Hi Everyone........This is my first post here. Im not sure if Im going thru Peri-M, but I suspect I am. Im 46. Here are my symtoms:

Irregular periods. I can go 3 or 4 months totally regular......then the next period comes 2-6weeks late. The first day can be really flooding, usually with really bad cramps. Then 2 days of hardly anything. This cycle went that way.....then 2 days of stopping, now Im bleeding again.

Insomnia.....I had it off and on since my 20s......so does my mom and my aunt. Its pretty irregular, but it has been happening more than usual. Im taking vitamins and extra calcium.

Ive also had some depression........and low libido. But exercise has helped alot with the first thing.....and Im in therapy for the second with my dh. Ive also felt alot more introspective than usual.....and Im a Pisces......so Im a pretty introspective person. Im feeling I need MORE time to myself......and Im also very preoccupied with what to do with the rest of my life. Ive got a 4yr old who will be in Kindergarten full time in a year and a 1/2......so it could just be that too.

Thats pretty much it. Ive heard you usually go thru whatever your mother went thru.......My mom had a fairly easy time with it....age 52. So did my sister who is now thru it and age 58.

I havent been to a GYN in years........I moved to a small town a few years ago, and the medical community s*cks here. Most of my women friends (who are younger than me) go to a Planned Parenthood in town and see the FNP there. I was seeing a FNP back in the town I used to live in, flying there once a year for an annual.....but its been a year or so since Ive done that.

Is this the begining of Menopause? How long will this go on like this? YEars??

Thanks for the feedback!

Sounds like Peri to me. I'm 46 also & share many of your symptoms. I haven't seen a gyn in years either ... we need to do that!! There are so many great supportive ladies here! I'm handling my symptoms sooo much better now that I have my P-S friends.

Welcome & good luck!

Hi, Watergoddess, and welcome to Power-Surge!

Yes, this all sounds like peri-menopause. My cycles got completely nuts when I was your age! I am now 52, and am having periods about once every 6 months. I've very ready to be done!!

This is a wonderful site for information and support. Take the time to look through some of the wonderful articles here - you'll get lots of ideas for approaching some of the more challenging symptoms.

You may be one of those sisters who doesn't have a rough time of it - I'll hope you will take after your mom and sister!

Welcome aboard!

Jacquie

Hey WaterGoddess

God Bless You. 46 and a 4 year old! I thought I was late having my last of 5 at age 38. And now starting menopause----you sure have your plate full. You are more than likely in peri. Sounds like you're doing what you can to handle it. The best thing that happened to me was finding this site. Each and every woman who posts here is kind, caring, sympathetic, warm and wonderful. The Spanish have a word to describe a person such as this "simpatica". This site is a treasure trove of knowledge and good advice. Welcome aboard and read, read, read. It will help you on this journey. Take care. Donna

Thanks everyone!