I don't understand perimenopause.

[Nobbynobbsknob]

I think that I might be perimenopausal but not sure. Still pretty regular but pre menstrual symptoms are getting worse and worse. Nightmares, anxiety, palpitations and total exhaustion. Plus 2 stone has just appeared from nowhere. Am mid 40's so the right age but don't know anything about the menopause.

I know that I could look this stuff up online but my brain just isn't working properly and so I'm hoping that mumsnet can answer some questions.

Basically what are the best approaches to helping with perimenopause? Is hrt good and something I should be asking for /on?
Does it sound like perimenopause or could it be something else?

Life is good and I'm pretty happy generally so it's not depression and diet /job/ activity levels aren't brilliant but not awful.

What should I be doing?

I'm kind of ok now, thank you... managed by pills and potions anyhow...

But no, my palpitations were not all the time, I'd have short periods of them every so often, gaining in frequency and duration over the 6 months.

It’s evil, it really is, oestrogen upsets the bile and therefore upsets d’ingestion, Gresham ginger tea helpe.
Also moving tumm y button in clockwork motion, do low carb too.
Nerves had hrt tho, nature is unkind at times too

I'm wondering if I'm starting. I haven't had periods for 7 years as had the mirena coil fitted after my 2nd child. Replaced 2 years ago. Getting a lot of the aforementioned symptoms but had a light period last week. I'm wondering if hormonal changes could cause my coil to not work.

@siblingrevelryagain

I’m 45, been on HRT since 42. Still regular as clockwork, and HRT just helps me feel less shit. I had to fight for HRT from my doc, and in the end I took a list of the symptoms I was getting (done severe, some less so but still not right or acceptable for a healthy 42 year old trying to work and bring up children).

Off the top of my head, the different symptoms I experienced were;

Joint pain (both elbows-was told it was tennis elbow, but I didn’t do anything repetitive)
Brain fog-would sit at my computer and have to force my brain to remember what I was doing
Headaches
Nausea
Night sweats
Dry skin
Palpitations
Spotting a few days before period
Flooding on occasion
Fatigue (couldn’t read my daughter a bedtime story without fighting to not nod off)
Irritability/rage
Alcohol intolerance
Bloating/weight gain

For this they tried to give me anti-depressants! I’ve said on here before that I know HRT works because there has been supply issues with my patches and the symptoms came back, then went away again when I went back on the patches!

I could have written most of this. Would like to add that HRT is really beneficial to those under 50 as it will help prevent osteoporosis, heart disease and help with brain function.

I battled through dreadful perimenopausal symptoms for almost 3 years before I found a doctor and HRT that worked for me. As I was still having regular periods for the first few years and I was only in my early 40s, most GPs refused to listen to me when I told them it was perimenopause.

And no, you don't have to take HRT forever, although some do. For many women, their symptoms will eventually settle and vanish. As I am now post-menopause (it's been almost two years since my last period and with my FSH level sky high, my doctor is confident I will never have another period) we have discussed lowering my HRT dosage. However for now, I am taking the full whack - testosterone in the morning, progesterone and estradiol/estriol in the evening before I go to bed and a vaginal oestrogen pessary bi-weekly as my vagina lost its flexbility due
to atrophy. (Apologies for tmi!)

I have never felt better.

Perimenopause can last for a decade although for some, it will be considerably shorter. Many won't have symptoms and others will have dozens of issues. But, it is worth nothing that HRT is not for everyone, and you need to consider all options as to what will work for you. Tit is also worth nothing that many of the symptoms like anxiety, depression, palpitations point to GPs quickly writing a script for anti-depressants, do not be fobbed off with anti-depressants, they're not the answer. These symptoms are just a result of fluctuating hormone levels.

Good thread. I'm 44 almost 45, brain fog,tired and getting fat, thought it was thyroid but now wondering

Sansucre thank you for your reply. You mention that HRT isn't for everyone.

This is the main reason I'm posting as I've heard this but don't know what it means or what the alternatives are.
I know it seems lazy to ask here rather than Google so apologies for that. It seems as if there are other women who want to know more about this as well and I had no idea there is a menopause section on mumsnet until jedstre mentioned it earlier.

I used an app called Balance to track symptoms. I'm peri with regular periods. I have had headaches, a feeling of pressure on my head, waking throughout the night, frequent urination, brain fog, tearful, rage, mood swings, palpitations, weight gain. I have been getting more and more upset about it because I just don't feel right, and don't feel like myself.

The number of symptoms I am suffering from led me to go to my GP. He did a blood test to rule out any other problems (some of the symptoms could have been down to diabetes, thyroid issues etc and he didn't want to miss something). The only issue with my bloods was low oestrogen. So I've now got HRT patches. Not tried them yet, I need to wait for my period to start, but will let you know.

