepper, I breastfed all of my children, so I understand what you mean by the let down reflex. I have to say, peri has been a total, unending nightmare for me, but I don't remember ever experiencing the let down reflex. I have had extremely sore breasts, before dr. put me on the pill for other problems I was having.

I think I would call my dr. just to ease your mind.

Let us know how it goes.

Big Hugs,

bev

Hi- By Let down reflex do you mean the feeling you got when your milk let down, or actual milk production? I can so relate to the feeling of led down reflex. That is how my breasts feel the week before and of my period. I take motrin for it and it helps some and also I just started taking evening primrose oil caps and so far (after 3 caps) I can't tell any difference yet. I hope your doc has some answers for you! Hugs Jan

You are absolutely not alone in this one. I breast fed all my children and know exactly what you mean. Recently I started having all those early pregnancy signs, including the "let down" reflex and what felt like braxton-hicks contractions and I'm here to tell you it was all very real. Even though I knew in my heart I wasn't pregnant I did have a couple weeks of anxiety over the possibility. It does seem to be a anti-climatic explanation but it's all hormonal, my dear. Once things even out a little bit all that really wierd stuff goes away and it can do so over a long period or seemingly overnight. Mine all came in pretty suddenly, evolved over a period of two months then POOF!!!....gone. No periods in three months, no symptoms except hot flashes which seem to be getting better. Go figure...some women suffer so and I think I've gotten off pretty easily. But every woman's experience will be different to one degree or another. All these pregnancy type symptoms are very common though.