pregnant or menopause?

[belinda31160]

i am 47 and starting to have slightly irregular periods and some signs of pre-menopause. my period is about one week late. i have been experiencing pre-menstral-like cramps, but unlike period cramps they go away - without any sign of my period.  i have been hungry for sweet things, feeling aggitated, emotional - perhaps a bit depressed.  i wanted a coke the other day - haven't had a coke in years! - or craved one. i am putting on weight. another unusual sign has been an increase in my cervical fluid - normally what i would expect at ovulation, not before my period.  a bit tired, but not extraordinarily so.  wishfully thinking, i would like this to be a pregnancy.  realistically, i am not so sure. i did a pregnancy test yesterday around mid-day and it was negative.  my fsh has been high and estrogen levels not great.  i had kind of given up, but these symptoms have awakened some of the terrible disappointments i have had in the past, but also the glimmer of hope that this could be a pregnancy.  any advice, inspiration or gut feelings would be so much appreciated.  thanks.  belinda

[kiaragirl]

Thank you for sharing your story Mary61, Im also 47 and trying naturally, even using preseed puts hubby off bdìng so anything else is out of the question!! (Had been putting preseed in straight after a couple of times but just heard from company this is highly unlikely to work :-(  )
We will continue trying and if it happens it happens. One thing I read recently is that on the day of ovulation the oestrogen levels rise sharply causing breast tenderness, then the next day the progesterone rises causing the nausea...which happens to me every month...so dont give up Belinda...do go get tested at your drs tho...so you know one way or the other. And dont forget to tell us how you get on. :-)

[Mary61]

Hi, I am also 47 years old and I believe that I too have been having some of the same symptoms for about the last two years now . This is what has been happening to me:  it seems that about 10 days before my period my breasts become sore, I feel tired easily, I feel nausea, I have been getting a light clear (almost watery) discharge, and crave sweets or other foods, then I get my period and all of those symptoms dissappear. Yes, they feel very much like pregnancy symptoms. I have gone to see my doctor about this and I have asked her if I am going through pre-menopausel stages but she has assured me that I am still too young. She said that most woman don't start going through menopausel stages until their early fifties. To give you some hope on the baby department, I did become pregnant last year ( I was 46) once in March and once in December but I had very early miscarriages. They were natural pregnancies. I have been told by numerous doctors that my chances of becoming pregnant were next to nothing but I guess doctors are not always right ( they only seem to go by statistics).  In the past five years I have done one I.U.I, and One I.V.F. using my eggs and now one I.V.F.  embryo transfer using donor eggs but none of them have been successful so far. I will be trying one more time with remaining two embryos and hopefully it will finally be a positive one.  If not I will just continue trying naturally as I really don't care what doctors tell me anymore of my chances being close to zero. I will place my trust in God because I feel that in the end it will be up to Him. When you truly want something so badly, never give up and you shall be rewarded. I believe in that. I wish you all the best of luck in achieving a positive pregnancy and a healthy baby.

[belinda31160]

thank you so much for your comment.  how amazing that your hpt cam back negative so far past your period!  i have done another hpt - still negative - but i still have quite profound pregnancy symptoms.  i almost cannot believe the result!  it's so confusing.  do you mind if i ask you how old you are?  remembering, i am 47, so health care providers are very unlikely to diagnose pregnancy or even the possibilty of it before thinking that my symptoms are either phantom or menopausal. i live in jersey, channel islands and it is not policy here to do blood tests at the early stage before a posive urine test can be proved - crazy, i know.   it can be a very lonely process.  i experienced the same before giving birth to my daughter at 43.  what a great testimony about your pregnancy.  wow! thanks again. belinda

[kiaragirl]

Go to the dr for a blood test. When I was pregnant I had FOUR negative hpt over a period of about 2 weeks after my period should have arrived!! I lost a twin, the other survived, but even then, despite the fact that I was pregnant AND miscarrying, the womens health centre insisted it was just a late period. If you FEEL you may be pregnant, go to the dr and find out.

[belinda31160]

thanks denise - i did another home pregnancy test this morning and it was negative.  i am resolved now that these pregnancy-like symptoms are nothing more than my body packing up it's fertility and heading for menopause.  i feel sad.  i feel a great sense of rejection actually.  i have stood by this heart's desire in prayer for a substantial number of years.  i know that anything is possible with God, of course i do, but i can't help wondering why this isn't.  this time i felt so sure, it is exhausting.  thanks again and every blessing.  belinda.

[denise_m09]

I would have a blood test done to see if you are pregnant.  Anything is possible with GOD on your side.  Good luck.

[belinda31160]

many thanks for your responses.  i still have not had the courage to do another pregnancy test and still no sign of period.  i now have breast tenderness to add to the symptoms.  after quite a number of false alarms, i have lost confidence in my body and it's ability to get pregnant.  i had my last baby when i was nearly 43 and my first at 22, middle baby at 28.  i would love another baby, but at 47 there suddenly seems to be so much against bringing my heart's desire to any kind of reality.  although, i maintain that no period, breast tenderness, sleepiness and cravings are all symptoms of pregnancy, there is no getting away from that.  prayers please and if anyone has any feedback that could be helpful, please please respond.  many thanks. belinda

[adgal]

I would go and have a blood test done.  Anything is possible, and its better to know for sure one way or the other.  I wish you luck!

[alikat1205]

it is highly unlikely, i am sorry to say.  at 47, it is very unlikely to get pg naturally.  you have high fsh and not great estrogen levels.  if you are a week late, it should show on a pg test.  a lot of women find weight gain around menopause, and cravings can be caused by fluctuating hormones in menopause just like during pregnancy.   i don't think you should get your hopes up, but it can't hurt to visit your dr and see what is going on, maybe you'll get a happy surprise!

[allip68]

I did hear of a women on Dr. Laura who accidentally got pregnant at 53!  So there's definitely reason to be hopeful!  Take an early pregnancy test that's very sensitive in another day or two.  Best of luck!