Menopause & Perimenopause

Hi ladies, I've been browsing through the board and am hoping to get some input on whether I'm just stressed or if I am in the beginning stages of menopause/perimenopause. Whatever it is, red wine and a good book aren't doing much to alleviate the symptoms!

I'm 38, have one 17 yr old son, and my last month's cycle was 3 days early, and lasted a few days longer than my regular 5 day cycle. This month I was a couple days early and it lasted almost 10 days with a marked difference in the amount of blood and color (much darker). Sorry if that is TOM. At any rate, I'm waking at least once during the night and am having to wear my hair in a ponytail to stop from getting a sweaty neck.

I am also having an adolescent like breakout on my face, as well as some abdominal weight gain (usually I'm a butt and thighs weight-gain-type-of-gal).

Now I was hoping to simply chalk this up to being a mom to a sometimes rotten 17 yr old, LOL. But then I thought perhaps its more.

I was also wondering what effect you ladies have found using either a low-dose birth control (I'm not on any currently), or an herbal supplement (I was looking particularly at Zalestra) has worked for you in alleviating symptoms.

Thanks for any feedback!

Can stress mimic perimenopause?  My answer would be YES!  When I was 38, my father died suddenly and unexpectedly.  For a couple of years after that I started having peri-like symptoms--my gyn even told me he thought I was starting peri! However, after a bit things settled down--my period again became regular, etc. and I didn't really have a long peri and was on the verge of having "late menopause" (as in past 55).

With that said, we're seeing more and more "younger ladies" (as in their 30's) coming to the board because they are experiencing peri-like symptoms.  Some have even been told that they are in peri.  The average of menopause (which is actually just a point in time when you no longer menustrate--and you don't really know you've passed that milestone until you've gone 12 consecutive month without a period and are considered "post menopause") is 51 and peri can last atleast 10 years (our co-cl-coldfingers was trying to set the record until she had her hysterectomy a few years ago!)--so you are actual quite close--and we know that peri can actually belonger than 10 years.  I'm sure Cheryl can also identify with your stress--she has a teenaged daughter!  It's probably a good idea to get a few things checked out--however, diagnosing perimenopause is far from easy.  You kind of exclude other causes of the symptoms. Doctors often do an FSH test (Follicle Stimulating Hormone--which is made to sort of "kick start" the ovaries back into ovulating) but that's not reliable as sometimes your body kicks back into a more "normal" hormone production (my first was "normal" and I was in my 50's at the time!).  One thing you should have checked is your thyroid.  Check out the Menopause Oasis (the link is in my sig-line) for not only a list of tests you should have run but also loads of info on what is going on with your body and how to deal with it.

Often low dose birth control pills are given to treat the symptoms of peri--they "take over" and even out the hormone fluctuations.  When it comes to herbal and otc treatments, the feeling is mixed--some women think they help, others don't.  And one thing we have found is that there is no one quick fix for any of this--what works well for one women may not work at all for the next! It's really a "trial and error" sort of thing--you just hope you don't have too much error! It really helps to have a good gyn who is up on the latest in peri on your side!

Please feel free to stick around to read, comment, ask questions--or even vent if the stress gets too much.  As I often say, we don't have all the answers--but we do understand!

Rhea

Welcome to the club of night sweats.... I woke up this morning feeling awful.. all sweaty and hot.

I to am having the changes in the menstral cycle. and was told it could be premenapause.  Gee won't that be fun?  It's like every other week I am bleeding.  sorry tmi    But I just want to know when my life will get back to

almost normal.. not knowing when or where. And the belly weight gain is a problem also.  And I am 37 and have 2 boys and they are only 11 and 9.  I thought they were the cause of all this. lol

well I hope you find your answers and have a better time in dealing w/ this than I am having.  I don't like the sudden changes and the not knowing why..  after all we're not old...

have a good day and good luck

Tricia

Hi Tricia and welcome to the board!

I'm gathering that you have had the frequent bleeding checked out as you mention being told it was probably premenopause (which is actually perimenopause as premenopause is that time up until menopause--which is actually a "point in time" when you no longer menostrate! But we've found that the terminology gets all mixed up--and we know what you mean!!!!!) If you haven't seen  your doctor about it--please do so as ANY IRREGULAR BLEEDING SHOULD BE CHECKED OUT!

I will say that we are seeing quite a number of "younger" (as in their 30's) women beginning to enter perimenopause--or it may be that they've always done it but it just wasn't recognized!  The average age for actual menopause is 51 and peri can last for 10-15 (?) years--so you are within that range!

There are things you can do to even out all of this if it is indeed "only perimenopause" (as if that isn't enough sometimes!)--often low dose birth control pills are used to even out the hormone ups and downs or taking or using a progesterone product (and there are natural prescription ones available so you know what you are getting!) to regulate the bleeding.  Many women say they are tired of having to lug a large handbag to carry all the "supplies" they need "just in case!"  Do talk this over with your doctor.

Also check out the Menopause Oasis (the link is in my sig-line) for more info on all of "this time of life" and tips on dealing with it! Please feel free to stick around to comment, ask questions, VENT if needed, etc.  As I often say--we don't have all the answers but we do understand!

Rhea