A hearty hello to all you ladies,

My name is Amy and it's my first time writing to the group. I just
turned 50 a few days ago and my symptoms of peri-menopause is just
getting worse! I mean you name the symptoms I've probably got it!
Hot flushes? - have them nightly! It's so bad it wakes me up!
Aches and pains? - got those too- took an x-ray and found that one of
the disc have collapsed and is applying pressure on the nerves so I
get this tinggling sensation in my arm when I hold my head back.But
I've got medication for both of these so it's not too bad.

Weight gain? Well this is an odd one because I'm not gaining weight
but I am getting a fat pouch of a tummy! It's rock hard too! Water
retention they say! sigh...

And then there's the irregular periods! Here's where my head spins
the most! First it started comming in very short cycles like flash
flood and spotting that lasts just about forever!
Then it stops and gets further and further apart! So maybe you sweet
ladies can help me out here...
My last cycle was 45 days....and that was in October 2003. I was due
( if there is such a things as period is due for menopausal women!)
on Nov 1 but it never showed up.
What I am asking is, can anyone of you ladies tell me what is the
normal pattern of period cycle for a woman headed towards menopause?
I know it's suppose to get wider apart the cycle but is there a
general idea of how many weeks gradually increasing to how many more
weeks? I guess I just want to know if I'm getting nearer to the end
of this madness...

Thanks a bunch!
amy