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Original poster

I don't understand perimenopause.

117 replies

Nobbynobbsknob · 27/06/2021 19:09

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?

OP posts:
13579db · 27/06/2021 23:27

Vitamin B6 & b12 have really helped my anxiety

Iron tonic has helped my energy levels

Daily exercise

Less booze

Lots of water

Keeping interested in dressing well etc and taking time to care for myself also really helps

13579db · 27/06/2021 23:29

Also just really being more aware of my hormonal calendar and what to expect during the month. Makes me feel more in control of my hormones and knowing what is coming rather than letting things take over

MinnieMountain · 28/06/2021 07:05

@ChipsAndKetchup can I ask what type of cancer you had? You can’t take HRT if you had breast cancer for example.

CBT is supposed to help if you can’t take HRT. And a

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Menopause Women's health
MinnieMountain · 28/06/2021 07:05

*SSRI type anti-depressant.

isthismylifenow · 28/06/2021 07:16

What about really sore boobs? Anyone suffer with this?

I'm 51 and luckily not experienced symptoms as others, but my boobs started being painful before my last period so I put it down to that. Period came and went but the sore boobs didnt. And they are quite swollen too. My biggest bra isnt even comfy.

I have been taking EPO so have increased it to two instead of one thinking this may help.

They feel really bruised. I had mammogram earlier this year so no worries there. And I'm single so there hasn't been any 'rough stuff'. 😃. So I am wondering if this is the start....

RoseAddict · 28/06/2021 07:39

Yes sore boobs here too. Only in the week before my period, and they come along with raging PMS, not wanting to be touched, aches and flu like symptoms.

RoseAddict · 28/06/2021 07:43

I’ve been reading through the menopause board and also made my own post about all these symptoms there. Someone pointed me in the direction of larabriden.com/ which is useful and also the Dr Louise Newson site. I’d be going to her if I could afford it

BrownEyedGirl80 · 28/06/2021 07:57

I'm 41 and still on the pill.If I'm peri will they do anything?

Nonmaquillee · 28/06/2021 08:02

I started peri menopause around 43/44, looking back. Now several years on and not had a period for nine months so perhaps I am going in to menopause now.
Night sweats etc were actually worse a few days ago, and have definitely suffered with bloating etc. My body wants to turn me into an apple but I try to work against it. Yoga has been amazing for this.
No hrt for me yet, but am keeping an open mind.

Nonmaquillee · 28/06/2021 08:03

*a few years ago

TulipWoodpecker · 28/06/2021 08:06

I'm 44 and still on the Pill. Will this 'mask' any possible menopause symptoms? Is it time to stop the Pill?!

TulipWoodpecker · 28/06/2021 08:06

@BrownEyedGirl80

I'm 41 and still on the pill.If I'm peri will they do anything?
Sorry, didn't see this! I'm I I interested too.
DinosaurDiana · 28/06/2021 08:10

My palpitations, and other things, were caused by very low ferritin. It might be worth having a chat with your GP about possible other causes for your symptoms.

neonorchid · 28/06/2021 08:10

Following this thread with interest. I'm 44 and have had anxiety for years but it got much worse around turning 40. Ive had numerous tests done at the doctors and they have said there is nothing wrong with my hormone levels.

I have
Anxiety
Occasional palpitations at night
Get too hot in bed
Awful mood swings/rage/ and general irritability
And just lately I am worn out all the time and have none specific aches and pains.

I'm going to watch the Davina programme I missed it when it was on. I'm also wondering if another GP consultation might be wise.

neonorchid · 28/06/2021 08:11

Forgot to add I'm also in the pill and don't have periods when I'm taking it.

DinosaurDiana · 28/06/2021 08:12

@isthismylifenow

What about really sore boobs? Anyone suffer with this?

I'm 51 and luckily not experienced symptoms as others, but my boobs started being painful before my last period so I put it down to that. Period came and went but the sore boobs didnt. And they are quite swollen too. My biggest bra isnt even comfy.

I have been taking EPO so have increased it to two instead of one thinking this may help.

They feel really bruised. I had mammogram earlier this year so no worries there. And I'm single so there hasn't been any 'rough stuff'. 😃. So I am wondering if this is the start....

OMG I had such a sore boob before my last period. It was so swollen that it was bursting out the side of my bra into my arm pit. I was so worried that I had a private mammogram.
MoiraNotRuby · 28/06/2021 08:18

Thanks for this thread. I knew I needed to start learning about this but there is so much info I didn't know where to start. This is brilliant.

RoseAddict · 28/06/2021 08:39

I think the mumsnet menopause board must be well hidden as I posted on there last week with a v similar post to this OP and only 2 people replied. They were v helpful though.

DinosaurDiana · 28/06/2021 09:02

The thing is, and this is not a criticism, but when people come on here asking for advice the answer just seems to be HRT.
I think some people would like advice on herbal type remedies as well, so they can try them before HRT.
Someone asked that exact question recently but got no replies. Maybe they don’t work and HRT is the only way to go.

RoseAddict · 28/06/2021 09:14

I’m someone who would tend to try herbal/ dietary stuff for a long time before resorting to drugs but the more I learn about modern HRT the more it seems it’s a kinder more natural and more effective approach than any other options. Lifestyle changes are also recommended ie healthy diet, exercise, less alcohol but these have not really done anything for me. I’ve tried magnesium (v helpful for sleep I think) and agnus castus (didn’t persevere with it) but I’m still feeling pretty rough for half the month most months. HRT is made of yams and stuff anyway so seems natural enough to me!

RoseAddict · 28/06/2021 10:13

Also for me the usefulness of this kind of thread is not so much the advice about HRT or alternatives but seeing all the symptoms lines up together makes so much sense of what the past 4 years have been like for me. I thought they were all separate medical problems and have seen the GP about some of them. I also thought work was the problem, thought living through a house refurb was the problem, thought coping badly with whinging kids was the problem, thought working from home was giving me migraines. Now more and more I’m noticing the patterns through the month, how the connections with how I feel work with my cycle not with work/ kids/ dh/ builders etc.

DinosaurDiana · 28/06/2021 10:17

So a monthly diary of symptoms would be a good start, to see how many are cyclical and how many are not ?
I put up with palpitations thinking they were peri but they weren’t, they were very low ferritin, which is why I think it’s so important to not assume your symptoms are menopausal.

RoseAddict · 28/06/2021 10:45

Yes I’m sure you’re right. But I assumed they weren’t menopause and had various blood tests etc and they were fine so never got any help. I wonder if they checked ferritin I assume so. My palpitations are always in the week before and during my period

poorbuthappy · 28/06/2021 11:15

Starflower oil helps with the sore boobs.

UnaOfStormhold · 28/06/2021 11:42

Best to speak to your GP because I understand that other forms of contraception are better for over 40s - the combined pill contains higher doses of hormones than HRT so will protect against the symptoms but they are higher risk (eg of blood clots), particularly compared to skin or internal ways of taking HRT.