I am 48 so the risk of pregnacy is low, I know, but my period is a week late and my stomach has been giving me problems, gloating, gas, loose bowel movement, and a queasy feeling. I have 2 grown children and remember the first symptoms of my pregnancies were extreme fatigue and frequent urination, neither of which I have now.

My periods have been acting strangely for a few months, last month I only got it for 3 days. I've never, ever, been late with a period in my life. Other than this I feel fine and don't seem to have many other symptoms except for perpetually sore breasts and occassional chin hairs.

Should I rush out to get a pregnancy test kit? I feel so silly about this.

Mrs. G.

Hi ya,

I would first of all try not to panic about this. Secondly if you are in your late 40's I wouldnt be altogether too trusting of a home pregnancy test especially given that you mentioned you had some trouble with your periods lately before this episode. I would simply go see your doctor and put your mind at ease here. The diarrhea and the nausea may simply be no more than the stomach flu and the absence of your period at the same time may be just coincedental......please let us know how it goes and welcome to the family!!

Jadie

MrsG,
I had a very similar experience. I missed a period before I started getting perimenopausal symptoms, and was afraid that perhaps I was pregnant (I say afraid, but I mean petrified!). Anyway, I did go to my gynecologist and basically just asked them to check me out for pregnancy or perhaps the start of menopause. I did a blood test and they were able to tell that I was in perimenopause. Based on the experiences of the many women here, don't be surprised if they can't tell you that you are in peri, BUT at least they can tell you that you are not pregnant.

Better not to sit there and wonder....go get the answer.

I Ditto the gals's response MG!

Well, I did an at home pregnancy test which is negative (thank God!) My stomach is still not the greatest by the queasiness has subsided. I'm beginning to think that was in my head. Thank you for your responses. I am going to make a ob/gyn appt. to find out what the heck is going on.

The same thing happened to me this month and I was so horrified i wanted to die! I am almost 47 and have never had a late period nor missed one, but this month I was 10 days late and I take natural progesterone which gives a regular period at 28 days. I was too scared to go to dr. or take HPT so just waited and prayed, shook, cried, panicked day and night....couldn't sleep....finally when i had about decided that i was going to skip my period this month, it came suddenly....10 days late! Boy was i never so happy to see my
period in my life!!! I don't think i shall ever be the same!

GHM,

So glad you had that period come!

I had that happen too, when first skipping periods - oh, no, I'm pregnant! Ready to throw myself off the roof!

I remember my mom going through something like this, too. Bet if we took a poll, a lot of peri-menopausal women here at P-S have experienced the same thing!


JJ