one for the ladies

[fruitsalad]

would anybody know if you can get symptoms of the menopause even if you are still having monthly periods, i am 50 and a week or so before my period i feel quite ill, which i never used to when i was younger, i feel lightheaded have a sickly headache and generally feel quite unwell, as soon as my period starts i feel ok again.

[moonshadow]

You are probably going through the Peri menopause which can start several years before the natural menopause.There is lots of info on various sites just Google Peri menopause and I hope you find something to help you.

[fruitsalad]

thank you moonshadow i have never heard of a peri menopause before i will check out the websites.

[ethandron]

there are 35/36 well documented symptoms of menopause/peri menopause, some of which you would never associate with it - heart palpitations, sleeplessness, anxiety, crashing fatigue, sick headaches, acne, itchy skin, etc., etc.......and so it goes on! i'd never heard of peri menopause either, until i started reading up about menopause a few years ago.
best of luck (by the way, the average age for menopause i.e a year without periods, is 51. i was 53 when it happened).

[solitude]

Hi - I'm in the same situation as you. I'm 47 now and things got weird and starting changing drastically over a year ago. I'm apparently at the beginning of the process but not yet considered to be in menopause. I've refused hormones except for a 3 month course to try to kick things back to normal. I've decided to treat my symptoms and just get through it. Otherwise, I could be on meds for a very long time. I'm too young for this!!!! lol.

[smurfchops]

I found during the peri menopause I looked and felt very very tired and pale -- try taking a Ferrous Sulphate tablet at the start of your period - it is iron tablet . It just makes you feel a bit more normal and gives you more energy when you feel the strength has been sapped out of you ! Good luck.

[Petal~flower]

I am 46, and had really bad symptoms........mainly hot flushes and terrible mood swings.............really depressed...........now on HRT which I said I would never take. But glad I did.

[fruitsalad]

i will try that smurfchops because i do look really pale and feel really tired most of the time but especially during my period. thanks for all your comments on this its been really helpful.