Please tell me about the menopause...

faerielight

I started going through premature menopause at 36, I asked the dr to get tested because I couldn't get pregnant at the time. The tests to go for are Lutinising Hormone, LH and follicle stimulating hormone. These are the marker tests for it. They usually repeat the tests a fair few times. I had, and still do, have dreadful symptoms, I hate the hot flushes, mood swings, weight gain,.
Others are correct on here, menopause officially starts when you've not had a period for a year, anything else is considered perimenopause , but symptoms can still range from mild to severe, or none if you're lucky.

Mrs_Ryan

I think to some extent it's true that the younger you are the worse it is- Mine started at 31 and I turned from quite a nice person into an absolute monster and my hot flushes are the work of the devil.
I can't have HRT though- I'm not sure whether that's a good or bad thing my menopause was surgically induced though, I had a total hysterectomy because of cancer.

jess444_2

My perimenopause began when I was 41 and lasted for about 10 years until I had had no periods for 12 months and entered menopause. Symptoms for me pretty much the same in perimenopause and menopause - mood swings, hot flushes and tearfulness. The one thing that has helped the hot flushes is cutting caffeine completely. The other worrisome thing is memory lapses, which my gp reassures me is due to the drop in hormones. As everyone is saying, we are all different and hopefully you will sail through x

ibizafan_2

I was 58 when I stopped having periods and have never had any problems with hot flushes or anything else. Neither did my mother who was 55, so perhaps there is something in the story that the later the better for fewer symptoms. I seem to remember reading that you often follow what happened to your mother when it comes to age of menopause.

suki1964

Hmmm, I've been peri menopausal for the past 4 years and I get good and bad days

Mostly I'm good to go, then I get clusters of night where I can sweat and itch for England and the lack of sleep makes me ratty as hell

Also every few months I feel the tension building up in me, like major pmt, and I'm tearful and ready to bite

But mostly I'm fine

I'm not one to take drugs regularly so I don't have patches. I have tablets which I resort to when I think I can't bare it any longer

As I have the mirena I haven't had a bleed in years. However I'm now much more aware when that time has come around again because of the rise in symptoms. ATM the bad times are around every 3 or 4 months, that's when I need to take the tablets. Hopefully I'm at least mid way through this stage and the next stage will be just as manageable

teddysmum

I had a menopause for about 18 months, then suddenly had a normal (for me) period,lasting only a couple of days.


Just to be sure, I checked with the doctors' receptionist and she suggested I see one of the doctors right away (ie within half an hour).


This was on a Friday and he said he'd refer me for a CT scan and follow-up consultation in Oncology, so I was very alarmed to be called later in the day,with an appointment for the Monday.


The consultation was half an hour after the scan and the consultant was able to reassure me, immediately, that all was well.


He said that the rapid response was due to an initiative to spot cancer in the very early stages and that most who had the scan were clear. He also said that it may sound odd, but in his opinion, womb cancer is 'one of the best to have', as caught early, most cases are treatable.


I wish I'd known this on the Friday, instead of worrying all weekend, but , perhaps, this will reassure others.


It is quite common for your body to have a' last fling' but do report the matter, just in case.

FBaby

I'm mid 40 too and my periods, which used to be clockwise started to go haywire when I turned 42. At the moment, I get one side normal (every 26-28 days) and the other mad (every 40-60 days).

Symptoms wise though, I have nothing yet at all, so grateful for that so far. The only thing I have noticed is that it is starting to be much harder to control my weight. I am really worried about the menopausal weight gain, especially around the stomach, and I know how quickly it can creep in. I've seen a friend going from a perfect size 10 to a size 14 in a year despite doing nothing different when she hit the menopause. If I put on a bit of weight, I used to be able to cut down and within a few weeks I would lose it all, but I find now that any efforts I make, I won't see the results until at least 4 weeks later and not as much as I would have expected. It is frustrating because I actually feel hungrier too!

I am really dreading the full on menopause, with weight gain and the low feelings being my biggest concerns.

tanya2014

Can I just clarify something.
Yes 12 months with no period takes you to Post Menopausal Stage
and any missed periods could be Peri menopausal.
However what has not been mentioned is that you can still get pregnant for up to 2 years.
Its a very slim chance but it is possible.
Therefore Doctors recommend you use contraceptive until you have had no period at all for 24 consecutive months.
Just thought I would add that.

Edinburgh65

My doctor has referred me to a website called "Menopause Matters", so that I can come to a decision about whether or not I want to start taking HRT. She says that there is some great advice on there. So far I've just got by with herbal supplements, but I've felt as though my life has been on hold for 30 months. My three main problems are insomnia, overheating and joint pain. Any motivation that I had seems to have left the building. Hopefully you will continue to see only a few relatively minor symptoms. I'm a stress bunny, so your theory about having a worse menopause if you're stressed may be true.