Age 52 still getting my period but gradual changes to length, time etc. Now I am getting a return of cramps which sem to last for weeks and weeks along with very sore breasts and more cold flashes and chills then heat. I can't tolerate the cold weather anymore. I dread going out with the dog because I feel so cold all the time. But it is the cramps that are driving me crazy. I limit Advil because it irritates my stomache. I do take tylenol at nigth, but these cramps are here all the time no and I don not want to live on tylenol. I do go on an exercise bike...but lately that does not have the same good effect it used to. I watch my salt and try to be careful about what I eat (except all the valentines chocolate) etc. you know what I mean. Ok so pleeeeeeeeeze write me back anyone else going through this feeling like yur getting your perios all month? Is this a sign of too much estrogen when it goes up and down? What about if you have a fribroid....would the cramps be there anyway.........Im trying not to go the hysterectomy route so close to menopause? Write soon thanks, l appreciate your help.

Well I don't know what it's a sign of but it just started for me last month. For the first time I was 3 wks overdue then had 4 days as opposed to 7. Since that time the cramps & lower back ache have barely let up. I am so tired of feeling like this. For the past several yrs periods have been 18-23 days apart so I only had about one good week a month as I felt like crap the wk b4 & the wk of. The pain doesn't drive me to bed or anything, it's just very uncomfortable. After my Dec period it was 38 days, now I'm at 28 & counting. I was so looking forward to them getting farther apart until THIS!! I have begged for a hysterectomy for years but no luck. Now that it appears I'm on the road to meno, I too prefer not to push for it.

I should probably ask this question somewhere else but have any of you gone from easy periods to ones that come straight out of hell following a tubal?

Hi Lady..my advice would be to get a saliva hormone test done to see what's going on with your hormones. That's where I'm starting. Is there anything that you are taking besides the tylenol? Hormones? Herbs? I would also avoid the hysterectomy route. Too many other problems stem from that. Also, have you had a gyn check up lately? It's probably something related to hormonal imbalance which gyns are no good at.. but you ought to get a check up. First things first ..get a check up, if you haven't had one for a while, and then Do the saliva tests. Your problem could be easily handled once you find out what the hormones are doing...either by herbs or other natural remedies. Take control of this and please don't let it frighten you...you can do it. We are here for you. We all have weird complaints. argggggh. Blessings.

Who does the saliva test? The PCP or someone else?

I'm wondering about the saliva test too ...