Well, as for me, if I skip one or more cycles, the next cycle or two is h-o-r-r-i-b-l-e. Everything is intensified twice over.

Of course, for me, once I turned 40, everything changed anyway and I'm playing in a whole new ball game. And I've not hit the change yet, either.

So that's my experience. Eveyone else's mileage may vary

Well, I have to say things seem better today. I'm wary and considering stopping by the store to pick up some PMS/cramps style pills to pop. I've have never, ever, ever in my life had anything like that happen... I have so much sympathy now for people who say that's what their normal periods are like. How lucky I have had it.

If I'm anything like my mom and my aunt, perimenopause should be awesome. Not!

I get the same thing if I skip. More cramping etc than usual.

You know, I had really awful periods when I was young. It wasn't until after I had kids I realized this pain was like contractions. Not the severe the kid is about to pop out kind but still. Or, even more comparable to the cramping you get after you deliver, the uterus contracting. So f'ing painful.

Sort of like my early periods. I don't understand why they were so painful. But, they were irregular.

I would think {not know} that yes, messing with the hormones may have played a part in how you feel.

Mmmm....coookies.......

Feel better, chickie. :)

I never had cramps when I skipped a period. But I had them for each period, so there you go.

Feel better, babe. Sleep always helps me a lot, and if you take the painkillers as the pain is beginning to build, you have a better chance of heading it off before it cripples you.

And chocolate, lots of chocolate. :)

Yes, chocolate is good stuff. Oh, and red meat :)

BE - I agree with you assesment. Yes, if I skip, I have massive issues the next cycle. I just want to curl up in bed.

I have never heard anyone else cite red meat, thank you for validating me!

This is exactly what it made me do too. 28 years was a scary number.

Nice to know I'm not the only one who gets a little iron-deficient ;) My appetite gets ALL wacky around that time. Sometimes I'm ravenous, and other times I can hardly eat (usually the bad cramp periods). Mostly, right before and during the first few days, I'm all about the red meat :)

Just calculated mine at 24 - beeing a late bloomer isn't a bad thing.

<3 Thank you - all of you!

So far, so good today. I can see it now - talking with a rep from some amazing company at the expo today... <insert nastiest cramp ever right here>.

Honestly, I can't wait to have my period. Get this sucker OVER with!

Or watch, I'll start it while talking to Mr. or Ms. Amazing Recruiter.