I wasn’t quite clockwork regular, but I wasn’t too far off of it, for years. Then I went on the pill, and off it. Went back to my usual pattern, to the point where the pattern was completely predictable – spotting one day, just enough to warn me, then the next day would be heavy, the day after that light, and then a day or so of just enough to justify a pantiliner.
Then, I went back on the pill. Two or three different kinds over a couple of years, ending on a few months on the minipill, and my cycles got enough longer on those that I had a pregnancy scare! I’d never gone 6 weeks between periods since I was, oh, thirteen. Then I went off hormones again.
Now, damned if I know what will happen or when it will arrive. I’ve had longer periods than I’ve had in years since then, and that was a bit over six months ago. I want my three-day periods back, dammit! I don’t know if it was the pill, or that I turned 30 (31 now) or what. I feel like I’m due any day, but I’ve felt like that for almost a week. Arrrrrrrgh!
I’m not looking forward to hot flashes but I’m sure looking forward to no more periods! Though I may have to wait far longer than I want to; thanks, Mama Tiger!
Robyn if you are done with kids or your flow is that horrid, there is a procedure ( I’m a bit hazy on the exact name) but uterine ablation is what comes to mind.
Essentially, a balloon of sorts is inserts your hoo-haa* and blown up with reallly warm-hot water ( I think). Somehow this makes your uterus to stop bleeding so much and sometimes stop entirely. And yes, the balloon is removed.
Sorry for the vagueness, a friend had it done about two years ago and gave it two thumbs up.
Endometrial Ablation My sister had it done recently because of heavy bleeding to the point that she needed IV iron. Big improvement since my mother had a hysterectomy done 20+ years ago for the same reason. My sister has been very happy with her results; the periods have stopped completely and she is no longer anemic for the first time in years.
I’ve been doing the flaky period thing for about four years now; 15 cycles one year with no way of knowing in advance how heavy or how long. The hot flashes may have started last winter; I just thought it was the heating system in the house kicking on at 4:00 am. No doubt about in now though, now that I know how to recognize one. Several times a day and at night. But it’s still less disruptive to my sleep than my restless legs syndrome used to be. Since I started taking magnesium at bedtime, that has mostly stopped.
I seem to be splitting the difference between most of you (is that possible?)
I think I might be having some kind of ocassional hot flash, but I get panty-liner periods that are irregular and almost rare. I am 45. I had an ablation as well, due to having a period that lasted the entire month of March 2 years ago.
Meh. Color me unimpressed with peri- menopause so far. As for mood swing, chocolate/salt/sweet/fat cravings, crying jags and homicidal thoughts–I had those prior to menarche…(heh).
I am not looking forward to lack of lube and dry skin, though.
MsRobyn, I have exactly your experience. It sucks to have to plan your wardrobe according to what won’t show, um, leakage. (It never occurred to me to set a timer! Great idea!)
Ablation doesn’t work, BTW, if the underlying problem is fibroids, as it is in my case.
My older sisters and mother all had everything yanked pre-menopause (as my oh-so-genteel mother used to say, “They took out the baby bed but left the playpen”), so I have no idea what the age of onset is like in my family. But at 49, it’s still like clockwork. Sigh.
Me too! - Should have been starting to bleed today - it’s not happening.
I started getting slightly irregular, either three or five weeks (but same as the last 30 years, still arriving 8.30am friday morning - just as I leave for work), which made me think early menopause. But my ancestresses were all early 50’s, a decade early didn’t seem right. Then I thought about it a bit and realised that I was (not in pain per se, but) aching three weeks out of four.
I haven’t had the surgical check for endometriosis, but the Depo would be a treatment option anyway and it fits my lifestyle. I didn’t mention Endo to my doctor, but he thought of it too. Between us we agreed that either Depo or one of the hormonal IUD’s would do the trick.
No period. Weird, great, odd, fantastic, strange.
Now I just have to wait ten years, stop the Depo and hope I’ve timed it to segue nicely into menopause. None of my family has gone noticeably strange, but I’m apparently due for some mega size hot flashes. It’s gotta beat the PMS (no PMS this month!! NO PMS!!!)
MEH. 42 here, and have been doing the hot flashes/night sweats for two years now. Plus, my periods are still regular - every 29 days - but utterly unpredictable otherwise. Some months I get nervous about even leaving the bathroom, other months I wonder if perhaps everything inside has rusted - it certainly appears to be rust, anyway. Whichever period I get, it still lasts SEVEN TO NINE DAYS. The PMS has ramped up from occasional down-in-the-dump-ness to outright anger punctuated by brief bursts of rage.
My sister (age 37) is having the ablation thingie next month, after decades of horrible periods. I talked to her today; I think we’re both about done with this female bullshit.
twickster my twin, I haven’t had periods in some time, although I feel an occasional twinge or bout of PMS like symptoms. I do keep a few napkins around though, you know, for when one has problems after laughing or sneezing. No hot flashes that aren’t explained by working as a baker in front of hot ovens. And no, we are NOT old!!!
I got my first period at 10. An old wives’ tale that my mother told me was that the younger you start, the longer it lasts before menopause. True? My mother was wrong about a few things…
Some days I really, really can’t wait until it ceases (those days when cramping and lower back pain make it hard to stand upright) but I’m not crazy about drying up a bit (heh) or the possibility of growing a mustache like my grandmama’s.
Edited to add: I’m 42, and so far, no signs of it. Although PMS is still bad, and I’m warm at night. (And plump, so I figure it’s bodyfat acting as insulation.)
