I always thought that when you got close to menopause your cycle began stretching out in days and the peiod itself got lighter. I've been a little confused since I'm 43 and having the time between my periods shorten up. I still suffer from terriable back aches, cramps and sore breasts. I sometimes feel very hot during my period. Which I thought wasn't a sign of anythng when it first started happening. At my age and getting closer to menopause I would have thought that the cramping and backaches would have given up but it hasn't. I hve had an endometrial ablation for heavy periods. This did lighten them up but I still get periods and the terrible bachees.
Am I in premenopause and can I get rid of the period backaches and cramps?

My cycle has been anywhere for a near perfect 28 for months.
Then it was at 24 for months....then 26....one time it hit 40...then back to a perfect 28.
It's a roller-coaster. THe only guarantee is constant change :eek:

As for cramps and back ache...I have never heard that things would decrease. I have heard the PMS tends to get worse...not much help.

Are you trying to exercise at all? They say that helps reduce the estrogen and it keeps us limber...maybe that would help a little with the back-aches.

Good luck.

Until about 21 mths ago my periods were regularly every 26 days. Then had 15 mths of a few days late or a few days early, with spotting at beginning and ending, and revolting flooding. Then relief - last Oct, Nov and Dec manageable period, no flooding. Then no period for 65 days and the lightest one I've ever had. Hooray I thought - it is on the way out. Then this month it arrived after 27 days with FULL FORCE - heaviest one ever. I was actually fearful to move and seemed to go from chair to chair for 2 and a half days. So now I'm dreading the 4th April when it is next due. But as Dr said, at my age it must be going to let up soon, and maybe that was a catch up.

So some come closer, some further apart - is all part of the process. Can't help with cramps and backaches, just all part of it I think. I also used to get very sore beasts, but that has really eased up. Hopefully that's a good sign of it ending soon!! Good luck - this board is wonderful to know others are having similar.

Jude

CrystalClear,

I echo what Kittenlover said :it is a "rollercoaster" and the only thing constant seems to be change. I am 50 and started with irregular type periods in my mid to late 40s, where I went from textbook periods getting them every 28 days to then getting some at day 23 or 24. Then 2 years ago, it seemed that was the norm, earlier, but then had a couple at day 40 and day 50 that year !! Last year , mainly anywhere from day 24 to day 31. Then this year, day 31 and then day 49 and last week it came at day 27!! So it is needless to say erratic!! I have a friend who has had them at day 23 or 24 for two years and now is on day 70 of not having it!!

I too have heard that it is like a longer PMS so for some of us unfortunately the PMS symptoms : Cramps, backaches, anxiety issues, headaches etc, whatever you had before in regular non peri pms can get worse and also longer in duration as the cycle is so all over the place.

I do find exercise does help but believe me I know firsthand that when one feels like this they do not feel like doing it. I also have a lot of fatique with peri, which I had in PMS too but it seems more "crashing fatique" at times as some have described it. It is hard to push oneself. But I find that even if you can only do something for 10 min and then 15 it is better for you and you will work up to it eventually. And if you do not feel like it one day, then just rest if you need to.

I empathize as the roller coaster of cycles and symptoms is so difficult to deal with along with the anxiety over it.

Take care,

rmc

So is this premenopause? HOw long is this going to keep on? Should I have my horomone levels checked?
As far as the backache and cramps go I got them even when I was in top shape doing cardio and weight lifting. So I can't verify that exercise made the pain better because it didn't for me.
Does anyone take anything for the pain that works? I am totally wiped out for the the week before and three days into my cycle which can last from 5 to 7 days. I wish there was somewhere to donate my uterus.
I hate all the emotional ups and downs. I don't like feeling like I am a captive of hormones.

So does anyone know what can stop my backaches, stomach cramps and sore boobs? I am actually dreading the arrival of my period and the week before. I have started taking both Ibuprofen and tylenol at the same time for the pain. It takes the edge off but as soon as it wears off I'm back in serious pain. Any ideas out there?