"The Change"

Deb - on a happier note - not everyone experiences all these symptoms! I had the irregular period thing for about two years, then just quit having periods about two years ago - no symptoms at all - haven't felt a hot flash yet (who knows? Maybe they all happened when I was in south Florida and I couldn't tell the difference!) The only thing I've noticed is these few silly chin hairs and they only last long enough for me to grab the tweezers. Haven't ever taken any kind of hormones, so just lucky, I guess

rofl mjlrn.....i love your sense of humor......

I just turned 39..and I am NOT looking forward to this at all! family history here is mid 40's. Sometimes, I wonder. I have alot of these sx already!

I am so glad to read this thread! I am 47 and right there in the middle of it. I have PMS worse and worse every month (my poor roommate gets the brunt of it!)

I read "The Change" by Germaine Greer (sp?), which gave me some hope that I could make it through without imploding my house all around me by pitching a fit -- which I am embarrassed to say that I have done.

My poor mother got her period at 9 and menopause at 56! Talk about a family history.

Anyway, Zoloft helps, as does chocolate

p.

hmmmm . . . .well, 5 1/2 years ago I started having irregular and very heavy periods where I would all of a sudden just gush and need a change of clothes . . . happened at the most inopportune times too. I had one episode of bleeding that lasted 17 days. Had a few hot flashes and a serious case of depression. I was told I was perimenopausal and I went on progestin after the 17 day period. I was on that for 3 months. Irregular periods continued but not as long-lasting bleeding. Still gushed at times. One month about 3 years ago, I was late. I figured, oh well just another wacky timing thing. But for some reason I bought a pregnancy test. Yup, preggers with the little guy to your left. I was completely shocked. I was 43.

So, be careful out there ladies. I love my son to pieces and am blessed to have him. But, the moral to the story is you can still get preggers when you think you are menopausal.

By the way, my periods are light and regular . . . . . no hot flashes in a long long time.

steph

Perimenopause can take up to 13 years! This was an expert on the Oprah show. I like remifemin (OTC) and changed my diet. It helps most of the time.

A few years back, I saw a lady on Oprah. She was African-American, thin, atractive and 103 years old! When asked about any secrets she had for longevity, she gave the following advice.
"When you go throught the change, take gin one (1) tablespoon, three times a day. Once in the morning, once in the afternoon, and once at bedtime. Do this every day and you won't be bothered by the symptoms."
It isn't really my issue, but it sounds like good advice,
Edward, IL

Edward, IL - your post brought back a memory. My grandmother's doctor prescribed sherry for her to take every evening. Being a staunch Southern Baptist, she had never in her life drunk alcohol. So every evening she would sit at the kitchen table with the bottle of sherry and a tablespoon - her reasoning being that from the spoon, it was medicine, but if she poured it in a glass it was drinking!

I was laughing as I was reading some of the posts...

I sit between two co-workers who are both going thru the change AT THE SAME TIME! They are both 48 years old. I swear, when I feel hot, they both feel COLD and vice versa. The fans are going off & on ALL DAY LONG! The sweaters go on and off all day long.

In addition, I get to hear them talk about not having a period for 4 months and then having it for 1 day. One of them has terrible mood swings. One minute she is sweet as pie and the next she is after you with a chainsaw! Afterwards, she always feels bad. But she just can't help it.

Gosh- dont cha love the female body? LOL