Perimenopause

If you are in the throws (or past it) at what age did it start for you?

I've had some signs of perimenopause that I was chalking up to my thyroid and even the COVID vaccine but I'm starting to wonder if perhaps it's my body just changing. I'm at the right age, I'll be 47 soon.

'I'll be speaking to my gyno when I see her in May but I was wondering what to expect if I am in fact starting perimenopause. Thanks!

Perimenopause

I think I am starting - I am 43. My mom started around 38 so I am not surprised I am starting a bit on the younger side.

My sleep has gone to $hit. I also have been having night sweats and my periods, while regular, are not the same flow-wise.

Perimenopause

I think I started around 49. My heart was acting weird and after multiple tests, they said it's common during peri. I also had wonky periods after years of it being reliable.

I'm not sure how long I would have been peri since I started chemo at the end of that year and it quickly put me in menopause, but I think it can last years.

Re: Perimenopause

Mine started at about 42/43. I'm 47 now and in full on menopause. The symptoms that I remember were irregular periods (I'd go months between periods and they were super light and lasted for only 2-3 days) and hot flashes.

I have to say - it's kind of heavenly not having a period anymore.

Re: Perimenopause

Thanks for the replies.

My cycles have gone from a consistent 30-32 days to a very short 22-24 days. It's been like that since May/June last year. It's so annoying. I've always had light periods so that hasn't changed thankfully.

I also started feeling very anxious at times beginning this time last year which I chalked up to my thyroid as an overactive thyroid can cause anxiety. I've NEVER been an anxious person so that was a little alarming. But I caught my thyroid issues very early and went on medication for that and my thyroid levels went back to normal quickly. But the anxiety continued which made me think it wasn't my thyroid after all.

Along with all of that my HR and BP went up, nothing dangerous and still normal but higher than it was despite a healthy diet and daily exercise. Given my age, at this point, I can only assume it's perimenopause. My mom started in her late 40's and was through menopause by 51 so timewise it would make sense for me to be at that point.

I envy men, they are so lucky to not have to go through this!

ETA - I have had blood work, EKG, echocardiogram, etc. all within the last year to rule out any heart issues. All was normal with every test.

Message edited 2/14/2022 11:10:25 AM.

Re: Perimenopause

Not sure it's perimenopause but I do notice my anxity is awful the week before my period and even during it.
And my heart does weird things around then too.
And I do get very hot a day or 2 prior to my period.

After reading these responses it may be related.

Also, I never really had bad PMS or period issues, and suddenly I do (more cramps, heavier flow- though that has been since having a baby really- gas pains, back pain, stomach issues, anxiety all things I never really had problems with period wise before)

Though I got my first period so late in life, I'll probably have it until I'm 65!

Message edited 2/14/2022 11:47:05 AM.

Re: Perimenopause

Posted by NervousNell

Not sure it's perimenopause but I do notice my anxity is awful the week before my period and even during it.
And my heart does weird things around then too.
And I do get very hot a day or 2 prior to my period.

After reading these responses it may be related.

Also, I never really had bad PMS or period issues, and suddenly I do (more cramps, heavier flow- though that has been since having a baby really- gas pains, back pain, stomach issues, anxiety all things I never really had problems with period wise before)

Though I got my first period so late in life, I'll probably have it until I'm 65!

Re: Perimenopause

Posted by NervousNell

Not sure it's perimenopause but I do notice my anxity is awful the week before my period and even during it.
And my heart does weird things around then too.
And I do get very hot a day or 2 prior to my period.

After reading these responses it may be related.

Also, I never really had bad PMS or period issues, and suddenly I do (more cramps, heavier flow- though that has been since having a baby really- gas pains, back pain, stomach issues, anxiety all things I never really had problems with period wise before)

Though I got my first period so late in life, I'll probably have it until I'm 65!

Re: Perimenopause

Posted by mommy2devin

Posted by NervousNell

Not sure it's perimenopause but I do notice my anxity is awful the week before my period and even during it.
And my heart does weird things around then too.
And I do get very hot a day or 2 prior to my period.

