<p>Fascinating. I had two trips this summer with periods starting unexpectedly in the airport during layovers. Hadn’t associated it with the flying.</p>
<p>Never knew that. Will pass it along to DD. Does it happen to young women or just perimenopausal women I wonder.</p>
<p>I am 59 and done. Can answer questions.</p>
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<p>I hear you. I have four daughters and am thoroughly convinced that I will not go into menopause until the last one has permanently left the nest. Since that will put me near 60, I may end up in the record books. But whatever happens, I now know to be prepared when flying. Who knew? Thanks, ladies!</p>
<p>mom60 - so glad you brought this up. I’ve mentioned this to my very close friends and they all say they’re experiencing irregular periods that are light or heavy but none of us fly frequently. We’ve figured it is perimenopause (also checking with our drs.) but never thought to discuss it with each other. Why do we feel the need to deal with this in silence?</p>
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<p>I had an ablation about 5 years ago. best. thing. ever.<br>
This surgery gave me my life back. Normally it is performed in an operating room under general anesthesia since it involves a laser.
If you have having frequent or erratic heavy periods consider this.</p>
<p>I think the period fairy just knows when it is inconvenient</p>
<p>This is also true…</p>
<p>Thanks riverrunner. I couldn’t remember the real name for it. My GF who had it done always refers to it as a “giner liner” and I didn’t want to say that but I guess now I did…</p>
<p>@mary13 i know someone who is in her 70s and still has hotflashes and such.</p>
<p>I read somewhere (can’t remember where) that altitude has something to do with it.</p>
<p>I hate traveling with it >< its such a pain.</p>
<p>Being “of a certain age,” I can join this discussion! My “transition” was actually pretty easy – which I figured I deserved after living with wicked cramps and heavy flow every month for all those years. I started skipping periods once in a while when I turned 50, and then, a month before I turned 53 I had my last one. Since then, absolutely nothing – which is more than OK by me. I have occasional hot flashes, but it’s more of an annoyance than anything. It is more difficult to lose weight, though … Still, all in all, I’m absolutely fine with that “period” of my life being over.</p>
<p>So why didn’t my GP or the ob/gyn mention this oblation thing to me??</p>
<p>Sounds like it can make life a lot easier!</p>
<p>Do you know if insurance covers it?</p>
<p>CBBBlinker, that’s how I feel. I had terrible PMS every month, and big time cramps, but I went through menopause with hardly a hot flash. I have never felt better in my life. I figure the menopause fairy owed me this since the period fairy was unnecessarily cruel.</p>
<p>Huh.</p>
<p>Daughter flew to New Mexico this summer for 3 weeks. Period started and was over before she left. </p>
<p>Period started while she was out in the middle of nowhere ahead of schedule. There may be something to this…</p>
<p>There are different methods of doing an endometrial ablation. I had one 3.5 years ago; it was a Novasure procedure- a wire mesh that it inserted and expanded to fit the interior surface of the uterus. It is then heated to essentially cauterize the tissue. Mine was done under anestesia because my doctor prefers to do a D and C with it. However, there is at least one local OBGYN who performs the procedure in the office. Our insurance covered it as I had been severely anemic. Sorry this off the topic about airplanes and periods (which I’ve never observed but find interesting!), but ever since my procedure I’ve been quick to urge friends to consult their doctors and quit suffering through hideously heavy, long menstrual cycles.</p>
<p>I had 2 years where I thought I was definitely approaching menopause. I traveled to another state and stayed there for 4-6 weeks at a time, 2-3-4 times a year. Every single time I was there for 2 solid years not one period…and they were due. I really liked going there! Then last year that magic did not work.</p>
<p>During those two good years of no periods when away, I had a 60 day period at home once, with clotting etc, it was nasty!</p>
<p>I ended up with other stuff going on and surgical fix, no more periods now!</p>
<p>I do have friend who had ablation and it helped, but apparently if you have endometriosis, you may have a very bumpy uterine surface which does not lend itself well to ablation</p>
<p>My friend’s insurance covered it but my doc said they only do it if you are really suffering. Apparently my doc didn’t think I was…they usually try the pill or other stuff first.</p>
<p>endometrial ablation - is a godsend. Wish I had mine 5 years earlier than I did.</p>
<p>I highly recommend this book by Dr. Northrup, one to read in peri-menopause, as she has lots of information to prepare yourself.
The Wisdom of Menopause
Creating Physical and Emotional Health and Healing During the Change (Paperback)
by Dr. Christiane Northrup</p>
<p>Ebeeeee- Find a female Dr asap. You won’t have to convince her. I spent years being miserable, having d/c’s, etc. I finally switched to an all female practice. My first visit I had a list prepared mentally of everything I’d been through, why b/c pills were not a good option. She looked at me and said “Is it affecting your life?”. I must have looked like a dear in the headlights. “That’s all I need to know.”. Men just don’t get it. I had Novasure under general 6 yrs ago. I wasn’t one of the 60% that is pd free for good, but it’s such a non-issue now.
Find an all female practice if at all possible. It will make all the difference!</p>
<p>My ob/gyn is a woman of more or less our age, and I really respect her. She had said that the “norm” is lighter, less frequent periods for pre menopause, and if otherwise (heavy, more frequent), see her. I would recommend a medical consult.</p>
<p>In defense of male Ob/Gyn’s (for very personal reasons :)) many will sympathize with you, especially if they’re married to perimenopausal women. Docs find the surgery to be life-changing for women who have been inconvenienced, and had their health compromised for far too long. Their patients give enthusiastic testimonials about the improvement in their lives.</p>
<p>Keep looking for a doc who is interested in your quality of life. They aren’t always female! Try and document the length and frequency of your periods and how heavy they are. Docs do have to justify to the insurance company that your health is being impacted, and a solid history of issues with bad periods will help them do this.</p>
<p>Point well made. I was very disappointed that an OB/GYN who I loved, who delivered two of my children just seemed deaf after several years. I have several friends who were frustrated at care received after OB years & recommended this practice.
Ask for recommendations from friends. Thanks for making the valid point riverrunner, that it’s not necessarily along gender lines. It’s where I found help, however it was also by recommendation.</p>