Perimenopause advice needed

[CHOCOLATEPEANUT]

I have been feeling like I am loosing my mind but after a bit of reading up realise I am in perimenopause cycle

i am 42 and had my last child 22 months ago.I have always had periods every 28 days that last 4 days bit last month and this they lasted 2 days

my mood has been awful,very stressed,anxious depressed (severe this month) and this month i have felt palpitations and dizzyness.I am over heating too

i am a bit worried as I have felt quite ill and i hate the mood swings as do my family

anyone in same position that can offer any advice?

[Pinkfluffyslippers]

Hi
Sorry I can't offer any advice but I'm going through similar thing - erratic periods but fortunately no depression/ stress. I'm booking a doctor's appointment this week just to talk it over / check out if I should be taking any supplements etc..... Perhaps you should do the same. (Sorry if I'm stating the blooming obvious!)

On the advice of this message board I have bought a couple of the "menopause" books: "Is it hot in here" and "Life change/ your change" (think that's what its' called). ANyways they're useful and only cost 1p on amazon !

Hope you're having a better day today.

[PrettyCandles]

I've just been going through exactly the same as you, at the same age, and with my youngest being similar age. Go to the GP. I finally did, and after lots of blood tests, an ultrasound, logging my symptoms etc, I have just this week started HRT.

Getting a firm diagnosis was very protracted. At first the GP thought I had an underactive thyroid (the overheating wasn't clearly hot flushes when I first consulted her) and later another GP diagnosed depression - which I was and am convinced is not the case. Though there is no doubt that my menopausal symptoms are depressing!

In a way it was good that it took a few months before I started HRT, because it gave me a chance to come to terms with it all. But it is important to start HRT asap for several reasons: not just the relief for you from your symptoms, but also for your family's benefit, as well as to give you the added protection from osteoporosis.

[MorocconOil]

I've been taking Menopace and Black Cohosh and feel loads,loads better. I was having hot flushes, poor sleep, irritability etc.
I'm also 42.

[alypaly]

try high strength evening primrose oil..it worked for me

[Ezzieann]

Hi, just joined mums net and have been experiencing mini perimenopause symptoms. I'm 43, have two children aged 6 and 7 and generally don't feel too bad - just the regular stuff everyone else talking about. I do, however, go very red in the face and neck and totally overheat. It is like chronic blushing and just happens at the most unlikely times. I often go back to my car and check myself out in the rearview mirror and boy oh boy - I am ultra red and flushed. I don't actually feel like it's a hot flush as such - it just affects my neck upwards. I keep the blower in my car on constant cool and it helps a bit. Think I may need to carry water around with me too! Any help appreciated.

[Jaggeyblankets]

I too am looking for advice/reassurance.

I am 43 have two boys 11 and 14, I am having some perimenopausal symptoms, irregular periods mostly over the past year, palpatations.

The worst thing is that I have lost interest in sex.....

y husband is very patient and understanding but I feel like a failure/freak and that I am the only person in the world who feels like this....

Does this pass, what can I do to help this, am I a complete freak!!

[IvaNighSpare]

Hi everyone,
just done a search on perimenopause and found this.
Think I'm heading in that direction:

• Last six months periods have dwindled from heavy flow to barely spotting, and very erratic and unpredictable (after being like clockwork before)
• PMT has gone stellar! Already diagnosed with PMDD (PMT Plus) bit Prozac was keeping it at bay. Prozac doesn't seem enough anymore and the rages/ aggression are frightening and hard to control
• Really sore boobs on the run-up to "period"
• Terrible fluid retention, to the extent that I can't fully flex my ankles, again on the run-up to "period"
• Deodorant doesn't seem to be as effective as it used to be

So, thoughts please. Is the inevitable already here?

[IvaNighSpare]

Oh, I'm 39 btw

[IvaNighSpare]

self-indulgent bump!

[elliot3]

kind of strange thing along the same lines. I read an article in The Mail over the summer about Tamara Beckwith who had hormonal anger and irritability.Her problems were sorted out by taking agnus castus and, having similar symptoms I started taking this too. At first it seemed great , I have had loads of energy and felt great however about two weeks ago and about a month into taking agnus castus every day I have started having the worst hot flushes especially at night - has anyone experienced anything similar? the funny thing is that the agnus castus did even out my moods, I'm the calmest I've been in years . I was told by the doctor abput a year ago that I was perimenopausal.

[Jaggeyblankets]

Thanks for the tip, I have not been to the doc about my symptoms but pretty sure I am periwhatsit. Think I will give the agnus castus a try.
As I've said my lack of libido worries me, I have heard that we can be lacking in testosterone at this time......
Anyone else suffer from this? or is everyone else at it like rabbits and I really am a total freak?!

[Jaggeyblankets]

Oh I am 43.

[ADifferentMe]

Jaggey - no, you're not alone. I have absolutely no interest in sex at all. Haven't done anything about it though! Suspect it's a perimenopausal thing as I don't want to shag anyone, not just my DH!

[Jaggeyblankets]

lol! I know what you mean, thankfully DH is patient and understanding, but it is a worry for our relationship, but i haven't done anything about it either.

I also find that having a teenager and an 11 year old is putting a dampner on that side of things......they go to bed same time as us, are always "around", we get less time together than when they were smaller....at least they went to bed at a reasonable time (after the baby stage had passed). sigh.

that coupled with my lack of interest at the moment means we hardly ever do it now, but i still love and fancy dh. Just hoping this is another stage that we can weather together.

