Question for those who are post-menopausal!
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free skin care · Wed May 23, 2012 6:00 pm

I've been in peri-menopause for a couple of years at least. No symptoms other than my 28-days-like-clockwork period coming at all different times of the month: sometimes 2 weeks after my last and one time 6 weeks after and everything in between. Sometimes they are extra heavy and other times very light.

I have now not had a period in 2 months. Very Happy

That is the longest I have ever gone between periods. I am 49.5 years old. My mom told me she was 47 years, 7 months old when she got her last period (she remembers because it was on my brother's wedding day Razz

).

Now, I know I could still get it again, but I'm hoping it just stays away. I have not gotten a single hot flash or been extra biotchy lately or any other symtoms that come with menopause, but then, my mom and her sisters sailed through it without any well-know symptoms either.

I'd like to hear from those of you who've been through menopause. Did it just stop and no more or, did you go 3-6 months or more and get another one? I remember reading on another forum about a lady who went 9 months without one and then it came back. Shock

What a bummer!! I don't know if menopause is similar with family members, but I sure would like it to be in my case. I can't wait to throw out my tampons and pads and be cramp free!

free skin care · Wed May 23, 2012 6:08 pm

I was always like clockwork, never missed a period unless pregnant or nursing! At 39 I started having longer and longer spaced between, the year I was 40 I had one major flooding period and then never again! I never had any symptoms at all!
Not everyone is that lucky but I know other women who breezed through! All you can do is either have a doctor check hormone levels or wait and see.
It may be prudent to have a check up with your Gyn just to be sure and know it is not something else! Smile

free skin care · Wed May 23, 2012 6:45 pm

My gyne had me start a calendar when I started getting syptoms of peri-menopause about two years ago. Like you, sandooch - periods were coming at all different times and lasting either just a few days or a few weeks. But no other symptoms (that I could tell). Now it comes about every 2 or 3 months. I personally know someone who went 11 months and then got a period! Not menopause until its 12 months straight!!

Edited to add- one symptom that *might* be peri related could be the 10 lbs I've put on!! Weight doesn't melt off me like it use to Sad

free skin care · Wed May 23, 2012 7:07 pm

I made it through 6 months straight with none, and then it struck again! Now the count begins all over again.

free skin care · Wed May 23, 2012 7:18 pm

rileygirl wrote:

I made it through 6 months straight with none, and then it struck again! Now the count begins all over again.

I had that one crazy year, then six or seven months and nothing until that last massive one and then it all stopped. Somehow I had a gut feeling that was the end game with the last one? So much fun waiting it out! Embarassed

free skin care · Wed May 23, 2012 8:44 pm

Hey, I wouldn't mind having a flood of a period if that meant that was Auntie Flo's final appearance. Laughing

Actually, I'm used to heavy periods since I first got mine at 11. The first day I'd usually go through 8-10 tampons and a couple of pads (always had to where both because I could go through a tampon pretty quick). Sorry if that was too much info. For the last couple of years though, they haven't been as heavy.

DarkMoon, how lucky to be done with yours at 40! And I'm pretty darn sure it's not the something else I'd need to see a gyno about. Let's just say that if I were pregnant, it would be an immaculate conception. Razz

free skin care · Wed May 23, 2012 8:50 pm

sandooch wrote:

Hey, I wouldn't mind having a flood of a period if that meant that was Auntie Flo's final appearance. Laughing

Actually, I'm used to heavy periods since I first got mine at 11. The first day I'd usually go through 8-10 tampons and a couple of pads (always had to where both because I could go through a tampon pretty quick). Sorry if that was too much info. For the last couple of years though, they haven't been as heavy.

DarkMoon, how lucky to be done with yours at 40! And I'm pretty darn sure it's not the something else I'd need to see a gyno about. Let's just say that if I were pregnant, it would be an immaculate conception. Razz

I can relate to the heavy flow I was always the same and 7-9 days of it!
I also started very young at 12 so we have that in common.

