How to beat the utterly crushing exhaustion of perimenopause?

[LovelyInLavender]

I was totally fine at 47, slim, active, a natural size 10 & happy. Then wallop, I hit 48 & gained just over 2 stone in one fell swoop - now a size 14/16 & with such a crushing, all-consuming exhaustion I can hardly move. I've never been like this all my life. I don't go to the doctors about it because they only fob you off. I swim every day almost but after that I could happily go to bed & not emerge until late afternoon. I'm so sick of it. How do I overcome this?

Giving up caffeine helped me. Not solved it but helped.

I don't know. I eat well and exercise but I'm always numb with tiredness. It limits what I can do at work too.
Can't face the GP again.

HRT.

The raised oestrogen levels with HRT improve sleep, help energy levels and improve alertness. Also help with mood do have more oomph to do stuff.

Avoiding alcohol as hangovers are an all day affair otherwise...

But I'm still overweight just not as fatigued.

Maybe it's your thyroid. Any other symptoms?

I was also about to say that it sounds like an underactive thyroid. I was constantly exhausted before mine was diagnosed, but after two weeks of daily medication, I felt like a new person!

I'd make a doctor's appointment and insist on being tested.

Hrt, lots of water, less sugar and very little booze.

I’ve been through the menopause and was fortunate that I never felt like this or suffered.

I did have one week of waking up and feeling very hot but luckily didn’t get any hot flushes during the day.

By chance I got talking to a woman whilst looking at supplements in a store aisle and she recommended Menopace to me.

I took them that day and never had another hot flush again or any other symptoms and sailed through the menopause.

As for weight gain I am very conscious of my figure and want to stay slim and realised that with each passing year you have to eat less or you will put on weight.

I eat whatever I want but not a lot of it.

I suppose the only thing negative that may have come about because of the menopause or maybe it’s just my age is that my short term memory isn’t very good.

I do brain training puzzles etc to try and keep my mental agility.

You may benefit from taking Menopace and or a magnesium supplement for your fatigue.

HRT - day after my first oestrogen patch, I bounded out of bed half an hour before the alarm . Now trying to work on weight loss though.

I’m exhausted too and HRT isn’t an option (high blood pressure). But I am losing weight as constant hot sweats have taken away my appetite and most things taste odd. Not complaining on that front. I can’t sleep either, just drifting off when another sweat starts up. I’m hoping it’ll all tail off soon, as it’s hard to manage and i’m forgetting things at work. Exercise and keeping hydrated help. Good luck.

HRT for Me too been on it for 2 months and feel like myself again! Bloody marvellous, don't put up with horrible symptoms OP get your life back.

Jesus - it’s a thing? I’m fed but being so bloody tired and no one really taking it seriously (‘you just need to go for a run’).

I was suffering awful peri menopause symptoms for over 2 years, fatigue being the worst one. 6/7 weeks ago I gave up gluten and sugar (I still have fruit so I'm not sugar free, just don't have refined sugar). and I can honestly say the last few weeks my energy levels have increased and I'm definitely less fatigued. Touch wood it's helped my migraines too. I was getting 4 or 5 bad migraines a month and I've only had 1 in the last 6 weeks.

Don't know if it's just a coincidence or if my new healthy diet has helped but I'm going to stick to it for as long as I can!

Talk to me about the bone crushing tiredness of menopause http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/menopause/3566874-Talk-to-me-about-the-bone-crushing-tiredness-of-menopause

This thread has loads of info

I'd never heard of the perimenopause, despite having gone through the menopause itself many years ago. Is it a new thing?

@Singlenotsingle same here, i have only heard of it in recent years. I seemed to go straight into the menopause and really didn’t find it bad at all, neither has anyone in my family or anyone I actually know. I did work years ago with a lady who seemed to be having hot flushes all throughout the day and she used to get very upset but refused to see a doctor.

I think there is more to it nowadays as women may have other things going on in their lives that exasperate symptoms such as stress.

I’m just over the moon that I am over seven years period free and will never have another one again.

I know soola. It's a cause for celebration, isn't it? I didn't really notice the menopause either; a couple of hot flushes, then finished. No more pain, flooding, or sickness! Result!

I'm 49 and guessing that peri menopause was the cause of my exhaustion too. After trying various iron tonics (Floradix etc.) which did nothing, I started taking a simple B12 supplement which has made a HUGE difference to my energy levels. May be worth a try for you.