Just read the question regarding hot flashes and someone suggested looking up the symptoms of perimenopause to the poster. So, since my husband always tells me I'm having hot flashes when I say it's warm (laughable since it's been over 90 all summer!), I thought I'd look it up -- especially since I woke up sweating last night. Here's what Web MD lists:
You may recognize perimenopause when you begin experiencing some or all of the following symptoms:
Hot flashes
Breast tenderness
Worsening of premenstrual syndrome
Decreased libido (sex drive)
Fatigue
Irregular periods
Vaginal dryness; discomfort during sex
Urine leakage when coughing or sneezing
Urinary urgency (a pressing need to urinate more frequently)
Mood swings
Difficulty sleeping
If this is what it is, I've been in perimenopause ever since my kids were born!
Now, does anyone have any real idea of how to recognize perimenopause, since I seem to have had most of these symptoms my whole adult life? Anyone else in perpetual perimenopause according to this list?
I just thought it was funny that labor, delivery, and parenting can cause most of the symptoms on this list anyway! I don't suspect I'm in perimenopause at all, although I'm sure I'm not far away, since my period started when I was 10 and I'm 43 now. My sister's 10 years older, and I think she's just starting now.
Except the confusion! You could be right on the perpetual confusion!
Ha! But as fun as it is to be female on a regular basis, you know it's perimenopause when these symptoms get WORSE.
to Mum4ever: I still have regular periods too, but my Gyn. says I am in perimenopause due to my age (almost 50)
I actually noticed it when my periods started skipping 2-3 months. Then I had almost all those symptoms on and off. The worst is when my period would come back after 3 months off...it was horrible. Terrible bloating (would gain 5 lbs of water weight), horrible cramps, etc. Wish the stupid thing would stop forever!
Ditto Sandy...
I am 52 this year and have all of these symptoms, except the irregular periods. I have always been a hot person and sweat profusely at night, probably since the age of 4. So nothing new there.
And since I still have regular periods, I am not in peri-menopause according to my doctor. But soon, hopefully real soon...
I am 51 and have not had a period for 6 months. From age 48 - 50 I would just skip one occasionally, and then it became a 3 month hiatus about 2x per year. The weirdest thing was I had one period where I bled for 21 days - my ObGyn said to take ibuprofen for 48 hours straight ( which stopped the bleeding by reducing inflammation, after checking for cysts and Pelvic Inflammatory Disease - both negative). She told me to schedule an appointment with her after missing 6 months of periods to check for bone density - insurance will not pay for it unless you have missed 6 months according to her. Besides the irregular periods my symptoms are:
- waking up at 3 AM every night with rapid heart beat and elevated temp, not so bad that I am wet just throwing off blankets.
- gaining weight in the waist where before I always gained weight in my thighs and behind
- total lack of sex drive, bummer
- waking up tired
- increased blood pressure from super low all my life to normal to slightly elevated
- sometimes cold, sometimes warm during the day, never sweaty though.
I understand that just like the "what to expect when your expecting" books, that not every one has every symptom for pregnancy or menopause. So the best thing to do it see your doctor. They can check your blood for hormone levels (which is only a snapshot in time) for a baseline, which can then be used to interpret future blood analyses. Good luck.
I've heard peri-menopause can last about 10 years, and if you really want to know I think there is a test the gyn can do.
Well, this might explain the "Chronically Confused" post, too, huh?
Sorry girl, right there with ya.
:(
I unfortunately have most of the symptoms. V. I hate to tell you but just because your sister just started having symptoms it doesn't mean you will follow her lead. You could be going through it. I have a friend who started menopause at 37. Her doctor thought she had ovarian cancer and she had to take a ton of tests to find out that she was going through menopause early. She was not a nice person during this time either. Now that she is on hormones she is a better person. :) Good luck ladies and try to stay cool. I'm at work with the fan on as we speak.
