Forty is young for such severe symptoms. Maybe try talking to someone at a health food store about herbal remedies and possibly drop a few pounds if you're overweight, since hormones and weight seem to be connected somehow. Good luck!

Yes, I've had periods of very sensitive, swollen, uncomfortable breasts. When I had periods it would go away in a day or two, during perimenopause, lasted much longer and more severe. Got really bad when I was adjusting progesterone up and down. Now that I've gotten my progesterone dosage smoothed out, they are always a bit swollen but not terribly uncomfortable. It seems odd, I always thought that they would shrink to nothing when I went through menopause!

I didn't start with constant bleeding...but my periods would be so heavy I literally could not leave the house when that was going on. My doctor wasn't concerned, only told me if I started passing blood clots the size of a 50 cent piece THEN we would need to discuss options. I would have less than two weeks between periods but at least it wasn't every day all month. The high anxiety was the symptom that sent me to the doctor because I was certain I was having a nervous breakdown. Looking back now...the beginning of feeling like I was 'out-of-control'...'out of whack' with what used to be a normal life was the beginning of the change. Now I'm just waiting to get to the other side and hopefully find what's left of my brain there and pick up the pieces and move on!

Hi ladies! Glad to see I'm not alone. I had an endometrial ablation July, '07. (stopped my periods) I'm 49 now and for the past month I have been having what I think are hot flashes. All of a sudden I'll feel very warm from my chest up. My face and neck get red to the point that people have been asking me what's wrong. I just laugh and tell them it's a hot flash! I average one per hour. I noticed when I had my physical a few months back that my blood pressure has increased also. I'm usually a very, very, good low. Now, I have prehypertension. It never hit me, but I have suffered from migraines the last ten years. (never had a headache in my life) My dr. thought they were just menstrual migraines, but now I think they were due to perimenopause. Good Grief!! Anymore, my skin is so dry (my hands snag clothing), I can't concentrate, I'm forgetful. I take Lexapro for PMDD, (guess I really don't have that anymore either!) which could be why I am not experiencing severe mood swings. My appetite seems to have lessened in the past six months also. I've lost about 15 lbs., and am now down to 132 lbs., which I am very proud of. lol Here it goes! I'm having a hot flash as I'm typing this!!!! Does this sound like Menopause to anyone other than me? (I have no one in my family to compare to. My mom went through an extremely early menopause at 35. Weird. My sister had a hysterectomy at 32 and has been on hormones since. She is now 52.) Thanks!