After reading these responses it may be related.

Also, I never really had bad PMS or period issues, and suddenly I do (more cramps, heavier flow- though that has been since having a baby really- gas pains, back pain, stomach issues, anxiety all things I never really had problems with period wise before)

Though I got my first period so late in life, I'll probably have it until I'm 65!

That's what I worry about too! I got mine for the first time when I was 17!! I really hope that doesn't mean I'll continue til I'm 70! LOL

Re: Perimenopause

Posted by NervousNell

Posted by mommy2devin

Posted by NervousNell

Not sure it's perimenopause but I do notice my anxity is awful the week before my period and even during it.
And my heart does weird things around then too.
And I do get very hot a day or 2 prior to my period.

After reading these responses it may be related.

Also, I never really had bad PMS or period issues, and suddenly I do (more cramps, heavier flow- though that has been since having a baby really- gas pains, back pain, stomach issues, anxiety all things I never really had problems with period wise before)

Though I got my first period so late in life, I'll probably have it until I'm 65!

That's what I worry about too! I got mine for the first time when I was 17!! I really hope that doesn't mean I'll continue til I'm 70! LOL

I thought I was the only one! I was 17 too.
I had to see so many doctors and have so many tests done to see what was wrong with me.
Turns out they found nothing... I guess I was just a REALLY late bloomer. lol

Re: Perimenopause

i'm 48, will be 49 in late spring.

november 2019 was my first "uh oh" symptom. i skipped a period. i freaked out that i was knocked up at this age. after that, it's been interesting.

my periods are no longer predictable. i can cramp and bloat for an entire month and then get my period for what feels like five minutes. then i'll get a period that lasts a lifetime.

i used to love being able to say that i slept like a rock for a good 7 to 8 hours. now... who the hell knows what will happen.

i also cry... A LOT. i've always been a very emotional person, but this is crazy. i'll hear a feel-good story on the radio morning news and i'll cry like a baby for the rest of the drive to work. and then it ends... just as quickly as it started.
i've explained this one, in detail, to DS. poor boy worries about me. i've told him not to freak out.

finally, my skin. oy! my skin is SSSOOOOO dry and itchy. i HATE IT. i've always had good skin and have never had to do much to care for it. soap and water and i'm good to go. now, i'm having to buy retinol to help.

like many of you, i'll be seeing my doctor in the next couple of months.

Re: Perimenopause

50 and pretty much starting now. Only thing different is I have skipped a month and then the next month it is extremely heavy, lasting a total of 2 weeks.
I feel useless as I can barely stand up some days and went through a 48 pack in about a week.

Re: Perimenopause

Re: Perimenopause

I’m 44. Will be 45 this summer
My peri symptoms started slowly last year.
Heavy periods. Skipped periods. Spotting between periods. Light periods. All within this past year.
As well as:
Acne
Anxiety
Heart palpitations
Dizziness
Brain fog
Belly fat (my shape has changed)
Hot flashes (especially at night)
Ovarian cysts
Thinning hair
Tired but not sleeping through the night

For the heart stuff, I had some bad scares, went to ER once too. Wound up getting full tests done at cardio and all clear (even though some tests were abnormal - they were normal/abnormal because of my age and sex). I combat that by cutting out caffeine completely for the last 2 months and now slowly adding it back in but not when I’m ovulating or when I’m getting my period. Because anxiety is worse then. I have also been taking 250 magnesium oxide every night and it has 100% helped with the heart palpitations. As well as my trusty Xanax prescription for when nothing helps.

Re: Perimenopause

Re: Perimenopause

My cycle has always been clock work. Every 28 days to the day. March 2020 (42 yo) my cycle started to change. I assumed it was from stress, over eating, from pandemic, etc... Since then my cycles are still very irregular. I'm thinking it is more preimenopause vs. anything else. I can get my cycle for a few months and then not get it for a few months. I've also been waking up hot every night.