I’m 38 and having similar symptoms. Irregular periods (early or late, sometimes really heavy, sometimes really light), terrible anxiety a few days before I start. Hot flushes. Up and down several times a night for a pee. Tiredness and mood swings (although I tend to attribute that to a chronic fatigue condition). I’ve been tempted to see a doctor, but struggling to feel up to the fight to get an appointment, and wondering what they can actually do. My mum really didn’t get on with HRT, so I’m a bit wary myself.

Perimenopause is horrific. Way, way worse than menopause. I had weight gain, chronic exhaustion, brain fog so bad I could barely work, depression and I became really pathetic and anxious.

Coming out of it into menopause: energy is back, one of the two stone is lost, personality has returned thank goodness. If all I suffer in menopause is the occasional hot flush I'm very happy.

Didn't take HRT because i was never offered it. I asked for it and was told no need if I was having regular periods. But was offered every antidepressant under the sun!

I assume I’m in it but haven’t really noticed anything yet. I’m 48 in a couple of months. My mum sailed through the menopause so I’m hoping I might too. I’m going to watch the Davina documentary so I can get a bit more clued up.

It makes me so cross many are told that because they are still having regular periods, they don't need HRT.

It is scandalous how badly informed/disinterested most GPs actually are.

I am 46 and have just started HRT patches and to say it is a game changer is an understatement! I also was offered anti depressants initially but pushed for HRT. I have patches that are changed twice a week and have just finished the first monthly cycle. I have various symptoms inc. anxiety, joint pain, dry skin but primarily all the rage all the time. Please do not suffer when there is help out there.

*have = had

@ColdTattyWaitingForSummer

I’m 38 and having similar symptoms. Irregular periods (early or late, sometimes really heavy, sometimes really light), terrible anxiety a few days before I start. Hot flushes. Up and down several times a night for a pee. Tiredness and mood swings (although I tend to attribute that to a chronic fatigue condition). I’ve been tempted to see a doctor, but struggling to feel up to the fight to get an appointment, and wondering what they can actually do. My mum really didn’t get on with HRT, so I’m a bit wary myself.

All of what you have written is a result of your hormones being in flux. Oestrogen regulates so many things including your bladder. This is why you are now getting up several times a night for a pee. Tiredness and mood swings is definitely symbiotic of perimenopause and are probably more impacted given your chronic fatigue. Hot flushes are awful. I was having 50-60 a day at my peak before HRT stopped them.

HRT has changed enormously since your mum took it. Approach it with an open mind as for some, it is life changing.

@Whogivesatossedpancake

What does HRT do, just alleviate the symptoms?

Replaces the missing hormones and so puts your levels back to normal eliminating the systems

I'm early 40s and having fairly regular but v light periods. I spot, then get a 2 day period about a week later. I get the rage and sudden, teenager like tears. I also get sudden, non specific anxiety which is nothing like stress or general work anxiety. It's like that horrible alcohol induced anxiety. I get past it by working through what could be making myself anxious and reminding myself that it's a hormone anxiety, not real anxiety.

I had to come off the combined pill about 4 years ago, as my aura migraines were arriving about once a month, so I'm not sure I'll be allowed hrt.

Does anyone know if being overweight affects whether you can have hrt?

I’m 42 and on the progesterone only pill but still having crazy irregular bleeding.
Another thread has made me wonder if I’m
Peri - I’m very hormonally up and down, unusual weight gain, sleep problems which I’ve never had before, night sweats, and such tiredness.

If I’m on the pill and have been for 8 years how can I tell if I’m entering peri menopause- does anyone have any experience of this?

Sorry way TMI. Does anyone have a hot flush then need a poo. I thought it was needing a poo that made me hot but it very recently occurred to me it might be the other way round.

Dr Louise Newson’s site is one place to find great articles and advice -
www.menopausedoctor.co.uk/

I am making an appointment for this tomorrow. I have:

Palpitations
Rage
Aching bones
Night sweats
Insomnia
Headaches
Weight gain
Crying for no reason
Exhausted

Amongst other symptoms. I never made an appointment before because I didn’t really know where to start. I thought they were all unrelated problems.

There's a FB group called Totes merry peri which is good - try joining it

I have terrible elbow pain too. Both elbows

Herbal tabs keeping other symptoms at bay but wondering if I should start hrt for the elbows.

I'm 44 with family history of menopause mid forties. No significant symptoms except for the anxiety which is awful tbh. I can manage it just about but it's grim. And attached to real things so you can't rationalise it away totally. I defo don't want anti depressants. I am not depressed. I think I'll see how the next few months go.