Hi to all, I am new here. I posted first in the introduction, but I am hoping for a little help here. I am 34, I have 3 kids, and I have been married for 14 years. Last year, I started having panic attacks, and went through a really bad time, filled with tests. I have had a CT of the brain, a lumbar puncture, and several ultrasounds and bloodwork. I am borderline hyperthyroid, and I have had benign ovarian cysts. I recently had a new pelvic ultrasound, due to my period being 30 days late, and it came back normal. When my period finally did come it was really light, and only lasted 4 days. THis month I got my period on time, and it was heavier, clotty, and really painful, but again, it only lasted 4 days. I am havinf hot flashes, lightheadedness, oh, and for a while I have been having a problem with coughing, sneezing and urinary problems :oops: . I can't hold my bladder for long, I mean it will hurt if I do. I had a blood test last week for my cortisol levels, and it came back abnormal, I have to repeat it on Monday. I still have anxiety, and I am on medication for it (buspar). I feel like I am either going crazy, or I have some sinister disease. I think I am too young to be experiencing perimenopause, can anyone help me?? Thanks, Roni

I was chronically panicked, before I found a doctor to treat my mild Grave's disease. Unfortunately, I'm still having a terrible peri, but studies have shown that even sub-clinical hyperthyroidism affects quality of life. I had to search high and low to find an endo to treat mild Graves. Good luck.

You're not too young to be experiencing perimenopausal symptoms ronigurl....probably around the average age.And all your symptoms sound very common to everyone else on this board....I also SERIOUSLY thought i was going crazy(sometimes i still think that),but the more i read,the more questions i ask,the more i understand this whole thing and realize i am not going through it alone,which does help some of the anxiety over it.

Thanks to you both, chriscarol, and jadebear, your comments have helped me greatly. I go back to my doctor on Tuesday for a follow up for my first cortisol test, and I have to do another one tomorrow.I plan on asking him about hormonal testing, maybe he will go for it, but I don't know. I am an Army wife, and military docs are a little different than private practioners. I am soo glad to have found this place, it's nice to know I am not alone. Thanks Again, Roni

Hello ladies, I went to the doc today, armed with questions. I told him about the hot flashes , that my periods are shorter in duration, that I have severe cramps everyday of my cycle, that I am plagued with lightheadedness, etc...he said that he doesn't think I am peri. He said that a woman that looks like she's 26 on the outside will invariably look 26 on the inside. Ok, well, that's a nice compliment and all, but am I or not??? He also told me the results of my first cortisol test. He said that normal levels are between 4-22. I said, ok, so what are mine..like 25?? He said 33. I had a repeat test done yesterday, at a different time, so now I wait. I don't know what to think, do you guys have any ideas?? Thanks, Roni

You could have some type of hormonal imbalance not caused by peri-menopause. Our bodies are orchestrated by a lot of different hormones. 34 is considered young for peri-menopausal symptoms, but it does happen, and some women have actually gone through ovarian failure (premature menopause) at much younger ages than yours, but it is fairly rare. I wish you luck in finding out what is going on. You'll need it because most doctors are complete duds when it comes to understanding hormones (although they think they know it all).