age of onset for perimenopause?
- Thread starter Kimenem
- Start date
Peaceful Rainbow
Cathlete
There's really a pretty wide variance in the age it begins. Anywhere from late 30's to late 40's and there are those on either side of that. For me I was in my early 40's.
I found Christiane Northrup's book "The Wisdom of Menopause" really helpful. Personally, I've had very few issues over what's probably been about 5-6 years now. It's truly one of those things where each woman's journey is never exactly the same as anothers.
I found Christiane Northrup's book "The Wisdom of Menopause" really helpful. Personally, I've had very few issues over what's probably been about 5-6 years now. It's truly one of those things where each woman's journey is never exactly the same as anothers.
icumom
Cathlete
The smartest ob/gyn (and one time hippy!) I ever met said to call a woman perimenopausal was to say a 2 year old is pre-menarchal...its not a clinically definable,measurable change ....BUT, as a rule, in GENERAL (meaning lots fall out of the spectrum) - "things change," after 35...and its that abrupt...in GENERAL for most women.....can be like me, from 4 periods a year to every month, mood/anxiety changes, ....also by the late 30's/early 40's, comes full development of the frontal lobe which means a heightened sense of perspective (maybe to balance on coming hormonal storm?),sanity, and insight, generativity,etc... I had little blimps of changes in my 30's....at 40, my figure got curvier, but weight didn't change...at 45, blatent thinning of the skin around the eyes, a few gray hairs...47 - woomp - noticable hearing loss, vision loss, and wonky shoulders - menopause induced gimpiness I'm convinced....and STILL a regular period!!!! Oh, an 10 extra pounds....5'5 was 127-132 for YEARS ....now fight to stay 135-142......
Kimenem
Cathlete
Well I'm 36 1/2 
and I'm getting off and on burning sensations in scalp and face and I've had a few gray hairs for about a year now. I can't tell about the weight because I don't clean nearly as clean as I should. I'm not sure about anything else either. I don't know if the skin thing could be a precursor to hot flashes. I do wake up some night sweating, but it's hard NOT to sweat when you have 2 weiner dogs laying against you under a comforter.
and I'm getting off and on burning sensations in scalp and face and I've had a few gray hairs for about a year now. I can't tell about the weight because I don't clean nearly as clean as I should. I'm not sure about anything else either. I don't know if the skin thing could be a precursor to hot flashes. I do wake up some night sweating, but it's hard NOT to sweat when you have 2 weiner dogs laying against you under a comforter. 
twinkletoes129
Cathlete
Hey Kim, you never know it could be just Niacin flushes! (that's if your taking nicacin—it's a side-effect to taking a little too much niacin it has that sensation that you described). I've also kinda sweat at night for a long time now especially under my down comforter. I don't really attribute that to peri-menopause. I tend to be cold during the day and hot in bed, been that way for a long time. That is too sweet Kim, the 2 weiner dogs under the comforter!! And they are the sweetest wiener dogs!! I have two cats that lie against me too!! I love it!!
I have these other symptoms that I feel are kinda the beginning stages of peri-menopause. I like to say that I'm a young 45 year old. I look young. And I noticed some little weirdy things. Like now I get some PMS symptoms that I never had before such as an all day/night headache, a day before my period or a day into my period. Livable though, just a tad annoying. My period is still regular like clockwork but I get some very minor spotting in between like my period doesn't know when to take a hike. Also, I get dizzy on my period and maybe a day before. Never had any of these symptoms before. But I do find cardio really helps with the dizziness. Also, fat seems to want to hug my tummy just below my belly button. Which is so weird as I'm very slim and that little pudge of fat won't budge unless I'm really low in weight which makes me look way too skinny. Very annoying! Now I know why women do the spot fat suctioning!! Also, be sure to get your thyroid checked when you hit your 40's and older as that's the time the thyroid can go off in women. I started getting mild hypothyroidism in my 40's. It has fluctuated up & down and is now getting better on it's own. I have mild symptoms of muscle crampy achiness in upper thighs and sometimes biceps and calfs, but it's mild and livable. It used to be worse and I had a gravelly voice too. Now it's pretty much stable but still needs to be watched as what gos up may go down. It would be interesting to hear others experiences with peri-menopause too as you feel like your going through it by yourself with nobody to talk to about if this is normal or not or what the heck is this?
(that's if your taking nicacin—it's a side-effect to taking a little too much niacin it has that sensation that you described). I've also kinda sweat at night for a long time now especially under my down comforter. I don't really attribute that to peri-menopause. I tend to be cold during the day and hot in bed, been that way for a long time. That is too sweet Kim, the 2 weiner dogs under the comforter!! And they are the sweetest wiener dogs!! I have two cats that lie against me too!! I love it!! I have these other symptoms that I feel are kinda the beginning stages of peri-menopause. I like to say that I'm a young 45 year old. I look young. And I noticed some little weirdy things. Like now I get some PMS symptoms that I never had before such as an all day/night headache, a day before my period or a day into my period. Livable though, just a tad annoying. My period is still regular like clockwork but I get some very minor spotting in between like my period doesn't know when to take a hike. Also, I get dizzy on my period and maybe a day before. Never had any of these symptoms before. But I do find cardio really helps with the dizziness. Also, fat seems to want to hug my tummy just below my belly button. Which is so weird as I'm very slim and that little pudge of fat won't budge unless I'm really low in weight which makes me look way too skinny. Very annoying! Now I know why women do the spot fat suctioning!! Also, be sure to get your thyroid checked when you hit your 40's and older as that's the time the thyroid can go off in women. I started getting mild hypothyroidism in my 40's. It has fluctuated up & down and is now getting better on it's own. I have mild symptoms of muscle crampy achiness in upper thighs and sometimes biceps and calfs, but it's mild and livable. It used to be worse and I had a gravelly voice too. Now it's pretty much stable but still needs to be watched as what gos up may go down. It would be interesting to hear others experiences with peri-menopause too as you feel like your going through it by yourself with nobody to talk to about if this is normal or not or what the heck is this?
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Kimenem
Cathlete
It's weird that you mention the dizziness becacuse just this morning I woke up feeling like my head was really heavy and kind of off balance. I don't feel sick or anything, just "heavy." I did some weird things like spinning, standing on one foot with my eyes closed, and a Cathe step move to see what would happen. All was good, though I was a little wobbly standing on one foot. So......this coupled with off and on face burning......horrible disease? or something totally normal? I will say that I've had the heavy head feeling before and so has b/f.....it was something to do with the ears and my sinuses have been acting up lately. I also remember getting the burning, though not long lasting, during an anxiety attack.
tneah
Cathlete
Kim, woman you need to relax! I am quite sure you do not have a terrible disease!
I am like you though, I am going through some of the peri-meno things as well. Night sweats a few times a month, heart palpitations, especially the week or two before my period, these really freak me out enough, I am going to see a cardiologist (again) just to make sure nothing is wrong...
I also notice I get hot/red flashes sometimes if I get anxious (which happens alot more now), my face and neck get flushed...lovely.
I also park my car and then forget where its at...
See? You are NOT alone..
I am like you though, I am going through some of the peri-meno things as well. Night sweats a few times a month, heart palpitations, especially the week or two before my period, these really freak me out enough, I am going to see a cardiologist (again) just to make sure nothing is wrong...
I also notice I get hot/red flashes sometimes if I get anxious (which happens alot more now), my face and neck get flushed...lovely.
I also park my car and then forget where its at...
See? You are NOT alone..
nancy324
Cathlete
Well I'm 36 1/2
Hey, I'm not a doctor, but you haven't described anything that sounds like periM to me.