Confused - Menopause Message Board

Conniecat · 09-18-2006, 11:24 AM

I will be 44 years old in three months and my last period was July 25. By the time September started I began to wonder what the heck was going on. I have always had regular periods and only in the past year have I had anything other than what I would consider a “normal” flow; it has been very heavy each month for the first three days for the past year.
I thought women did not start menopause until they were in their mid-50s and I had never heard of perimenopause. After doing some research on the internet I came to the conclusion that I might be starting perimenopause.
When I called my gyn to make an appointment, the nurse I spoke to seemed convinced that I must be pregnant. Yikes! I told her my age, the fact that my husband had a vasectomy 15 years ago and that I have only had sex with my husband. She still insisted that his vasectomy could have failed and I am most likely pregnant. I made an appointment to see the doc at the end of the month.
I am going nuts!
I tried a home pregnancy test but the results were inconclusive.
I guess my question is -- has anyone else just stopped having a period without a slowdown first? Has anyone here ever been told they could be pregnant and it turned out to be perimenopause?
Sorry this is so long.

Wizard · 09-18-2006, 03:43 PM

Hi:

MY sister is close to you age and she has been going months between periods for the last few years. She gets a period about every 4-5 months right now.

I'm doubtful that your husbands vasectomy as suddenly failed after 15 years. It sounds to me like you're going through a normal stage of perimenopause, especially considering your age.

Some women get extremely heavy periods and then cycles where nothing happens. Other's get progressively lighter periods and gradually dwindle to nothing. I'm getting the progressively lighter ones and my gyn figures that one day they'll just disappear. My sister went through extremely heavy periods and then nothing for several months and then will suddenly get a real heavy one again, then months with nothing.

Since you're hormones go all out of whack with perimenopause, HPT's can be very unreliable.

I would see your doctor, get a beta done and if it turns out negative, chances are you're peri-menopausal.

Conniecat · 09-18-2006, 08:41 PM

Thank you Wizard. I'm glad to know that I'm "normal" and probably not pregnant. I'm a little irked that the nurse would diagnose me over the phone. I really don't know if I should mention it to the doctor or not, after all, maybe she felt it was better to err on the side of caution.

I do have another question. For the past few months I feel apathetic toward just about everything. Things I used to enjoy doing, responsibilities, talking on the phone to family and friends -- ehh, I don't care whether I do or don't.
I haven't been all that happy or in a good mood but I don't get really mad or really sad, although I am kinda grouchy and easily offended.

Does anyone else feel this way?

nanna_T · 09-19-2006, 12:03 AM

Welcome to the wonderful world of peri-menopause Conniecat!
A lot of Doctors just don't know enough about peri to diagnose it.
Your "don't care" attitude is a classic symptom, and trust me you are sooo normal. You will find life is a real roller coaster from here on in. Best of luck to you. Stick around this board and read and learn, and most of all, please share your ups and downs with the rest of us. These boards are a godsend.

betts · 09-19-2006, 05:57 AM

Good for you confused to step in and start asking right away. If having all of these symptoms are normal, why is it so difficult to go through? I remember missing my first period over four years ago, rushing out to buy a pregnancy test when it dawned on me....you need to have sex to become pregnant! I also know that when my dr's office did a horomonal level I was told "oh, you are ovulating" . I was 50 at the time. almost two years later, I am still ovulating, have semi regular periods (does spotting count?). Hang in there, I am hopeful that if we stick together and make a lot of noise that our special needs will be met.
PS: I have lived alone for a long time, but........I haven't had a real social life in over 3 years because , well, I just don't care. And trying to make the effort just makes it worse. Antidepressants made me just not care in a fog. Breath deep, then again, confused and keep working as hard as you are to find some answers. Your questions are all of ours and more.
PSPS: that nurse was wrong, wrong , wrong.