Boy can I realte! I'll be 48 this October and I've been dealing with this stuff for about 10 years. Going on low estrogen birth control helped for years up unitl about 3 years ago. Then the symptoms got worse and my periods have become unbearable. They finally listened and did an ultrasound and I've got fibroids as well. I was put on the Mirena IUD and it has been helping although I had a bad one this month.
Do be proactive with your doctor. And do read as much as you can. All the other suggestions here are really good as well. Most of all hang in there and remember, this too shall pass...
