It's Official

I am getting old. Menopause. I have been having hot flashes for a few years, along with some other symptoms of perimenopause but everyone kept telling me I was too young. However, my gyn recently ran some tests due to missed periods and pain in lower right side and she said that blood tests indicate I am in full menopause (although she said I am not actually considered menopausal until I have not had a period for 12 months). We still have no idea what is causing the pain in my side, but at least I now know that I have not been imagining these hot flashes. The average age of women to become menopausal is 51. I am only 40. I am officially old before my time.