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've just been reading The M word which goes through the different options including the evidence for different herbal treatments. But a big part of the problem is that with herbal remedies it's much harder to get a consistent or known dose and the testing/reporting of side effects isn't done anything like as thoroughly as for HRT.

@poorbuthappy

Starflower oil helps with the sore boobs.

Have you had success with it and, if so, is it better than EPO ?

@Nobbynobbsknob

Also if i go on hrt does that mean that I will get all these symptoms later in life? Am I just delaying the inevitable (although delaying bone density loss sounds like a good plan!)

No, not unless your symptoms would have still been there anyway. HRT doesn't postpone perimenopausal symptoms, it replaces your own lost or fluctuating hormones. There's not normally a reason to stop taking it.

The Menopause Doctor website has lots of videos, podcasts and fact sheets that will answer all your questions, including those you haven't thought of yet!

For me cutting out sugar and most carbs except for vegetables and berries etc plus upping regular exercise have been life changers. My weight is back to normal, I have a lot more energy and generally feel ok. I still get nights where I overheat at times but overall nothing too bad.

What has also been really useful is recognising when things are just happening because I’m menopausal and making sure it doesn’t spiral. So if I’m stressy I take time to relax or do something little just for me. If I’m suffering brain fog, I take a break and go for a walk or just focus on something mindless for a bit. Generally being able to recognise how I’m feeling and do something to help myself has had a positive effect.

@Okbutnotgreat

For me cutting out sugar and most carbs except for vegetables and berries etc plus upping regular exercise have been life changers. My weight is back to normal, I have a lot more energy and generally feel ok. I still get nights where I overheat at times but overall nothing too bad.

What has also been really useful is recognising when things are just happening because I’m menopausal and making sure it doesn’t spiral. So if I’m stressy I take time to relax or do something little just for me. If I’m suffering brain fog, I take a break and go for a walk or just focus on something mindless for a bit. Generally being able to recognise how I’m feeling and do something to help myself has had a positive effect.

That’s interesting as that’s how I’ve been eating for a while now.

Diagnosed long covid in January due to weird set of symptoms but kept adding to the list and gp decided on balance may be peri instead. Im 42 and had ablation 5 years ago so haven't bled since

Symptom list I have to gp read :

Fatigue
Weight gain ( esp thickening waist / belly fat)
Joint pain
Night sweats
Food allergies giving horrendous melasma on my back (alcohol, tomatoes, cashew nuts and spinach are the worst offenders.
Tearing like paper cuts after penetrative sex
Brain fog and rage
Pressure in sinus on waking
Urinary urgency
Dry skin that feels sunburnt on my face
Teeth grinding (to the point that I need a mouthguard)

Started estrogel and utrogestan hrt 3 weeks ago and desperately hoping it works. I feel calmer in the last week and less tired. It's the joint pain that's really getting me down though

HRT

Wholefoods diet

Exercise

Meditation

@Okbutnotgreat

For me cutting out sugar and most carbs except for vegetables and berries etc plus upping regular exercise have been life changers. My weight is back to normal, I have a lot more energy and generally feel ok. I still get nights where I overheat at times but overall nothing too bad.

What has also been really useful is recognising when things are just happening because I’m menopausal and making sure it doesn’t spiral. So if I’m stressy I take time to relax or do something little just for me. If I’m suffering brain fog, I take a break and go for a walk or just focus on something mindless for a bit. Generally being able to recognise how I’m feeling and do something to help myself has had a positive effect.

I've been eating like this for the past four weeks and feel a lot better in myself.

I’m in my first fortnight of HRT and it is amazing.

I’m not furious. At all. I felt like having sex and I wasn’t dry. But mostly it’s not feeling the Rage that is so incredible.

@Fountainsoftea

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.

I came off the pill because of migraines. I take kliofem hrt and its fine.

@Okbutnotgreat

For me cutting out sugar and most carbs except for vegetables and berries etc plus upping regular exercise have been life changers. My weight is back to normal, I have a lot more energy and generally feel ok. I still get nights where I overheat at times but overall nothing too bad.

What has also been really useful is recognising when things are just happening because I’m menopausal and making sure it doesn’t spiral. So if I’m stressy I take time to relax or do something little just for me. If I’m suffering brain fog, I take a break and go for a walk or just focus on something mindless for a bit. Generally being able to recognise how I’m feeling and do something to help myself has had a positive effect.

Can I ask what you eat instead of carbs ? I don’t feel like I’ve eaten unless my meal has bread/pasta/rice/potatoes in it.

Oh please God don’t let the answer be no carbs…

@RoseAddict

Oh please God don’t let the answer be no carbs…

Hate to break it to you...

[quote MinnieMountain]@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[/quote]
@MinnieMountain I had breast cancer. But not a hormone one it was HER2+ and hormone negative so I wonder if that makes a difference. I'll ask my Onco consultant. Thanks for the tip!

I'm 51 and haven't had any symptoms of menopause whatsoever, is that normal?

I'm 3 and pretty sure I'm peri. Getting a bit fed up with being told I'm too young. My Aunty went through the Menopause at 42.

3?! Jeez. 37

@Bluedeblue

I'm 51 and haven't had any symptoms of menopause whatsoever, is that normal?

Yes, perfectly normal.

Also some women sail through it so fingers crossed you're one of the lucky ones!!

I've got...

*mid cycle bleeding
*really tired
*trouble sleeping
*sore boobs
*weight gain (despite walking 25k steps a day, running and swimming)
*always too bloody hot
*rage. I get so fucking angry
*brian fog

Oh and achey bones. What the fuck is going on?!

@Ridiculousradish

I'm 3 and pretty sure I'm peri. Getting a bit fed up with being told I'm too young. My Aunty went through the Menopause at 42.

I got told I was too young at 40

Range of related issues making my life miserable.

Late forties now and have had to have private appointments to get anywhere.

You'll have to really push to see an NHS specialist or get a clued up GP.

Don't get palmed off with anti depressants. Of course they can help some people tremendously but they're not the answer to everything like some GPs seem to think....

@Ridiculousradish

Oh and achey bones. What the fuck is going on?!

Yep, all classic symptoms.

Oestrogen had helped my achey bones!!

Thank you Y0YO. Had better get myself some Oestrogen!

Don't forget the itchy shins, aches and pains, paranoia and huge brain fog, memory lapsed, creepy crawly feeling caused by nerve ending issues!! Get your B12 level checked. Menopace supplements have helped me hugely. 54 and largely on the other side and take Menopace Max. HRT gave me hideous migraine.

I’ve got myself a (woman!! Hurrah!!) GP appointment for the week after next, am taking magnesium, B vits and omega 6/3. I’d rather do most things than give up carbs but I may give it some thought at least…