I'm almost 39 and have been feeling very weird the past 4 months or so. First, I had what I thought was acid reflux, but that went away, thank God... I also feel like I'm in a fog. Now about 8 days after my period ended, I started getting weird low back and abdominal cramping. I asked my acupuncturist what he thought it could be and he said it's probably cramping from ovulation. I've never had cramping after my period ended so I'm a little confused. He says it's very normal, but since it's never happened to me before, I don't consider it normal for ME. I made an appointment with a GYN for this Thursday, but I was just wondering if this is some type of sign that I'm in perimenopause.

I should also mention my Mom died last year at age 68 from ovarian cancer so now whenever I feel anything "down there" I immediately convince myself I'm dying. Just wondering if anyone else has ever had this. Thanks.

Hi, Polly! I don't blame you for being concerned, although the cramping is probably nothing to worry about. It's called mittelshmerz and it occurs, yes, about eight days after your period, right before ovulation. It's very normal. It's a slight cramping that you get when your ovaries are about to send an egg on its way. Sometimes stress or the decline in estrogen levels that comes from getting older can make it worse. Sometimes, if you're well on your way toward menopause, it can hurt like hell.

It's very good that you're having it checked out by an ob/gyn. I've had mittelshmerz several times in my life that was painful enough to send me to the doctor--once when I was in my early '20s and now again when I'm in my late '40s. And each time the doctor said "Don't worry, it's just mittelshmerz. It will go away." And it did.

But it's still a good idea to get pain like that checked out, particularly in light of your mother's ovarian cancer. You should be sure to mention the back pain to your doctor because that can be a sign of something more like an ovarian cyst or endometriosis. But the chances are good that it's just mittelshmerz.

Good luck!

I, too, am having pain in my lower back and lower abdomen. It started this morning about 4 a.m. I took something for pain and it eased up. It began again about an hour ago. My husband said it's probably muscle pain, but I told him it's more like the pain I used to get when I had ovarian cysts....usually 1 a year for many years till they finally removed it. I'm hoping you're right about mittelschmerz. It is that time right now-Day 10. I'm leaving for vacation next Saturday. I would like to get it checked out if it doesn't get better by Monday, but I'm sure if I call the gynecologist, they'll say they can get me in sometime in September! <_< Does it ever get better???

Sandy

It DOES get better. It takes time, and it comes and goes, but sometimes it is just our sweet little bodies adjusting to changing hormones.
I had killer cramps, abdominal and back for years, relieved for a while by birth control pills, but developed super side effects and had to let them go. Now hot, smelly baths are my stand-by.
Yes DEFINATELY be checked out by your doc, better safe than sorry.

POLLY, my mom died last year (at 76) from ovarian cancer, after having had breast cancer that recurred after 7 years. Needless to say, my sisters and I delved into the possibilities of increased risk. There was an increase in risk of breast cancer, because the second round was in the other breast and unrelated to the first, and Mom had two sisters who also developed breast cancer. It was not a huge risk jump, but something to be aware of and monitor. We were told the ovarian cancer was unrelated, and not something we should be worried about. Just keep up with the yearly check-ups, and MAKE SURE they know you have an immediate family history and they will tend to check more closely!

My thoughts are with you, now. I know you said your Mom passed a year ago, I was there too, and stayed with my Mom for her last month. It seems incredible to me that it has been so long ago, and the hurt is still so fresh. Mom's are hard to let go of! Hugs, honey. She passed on great stuff in you

I am 39 too, and I have had back pain and cramps with periods for a couple of years now. (Never had it before!) The last couple of months I also had back pain and cramps before my period. Sounds like maybe ovulation pain for me too? I'm having it today, which is about day 8. Not very fun!