Period Problems - is it really peri-menopause?

[macc noodle]

Please can anyone help - I am driving myself mad with worry today :ohmy:

My periods are all over the place 62 days/37 days/22 days - you get the picture! I am 49 and have been told by doc. I am perimenopausal !!

Also, never ever used to have period problems but recently heavier periods and lots of cramps, especially on right hand side going down into leg and around back/buttocks too - not happy at all - is it all really normal!

Scared to go to docs because, as usual, despite all my best efforts I am screaming Ovarian Cancer in my head and really really scared.

Jan

[helenclaire]

I have gone through the menopause and i am only 45, the symptoms you describe are exactly what i went through for about 2 years before the periods stopped. Its not nice but it will get better x:)

[blueangel]

Hi there

It definitely sounds like perimenopause to me as well, having been through it (I'm now 51). All the normal rhythm of your cycle starts to fall apart, unfortunately, as hormone levels decline. Cycles can get shorter, or longer, or both, and periods can get heavier or lighter. Flooding can be really distressing (a couple of my friends have had it) and can make sufferers feel that it's not safe to leave the house when they're having a period.

Peri can also bring all sorts of other unpleasant symptoms, like anxiety (ha!), hot flushes, palpitations, increase in migraine, aching joints, gut problems, headaches, itching skin and a host of others. it's really not a barrel of laughs and unfortunately it can go on for several years.

[macc noodle]

Thanks guys - got myself in a right old pickle here with the pains - I can cope with the changes but without doubt the very worst thing of all is the dreaded return of uncontrollable health anxiety which I had managed very nicely thank you for the last 15 years.

It is that fine line between recognising a symptom that you need to check with the doc. or just passing it off as "normal". (I suffer dreadfully from abject fear of the docs and hospitals too).

Definitely coming back as a man next time!!!!!!!!!!!!

:)

Jan

[NattyOne]

Possible you are peri-menopausal. I was told I could be at 39! when my periods went a bit out of synch (they're back to normal at the moment - I think it was stress, looking back). I had some blood tests to check out if my hormone levels were changing - and if I was turning menopausal. But all hormone levels came back normal. Perhaps you could have these tests done - they're very simple. You can also have a blood test for ovarian cancer (blood test - CA 125) if you are very worried about that too. The test is not 100%, I stress, but it can pick up cancers - it's a tracer of sorts.

As for your pain, have you had a pelvic ultrasound? The sonographer would look at your uterus and ovaries in great detail. Over the years I've had many..., because I have a long history of uterine fibroids (benign growths in the uterus wall). I have even paid for one privately as the doctor at the time said it was just my fibroids, and I was convincing myself otherwise.. Usually a gynae/pelvic ultrasound privately costs btwn. £150-£200. Fibroids can cause the pain you describe, and they are very, very common from 40 years plus. They are not cancer - just bulky growths, but they can put pressure and/or pain onto other pelvic organs, and down the legs. Such as back pain, leg pain, bowel problems, bladder problems.

Perhaps see another GP instead at your surgery/health centre. Maybe a lady GP...

I wish you well, and all the best, NattyOne.

[macc noodle]

Thanks Natty One for the reply!

Just reading it makes me feel sick with fear - I have never ever had any problems with my periods and ladies "bits" so consider myself very lucky! Even childbirth was relatively pain free.

Last year I had a CA125 blood test because I was driving my GP mad with getting my knickers in a twist about having Ovarian Cancer - it was fine. I had a complete suite of blood tests - all came back fine.

She organised a pelvic ultrasound - never made it onto the couch - too too terrified and actually ran away from hospital (pathetic I know at 49 but unless you have suffered from this phobia, you cannot begin to understand where I am coming from).

GP was quite clear from start with me - she had no worries whatsoever that I had anything wrong with me other than peri-menopausal issues. She offered the scan and blood test as a salve to try and make me feel better. She completely understood why I did not have scan and was very kind to me.

She is an excellent GP who specialises at our practice in women's health and mental health - so I kind of have hit the jackpot with her in terms of listening and understanding.

I am very very stressed at moment - have sick elderly relatives, business problems, financial stress - you name it I have it - so I know I am off the Richter scale for that at the mo. so wonder if this is exacerbating the problems.

I guess I will make an appointment to see the doc. and take some further advice :weep:

Jan
x

[NattyOne]

Many, many apologies if my reply made you feel worse. You had all the blood tests, so that is a really good thing.

You and your doctor are touching all angles. As for a pelvic ultrasound, it is painless and a lady sonographer always does it.

But from all that you've said, you sound like you've nothing to worry about.

My own personal experiences have been a rollercoaster, but I've survived :)

NattyOne.

[macc noodle]

Hi NattyOne

I can laugh about running away from the hospital now although at the time I was mortified by my actions.

I was really nervous to begin with but then a male nurse appeared and called my name. He took me into a tiny cubicle and asked me to put a gown on - well this sent me into a tailspin on two counts - didn't want a gown on and didn't want a man in there with me!!!!!

They were very nice at the hospital but I have never ever really recovered from being taken into theatre at 6 years old with a ruptured appendix and being awake - I could describe every detail of them taking me in there, what I could see, being put to sleep etc etc - despite regression therapy and cbt to try and combat this - it is with me today even the sights the smells the sounds and I am 49 !!

Tns for being supportive.

