So, out of no place... on Monday at 2 PM I got intense pain in my lower abdomen. It was only after a while I realized it was cramps. I also felt like I had a hard rock on my abdomen (assuming bloat). So I took some motrin which usually works but, it didn't really help. It has been brutal pain since.

Now, I know, last year I had a bout like this. After skipping a month with my period the next period was a brutal production. Even had a visit with the doctor and a vaginal ultrasound but nothing was found. So I think it is a particularly brutal pms or phantom period. I skipped my period in October.

But it is BRUTAL and motrin doesn't really do anything. I haven't ever given birth but I feel like it is like that.. waves of intense pain that ebbs and flows and an urge to "bear down" -- and, before you think it, there is no possibility I could be pregnant.

I don't want to go to the doctor again because I suspect it is that.. any ideas how to stop the pain or live with it until I get my period?

Well thank god... after suffering badly for days... I did get my period. Thus that is what it was. This cannot happen again.

Menstrual periods can be such a pain! All I can recommend is heating pads and herbal teas and hot baths. Some months my symptoms are awful like yours and I just want to curl up and sleep for a week.

Thanks. The worry was having the cramps but no sign of a period. Thus I had no idea what was causing the cramps and the gas. But now that I got the period those symptoms are consistent with TOM. I swear to god.. I use to wonder why women in their 40s and 50s didn't go to the doctor when a concerning symptom happened... now, I know. They are having so many concerning symptoms on a daily basis they learn not to get worried about them.

End perimenapause rant.

Rant away! Perimenopause symptoms are BRUTAL because they can last for YEARS not weeks or months. Every woman is different. I've been in peri for about 3 years now and am NOT happy about it. Some months I wonder if I'm dying for a week before my period, but then I have to remind myself, "Oh, it's just perimenopause." One month, my stomach bloated so bad I thought I was the girl from Charlie and the Chocolate factory and had 40 pounds of poo stuck inside me (not to be too graphic, but let's be honest, the human body can do a lot of things in response to hormonal changes). Another month, both of my feet swelled up for three days, so I went to the E.R. and they tested me for heart disease and said, "Nope, it's just your perimenopause." Now, I have regular hot flushing happen on my face that lasts for hours at a time, or I wake up soaked in sweat. Edit to add: This month, I had chills and nausea for a week and then got my period.

Men who complain about their health are big babies. They wouldn't last a day with perimenopause symptoms as a woman. Pfft.

Originally Posted by cielpur

Edit to add: This month, I had chills and nausea for a week and then got my period.

Yes..thanks. Last night I went to bed with a regular pad and this morning... only about 7 hours later the whole thing was full. I mean I was lucky I didn't soak through to the sheets. I was white as a sheet.

I do resent having to man up and go to work and not say anything when I am having insane symptoms and I just have to take it. It is sad but sometimes I do wonder if women should be in the workplace (or the workplace needs to seriously change) because we do have many more serious symptoms. I have two male bosses. No way to explain to them the reason I need a break after 1 hour in a meeting.

There are countries that grant "Paid Menstrual Leave" for women; such as India, Indonesia, Italy, South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan. But the U.S.? No way. It won't even grant Family Leave for new fathers or new mothers like Finland and Norway and France do. I think it's because we live in a patriarchal culture -- where men make the decisions in Congress and at the State level, with regards to women's health and well-being. That has to change (but who knows if it ever will). I'm not a nazi-feminist. I'm just fed up with the way men treat women (not allowed equal pay to men, not allowed control over their birth control choices or other health choices).

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/24/h...ff-policy.html

Originally Posted by cielpur

I'm not a nazi-feminist. I'm just fed up with the way men treat women (not allowed equal pay to men, not allowed control over their birth control choices or other health choices).

When I think what an edge men have over me in the workplace because for at least 5 days a month I am basically working while sick. But it is more like 10 days. I continue to have this issue. I am not sure what it is. About every 18 hours or so I am having cramps and intense bloat. I am not sure why. The other day I had to work with it. It was everything I could do not to snap at people.

My guess is it is something to do with my period. I am now about 7 days from TOM and I feel like this is all due to perimenapause... I have symptoms like IBS but I have read that IBS can be caused by hormones.

If it doesn't resolve I will go to the doctor. But my fear is with such vague symptoms she will have nothing to really say.

[unaluna]

During perimenopause, i had a couple three bouts of endometriosis. I felt like i was impaled on a 2 by 2 piece of lumber thru my left ovary. 6 foot long piece of lumber!
I was almost passing out. The gyn said, oh its probably caused by microscopic bits of tissue impinging on nerves. They said you couldnt massage it away, but i tried. Yeah no way men could deal with that.

This is still going on for me. I am due for TOM today and I have to say the cramps and bloat are particularly bad. I made an appointment for 1/2/18. The doctor said I could come in earlier but due to work commitments I don't want to if I can avoid it. I truly believe it is related to perimenapause. It very much feels like I am "about" to get my period all the time. I have all those symptoms... gas, feeling like I have to go to the bathroom -- 1&2 all the time. Bloat and cramps. Cramps are steady and mostly mild but always there. Where as cramps caused by digestive issues seem to violently come and go.

Looking into it... apparently a high fat diet can make things worse. It is beyond likely this is causing some of it. Around October 20th I started eating differently. More fat, more food in general. This all started about 1 month later. So I am attempting to cut down but it is particularly hard during the winter/ xmas.

Finally got to my doctor on this. She wasn't on her best game ever. She first suggested it was diverticulitis. I blanched at that because IMHO it isn't digestive. I have digestive symptoms due to IMHO hormones. But she did a blood test and it came back ruling any infection out.

During the exam I had to push her to consider perimenapause / hormones. One annoying thing is that my periods have been skipping for over a year but my FSH test comes back normal all the time and they are like "nope your fine". Whatever. Huzzah, last night she e-mailed that the FSH came back high which, according to her means, menopause is near. Well, not sure what to make of that but I know ONE high FSH does not menopause make but this is my first high FSH value so... at least it is good to know I am on target.

She wants me to get a transvaginal ultrasound. I don't think it is necessary but, well, can't hurt.

I am excited...

My FSH number was high. The previous highest result was 10... this was 47! FORTY SEVEN. I don't know why this makes me so happy other than it is a complete support for my suspicion that something is very much really happening here. I had an FSH test in August and it was three. So that is a dramatic change.

I am annoyed that the doctor said someone would contact me about the ultrasound but no one has yet. I hate that. I want to be in control of such things. I want this done asap because I am in pain.

I cut back on food yesterday and mostly, a lot of the gas went away. I am hopeful that cutting back on food will help. And perhaps it is just an issue of temporarily large fibroids (before they shrink) and eating a lot of food. I am also wondering if it isn't really "cramps" I am feeling but more my ovaries trying to push out an egg and not getting anyplace. As my follicle stimulating hormone is high.