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Is this early menopause?
I think I've suddenly entered early menopause. I don't know for certain, and I'm terrified because I wanted children, but at the same time I suppose it's best I hear the truth. It all happened overnight – literally – and that's why I'm so confused. I figure you folks are experts via experience at this so why not ask?
Here's my situation; in January, my (now ex) and I tried for a child. I've always, since my early teens, had very regular, 28 day cycles with obvious signs of ovulation on day 14 and was just as normal as usuual. So we tried on the correct date and waited. In the beginning, I thought we'd gotten lucky on the first attempt! My breasts were sore and swollen within a week, I was having funny little belly twinges, and on day 19 of my cycle I had an out-of-nowhere, gone in ten seconds, powerful face hot flash. I'd heard from a friend that, for her, that was a sign every time so the arrival of my period 4 days early was a disappointment. Not only was I shockingly early, the flow was funny; slight, spotty and would stop and restart with only brown flow on the last day. Also, there was no cramping (or diarrhea, normal for me) warning – just a very sharp pain on my left side and then boom. Well, I was told that might be a good sign too. It could be implantation spotting. After all, it was the right day. I was still getting the serious breast pain, so maybe.
About a week later, my breasts went from puffy and vein-traced to deflated. I stayed constipated, bloated and exhausted and then my cervical mucus changed. I had heavy mucus on days 8 -10 of my cycle rather than 11 – 14. It wasn't the same as usual either but rather thick and snot-like instead of watery. I though “Humm, maybe I am pregnant”. I should mention that throughout this time I was continuing to have sharp, sudden pains in my lower left abdomen and occasional slighter ones on the right. I began to have an on-and-off strange taste in my mouth, like dehydration mixed with iron, and producing too much saliva. I grew more bloated and found my pants getting snug. A funny thing I noticed since the earlier weeks was that my belly button ring, which has always reliably gotten tender right before my period would start, had stayed sore for all this time. Three days early, following a final, massive left-side cramp, I have my period again. This time, the flow is even thinner and spread out over six days (my normal is four). Like the last time, I start and stop with what looks to be regular flow when I use the toilet but then not enough to fill a tampon during the rest of the day. I went hours with nothing, overnight even, and then I'd get the short bursts of blood again.
Starting the day after our conception attempt, I began the worst flu I ever remember. Coughing so bad I couldn't sleep, dizzy spells, everything. I decided this might have messed with my entire body, reproductive system included, and so I waited with hope to see if my cycle returned to normal this month.
I'm now 9 days into my third irregular cycle and have my typical ovulation mucus increase early again. I'm gaining weight despite my best efforts not to change my typical diet (I'm suddenly starving constantly). I've had only that one, initial hot flash but I do experience sudden facial flushing, but that's been normal for me since at least my late teens. In other words, nothing unusual. However, the bowel changes, early cycle, exhaustion...all wrong. I'm so scared; these days I'm single (I suppose it's for the best that there was no pregnancy) so now what? If this is early onset menopause - and it does seem to be, doesn't it – then what now for my dreams of ever being a mother? I feel like I'm fighting against an impossible time clock. I'm right around thirty, my mother did enter menopause a bit young – early forties – but nothing significant. There's no history of this in my family. I am, and have always been, slightly underweight. There is a strong family history of thyroid disease, which I've heard can cause this sort of thing, but I'm routinely tested with no sign of troubles.
Sorry for the long post.
Here's my situation; in January, my (now ex) and I tried for a child. I've always, since my early teens, had very regular, 28 day cycles with obvious signs of ovulation on day 14 and was just as normal as usuual. So we tried on the correct date and waited. In the beginning, I thought we'd gotten lucky on the first attempt! My breasts were sore and swollen within a week, I was having funny little belly twinges, and on day 19 of my cycle I had an out-of-nowhere, gone in ten seconds, powerful face hot flash. I'd heard from a friend that, for her, that was a sign every time so the arrival of my period 4 days early was a disappointment. Not only was I shockingly early, the flow was funny; slight, spotty and would stop and restart with only brown flow on the last day. Also, there was no cramping (or diarrhea, normal for me) warning – just a very sharp pain on my left side and then boom. Well, I was told that might be a good sign too. It could be implantation spotting. After all, it was the right day. I was still getting the serious breast pain, so maybe.
About a week later, my breasts went from puffy and vein-traced to deflated. I stayed constipated, bloated and exhausted and then my cervical mucus changed. I had heavy mucus on days 8 -10 of my cycle rather than 11 – 14. It wasn't the same as usual either but rather thick and snot-like instead of watery. I though “Humm, maybe I am pregnant”. I should mention that throughout this time I was continuing to have sharp, sudden pains in my lower left abdomen and occasional slighter ones on the right. I began to have an on-and-off strange taste in my mouth, like dehydration mixed with iron, and producing too much saliva. I grew more bloated and found my pants getting snug. A funny thing I noticed since the earlier weeks was that my belly button ring, which has always reliably gotten tender right before my period would start, had stayed sore for all this time. Three days early, following a final, massive left-side cramp, I have my period again. This time, the flow is even thinner and spread out over six days (my normal is four). Like the last time, I start and stop with what looks to be regular flow when I use the toilet but then not enough to fill a tampon during the rest of the day. I went hours with nothing, overnight even, and then I'd get the short bursts of blood again.
Starting the day after our conception attempt, I began the worst flu I ever remember. Coughing so bad I couldn't sleep, dizzy spells, everything. I decided this might have messed with my entire body, reproductive system included, and so I waited with hope to see if my cycle returned to normal this month.
I'm now 9 days into my third irregular cycle and have my typical ovulation mucus increase early again. I'm gaining weight despite my best efforts not to change my typical diet (I'm suddenly starving constantly). I've had only that one, initial hot flash but I do experience sudden facial flushing, but that's been normal for me since at least my late teens. In other words, nothing unusual. However, the bowel changes, early cycle, exhaustion...all wrong. I'm so scared; these days I'm single (I suppose it's for the best that there was no pregnancy) so now what? If this is early onset menopause - and it does seem to be, doesn't it – then what now for my dreams of ever being a mother? I feel like I'm fighting against an impossible time clock. I'm right around thirty, my mother did enter menopause a bit young – early forties – but nothing significant. There's no history of this in my family. I am, and have always been, slightly underweight. There is a strong family history of thyroid disease, which I've heard can cause this sort of thing, but I'm routinely tested with no sign of troubles.
Sorry for the long post.
Sometimes they will not give you a HepC test or ultrasound, etc unless YOU ask. In your case, maybe have them check better than they have before is my best guess. Wish you the best of recovering from this. Just remember, we all get scared, but try not to be scared and find out what this is.
Menopause is a 10 year process. My last period was when I was 46 but I had symptoms since my late 30's. It doesn't just happen overnight.
You might need to visit the gyn and get a pelvic exam. It's possible you have something else going on like an ovarian cyst. Whatever it is, you should have a doctor apply an explanation rather than trying to guess.
You might need to visit the gyn and get a pelvic exam. It's possible you have something else going on like an ovarian cyst. Whatever it is, you should have a doctor apply an explanation rather than trying to guess.
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