I think I'm dying of the peri menopause

[MorningsEleven]

I've had kids, labour, c sections - one crash- an endometrioma the size of a jaffa orange on my ovary, an operation to remove the ovary and several paper cuts 😉

I went to bed this afternoon because the cramping and the flooding and the clots and the fucking anxiety and sleepless nights have ground me down. I've got a migraine aura and I'm just so bloody angry that my fertility can't gently fade away with a whimper.

I've always been the "get your bodyform and go roller skating in white jeans" type but I can't do this. DH gave me a hot water bottle, he's on my good list

If anyone has any advice, chocolate, chips, wine, bread, cheese, weight loss tips, similar peri distress please come share.

@possum- thanks for that tip! Wondered if it was sweat. It is very hot!!! Have to see the GP - re the osteparesis again (suspect needles in butt coming my way too, oh joy!) Will chat with her about that too. Yesterday’s patch is already hanging off. Will go looking for Rexona Sensitive today!!!

Banana, When I first mentioned symptoms to GP, he said 'approaching peri menopause'. So peri peri menopause. FGS.

Good grief. My GP dithered for a bit, but I have osteopenia, and both parents had osteoporosis. I said I don't want to dick around any longer and it was time to be proactive. I said that from what I read, HRT was the best FIRST step.

I might nip back to GP when other blood tests are back and see whether I'm overlooking any options.

Perimenopause can last ten years up until the menopause.... average age of meno is around 50, so to be ‘approaching peri’ you would probably need to be in your 30s!!

Yeah, I was 45 I think. He said approaching because I said I wasn't getting hot sweats. I do get very hot at night, just not sweaty. I am also usually hotter than everyone else, and flush severely after alcohol.

I think I failed to recognise my own hot flushes because they don't involve a sweaty hairline or change of nighty!

Picklemepopcorn, As I said upthread, I’m closer to 60 than 50 and have never had hot flushes or sweats (not counting a few times when going through a shitty divorce and more related to anxiety). I have had other things though. I really don’t think any GP should rely solely on hot flushes/sweats being the only sign of approaching menopause as they can vary so much from woman to woman.

To be fair, the interaction of hormones is complex- I have hypothyroidism, which muddies the water as well.

A quick google and I see what you mean pickle, for both symptoms and potential interactions. HRT is not totally contraindicated though as long as tests are done and any drug adjustment made if needed

Mine asked about sweats and I pointed out that it has been over 35 degrees here for what seems like years. Yes! I sweat like a bastard, but it’s a logical response to this environment too. (Btw - I bloody hate living here. If Trudeau would have me, I’d be in Canada in a heartbeat!)

@Possum123 just reporting back...I tried the antiperspirant trick (used Sure shower fresh as had that in) - and it worked very well so many thanks.

Tagging @justilou in too. I sprayed first, let dry about 15 seconds, stuck patch on - to begin with it seemed it wasn’t going to stick at all and seemed a bit wet. However a few minutes later it was stuck well on, and remained so for 4 days

Good to know! My doctor said not to, as it would affect the medication.... Le sigh!!!

Ah no, really? Damn - I might research that further! I’ve only got a few Estraderm patches left anyway.

Rightio - have swapped from patches that do not stick to my sweaty bum to gel. Will keep you in the loop. So far the experience is that it is not unpleasant. Rather like rubbing cold snot on my thigh. My dog does that every day, so not an unfamiliar experience.

Just to add, my GP is vehemently adverse to hairdryers and rexona to adhere patches. She said it messes with the meds.

I had a mirena coil fitted in my 40s after a lifetime of sailing through periods, then a year of thinking I was bleeding to death every month. It was a miracle! Periods stopped completely after 6 months, and now 15 years later have sneaked through the menopause with only the occasional hot flush at night. I'm too scared to have the coil removed even though it clearly is out of date because psychologically I think if I do my periods will start up again 🤣🤣

It will have run out of hormones years ago Soontobe60! Mirena coils give off a small dose of progesterone (I think!) each month, but they only last 5 years. You should get it removed if it's been in there for 15

Ooooh yeah - get that thing out, @soontobe60! Sounds like a recipe for scar tissue. It's not doing anything else for you!

Justilou - yes, stopped the antistink option after what you said, and also didnt like the hairdryer option after what I read about if you slap a patch on after a hot shower it does a total hormone dump on you.

Have discovered that if I warm the estraderm patch between my sweaty palms for a couple of minutes it sticke really well.

Loving the cold snot/dog analogy 😂

Soontobe60 (yes - me toooooo). I only had the Mirena in a couple of years ago - think I was told to keep it for the foreseeable. Will not be best pleased if I get it removed when I’m nearly 70 and have periods 😐. Not quite sure if it might have just become a part of you by now 🤔

So this is where you all are!

I thought some of what I’m going through was down to being (self diagnosed) peri menopausal, but the other things I was just putting down to age/weight/T2db/hbp.

I’m going to have another read later when I’m at home and take note of the supplements etc.

I’m avoiding the GP as she’ll ignore me and just bang on about taking BP meds and statins and I’m not going to take either.

Nice to have found you all 😊

Welcome! Have to say I’m grateful to be here in Australia where I had to push a bit to be taken seriously (and osteopenia that sometimes responds to oestrogen). (Not grateful for that, but it helped me get the gel). My moods have improved no end. My kids and my dog are no longer hiding from me.

HRT caused migraine for me. I find sage supplements stopped the sweats and red clover cured the general rage.

Boob pain. Any ideas?

picklemepopcorn boob pain..yes, if you goggle it plus menopause it’s a thing and due to hormone spikes: www.nhs.uk/conditions/breast-pain/
Actually, I read that memo might make our boobs fuller, and as someone who bf 2 DC and has to hour them daily from somewhere around her waist....I’m sure they’ve got a bit more substance to them - or I might be better imagining it.

Are you sure it's menopause and not a late pregnancy? My friend's menopause is now nearly three years old.