Re: Perimenopause

Posted by LInMI

My cycle has always been clock work. Every 28 days to the day. March 2020 (42 yo) my cycle started to change. I assumed it was from stress, over eating, from pandemic, etc... Since then my cycles are still very irregular. I'm thinking it is more preimenopause vs. anything else. I can get my cycle for a few months and then not get it for a few months. I've also been waking up hot every night.

Re: Perimenopause

Posted by LInMI

I can get my cycle for a few months and then not get it for a few months. I've also been waking up hot every night.

Re: Perimenopause

Posted by NervousNell

Posted by LInMI

I can get my cycle for a few months and then not get it for a few months. I've also been waking up hot every night.

So this was my cycle from the day I first got my period until I had my daughter.
I would go months on end with no period. It was all over the map.
I would be taking pregnancy tests like crazy because I never knew if I was pregnant because i never got a consistent period.
I thought I would never be able to get pregnant. I thought for sure I'd have problems at least.

Then I had my daughter and I joke that she "cleared the pipes" because since then I've been like clockwork for 11 years now.

Re: Perimenopause

Posted by Hofstra26

Posted by NervousNell

Posted by LInMI

I can get my cycle for a few months and then not get it for a few months. I've also been waking up hot every night.

So this was my cycle from the day I first got my period until I had my daughter.
I would go months on end with no period. It was all over the map.
I would be taking pregnancy tests like crazy because I never knew if I was pregnant because i never got a consistent period.
I thought I would never be able to get pregnant. I thought for sure I'd have problems at least.

Then I had my daughter and I joke that she "cleared the pipes" because since then I've been like clockwork for 11 years now.

I was like this too!!! When I wasn't on the pill my cycles were never regular, getting pregnant was such a pain in the a$$. Year of IF treatment was a real joy. But then after my son, my cycles became like clockwork. It was so strange. Wish that was how they were in my 20's!

Re: Perimenopause

Posted by NervousNell

Posted by Hofstra26

Posted by NervousNell

Posted by LInMI

I can get my cycle for a few months and then not get it for a few months. I've also been waking up hot every night.

So this was my cycle from the day I first got my period until I had my daughter.
I would go months on end with no period. It was all over the map.
I would be taking pregnancy tests like crazy because I never knew if I was pregnant because i never got a consistent period.
I thought I would never be able to get pregnant. I thought for sure I'd have problems at least.

Then I had my daughter and I joke that she "cleared the pipes" because since then I've been like clockwork for 11 years now.

I was like this too!!! When I wasn't on the pill my cycles were never regular, getting pregnant was such a pain in the a$$. Year of IF treatment was a real joy. But then after my son, my cycles became like clockwork. It was so strange. Wish that was how they were in my 20's!

I really think pregnancy resets your hormones somehow... because I have heard this from a lot of people!

Re: Perimenopause

I'm 48. Many things I suffer, I think are thyroid related, like gaining weight, thinning and loosing hair, etc; but who knows. I was very regular and now sometimes I'm 10 days late. But I thought it was due to anxiety. Maybe I'm on denial

The only symptom I had for sure, was the week I was turning 47 (November 2020) and I had a hot flash while sleeping. I'm guessing it was only the beginning.

Re: Perimenopause

Posted by Adri

I'm 48. Many things I suffer, I think are thyroid related, like gaining weight, thinning and loosing hair, etc; but who knows. I was very regular and now sometimes I'm 10 days late. But I thought it was due to anxiety. Maybe I'm on denial

The only symptom I had for sure, was the week I was turning 47 (November 2020) and I had a hot flash while sleeping. I'm guessing it was only the beginning.

Perimenopause

I am about to be 45 and my periods are almost daily this month, sucks
Anxiety def
And a lot of sleep problems that have worsened and bad headaches as well

Re: Perimenopause

I am 44 and am experiencing some peri menopause symptoms for sure! Question for those who have reached menopause- do all the symptoms go away once you are in menopause? Well those other than the period ones lol!