Hi All,
Any ideas on this gratefuly received!
Last year I found a breast lump. It turned out to be just a strain due to the heaviness of my boobs ~ I'm a G cup! The Doctor also found 3 lumps in my other breast, he said probably they were the same, I had an ultrasound due to the size of my bust I couldn't have a mamagram and it showed clear. I still have the lumps but this is not the issue.
Since that last year which happened around May 2005, I was always bang to the day and time with my period but now find myself 5 days late, a week early or out by just a couple of days. I cannot regulate it. Also over the last year I have noticed myself having panic attacks at certaon stuations and I feel so out of control, I have had to have the Doctor out on a couple of occasions. Also I have been sweating terribly (not smelly!) just very wet at the back of my neck and upper back (deveoped spots because of it!) and under my arms are very wet. I am not sleeping all that well and cannot bear covers on me at all! I am also getting a spotty face which are taking ages to go. I have always had such a lovely skin too! My legs are drydespite using essential oil in sweet almond every day. I have had blood tests and they only thing that is evevated in alkaline phosphotase, a hormone I believe which works in the liver and the bones. I am not too worried about this though.
I am 36 and have no children. I am also veggie and eat an organic diet. I am sure that this is the early menopause, what are your thoughts?
Jane x
RE: Is this an early menopause?
Hi - i think this stage is what's called peri menopause.
I am 39 have always had regular periods, this past year they have become erratic, i'm currently menstruating every 14 days although i went 21 last cycle, bled for two days, stopped for three and then had spotting for one more day - i had this for about 6 months then had several normal periods and now they are all over again.
i have asked quite a few women who said that this happened to them just before thrir periods stopped all together so you could be starting in menopause.
The sweats could be due to this also however, sweating as you have described it could also be due to an infection somewhere, maybe a trip to the Gp would help, he could also do some tests to see if you have started menopause.
There seems to be this myth that women have to be in their late 40's and 50's to start menopause - my mum had it over and done with by the time she was 44 and from what i am told lots of women are far younger than i'd understood the average age of menopause to be.
I'd see the doctor and ask for some tests to see what's happening, it could be just in imballance which is temporary.
Sorry to be useless really.
Anne
RE: Is this an early menopause?
Hi Chord,
It does sound that your symptoms are hormone related which possibly may mean an early menopause (some women go through menopause as early as their teens) but it's impossible to say for sure but it sounds like you know your own body!!;)
You need to get your doctor to give you an FSH test, another alternative is to do a home test which can indicate what your fsh levels are, I just did a quick google in the uk & heres a site that sells them so you can read for yourself [link= http://preventx.co.uk/Products.aspx?CatNum=8 ]http://preventx.co.uk/Products.aspx?CatNum=8[/link]
Love
Amy
xx
RE: Is this an early menopause?
Hello Chord, I have completed the menopause, 3 years ago now, I'm 58 btw. The perimenopause isn't as you describe, especially the sweats and the skin problems. The period pattern is different too, mine settled down to a 3 monthly pattern of a heavy period ( very messy too) the next one would be very scant, and the next light, gradually over about four years the 3 months extended to 6 and so on, and finally stopped after 2 years with no period, about6 years in all. A friend had a similar experience, but two others needed hysterectomies in their forties, fibroids and other reasons.
I should go back to the doctor, keep an accurate record of what is happening, inc the spots etc and how you feel generally.
Have you ever had fertilitytreatment? you say you are childless, is that by your choice or other reasons? Because it can mess you about alot.
RE: Is this an early menopause?
Hello there,
I'm having similar problems and very very tired too - I'm 37.
I did some research and found a fabulous book...
'What your doctor may not tell you about premenopause'. It's written by Dr John Lee who is well respected in the womens health area. The books explains how to balance your hormones and your life from age 30 to 50. Premenopause is not a natural life cycle but one that has been created by our lifestyle and environment. It's something, once recognised, that we can take conrol of quite easily.
He basically says that estrogen dominance is a cause of these problems - infertility, increased allergies, fibrocystic breats, PMS, tiredness etc etc. In some cases - like mine the symptoms mirror those of an under active thyroid. There is loads of advice and case histories. He says that all we need to do is redress the balance of estrogen by taking a natural form of progesterone and eat a more natural, preferably organic diet. He also explains what to say to your doctor and what tests to ask him for!
He also wrote 'What your doctor may not tell you about menopause'.
Both books are excellent. He explains why women are not getting the health care that we need - basically it's due to making money and of course natural medicines cannot be patented so there is no money in them.
If you have fibroids, have been told you may need a hysterectamy, have symptoms of thyroid disease, endometriosis, fibrocystic breasts, low sex drive, cronic PMS, want to increase your chance of conception or just want to know how we women tick - read these books!