[RedSand]

Just read all your posts. Thank God I'm not going mad. At 47 I missed my period for 3 months then had one again. No hot flushes or night sweats. Anxiety, depression, mood swings, nausea, waking up at night. Two boys aged 8 and 4 are wonderful but I'm not coping brilliantly at the moment. Don't really know what to take to help. Any hints?

[Jaggeyblankets]

I am taking a high dose of evening primrose oil, started at 1000mg tried 1500mg and am finding that 1300mg is helping to at least in helping my periods become a little more regular ATM, I too had missed a couple of periods but don't have night sweats either.

worth a try can't do you any harm, will take a couple of months of taking regularly to see any difference though.

[bellavita]

Iva - am glad I am not the only one in the deodorant dept . I have resorted to Mitchum, roll on, block and spray. I also use normal deodorant - try to rotate them so I do not get used to the Mitchum, but they are beginning not to have any effect anymore.

I too have night sweats. It is like starts at my head and just works its way down my whole body.

I have missed one period. I had the coil removed earlier on in the year and my periods started off quite normal - every 28 days for quite a good few months and then they started to get erratic as to how long I went between them and then the one before last did not appear at all.

Btw I am 44.

Someone mentioned sex - I have no interest whatsoever in that dept.

[bigTillyMint]

I think I must be perimenopausal too.

Iva, my PMT has gone stellar too - rages and agression and absolutely no patience at all at home Thankfully I can hold it together at work!

Periods up the spout. Just had some spotting a couple of days ago, but no period yet - WTF?

And hot flushes at night.

I haven't been to GP for a diagnosis though, or tried any herbal remedies yet.

[salvolatile]

Well, my symptoms are
no libido. At All....
moodswings
irritability
tearfulness
poor concentration
dry skin
lifeless hair
permanent PMT feeling
dry sore etc down below

...but periods still regular as clockwork aged 48.

...bloodtest for thyroid fine - GP gave me HRT today

[gingermcg]

Well it's comforting to know that I'm not going mad. Am taking Agnus Castus and it does seem to be working to help my mood swings but I am also going to take a Magnesium and Calcium supplement.

The extra long period is driving me bonkers at the moment. Does anyone think a trip to the Docs is worth it or is it just something we ladies have to 'get through'?

[luckymumof2]

I had a hysterectomy at 34 - due to illness. This 'plunged' me into deep menopause - so I can relate to most of your problems! (And still suffer with some 9 years on!). Reflexology helped me - you can find them in yellow pages. Also nuts (almonds/wallnuts etc)contain an oil which helps naturally surpress some of the anger/depression issues. Most of all I'd say - you are not going mad - it is an awful time (and not recognised nearly enough!) - but try reading a light hearted paperback - something that makes you laugh - as its amazing how that can detract from your feeling so low. Especially at night when you wake up at 4am and are wide awake!!

[luckymumof2]

I'm a mother of 2 older children and a 'mature' Fine Art student (3rd year of my degree) and I am using my memories and experiences to produce my work! I am considering writing a book - and am looking for ladies who may wish to contribute a little memoir, story, poem, old wives tale, granny/mum advice etc to include in my book. This is a very genuine request - so if any of you can say remember your first period - all be it dreadful/horrific/upsetting/celebratory - i'd love to hear your account. If you have a funny tale about childbirth/ a period/ anything relating to us ladies - please post it - for me. If you wish to remain anonymous, that's fine - just say 'anon' - or if you want first name and age and ethnic background that's fine too. I'll keep you up to speed with my progress - wish me luck!!

[ilovepiccolina]

The Leslie Kenton book is good, tells you how to cope with the symptoms 'naturally'.

Agree re the nuts. I also take a teaspoon of linseeds daily, before bkfst & crunched between the teeth to release the oil (they send me straight to the loo though!).

I had a few symptoms a couple of years ago. The worst was very long periods, getting closer together, with all the bloating etc which seemed to last a fortnight each time. I didn't accociate this with the menopause but the doctor said it can go this way, or the other way (getting lighter etc). She prescribed some tablets based on aspirin, paradoxically, to make me bleed, to take as soon as the spotting started, to get he period 'going' so it didn't last for ever. I only had to take them for a couple fo months, & now am right as rain.

The PMT is same as ever - I take Vitamin B6 as soon as I realise (or am told!)about mood swings. ATM the syptoms are manageable.

I'm (whisper it!) 50.

[Louie1]

Hi, I'm 41 and feeling awful. My periods are more often and very heavy - I'm coming on after 13 days, staying on for 8 - 9 days & really really heavy, then having a break of 13-14 days, then on again. Boobs are really sore beforehand & I get weepy & miserable. I went to the Dr who did a bloodtest & said that I wouldn't be menopausal for about 10 years. I feel dreadful, I can't take anything like the pill because I had a fibrocystic breast lump removed 2 years ago & I do get lumpy. Any suggestions or anyone going through anything similar??

[TimeForMe]

Hi louie1, I can highly recommend Agnus Castus, it regulated my periods and did away with all the pmt symptoms. However, it hasn't been as effective this past month or so so I am trying different supplements. I have been taking it for quite some time so maybe my body has got used to it, reducing it's effect. I'm giving Maca root a try at the moment, I'm not sure it's working as well as the Agnus Castus does but I have only been taking it for a week.

HTH