@Agatha @killingfloorman Under 45 but over 38? "You're too young for perimenopause."

@SmirkingRaven @killingfloorman

My gyne had the nerve to tell me that when I was *50*. I told her all the women in my family went peri in their late 40s to early 50s. She tested me and sure enough. 🙄

@Agatha @killingfloorman The testing isn't even reliable for peri since hormones fluctuate so much--I dunno, go by symptoms? They're pretty obvious 😒

@SmirkingRaven @killingfloorman

Unfortunately, they aren't always so obvious. I don't have a uterus, so judging by lack of a period doesn't help. I have Raynaud's and no thyroid, so judging by temperature swings aren't very helpful. Ditto for weight fluctuations. Ones medications can also mask symptoms.

For me, the test was helpful, because it was pretty obvious (I can't speak for otc tests).

@Agatha Are we twins? I also don't have a uterus and have Raynaud's. I get it though, thanks to Lupus, they just blame everything on that and not the chance that my hormones are out of whack.

@SmirkingRaven

My endo, trying to determine if my meds needed tweaking, asked how I felt. I said, "Rotten, but I've felt that way since 2018. You'll need to ask more specific questions."

@Agatha Right? I'm seeing my Rheum tomorrow and I know that question will come up. Ma'am, I'm just out here surviving, okay?

@SmirkingRaven

Today my ortho asked my pain level. Uh... The baseline I guess? 2 or 3 on the scale?

Oh, baseline is supposed to be zero? Huh.

@Agatha Zero is such a crazy number. That exists?!

@SmirkingRaven

Right?? You tell them you're not at zero, they imply we should be, but then they don't do anything about it. So, why ask if no one does anything unless your pain level is "go to the ER"?

@Agatha But then at the ER they tell you your pain levels cannot possibly be as high as you say because you're functioning. We're functioning because pain is our life.

@SmirkingRaven

Exactly. If my baseline is 2 or 3, no I don't go to the ER if it's "only" 8. Now, if it's 8 AND I'm bleeding out, sure, probably.

@SmirkingRaven

Mom had 3 or 4 heart attacks before she realized that pain was serious and the docs put a stent in. She just figured, eh, another mysterious agony to get through so she can go do the dishes.

@Agatha And heart attacks present differently in women--oh, huh, I feel dizzy and nauseated with a little stabbing pain? Totes normal, off to work.

@SmirkingRaven

Apparently she had all that and the pain was enough to be memorable, but since it was "only" pain and nausea, it was just another day ending in "y". She was always like that. (Dad, otoh, omg a stubbed toe was the end of the world.) When they put her stent in they found the scars from the previous heart attacks.