All the best
Raquel 😉
RE: Is this an early menopause?
Hello
Yes your problem is hormonal imbalance not a menopause.
I went to a Kinesologist because the hormone pills the doctors gave me made me ill. I found through the therapist that I wasnt producing at least 3 of the necessary hormones to keep me balanced. she also found out which product to take as well cos everbody's needs are different. I swear by Evening Prim Oil, Omega 3 oils, Magnesum and Agnus Castus but your needs maybe different. All the above help to regulate hormones Ag Cas is a precursor for progesterone. Im afraid a lot , not all doctors (especially male ones} are not really clued up on whats out there to help women there are herbs to take to regulate your hormones too have you tried seeing a herbalist.? Surgery should be the very last option for women and the sooner the medical profession realise this the better. I agree that there are good books out there regarding balancing your hormones. John Lee, Patrick Holford & Kate Neill have written books on the subject.
Take care
Viv
RE: Is this an early menopause?
Interesting!
Ok i have a very healthy diet and have taken various things - OEP and Angus cactus - i did have a fibroid but this was demolished with my last pregnancy 3 years ago - my periods were very different due to the fibroid and there was obvioulsy something very wrong.
I realy don't have time to read a book - my Gp has told me to go back to get a test if things don't improve - i don't really have time for the GP either - what strikes me is that so many different women have said varying things about menopause but all of them have said that their cycles became erratic prior to the actual onset of menopause.
The one thing that is very different is that i no longer take the contraceptive pill - i no longer want to poison my body with these - plus i am over 35 and have bp higher than my grannies - anyway for the first 12 months after quitting the pill i seemd fine but this past year has been terrible - if this isn't peri menopause as my gp suggested and my diet and my taking various natural remedies doesn't help - what might it be?
I do not feel olike i have an upset hormonal imbalance - just terribly irregular menses - my cycle is a normal cycle - as before but every two weeks and i can see the lining of the uterus expelled in the menstrual blood - same desire for rampancy straight after the cesation of my menses ( not complaining on that score).
I haev definately thickened about my waist - i have no other symptoms of menopause though, no sweats etc - oh i can't lose any weight but that's not uncommon with women over the age of 35.
Hmmm maybe i should just get a test now - will take a look at that site which was mentioned.
This is a really interesting subject and one which i feel too many owmen are ignorant about - these are our bodies yet the strangest things that we don't understand happens to us.
My own body baffles me. My Gp baffles me more.
Anne xx
RE: Is this an early menopause?
When I was growing up periods,sex,babies and the menopause were something never discussed, well apart from the actualite of babies, but certainly not conception or pregnancy. A hysterectomy was a real Les Dawson cartoon of 'she's had everything taken away'
My generation is the first that has openly admitted to bodily functions. Apart from eating, they just were not discussed either by the women or by their doctors. Given that evenin the 60's any woman went to a doctor complaining of anything was doped up to the eyeballs on tranquillisers.
The contraceptive pill heralded a new approach as women were asked how they were, they had the freedom to enjoy sex without fear of yet another pregnancy, and relaibly this time too. Then came the tragedy of thalidomide and that was followed by all the technology we allbenefit fromtoday.
But inthe 70's another problem reared its ugly head, all the people on tranquillisers had become hooked, and weaning them off was a task in itself.
Another phenomena was that when we did want babies, we stopped taking the pill, no gap and just attempted to conceive, now all those babies are now about 35 to 40years old, is there a link?
RE: Is this an early menopause?
Hi,
Thanks to all who have replied. You asked me some questions, yes I am childless by choice. I am not on the pill. I eat an organic only diet and I;m vegetarian. The spots have stopped but the sweating and 'down' days haven't. I do actually take : a daily multi vitamin, daily eve prim, flax seed oil (I'm veggie) and I drink at least 3 litres of watr per day plus fruit teas. I donlt touch tea or coffess but do eat an amount of bread which I've hear can lead to sweating and hormanal imbalance?
Love Jane x
RE: Is this an early menopause?
What is the FSH test by the way. I don't want to go to my Doctor regarding this, I;d prefer to sort myself.
jane x
RE: Is this an early menopause?
FSH stands for Folical Stimulating Hormone,
xxx
RE: Is this an early menopause?
There was an item on tv in the week about the fact we are going to import American beef, which is hormone ridden... it has been in the past that protein foods have been boosted by hormones in this country, but it has meant to have eased off.
I realise you are veggie now, but have you always been?, it may be you are ova/lacto?
RE: Is this an early menopause?
Hi,
Yes I have been veggie for 16 years now. I drink alittle cows milk about 1.5 litres per week, always organic, have around 3 eggs per week but do like organic cheese.
What does this fsh test involve and where do I buy them from?
Jane x