Your doctor could just do a blood test to check hormone levels, as that would be a sign you are getting ready for the fun to end finally! Very Happy

Don't laugh but when I knew it was done I about had a party to celebrate!!! Laughing

free skin care · Thu May 24, 2012 6:26 am

I am soon to be 51 and now they are all over the board, in terms of frequency.

I guess I am different, but I would like to avoid menopause for as long as possible, for several reasons, none of which I have any control over, so life goes on.

BFG

free skin care · Thu May 24, 2012 6:58 am

Having had a hysterectomy in 2004 but left with one ovary, the blood work still showed normal levels at that time. Slowly but surely, I knew I had been peri but it wasn't officially confirmed until I had blood work drawn this year. Now that I am on the low dose estragen, it has been such a relief. Although I don't miss the period, I did hate the skin and weight changes that came with it. Your doctor would be a good person to confirm and maybe even do a blood test to check your levels.

free skin care · Thu May 24, 2012 7:07 am

It is always so individual, I at 58 still don't have the "typical" changes and know other women who are the same. Than others go through hell with the whole thing!

free skin care · Thu May 24, 2012 8:37 am

For the last year I've all of a sudden had the surprise extra period, no period, ect. So here it comes Confused

! But just when I accept its wango, it goes normal Rolling Eyes

! Other than period changing, I have no other issues, at least yet. Prior to all this, I could set my clock by my periods, now I have to rely on "that feeling". I too am 49.5!

free skin care · Thu May 24, 2012 8:41 am

Tiny wrote:

For the last year I've all of a sudden had the surprise extra period, no period, ect. So here it comes Confused

! But just when I accept its wango, it goes normal Rolling Eyes

! Other than period changing, I have no other issues, at least yet. Prior to all this, I could set my clock by my periods, now I have to rely on "that feeling". I too am 49.5!

I have two other friends your age and both are going through the same thing!
Then two others are having some mild symptoms along with the crazy cycle! Shock

free skin care · Thu May 24, 2012 8:46 am

DarkMoon wrote:

Tiny wrote:

For the last year I've all of a sudden had the surprise extra period, no period, ect. So here it comes Confused

! But just when I accept its wango, it goes normal Rolling Eyes

! Other than period changing, I have no other issues, at least yet. Prior to all this, I could set my clock by my periods, now I have to rely on "that feeling". I too am 49.5!

I have two other friends your age and both are going through the same thing!
Then two others are having some mild symptoms along with the crazy cycle! Shock

One symptom I forgot to add:

I am normally always freezing, restaurants I wear a wrap in, well NOT anymore, while I am not hot, I am very comfortable in colder places now. That's a huge change. I do not have night sweats or heat flashes, just very comfortable in sleeveless now Laughing

free skin care · Thu May 24, 2012 8:54 am

Good to hear that you all didn't or are not getting those darn hot flashes. Back in my manicurist days, I had one client that would get them once in a while when I did her nails. Lordy! You would have tought she was going to faint the way it suddenly came on. She really scared me for what I might be going through in 30 years. But, so far, so good! Smile

free skin care · Thu May 24, 2012 12:41 pm

sandooch wrote:

Good to hear that you all didn't or are not getting those darn hot flashes. Back in my manicurist days, I had one client that would get them once in a while when I did her nails. Lordy! You would have tought she was going to faint the way it suddenly came on. She really scared me for what I might be going through in 30 years. But, so far, so good! Smile

Oh I've seen them on others as well, not very pretty, I must say! I am grateful I am just feeling normal in a/c rather than feel like a burning inferno on the inside Embarassed

Thu May 24, 2012 9:51 pm

Oh so glad sandooch started this topic 'cause I have questions too! My aunt and grandmother both hit menopause around 50, neither of them had their tubes tied, and my aunt experienced no symptoms (not sure about grandma). My sister and mother, who both had their tubes tied, were in their early 40's when they started experiencing symptoms and hit menopause at 45/46. I am now in my mid 40's, never had my tubes tied, still have regular periods, and no symptoms.

