Perimenopause? Anyone Else Have This Symptom?

Updated on May 15, 2017
C.T. asks from Red River, NM
11 answers

I will make an appointment with my doctor Monday, but I wanted to ask you all. Starting last night I am having the worst cramps of my life (besides childbirth) but no period. This happened the other night (a week ago) as well...although it didn't last very long that first time. I'm 46. I have been having hot flashes. I have no other symptoms. Have any of you had this happen? It was ridiculous how bad my cramps were last night. I took ibuprofen but it didn't seem to do anything. I'm still uncomfortable this morning.

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So What Happened?

The doctor is pretty sure I had an ovarian cyst. They want to take a watch and see approach to see if it happens again or becomes chronic. Thanks for everyone's advice.

More Answers

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L.H.

answers from Abilene on

Glad you're making an appointment. I had horrible cramps but accompanied by excessive bleeding which led to an ablation. I've had hot flashes for years 😜

I had cramps so bad once I was doubled over and couldn't straighten up to walk. I went to the ER (on vacation out of state) and the doc was certain it was appendix. Scan showed a uterine fibroid. The pain from that was like you describe and I decided to have a partial hysterectomy.

My GYN said typical age for full blown menopause is 52-54. I'm ready for this to move on.

I've also had diverticulitis and there's horrible cramping with that. You might consider keeping a food diary in case it's gastro related.

Hope you feel better and your doctor is able to easily diagnose what's going on. Update us when you know something if you're comfortable doing so. Hope relief comes sooner than later.

2 moms found this helpful

B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

Pain in the lower abdomen can be a lot of things.
appendix
twisted Fallopian tube/ovary
digestive/intestinal issues (diverticulitis, etc)
And there are probably a lot more things I can't even think of.
It may or may not be related to peri menopause.
Please see a doctor and figure out what this is.
How to treat it and get relief depends on what it is, so you've got to find out.
Hope you feel better soon.

2 moms found this helpful
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H.W.

answers from Portland on

Please, go to a doctor as soon as you can get in. If the pain continues to worsen (or move from 'abdominal/uterine' to another site) consider going in to urgent care.

I am 46; have had hot flashes for the past couple years and do have 'phantom' cramping (not associated with PMS or menstruation). Talk to your doctor about taking a birth control medication to see if that will help. Before starting that (BC) I had horrible cramping and was ready to have everything removed. The hormones in the birth control medication helped a lot and greatly improved things.

1 mom found this helpful

K.A.

answers from San Diego on

Obviously your best option is to see your doctor.
It is possible to be beginning menopause at the age of 46. I am that age now and have been in full post-menopause for over 3 years now. As in no periods anymore for over 3 years, nearly 4 years now. I am not average but I am within the broad range of normal. I was getting cramping and pain that we thought was related to peri-menopause as it was happening at that time that turned out to be gall stones and resulted in my gallbladder eventually being removed. Things like my liver were being effected and causing me pain that seemed at first like it was related to my peri-menopause.
Short story, it could be all sorts of things, some less severe than others. So, checking with your doctor is your best, first step.

1 mom found this helpful
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R.B.

answers from San Francisco on

I had hot flashes, but I did not have cramps without bleeding. So make sure your doctor gets to the bottom of this.

1 mom found this helpful
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D..

answers from Miami on

I don't think this is perimenopause. It's important that you get in there and find out what's what. You very well may need an ultrasound done.

Ovarian cysts bursting (or NOT bursting, which is worse) are extremely painful. IF that's what you are experiencing, you need to get to the hospital when it's happening so that they can do an ultrasound to verify that. The abdomen is full of fluid and they can see it right then before the body absorbs it. If you wait, they can't tell. There are birth control pills (Mircette, specifically) that can prevent bursting cysts. (Yes, this happened to me, so that's how I know.)

If you have a cyst that does NOT burst, you need to know that too. Unfortunately, they need to go in and surgically remove those. And yes, that happened to me, too.

You also need the doctor to rule out endometriosis. You CAN develop this after having children. (Yes, I had that too. The doctor removed it when he removed my cyst.)

I have been through perimenopause and am now totally in menopause. I have never had cramps with perimenopause. I don't believe that is what you have. You need to get to the doctor and develop a plan of action to figure this out.

1 mom found this helpful

E.A.

answers from Erie on

Definitely get in to see your gynecologist. It could be a symptom of endometriosis or adenomyosis, or any number of other things, but cramps like that are not normal, so go soon.

1 mom found this helpful
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T.P.

answers from Indianapolis on

It sounds like an ovarian cyst.

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J.C.

answers from New York on

I had what I thought were period pains for years (or ovulation pain, whatever). Turned out to be diverticulitis. Good luck!

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M.G.

answers from Portland on

Glad you're going in to have it checked out - have not had that, and pretty sure I am perimenopausal. Haven't heard that being a part of it from my friends or sisters. Hope you get it sorted out and it's nothing serious.

M.D.

answers from Washington DC on

Thank’s for your question "2kidmama".

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