I am wondering if it is possible to go through peri without having hot flashes, plus my periods are getting closer and closer together, not further apart as I thought they were supposed to get. Anyway, my concern is that I am so emotionally fragile lately (I have had other symptoms too like heart palps, restlessness, extreme period changes, etc. which I have sought and received help for on this board but I guess I am just not convinced that it is peri.). I can wake up in a good mood and the littlest thing can set me off and make me angry or bring me to tears. I am just so weepy and emotional. I am the right age, 47. Are these emotional symptoms very common in peri, even without the periods spaced further apart and no hot flashes?

TIA!

Nancy

Yes you can be in perimenopause and not have hot flashes and missed periods. I am 49 and do not have the hot flashes (yet) and my periods are coming earlier and sometimes twice a month. I have yet to miss a period or have them further apart. Every month I cross my fingers that I don't have 2 periods in one month. I can't wait for the day when I miss one.

Everyone is different as to what peri-symptoms they have. Some have just a few and some have a ton. I just wish that things would be guaranteed to be better once menopause hits, but it doesn't sound like it.

I'm 48, and my periods started getting closer together about 18 months ago, or so. At that time they were alot heavier, but now they seem alot lighter, although it still lasts 5 days. Some months have been as close as 19 days apart, but the usual is 21-23. A few months ago I went 27 days - I thought I was going to miss one, but no such luck.

I don't get hot flashes either, but I do get alot of other sypmptoms and ALOT of anxiety.

A couple of years ago, I was getting really warm in the middle of the night, so much it was waking me. I blamed my husband for turning up the waterbed heat too much, but maybe it was hot flashes - not sure, but it doesn't happen anymore.

Mary

Okay - I think I just jinxed myself - right after posting about periods closer together, I just got mine at day 18 (barley). So, I've told other's don't worry -this is normal in peri, so why am I so freaked out about it ???

I've been doing much better lately in the anxiety department, and I don't want to revert back. I did do a strenuous exercise class last night, which I haven't done in about 6 months. Maybe this brought it on a few days early??

I did have a few tell-tale cramps yesterday - and had breast soreness the past 5 days - so I guess this is a somewhat normal period - just early (darn). I even had the return of the monthly 'headache' (which I haven't had all summer).

I really wish I would just start missing them, it would seem more 'normal', or it would be nice to just have them stop altogether.

I have had alot of stress. My mom died just last 4 weeks ago, so I'm suprised I have any normalcy at all.

I guess I just needed to vent - thanks.

Mary

Nancy,

Yes I can echo what the others said....it is very possible not to have hot flashes and have periods come closer together. I am 52 and still getting my period. The longest I have gone without one is 4 months (last year some time) and 3 months (this year). I have NEVER had a hot flash. I personally think that it is really unfair all the stuff we always hear about hot flashes, hot flashes , hot flashes, when there are tons of other symptoms that plenty of us get and some do not even get the flashes!!

I did get nightsweats when I was in my late 40s one year pretty badly. But as far as the typical hot flashes one hears about no.

And as far as periods coming closer together. It was only really until last year that I started with a gap in mine. Before that they started coming instead of the usual 28 to 30 days, more like 25 days or even every 24 . Even after my 4 month gap they then came every 24 days for awhile. After the 3 month gap this year they came again at 25 days and then this last one at 39.

I am very familiar with the moods and anxiety as that has been my worse symptom all along. My gyn said peri is like a long PMS and I feel it is true. Not constant for me as far as the pesky symtpoms but on and off and then for some long stretches. A couple years ago I would wake each morning with like a cloud over me for no reason. Could not shake it. And I would cry for no reason...just the type of things you do experience in PMS but it was not necessarily around my cycle.

So yes the emotional stuff IS very common. If you have not already heard of it there is a great book called The Pause. My copy is so worn as I have used it a lot. It goes thru every symptom and to me it was quite reassuring. hot flashes are just one of many. It offers some advice too on supplements etc. But the main thing it did for me, along with this board was to reassure me that I was not an oddball with getting no hot flashes and that the other stuff I was getting, was truly part of peri even though we only hear at times about the flashes.

Hope this helps.

rmc

Mary,

I am sorry to hear about your Mom. I know the pain of that loss and my heart goes out to you. I think that of course you are under a lot of stress right now and so things are bound to go a bit haywire with your cycle or anxiety.

I have got mine too as early as day 18, though, a few years ago , a couple times. it did freak me out when it first happened. But I found others too had the same situation.

I can also relate to doing better in the anxiety dept than I was a couple years ago when it was at its height. But it still creeps up on me at times.

Take care,

rmc

Thanks y'all! I feel much better after reading your posts! My dearest friend told me yesterday she was worried about me (the depression, weepiness, etc.) and mentioned that I might be in pre-menopause. I really have no direct reason to be "down" right now. Like I expressed to you all on here I had my doubts because of the lack of hot flashes and still having periods. It sounds like she was probably right though and it sure does help to know I have company! My periods too are much closer together so I guess that must be part of it. I used to go up to two years between periods (had to have fertility drugs to get pregnant) so suddenly having them every 23 to 25 days is REALLY a shock to my system! I am also having PMS around them for the first time in my life!

Thanks for making me feel better and like I am not crazy!

Mary, I am so sorry about the death of your mother.

Nancy

I'm 54 and my hot flashes are due to my anxiety. When my anxiety is under control with meds, the hot flashes go away.

I have never missed periods except for my pregnancies. Now, the last three months I have started having two periods a month with spotting inbetween that. I too, had hoped for missed periods not more of them.:yawn: The only thing I am going to do right now is take a multiple vitamin that has iron in it every few days and my regular vitamin without iron the rest of the time. I've heard it is not dangerous to have periods so close together and you have to go through it whichever way menopause comes to you, so I try not to worry, but boy is that hard to do, not worry.

I just wonder how long this is going to go on, it is hard to get a chance to go in my hot tub with all the spotting and bleeding. I continue to lift weights at the gym and walk mornings for exercise always wondering if I'm making it worse on myself by keeping up my strenuous activities. It's a pain for sure.

the thing to remember in all this is that it will pass, it's normal to feel all these feelings and not think of yourselves as some sort of freak. we all come out the otherside having joined this new 'club' and the good things are no more periods, no more mood swings, sore breasts, pregnancy scares, etc. it's truly awful that all this hits us just when we are experiencing losing our parents, children leaving home, and all the other stuff that comes with getting older, it really is the absolute pits - but we all of us will get throught it. and to be able to share experiences and ask questions, of ladies who are all going through much the same, is such a good thing.
so sorry about your mum mary,i know from personal experience what the grief is like. take care.

sue

Thank goodness I read this!

I've just posted about my periods playing up this month.

I first had a missed period back in 2004. At 45, I was told I was pre-menopausal and didn't have a period for about 9 months! After that they started again and were fairly regular but were sometimes late in starting by about two weeks. I never ever had in between bleeding or problems of any kind at all.

Earlier this year, I didn't have one for about two months and then my last period was 17th July. It finally started again on 9th October and lasted about 5 days, although was fairly light, which is unusual for me. However, I've now started again this morning - 11 days later! I'm very concerned, as this is very unusual for me and I'm meantime waiting for the result of a smear test which was taken four weeks ago!

I'm really freaking out now - how can I tell if I'm having symptom of peri-menopause or if there's something else wrong?

Help!

sudufu,

I've moved your post to a new thread: "Are sleep problems also peri symptoms?"