Is this menopause??!!?? - Menopause Message Board

sonmac · 09-19-2005, 03:09 PM

I just turned 50, haven't had a period since mid July. For about 2 weeks in August, I had terrible sweats, sometimes a few in 1 hour. That went away. Now, I'm bloated, irritable, sore back, lo abdominal pain...in other words, feeling very much like pre menstral syndrome. How long does this last, and will my backaches go away, and will I lose my extra 10 pounds, and will my bloating go down.....and....and....and....HELP!! I'll listen to anybody!! Thanks, Sonia

cooter1204 · 09-19-2005, 03:22 PM

Considering your age, I would say you are definitely in the perimenopause stage. The sweats and other symptoms and irregular period is also a sign. But, as I said this is just perimenopause. When you haven't had a period for 12 consecutive months then you've gone through menopause. I've been going through all of this for about 6 years now. I have about 4 periods a year as opposed to 12, but I am still having periods. I'm SO ready for this to be over, but I am getting closer. I'm sure this wasn't very comforting...sorry.

rmc12 · 09-19-2005, 10:27 PM

Hi,

I am 51 and have not had a period since July 5th. I have been having perimenopause symptoms for a few years now. And the other poster is right, since you are 50 you are in perimenopause, the time before menopause.

I noticed my symptoms in my mid 40s as far as irregular periods...some coming way earlier than 28 days and some a little longer than that. Then two years ago started with night sweats (no hot flashes though but those are commong too) and all the other things you described : PMS to the max. My gyn said that peri is like a long PMS and I have found it to be so. It is that PMS feeling of being bloated, the achiness and the abdominal stuf but it is now in peri not just usual pms time like 2 weeks before our periods but it is longer and can happen anytime and for a longer time. SO I empathize greatly.

Last year it was at its worst for me with a few months on and off feeling as you described. Then it seemed to stabilize and be just the normal pms at the usual times. then this year for a bit in the early part of the year it happened again but not to the same extent as last year. But the anxiety comes and goes for me and feeling low and yucky.

I would definitely suggest a book called The Pause which goes thru everything about this time and why symptoms are occurring and also offers suggestions. And I highly recommend to keep reading these boards, past posts and current and keep posting, it does help to know others are going thru this too.

Take care,

rmc

sonmac · 09-20-2005, 10:54 AM

Thanks for all your help. I feel a little better talking about it. I'm going to go and see if my Dr. can put me on estrogin, or is it too early for that? Sonia

molly123 · 09-20-2005, 11:21 AM

Sonia,
Will your backaches go away and will you lose your extra 10 lbs? Hate to say this but...no, not by itself and not too easily either. I never had aches & pain that's pretty constant til the year I was heading post-meno (been post since June of this year). It seems no matter how flexible I am, how much I exercise, it doesn't just go away...it is much better but like my dr. said, it is usually happens to people once we turn 50.

Actually, you are pretty lucky if you didn't have any bad symtpoms during the whole 12-month time when your period was missing! Don't jump too quickly to estrogen, try working thru it by taking natural products first. Get the book, The Pause, that was suggested...hang around these boards. Keep track of your symptoms and see if there's a pattern. As wtih the bloating, ab and back pain, make sure you mention it to your dr....it is probably your ovaries.

molly