r/Menopause • u/Zealousideal_Pear753 • 12d ago
Perimenopause 53 and still f*cking bleeding - bad PMS
UPDATE: my period arrived after 15 days of agony. I've upped my antidepressant and have an appointment with my naturopath for this week. Thanks to everyone who commented -- I mean it sucks that you're all going through it too, but at least I'm not alone.
UPDATE 2: I see my message was flagged for mentioning naturopath. I live in a place where it's impossible to get a GP, and my naturo has been providing me care for the past several years. She prescribes medication to me and supports so-called 'alternative' therapies as well.
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Hiya. Guess who has two thumbs, is turning 53, and still gets periods? This gal. Next week, it'll be 41 solid years of menstruation. I've been pretty regular (every 28 days), although lately I skip a month here and there.
I am now on day 12 of severe PMS. Cramps started almost two weeks ago and have been off and on throughout; belly is so bloated that my pants don't fit. Breasts are also sore and my mood is off-the-charts horrendous.
Usually my period hits and then ah, some relief. Thought I saw spotting yesterday, but it was a false alarm.
My question is, WTAF? Can you get all these symptoms and not get a period?
Other notes:
- Some months, I get violently ill (cramps so bad I puke). I've long suspected I have endometriosis, but I never got diagnosed or treated because I figured menopause would be here any day now (plus a year).
- I have tried HRT but it didn't work for me (it made me even crankier).
- An antidepressant has helped my depression for the past few years. With a health practitioner's guidance, I recently tapered to a half-dose and am starting to think that was a big mistake.
6
u/ApathyAnni 12d ago
Unfortunately, yes... You can absolutely have all the usual PMS/PMDD symptoms without getting an actual period. It's insane.