I am in the Same boat with ya...is Why I Clicked on this Post..Hopefully someone here will know maybe Something !

This past year I have Skipped a few Cycles...I have now not had anything since Oct. 12...but that last one was The Most Wicked of Anything I have Endured..I Literally had Full Body Aches with it..Bled like I thought I was gonna Hemorrhage....Just Sick, Headache...Moody..the One Before that was SO Light it was Barely there..

Ugh...I just do not know what or When to expect anything..I have to Keep "Stuff" with me now...If I go for more then a few Hours I also Bring a Change of clothes after last Months Episode..No Accidents, but was Thankfully Mostly Home.

Seems to Swing between 21 and However many days IF it comes at all...then either seriously Light...or So Heavy, I have Never had "Menstrual Issues",,,Ever.

Also...I been getting these Weird...Head Rushes..Lasts only a Moment..I swear if it lasted Longer then a Second I would Topple right over..is This Normal ?

I Also get an "Adrenalin Rush" at Night..maybe 1*3 Times Right after I have Laid Down..Almost "Feel Like" a Mini Anxiety Attack"...a Power Surge Thru My Core..Then in a Moment it completely Dissipates..

I have not had Much in the Way of Hot Flashes..No Sweating of any kind...I have had a few hot flashes...til I thought I was just gonna Hafta Get Nekked !! then they pass..

And My Muscles above my Breasts Hurt..Kinda Down Into the Breast..but Mostly Muscle Tissue..above Breast...Feels Real Tender...Been like this since January..My Cycles have been totally Messed up since Oct. 10. Is This Normal ? I Apply Pressure to the Tender Area...that seems to back it off for awhile..

Poor Girls...They have Really lost Ground this Last Year..They are Just Little...I Think The Meno Beast (Bully) should Just Leave them Alone !!

Tired...Whacked...and My Daughter is Getting Married this Weekend...One Big Push to get me thru That...and I am Sleeping for Days After !!

Ugh..

Perimenopause is a period of time when your body begins the transition to menopause. It can take from two to eight years, including the year after your last period. Your ovaries slowly cease functioning, and your body produces fewer amounts of certain hormones. This usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, but for some women it begins earlier in their thirties. Symptoms of perimenopause include the following:

Changes in your menstrual cycle (longer or shorter, heavier or lighter, or missed periods)

Hot flashes

Night sweats (hot flashes while sleeping)

Vaginal dryness

Sleep difficulties

Mood swings

Increase in urinary tract infections and urinary incontinence

Decreased sexual interest

Increased body fat around the waist

Memory problems

Menopause technically occurs twelve months after a woman has her last period. This is the time in your life where your fertility ends. Menopause is not an overnight event and is something that takes months or years to complete.

These are the common symptoms of menopause:

Change in menstrual cycle, with differing times between periods and differences in flow

Spotting between periods

Hot flashes

Night sweats

Sleeping difficulties

Vaginal dryness and an increase in vaginal infections

Bone density loss

Mood shifts

Increase in urinary incontinence

Decrease in sexual interest

Weight gain around the waist

Thinning hair

Depression

Forgetfulness


Reference is http://www.netplaces.com/pregnancy-over-35/your-health-after-pregnancy/menopause.htm

Hope this helps some. Best Wishes!

Hmmm...Well, I Guess it didn't say anything about Palpitations, or Power surges...or Upper Breast Tenderness..

Idk.

sobe..........I'm with you on this one. Can't answer you, but mine too for the past year or so have been crazy. Anywhere from 22 to 67 days apart. Who knows?

Hope someone here can shed some light ! ! !

DakotaRose....I could have wrote your post. Except for the extreme heavy bleeding I have the exact same symptoms as you do. That rush at night is very weird. Don't get it often but have had it about 5x. Heart palps (pvc's) I get every day but they get wilder about a week before I O' and then the day I O' their pretty bad.
Same thing here about the breast muscle thing. I went to the cardio doc about this a few years ago because it scared the crap out of me, just like everything else these days, and she said it all had to do with muscle pull or ligament pain but definitely not heart related. Matter of fact I have it today.

Hope you find some peace soon.

Donna

I am 55 and about 3 or 4 years ago I started having the occasional hot flash. Nothing bad and not very frequent. Periods still pretty regular (21 to 30 or so days apart).

As time went by, all symptoms gradually became worse and periods started getting erratic. About a year ago . . . I had two periods in one month. This only happened once.

About a year ago, hot flashes and inability to sleep got really bad. Most of my hot flashes came during the night when I was trying to sleep. Thank god it was the dead of winter and we turn the heat off at night! I would lay naked, no covers with the temp in the house hovering in the mid to high 50's.

I have had all the symptoms. Breasts that hurt so bad it was awful when I would take my bra off or turn over in bed. I have had the itchy skin. Heart palpitations, a random whooshing that would come and go in my right ear (I had a battery of tests on my ear, head, heart, etc. and everything is FINE!!)

The most difficult part in all this for me has been the depression and anxiety (which was new to me). I have never taken any hormones on this ride (both my regular doc and gyno have said they don't really help the mood problems and preferred that I try to get thru without using them) However he did give me a very low dose of Celexa (anti-depressant).

Since starting the Celexa this past June, the improvement in the way I feel has been like night and day. I didn't realize how depressed I was until I started to feel better (if that makes sense) Even physically I feel better. It is amazing how the emotional part can effect the way the physical part feels as well!!

