Vague, clumsy and sciatica, is this my hormones?

[doubleristretto]

I'm on day 6 of a typically 25 day cycle. I'm 40 and have noticed my periods changing over the last 6 months. I feel the kind of cloudy headedness (and sciatica stabs) that I would normally associate with hormones. Is this a thing? Please help, I've pranged the car twice today!

[picklemepopcorn]

Cloudiness is. Also aches. Not sure about actual sciatica. Sympathies! Me too.

[doubleristretto]

Oh no! Sympathies to you too, pickle. I get the sciatica stabs (that I used to get when pregnant) just before and during my period. It's usually clear by now but today I twice had to hang off my son whilst shopping as my leg threatened to drop out from under me! Have you been going through this for long?

[picklemepopcorn]

Perhaps it's general inflammation in the area? Do you take ibuprofen?

I'm not officially peri, when I went to get diagnosed as peri I was diagnosed as low thyroid. I'm pretty sure, though the symptoms are similar, that I'm both now! My periods are stretching apart, though the odd one comes early. My circulation has slowed, I get cold feet and wrists and can't warm them up. My skin is dry. My hair has moved- less under my arms, more on my legs and chin! My temperature control is a bit haywire, and I'm hot at night though I don't get sweats as yet.

Best to go to GP and ask for blood tests to rule out thyroid, I would think.

[doubleristretto]

Good idea about the ibuprofen, thank you. Yes to the leg hair! I didn't realise that was a thing, long ones down the back of my lower thigh. Do they give you drugs for low thyroid? I've put on weight over the last year and it won't shift.

[picklemepopcorn]

Thyroxine, to get your levels back up. It's a lit more complicated and sophisticated than that if you see a specialist, but generally the GP sticks you on thyroxine if your levels get too low. It's very common about this age. Perhaps you are like me, with it all going on at the same time!

[doubleristretto]

I'm in a terrible temper today, my poor husband who is working from home is incredibly patient! I've managed with much swearing at the computer to set up an appointment on the GPs' website. It's for next Friday so I should be thorough fed up by then! Thank you for your help, pickle

[picklemepopcorn]

I hope you get some helpful news. There was a thread last week about menopause. People talked about being ragingly moody. I haven't experienced that yet... Just loss of confidence/energy and anxiety which coincided with some fairly major life changes so hard to know what caused what, really.

[doubleristretto]

I generally suffer from a terrible temper at 4 days pre-ovulation, today is 5 days pre so I'm guessing it is related. (I only know this as I'm on a period tracker app) I imagine it has to do with hormone levels? I find it harder to moderate my mood than I do do with actual PMT. Peculiar, I know! I hope you're feeling a bit more chipper now? Life is a shocker sometimes isn't it? I've got some rubbish going on as well and the stress can't be helping either of us!

[picklemepopcorn]

I've some stressful situations underway which won't resolve for another year or so. In the meantime I'm cutting myself some slack and piling on the weight.
I'm ok really, but the hormonal changes combined with life being a bit tricky muddies the water when it comes to working out what is going on.

About three years ago I was very stressed and not coping (with a situation which was very stressful), made a major changes and felt a bit better but later discovered the underactive thyroid. I'll never know if I'd have coped better if I'd got treatment instead of putting it down to the situation.

Life can be a bit of a roller coaster, can't it! I'm trying to engineer out all the stressful situations, stop signing up for extra stuff, learn to say 'no', etc. My DF is very ill, though, and I have another situation that would be very hard to get out of... We'll see!

[doubleristretto]

I'm sorry to hear about your father. I think you're right, cut out everything you can and what you're left with will work itself out one way or another no matter how much you worry about it. I hope you feel better soon.