Help me, perimenopausal women!

[emily_in_nc]

I am 46 and just had two "normal for me" (i.e., heavy and crampy, but not extreme) periods within 15 days of each other, with full and sore breasts all the way between the two bleeding cycles. I have never had two periods so close together in my life, so I wasn't thrilled, to say the least.

I asked my doc about this at my annual physical last week, and she said "welcome to perimenopause". Ugh! She said to keep tabs on it and if it continued (the frequent periods), she'd do some testing (ultrasound and endometrial biopsy, which I'd much rather avoid), but in the meantime, such things are just part of peri-time. If this continues for awhile, I'd definitely consider (and suggest to her) an endometrial ablation, so long as it's covered by my health insurance and not considered just a "convenience" procedure. Or BCPs. Anything not to bleed all the time. It's a real pain in the patootie when you bike, run, hike, sail, etc. etc. as I do.

shewhobikes, I wouldn't want to change a Diva cup in a porta-john, as I really, really need to wash my hands after dumping it out if I am at the heavy part of my cycle. I mean, scrub under my nails and everything. Hand sanitizer just wouldn't do it. And especially since you haven't been using one before, there is a learning curve (at least there was for me) inserting it and getting it seated properly, removing it, etc. -- you don't need that extra worry during your MS-150. With my luck, I'd drop it down into the hole, and then what!?

I'd go with Super Plus tampons and just change at every porta-john, if necessary. I have no problem riding while taking ibuprofen or Aleve, so you might consider that if you are cramping.

Best of luck to you. I sure do feel for you. If I am still bleeding heavily and at great length in five years (your age) I will be running to my doctor begging for mercy!

Emily

[shewhobikes]

shewhobikes, I wouldn't want to change a Diva cup in a porta-john, as I really, really need to wash my hands after dumping it out if I am at the heavy part of my cycle. I mean, scrub under my nails and everything. Hand sanitizer just wouldn't do it. And especially since you haven't been using one before, there is a learning curve (at least there was for me) inserting it and getting it seated properly, removing it, etc. -- you don't need that extra worry during your MS-150. With my luck, I'd drop it down into the hole, and then what!?
Emily

Yikes! Hadn't thought about all that. OK, I'll get a diva and practice some, but mayabe stick with super tampons for the ride. Thanks, Emily. And yeah, if this keeps up I will talk to doc about ablation,
Dale

[Bad JuJu]

I, too, went through a few months of periods so heavy I was often afraid to leave my house. My doc did all the usual tests, determined I had multiple fibroid tumors in my uterus (I'd had a large one removed surgically when I was in my late 20s), and put me on a very low dose birth control pill for a few months until my perimenopausally-crazy hormone levels changed. After that, I started into menopause proper, which had its own craziness, but was never bad enough that I needed medication.

Anyway, just a thought.

[Zen]

If you want to know more about ablation, read about the Novasure procedure