To sum it all up . . . I think I am finally over the hump. My last period was August 13. I am keeping my fingers crossed that was my last one! I am feeling MUCH better. Hot flashes have pretty much stopped. My skin feels better. Boobs don't hurt (although they are feeling not as "plump" as before and are having a race toward the floor!!) I have energy back and am back doing the things I love.

I have heard mixed reviews about what it is like on the other side. MOST have told me it DOES get better. A few have told me no it doesn't. I suppose one's emotional state may have a lot to do with it. Perhaps someone who has un-diagnosed depression unrelated to menopause may feel things didn't improve.

In conclusion . . . for me . . . I think the worst (about 3 years of it) is finally OVER!! HOORAY!! :)

Dakota Rose, I can relate to ALL your symptoms. Have them too. Great fun.

lakeside Thanks for the hope. Glad your feeling better now. I believe
I will too when this is all done with because I'm fine as long
as I don't ovulate or get a period. That when it's worst for me.

Wish you continued good luck as you end this all.

I know what you mean. I would be fine in the weeks just AFTER a period. But then during the few weeks just prior all hell would break loose. The Hellish weeks got longer as my periods became further apart. But as soon as the period started, I felt better. It has been quite the roller coaster. That is why I think (I hope) that my last period (just over 3 months ago) will be my LAST!! I haven't gotten any of the "yucky" symptoms in a while.

I am now in full menopause. Haven't had a period in more than a year. My biggest issue is sleep. Some nights, I go without any at all. My life was miserable. Moody beyond description. Exhausted.Went from a size 2 to 6, I swear over night and I'm still growing :(. After spending hundreds of dollars at the local health food store, I finally gave into bio-identical hormones. My sleep is about 75% restored. I don't feel like throwing my husband through a window and my energy has returned. My only concern is the lack of testing done on bio-identical. The jury is still out on how safe it is. All I know is that I had to make a serious decision that had very much to do with my quality of life. For me it was worth the risk. I have my life back. Take care and good luck. There is help.

I hate this. I've gone through my entire reproductive life thus far and never experienced any pre-menstrual problems like severe cramps, although I have always had a lot of water retention. Now, at 52, I'm getting cramps, mood swings, breast tenderness and even worse bloating.

I've gained 10 pounds this year, mostly around my stomach and waist. No hot flashes yet, but the occasional night sweats.

I'll go 2-3 months without a period and think -- yeah -- I'm on my way. Then, I started getting periods like clockwork. I went six weeks, then out of the blue, last Friday I got a surprise period that lasted an entire week. The entire time it was very light.

I just want for this to be over. I've been in this state now at least since I've been in my mid-to-late 40's.

Has anyone's dr. suggested going on the pill? I was on it (just because that was what I used as birth control) and my periods were just as regular as can be all thru peri-menopause and other than a little extra PMS & anxiety increase I sailed through it with no hot flashes, surprise periods etc! It was not until due to my age the dr. gave me the FSH test which said I was post menopausal that he took me off and I never had a period again. That was when the hot flashes started and are peaking right now from what he said because its been 11 months.

A couple of years ago that happened to me, had a period that lasted a month pretty heavy off and on then the next year I had a total of 4 periods and this year only 1 period so far in July so it could be that. I kind of look at it like my body decided to one last big cleanse before winding down. Can't say too much for symptoms since I guess I"m not even menopausal until I haven't had a period for a year and didn't make it this year. Still have them though probably getting better especially since I went back on Zoloft.

this is my first post on this topic. I'm 48. I was getting normal periods all my life until about a year ago, they started getting closer together...about every 22.28 days... not bad. then about two months ago, I started spotted, then getting period, then spotting. Then I finally got a full blown period. My doctor put me on a 10 day course of some hormone... and now I have it again. it's almost gone but I'm getting... severe anxiety (I tend to that), and trouble sleeping, panic attacks and now my blood pressure is up. (I tend to that). Going to the doctor today about the bp. UGH... I hate this... and I'm scared.

celtic, glad you joined the group. It's a wonderful bunch of ladies on here who are very helpful.
Sounds like you started around the same as me. I was 47, now 49.
So far the 1st year for me was the toughest, had the craziest symtoms, my cycle changed from a usual 28 days to 23-33, my body got super sensitive to everything in the world, it's ridiculous. Things settled for me a little after that but are starting back up again.
I'm not going to say it's not scary because it is, at least for me it is at times because I don't know what the heck is going on half the time and if it's related to meno or not. Even when I know it's related to meno I still freak at times which is not my normal way of being. This has truly turned my life around and it stinks!
You are going to have to find what works for you because we're all different. People can make suggestions but only you are going to know if it's for you or not. Your going to need support which is where we all come in. I don't usually post a lot but I do read almost every day on here. It will help you. Also, find a good doctor that will work with you and understand your needs. That's always a plus.
What you've already described does sound like meno kicking in.
Hang on for the ride and I know easier said than done,but try not to
be scared because it only heightens the symptoms.

Good Luck ! Donna

Sobe: How's your cycle going? I had mine 2x in one month a few months back. Right at the beginning and then again 3 weeks later.

Your's sounds a little like mine. One of your ovaries it probably starting to shut down. That of course is when your cycles are farther apart. I started being earlier than usual with both of mine for the 1st year and then the 2nd year when the right ovary ovulated it is way further apart then the left. Any where from like 40-70 days. My left one seems to still be on a short cycle, only a few times was it around 30-35 days so we'll see.

Keep track and see if there is a system.

Not being God, I can't tell you if your ending soon or not but you know your getting closer when they start being further and further apart.

Good Luck, Donna