:)

[countrygirl]

Oh the joys of perimenopause - you are doing quite well at the moment - believe me I have had worse in the past 4 years that I have been in this joyous place:mad:. I started with missed periods sometimes up to 3 months then I would bleed every day for up to 10 weeks with occasional sudden flooding that made me think I was bleeding to death. I have had all the tests like ultrasounds, bloods even hysteroscopy twice where they put camera in your womb and take biopsies - I know by this point you will be in a dead faint on the floor at the thought of any of this but I did survive.
I also got large ovarian cyst and had to have mri scan together with the ca125 test to be 100% sure it was benign ( imagine how I felt!) Thankfully that cyst went away itself after 6 months.

I found out I was oestragen dominent which is completely normal when you have stopped ovulating but I did not want HRT ( family risk of breast cancer) or to have a hysterectomy so I started natural progesterone cream and thankfully that stopped the constant bleeding and flooding but my periods are very erratic like you I can be anything from 16 days to 50 days between and sometime sthey are hardly anything and other times very heavy. I had another ultrasound last month and joy of joys a small cyst on my other ovary so back again for another ultrasound next month to see if it has gone.

My husband has a complete hospital dr phobia so I know and understand how hard it is for you - he would rather die than have treatment which is scary.

If you can, even if you need to be so drugged up you can barely stagger into the ultrasound dept then an ultrasound can give you wonderful peace of mind that nothing horrible is going on - your Dr can also ask for you to only see female staff members throughout the proceedure. My hospital does not ask you to remove any clothing you just pull down your skirt.trousers to bottom of abdomen and pull up your top to bra level. At no time do you have to expose any bits that matter:)

[daisycake]

She is an excellent GP who specialises at our practice in women's health and mental health - so I kind of have hit the jackpot with her in terms of listening and understanding.



Your GP sounds like mine - same specialities.. :D be funny if it was one and the same woman, unlikely as that is!

But seriously, it does sound like peri-menopause, my mum's going through that at present.

A pelvic u/s might be really beneficial though - as countrygirl said, you don't have to expose anything other than your tummy - I just had to pull my jeans to bikini line level and top under my bra - and got a towel over jeans and over top so I didn't get clartered in gel! They did mine in a very quiet darkened room which made it all the more relaxing... Doesn't hurt in the slightest but you might get asked to have a full bladder first and that can be uncomfy when they scan it, you feel a desperate urge to wee!! Apart from that it's fine - and you can ask specifically to only see a female.

PM anytime, lots of hugs xx

[macc noodle]

mmmmmm still not selling it to me guys, especially as I was warned that I would probably have to have an intra-vaginal ultrasound! I have a bit of a jelly belly (oh, ok then I am fat!!!) so it would be probable that they would want to go intra-vaginal.

Hence I think the "drop your knicks and wear a gown" routine.

No doubt it this persists I shall have to grasp the proverbial bull by the horns and go and get it checked out - would hate to have it as the ultimate "I told you so" for all those years I told everyone I was convinced I was dying of the damned disease anyway.

Thanks for all your posts

I feel tons better this afternoon - the pain has gone and I am feeling more human (maybe I am just being a wuss because the pain goes with a couple of Anadin anyway).

xxxx

[daisycake]

mmmmmm still not selling it to me guys, especially as I was warned that I would probably have to have an intra-vaginal ultrasound! I have a bit of a jelly belly (oh, ok then I am fat!!!) so it would be probable that they would want to go intra-vaginal.

Hence I think the "drop your knicks and wear a gown" routine.

No doubt it this persists I shall have to grasp the proverbial bull by the horns and go and get it checked out - would hate to have it as the Smilies:smile::biggrin::mad::ohmy::blush::weep::hu gs::winks::lac:ultimate "I told you so" for all those years I told everyone I was convinced I was dying of the damned disease anyway.

Thanks for all your posts

I feel tons better this afternoon - the pain has gone and I am feeling more human (maybe I am just being a wuss because the pain goes with a couple of Anadin anyway).

xxxx

Surprised they told you that - I'm not so slim myself :blush: but still didn't have to go through all that .. Gp said she didn't want me to have that anyway being 19 and rather innocent, shall we say! I think if you really don't want to have an internal they can simply scan your tummy instead..

Even if, however, they do go for the internal scan, as far as I know it's not too bad at all - over in probably twenty minutes I'm sure :hugs:xxx

[macc noodle]

Tnx Daisycake ! Your post made me smile.

I know I am being daft and that I have probably had far more intrusive things done whilst pregnant and giving birth it's just in my head that I can't bear to have it done - which I know if truly pathetic but i am really phobic about hospitals - in fact it is a real bummer to suffer Health Anxiety and phobia of hospitals - but I guess at least I am not driving my doctor completely crackers with demands for tests for this and that HA HA HA LOL :D

Oh to be 19 again and innocent!!!!!!!!!! I wish :weep: nah not sad really - but wouldnt mind knocking a few years off my 49!!!!

Jan
x

[countrygirl]

I also amazed at being told you have to have vaginal ultrasound as I def have a jelly belly being quite a few stones overweight and I have never had one even when I had the large cyst on ovary - I just went from ultrasound to mri scan.

They can send you for basic ultrasound first and then if anything needs looking at closer they do the vaginal one or straight to mri.

[helenclaire]

I had the vaginal ultrasound and found it totally painless, it was easier than having a smear, i think it enables them to have a clearer view of the ovaries, it only took about 10 minutes and i have now had it about 3 times, the hardest thing i found was actually lying on the couch as i to hate hospitals and i just wanted it over with so i could get out.