48 and nada yet....are there signs? - Menopause Message Board

seekingnormal05 · 09-03-2005, 05:28 PM

HI all -

I'm over 48 and still regular as clockwork. Every 21 days like clockwork.

I've been giving thought to menopause actually due to the absence of
symptoms.

Will there be hints that menopause is coming? When I was in my 30's I
went through a couple of years of very difficult periods and had to have
2 D&C's. When my Mom went through menopause, she had a couple
of very difficult years and also had to have D&C's. I think that since
I've been there, done that...and I know my Mom had such a hard time,
I've always sort of expected it won't be easy for me.

I want to plan my life. And that includes some work issues
like travel. Having had those rough years in my 30's, I'm getting a
little paranoid. I don't want to get body slammed completely out of
the blue. I can just see me over the Atlantic in a 737 and have my first hot
flash.

So, for those of you who have gone through this, looking back are there
things you missed at the time that you later realized were the very
early signs?

Thanks!

littlejmb · 09-03-2005, 06:21 PM

Seekingnormal,

I think my first sign was that I skipped a period when I was about 45 or 46, and it kind of freaked me out. At first I thought maybe I was pregnant, but I have had my tubes tied, so it wasn't likely - but still worried. I didn't skip another one until much later, and then my periods got to where they were very unusual and then months apart. I started getting very nervous a year or so later, and I realized it was due to peri, because I had read up on it by that time.

I am 51 now, and really didn't have any hot flashes or night sweats until last year. But, I would have very low periods for stretches of time, where I felt very depressed. This I contributed to Peri also. There all kinds of differnent signs and symptoms, all of are different, but don't worry, your time will come - and believe me - you will know it!

kittenlover · 09-03-2005, 08:59 PM

I don't know if there is any way to predict. The thought is that your menopause will be at around the same age as your mother's. This doesn't indicate that symptoms will be the same. Of course, I am hopeful mine is nothing like my mom had...I never had kids and she did. I used BCP and they weren't around for her. I don't know if these variables contribute or play no part in our menopause.
Having said that, a dear friend of mine says she knows a woman who is 63 and still as regular as clock work....isn't that frightening! My friend is 53 and still regular as well.

After reading this BB, the only conclusion I can come up with is that NO ONE has the same peri or menopause, only clusters of symptoms that copy.

seekingnormal05 · 09-04-2005, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kittenlover

I don't know if there is any way to predict. The thought is that your menopause will be at around the same age as your mother's. This doesn't indicate that symptoms will be the same. Of course, I am hopeful mine is nothing like my mom had...I never had kids and she did. I used BCP and they weren't around for her. I don't know if these variables contribute or play no part in our menopause.
Having said that, a dear friend of mine says she knows a woman who is 63 and still as regular as clock work....isn't that frightening! My friend is 53 and still regular as well.

After reading this BB, the only conclusion I can come up with is that NO ONE has the same peri or menopause, only clusters of symptoms that copy.

63 and still regular??? Wonder if medicare's new prescription drug plan covers birth control pills??

I talked to my doctor a few months ago and he said "classic" menopause symptoms can occur while you are still having regular periods. That just does
not seem fair.

I think my Mom's came around my age but I'm in the same situation as you are. I never had children, my Mom had several. My Mom's personality was
always much more short fused than mine just as a general rule so I don't
think (or at least hope) that I can't use her journey as a model.

Thanks to both of you. Guess I'll wait until something either happens...or doesn't happen.

Bet this is going to be fun.

Gaitsofgold · 09-04-2005, 01:35 PM

I'm 50, still having regular periods, and I started having menopause symptoms two years ago, when I was 48. My migraines got much worse to begin with, then I started feeling hot at odd times when I shouldn't have, and then the night sweats started. It waxes and wanes. I have to have a fan on me every night, no matter how cold it is, and whether or not the window is open. The very worst symptom of all for me is the weight gain and the panic attacks. I've had panic attacks for 10 years now, but in the last couple of years they have gotten much worse. I have noticed also that sometimes I'll wake up too early in the morning (4am or so) and not be able to go back to sleep. So its all coming together. I agree - it doesn't seem fair that I'm still having regular periods and also having menopause symptoms, but I'm hoping it'll be over soon. My mother, by the way, was still having periods when she died at the age of 51. So I don't know for sure when menopause will be over for me.