Is this perimenopause?

[CatticusFinch]

Hi, I have name changed for this as I think my MIL might be onto my user name!

I am 41. I take the combined pill and have since I was 18, except to have my daughter who is now mid teens. I often run the packs together so I only have a period every few months. I have noticed I have been spotting on occasions over the last few months which never happened before.

I am permanently tired, and a I mean exhausted. Like can't even think of making plans in the evening except fall asleep on the sofa exhausted. However, I am a teacher and I believe from colleagues that this, in itself, is not unusual!

My body seems to have forgotten how to stay asleep or go into a deep sleep. I feel like I am tossing and turning all night and just kind of dozing.

I have dreadful restless legs. I always have but usually infrequently and when I was particularly tired. Now it is most nights and is stopping me getting to sleep (probably not helping the exhaustion).

My hands are frequently tingly/pins and needles.

I've always got up for a wee once a night but in recent months it is 2-3 times (probably not helping the exhaustion!) Since I turned 40, I now pee when I sneeze.

My weight gain is out of control. I am not eating any differently to how I have always eaten and, in fact, I am trying to be healthier (although not always successfully). I go to the gym at leat twice a week. Every time I step on the scales the weight seems to have gone up. I am the heaviest I have ever been, even 9 months pregnant.

I have started having what I call hot moments. These seem to just come upon me from my neck up and I suddenly feel like I need air. Not sure if this is a hot flush as I don't know what one feels like!

I have started getting heartburn and acid indigestion which I have never had any issues with before. I am.now never without gaviscon and I think that last time I bought that was when I was pregnant!

My mood is not changed, however I have taken anti depressants successfully for the last 4 years and I feel that they are still doing what they've always done in keeping my mood very constant.

I have a follow up appointment with my GP next week, primarily to discuss my restless legs but I seem to have fallen down a rabbit hole when googling about it and now see that other things I have notice over the past 6 months which were just kind of minor annoyances seem to be painting a bit of a picture. Never thought of perimenopause because of being on the pill and not really being aware of my natural cycle.

Any thoughts before I speak to the doctor?
(Thanks, that was a long one!)

I don’t know the answer to this, but at 39 I recognise some of the same patterns and would love to know whether this is peri menopause so that I can better equip myself to manage some of the symptoms or at least give me the reassurance to approach my gp for advice!

Im a little older, 46, but have many of the same symptoms. Constant exhaustion, crazy weight gain despite eating less, leg cramps, back spasms, hot flushes, sleep problems, low moods. I'm also on the combined pill and don't break often. I was pretty sure it was peri, but am going to try and get a GP appointment to rule out anything else, specifically an under active thyroid. I hope you get some answers, it's miserable ☹️

Oh and the heartburn! I think I'm keeping gaviscone in business.

The tingly hands/arms was low ferritin with me, so I’d ask to get your iron checked.
And I’d say yes, a lot of what you wrote could be attributed to peri. Welcome to the club !

Sounds very like me and I would say I was perimenopausal. The only thing is my periods are still pretty regular.

For the restless legs I take magnesium 30mins before bed and it helps with this and I also fall asleep faster. Still wake at 3am though.

Oh and my weight gain is totally out of control. Nothing fits and every week it increases.

I started with slimming world today so hopefully I will see a change soon 🤞🏻

Yes I reckon its peri - plus maybe your body not having been allowed to bleed for so long?

Best advice from me (48) -

It won't go back to how it used to be - get on top of your own symptoms.
Start taking Menopace - I adore the stuff, it helped me so much.
Magnesium at night.

Get a hold of your health and rest - anything you can do in those areas will pay dividends.

Its not easy BUT I don't miss the monthly periods - I now go about 3 to 6 months between periods - I never know when they are coming - I fast now and that helps a lot with weight.

Just get on top of it before it gets on top of you.

Definitely sounds like perimenopause. Might also be worth you having some blood tests to rule out other possible causes too.

I am 43 and also on the combined pill due to heavy periods. I run it back to back and only break every few months but recently I have been having the break every month to see what my bleeding is like. It's now very light and only for the last 2 days of the 7 day break. It used to be really heavy for 5 days.

I have primary aged boys and a PT job. Changes in the last year or so for me are:

Wanting to lie down and rest in any spare time
Fuzzy head
Low/no alcohol tolerance
Warmer and thirstier at night
Weight gain
Increased need for alone time

I take vitamins, magnesium and drink plenty of water. I notice when I don't take my vitamins. Going to bed earlier when possible is a must! Sleep is key.

Go and see yr GP, could be any number of things with those symptoms.

The need for more alone time has passed and was just in the evenings when I needed to go to bed early sometimes.

Yes.

Periods alone are not indicative of perimenopause although they can be affected by it. For some, their periods become erratic, or lighter, or heavier. For others, there is no change and their periods continue to be regular all the way through perimenopause.

I could have written that…all my perimenopause symptoms!

currently on HRT at age 42. Restless legs and palpations have reduced dramatically. But the positive effect on my mood is immeasurable. I’m sure I had PMDD which was ruining my life…HRT has really helped with that.

sleep is still hit and miss, but better. Speak with your GP and they’ll be able to help. Keeping a diary of symptoms may help at your appt x

A whole host of minor, but weird and annoying symptoms which individually don't add up to much but all together conspire to make you feel like shit?

Yep - sounds like peri to me.

Be prepared for the doctor to brush the whole thing off.

Thanks so much for all the replies. I checked a couple of times yesterday and there wasn't anything and then I forgot I posted!

I had blood tests last week to check for any deficiencies and I have a follow up appointment this week with GP which is why I wanted to get my thoughts in order ahead of the appointment.

I'd like to come off the pill so I can see how my body is naturally and that is definitely the plan but DH is waiting for a date to have a vasectomy so I was waiting until that was all done and dusted.

GP was actually very helpful. Because of my age, he has referred me to the menopause clinic (long waiting list so not holding my breath!) And I have new medication for restless legs so hopefully that will help. All bloods came back normal so no deficiencies.

Aw…good to hear. Hopefully the wait for an appt won’t be too long xx

Hi OP, have you done a pregnancy test? Sorry if I am off the mark - you mention having seen the GP and had blood tests, so perhaps pregnancy test was the first port of call- but these symptoms seem pretty firmly potential pregnancy related?

Have you actually had the results of the blood test yet? Make sure you get a printout or digital copy. Pay particular attention to iron, ferritin, B12, and thyroid function (TSH). It’s easy to just think that any old symptoms at your age are due to peri, but ferritin deficiency is woefully underdiagnosed in women. Thyroid problems too - I had issues for the last few years and it was all thyroid induced.