Hi, I'm new here and am really glad I found this site. I'm 48 and have been perimenopausal for about 6-8 months. I'm exoperiencing acid reflux, bloating, anxiety, exhaustion.....
Since this all started I've had a few months where I have really light bleeding which seems like the start of a period but only lasts a day and then my period comes a few days later. This past week I have had really light bleeding for about 7 days. The first 2 day I used a tampon because it seemed like it was really a period starting. After that the blood has been very light on the toilet paper when I go to the bathroom. I've had the usual period symptoms but as I say, very little bleeding and for 7 days.
Is this normal? Have any of you experienced anything like what I've described?
Hi Dk....I read your post above...sadly I have heard Sooooo many different types of the beginnings of menopause. Each of our bodies are so different; ya know? It does however sound like your bodies has some hormonal changes going on. I finally broke down just last month and ask my reg. Dr. to run a hormone level check to see where I was on this long journey ahead. He did and found me to have a very low hormone level count. Sooooo that confirmed what I really already knew. But it felt good just to confirm it ya know? To help me to just bite down and ready myself for the ride.... It's a riff run....It's kicking my butt. I too am bloating. Acid reflux medication has been a must for year's now. I'm 53 next Sunday and I haven't had a cycle in 5 month's straight. They say you have to first not have a period...not even spotting....for one full year before your even really in menopause full fledged. Well.....I hate to see what menopause is gonna feel like....if what I'm experiencing now isn't menopause lol.....ya know? Kinda like a scary movie trailer that goes on and on .Lmbo. I'm moody....bad I'm tired bad. Shoot...even my dog's beginning not to like me...j's. Anywho hope something I've said help's ya.This is a great forum here. Alittle more personal than the FB one's. ..I think....have any q's.....just text me back. Hold on...it's a ruff one...I admit.
One of the first symptoms I had when all of this started. Spotting before and then after too. Seemed to go on for several days. Caused a lot of anxiety. I think it's just all part of the process. (Hugs)
As I entered peri my periods had long gaps of about six weeks or so and then I had a stage of endless spotting, I did get a transvaginal ultrasound done because I wanted to make sure it was that and everything was OK, my advice is, if you are worried get it checked but it is what I went through and I have read others have too xx
Almost anything is "normal" in perimenopause. The wide swings in hormones and the out-of sync system will cause many variations. Isn't it fun?
There can also be variations with bleeding. Large clotting, and heavy bleeding, usually means a lack of progesterone. Spotting, can mean your progesterone level isn't strong enough to hold.
As I was getting closer to meno, I would have a period every other month, then three months, and finally 1 every six months until they finally stopped.
Thank you all for your replies! I truly appreciate hearing from people who are going through the same things!
I'm on day 9 of this 'spotting' although not even sure if it's fair to call it that. It's now only when I wipe and then just a very light coloured blood. I think here was a day or two in the middle where it stopped. Definitely feeling like a period should be here. Crampy etc. Really not enjoying this
Hi all of what you have said is what's happening to me I'm 49, & since the age of 46 I've missed periods had light to heavy periods my cycle had clicked back to being regular again & then this year my last period was with Sept 10th & I started not enough really to even class as spotting 9th Dec, I've got cramp feel bloated & ratty & generally feel rotten :-( so not looking forward to however many more years this will go on for...But one thing is for sure we all in this together, hope what I'm having had helped you to realise your not alone D x
It was 10 years from the start of peri, to actual menopause. However, I need to mention that all those years it wasn't horrible. My periods got strange for awhile, and then got more normal and regular. And possibly, maybe I just got used to some the differences. But for the most part, I felt ok, and my cycles continued on a monthy schedule. Just not the EXACT 28 day cycle I'd had in younger years.
As I got closer to meno, my periods spread out to every other month, then three months, and finally 1 every six months until they stopped.
How are you doing? I am going through the same thing right now. All the cramps and moods of a period but only spotting now and again with most days only when I wipe, and not every time! It's driving me crazy!
Hi Sabrina - I am feeling so much better than I was when I initially posted. Those were a tough two weeks. I had about twelve days of the exact spotting you describe (where it reads up being just on the tp) with a couple or three days on the middle where it stopped. I felt like I had my period. Cramping, severe bloating and MAJOR mood swings. I finally broke down and cried in my husband's arms because I was just so emotional and son drained. I actually started feeling better the next day. Still dealing with symptoms FOR SURE but not feeling quite as extreme ❤️ I hope that you are starting to feel a bit better?
I had the spotting for 9 days and after that felt much better as it felt like all the hormones lifted, but less than 20 days after and I started to bleed again. This time it seemed like it was actually going to be a period. Yesterday was the first day so it was light (but not just spotting) and random cramps. Prepared overnight to wake up to blood and nothing. I am so freaked about this! I want my normal periods back! I am so depressed and down. How are you doing now, Denice?
Thanks for the info. That's xactly where I am on this lousy journey; periods used to be every 27 days now down to 17 and spotting in between. I'm 53 so who knows how lng this will be. The have notic d that progesterone cream has helped but the sore breasts are killing me. My doxtor suggested iodine cream and I just st started using that.
Sorry it took so long to respond, somehow I just saw this.
It was approximately 10 years of perimeno for me. But please know that it was just the first two years that were hard. After I tried to use bio-identical hormones to help me out (HUGE failure) I went off hormones and got back to my own system. It took some time, but it did level out and calm down. And I did really well for many years. Yes, periods were not the exact 28 day cycles they were when I was younger, but certainly manageable. Then periods slowly tapered, and over about a two and half year period they finally stopped.
Actual menopause was a breeze, until I go so into defiency that things really fell apart.
That's interesting Mabel, as progesterone is normally thought to help with sore breasts. Obviously if you are still haveing periods, albeit irregular, you are still producing enough estrogen for that. Is your progesterone enough? Are you using it for 14 days of the month?
Progesterone really should help with sore breasts.