So my question is, does having your tubes tied expedite menopause? Once you hit menopause was there a noticeable change in your appearance? Hope the questions don't detract from the topic.

free skin care · Thu May 24, 2012 11:04 pm

Omega wrote:

Oh so glad sandooch started this topic 'cause I have questions too! My aunt and grandmother both hit menopause around 50, neither of them had their tubes tied, and my aunt experienced no symptoms (not sure about grandma). My sister and mother, who both had their tubes tied, were in their early 40's when they started experiencing symptoms and hit menopause at 45/46. I am now in my mid 40's, never had my tubes tied, still have regular periods, and no symptoms.

So my question is, does having your tubes tied expedite menopause? Once you hit menopause was there a noticeable change in your appearance? Hope the questions don't detract from the
topic

I never had my tubes tied, but as I said my only symptom was less and less frequent periods, then one major and done!

free skin care · Fri May 25, 2012 7:53 am

Tiny wrote:

sandooch wrote:

Good to hear that you all didn't or are not getting those darn hot flashes. Back in my manicurist days, I had one client that would get them once in a while when I did her nails. Lordy! You would have tought she was going to faint the way it suddenly came on. She really scared me for what I might be going through in 30 years. But, so far, so good! Smile

Oh I've seen them on others as well, not very pretty, I must say! I am grateful I am just feeling normal in a/c rather than feel like a burning inferno on the inside Embarassed

The hot flashes are horrible, as well as what I call the "weird head feeling". I had a bout of night sweats for probably 1 solid month and that was no fun either. I am not enjoying any of this to be honest with you!

free skin care · Fri May 25, 2012 9:51 am

I second that so totally. Waking up nights with hot flushes, brain fog, it's no fun at all. I started to use bcp again, that really helped. Amazing what out of whack hormones can do to your system, in the most unexpected ways.

free skin care · Fri May 25, 2012 9:56 am

Lotusesther wrote:

I second that so totally. Waking up nights with hot flushes, brain fog, it's no fun at all. I started to use bcp again, that really helped. Amazing what out of whack hormones can do to your system, in the most unexpected ways.

I never realised I could blame my brain fog on this Laughing

!! Of course most who know will never believe me. I can't remember much of anything, much less why the hell I just walked from the kitchen to the den for!!!

free skin care · Fri May 25, 2012 5:00 pm

Oh, if brain fog is one of the symptoms, add that to my list then. I also notice I make 10 times more typos than I used to just 2 years ago. Crying or Very sad

free skin care · Fri May 25, 2012 5:13 pm

Lotusesther wrote:

Amazing what out of whack hormones can do to your system, in the most unexpected ways.

It really is amazing what they can do. I just hope that once we hit the menopause it all evens out again.

free skin care · Fri May 25, 2012 5:18 pm

rileygirl wrote:

Lotusesther wrote:

Amazing what out of whack hormones can do to your system, in the most unexpected ways.

It really is amazing what they can do. I just hope that once we hit the menopause it all evens out again.

Perhaps we won't remember from one day to the next and then it won't matter Laughing

Fri May 25, 2012 10:47 pm

DarkMoon wrote:

I never had my tubes tied, but as I said my only symptom was less and less frequent periods, then one major and done!

Darkmoon, are there females in your family that have had their tubes tied and experienced menopause earlier than 40? It's interesting that you didn't experience symptoms, similar to my aunt who never had her tubes tied either.

free skin care · Fri May 25, 2012 10:57 pm

Omega wrote:

DarkMoon wrote:

I never had my tubes tied, but as I said my only symptom was less and less frequent periods, then one major and done!

Darkmoon, are there females in your family that have had their tubes tied and experienced menopause earlier than 40? It's interesting that you didn't experience symptoms, similar to my aunt who never had her tubes tied either.

Actually no my older cousin is also one that breezed through menopause symptom free!

For different issues my mother did have a hysterectomy around the age of 40 and even with instant menopause (they did not leave ovaries back then) she did not suffer any side effects after say 2-3 weeks, and never took any hormone replacement.

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