I have been complaining alot lately of gas and bloating which is more frequent than not although it's not continuous. I do have times where I feel fine. My doc doesn't think it's anything to worry about. I have not had a colonscopy yet and am planning scheduling it soon. Anyway, I now have it in my head that I have ovarian cancer. Although I believe that was checked at my last check up I can't be certain. I have my annual GYN appt on 4/22 but am now looking to try and move it up. I do realize that so many symptoms mimic so many others and it's enough to make you crazy. Now throwing perimeno into the fray doesn't make it much easier. Do you drive yourself crazy with things like this? EJ

Yes, EJ. I went to the gastro doctor who put me at ease and told me I didn't have ovarian cancer. There would be a lot of fluid in your abdomen if you had it, at least that's what she told me. If your doctor suspected it, they would send you for an ultrasound. If you've had an ultrasound lately, you need not worry about it at all. In fact, you shouldn't worry about it anyway. It's not all that common. However, gas certainly is, as we all know and love! Try to relax. We're all unduly worried about our health these days! Hugs, Meryl

Thanks for your reassuring words Meryl. I don't think it's fluid...it definately feels like trapped gas. It's so confusing since most same symptoms lead to so many different conclusions. What really bothers me is the fact that the age of 50 and over is now the benchmark for so many things. I just turned 50 this past October. Bit of a coincidence that "everything" is wrong with me 6 months past 50. It's nice to know I'm in good company. Thanks again and have a lovely weekend. EJ

Hey EJ. I think we all go through what you're going through. Don't they call it exacerbation of symptoms or something like that? I have been scared to death that I have had ovarian cancer before-but it passes when the pain subsides. I have had a sore tonsil off and on for about 2 weeks now and I've convinced myself it's throat cancer. I go through this TIME & TIME again with all kinds of different symptoms. It's so annoying, but so far everything has turned out okay! Which I KNOW it will with you too! I think peri kind of turns us into hypochondriacs and SHOOT! With all of this change, OF course we are going to think the worst! Hang in there....you've got all of us to talk to and I'm SURE you are fine! You're smart to get things checked out with your doc - it will give you that piece of mind! HUGGERS! Kleeo

Kleeo Thanks for your post. Hypchondria at its best. Of course I woke up with the same very thought so will probably feel this away until it passes. Weekends are the worst w/these thoughts. I'm lucky that my husband is very supportive. He has refrained from rollling his eyes when I suggest there is something wrong. He encourages me to call my doctors to have anything checked out. I suppose it's better to deal w/these things head on whether something's wrong or not. It's reassuring to know that I am not alone while going through this. It stinks, no doubt, that we all have to put ourselves through this. Have a great day! I'm sure we'll be talking again soon. EJ

Hey ej, Don't know whether to laugh or cry at these posts! I have "had" ovarian cancer at least 6 times in the past 10 years. When my bowel problems started (I have IBS), I was convinced that's what it was. What compounded the fear was that I was spotting all the time, which of course, is another symptom of perimenopause. I made myself half-crazy, demanding ultrasounds every 18 months of so, and my sweetheart of a doc would always indulge me while saying he expected nothing would be found. Like the other gals who've responded, I honestly suspect you've just got tummy stuff, but it will put you at ease to have it checked - I know from experience that nothing anyone said would have convinced me, only the darned ultrasound! To make matters worse, I would sneak peeks at the technician's face, to see if she was seeing something she didn't like! I am a hypochondrial NUT, but glad to know there are others who wig out at easily as I do! BTW, with my IBS, I get gas that stays trapped for days at a time - it's a matter of intestinal spasming. Until something breaks the spasm, I'm stuck, and have gotten very attached to my hot-water bottle! I wish you well, ej, and hope all this settles soon.

Joliejacq I can always count on my PS friends to put my mind at ease. But as you know, until I have it checked out, words will only go so far. I do believe it's gastro stuff and my doc says it could be IBS but that's not conclusive. The consistent feeling of gas/constipation started about 7 weeks ago so of course that lead me to my thinking... I hope this too shall pass (no pun intended) but again I find it rather hard to believe that ALL of what I think is wrong with me is WRONG all at once except for the diagnosis of HYPOCHONDRIA. Thanks again and have a great weekend. EJ

EJ I just read your post from 3-19-04. I had just been looking at my tummy (AKA, beer belly),and decided to come on the boards to see if anyone else was having this problem. And I noticed your post. I too was having the same thought process. I like you, always go straight to the "I'm gonna die way of thinking". Never in my life have I been so goofy in my thinking. This peri is enough to drive anyone NUTS!! It changes from day to day,hour to hour. New symptoms, old symptoms!! Hang in there,it will get better.

Dear AA You know what they say...misery loves company. Pre-peri, this thought process probably would not have existed. Interestingly enough, there was an article in the NYTimes yesterday about psychotherapy for hypochondriacs and how it's successful so long as the HYPO stuck it out long enough. Thanks for your support and of course you have mine. I'm grateful for friends like you. Have a great day! EJ

The gas seems to be a normal thing. If you had IBS beforehand or any kind of irritable bowel, you will most definitely have it during perimenopause or menopause. And boy does it come back like lightening! I have so much gas and irritation of my stomach, reflex and esophagus I could just jump out of my skin sometimes! And when I get the body flushes, it comes up from my navel or back and it reems me good right through the stomach into my chest. I don't even care that the skin on my face is burning, it's my stomach and chest! Took the echo heart stress and that came out great. checked my thyroid, supposely that's normal, so here is the big whopper of perimenopause. I hate it. Progesterone creme helping a bit, only been taking it now for 5 days. should have never gotten off of it. It helped me in the past, 3 years ago. Got off of it for a month and here came the hot body flushes! Will see my gyne for the first time on this on Monday.