I started perimenopause when I was in my early 40s – erratic periods that would show up whenever they felt like it, the insomnia, mood swings, etc. My periods started petering out when I was maybe 45 or 46, first going from 5 to 2-3 days, then the flow going from heavy (which had been always my “normal”) to so light all I needed was a panty shield. Had no other symptoms during that time. The interval between each became longer, too, maybe from every month to every other month to every three months. It drove me nuts because I had to carry something “just in case” all the time
My very last period was around Thanksgiving maybe 4-5 years ago. I had my thyroid out that summer and had absolutely nothing happen until the much-dreaded “whoops!” I had to ask Extended Family’s daughter if she had a tampon. That period lasted maybe 2 days. Haven’t had anything since, not even a hot flash.
I literally laughed out loud! D*C 2012, red alert! Then this past All-Con in Dallas, the same. My picture poses in my Pin-up or Steampunk are so enhanced by the deathmask of a combination of pain, pharmaceuticals, and the need to squeeze the life out of something. The only costume enhanced by all this is the Sith Lord 501st - the “imma kill you if you breathe” look kinda goes with it.
This is a 2008 thread; our policy now is to move medical threads to IMHO, so I’m going to do that. Please note that anything someone posted five years ago may no longer be the case for that person.
I think I have a very good, reputable OB/Gyn. I have asked her – specifically requested – a hormone panel. “Can we draw blood and check hormone levels?” And she tells me “There’s no way to check your hormone levels.”
What’s up with that? Is she oversimplifying and there is a way, you just have to do multiple tests because hormone levels (obviously) fluctuate during a given cycle? Or should I find a new doctor?
Why do I learn from the SDMB that people are getting their hormone levels checked, but my doc refuses to consider it? (Nevermind that I don’t need it and I’m not trying to diagnose anything. Just wanted to know if they can check and say “Yep, waning, you’ll be launching into perimenopause soon.”)
The only time I’ve ever had my hormone levels checked outside of the tests I had pre- and post-thyroidectomy was during a routine GYN exam a few years ago. The nurse asked me about my then-erratic menstruation; I told her about it, we both thought I probably was in perimenopause, but she ordered the tests just to make sure. The results showed that indeed my hormone levels were all over the place (hence the perimenopause) but the levels couldn’t discern anything about impending menopause at that particular time.
I like men. Honestly I do. Two in my family. But I strongly recommend that if your OB-GYN is not female (and preferrably middle-aged) your chances of getting useful information about menopause aren’t the best.
Short rant: why has so little research been done on this condition when half of humanity deals with it?
So it’s good to see women sharing their experiences. Given mine I would recommend expecting the unexpected.
I spent a good part of last year getting every test known to mankind (invasive, unpleasant, and otherwise) done on my heart - it turns out I have a normal heart for a 46 year old woman. Too bad the routine ECG I had done didn’t reflect that - it wasn’t normal for a 46 year old man, so we had to rule everything out. I was quite surprised to find out that they basically don’t have normals for women - just men. Second, less important gender, anyone?
When my mom was going through it she’s skip several months sometimes then have one. She had one come out of nowhere well into her 50s (after at least a year of not having one) that was so heavy she almost considered going to the ER.
That’s total bollix. It’s completely possible to check your hormone levels. Friends of mine have had it done due to fertility problems; hell, my GP checked mine because a little patch of my hair fell out. Among the hormones they checked is one (FSH) that *specifically *gives you an indicator of whether you’re headed towards menopause. Mine came back at 6.something; I think anything over 25 meant menopause was galloping over the horizon.
It needs to be done between day 3 and day 5 of your cycle, and my GP said it’s not infallible, because the FSH level can vary from cycle to cycle. But it’s a pretty good indicator. Seriously: I’m not anything medical, but I’m gonna go out on a limb and say that your doctor is talking bollix.
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