Perimenopause?

[NoEffingWay]

I'm in my early forties, and am starting to think I may be perimenopausal. My symptoms seem to be:

-heavier periods that seem to last a bit longer
-bit of weight gain which seems almost impossible to lose.
-more tired than usual
-insomnia which means I am waking up anytime from 4am onwards.

Does this mean anything or am I just getting older?! What sort of age were you when you started to feel things shifting in terms of menopause?

I was 38. I had no idea but looking back I was definitely experiencing rage and vaginal atrophy (thinning of the walls) which made sex painful. I also had hot sweats at night and insomnia. My periods stopped as well but unfortunately came back once I started HRT. I take a basic menopause vitamin and magnesium as well. These thankfully stopped the insomnia and sweats but I am now starting to experience panicky feelings and fluttering in my chest at odd times🤦🏽‍♀️

I would start with the supplements and try and eat healthy and exercise but definitely go to your GP if it becomes too much.

Yep, 43 when my insomnia, brain fog, tiredness, night sweats, hot flushes started and periods disappeared.
I've been on HRT for a month now and feel almost back to normal.

Following as I’m wondering the same- 44yo, no period for last 6 months, insomnia, brain fog & night sweats.

Following

Get to the doctors, push for the blood test and HRT if you are struggling like I was.

I hated HRT. It made me irrationally angry.
I've stayed on birth control with recommendations from my nurse. I never used to have periods on it, now I do, and they last about 6 days.
The insomnia is pissing me off. I wear a stoma, and if I have to wake to empty it, then I'm screwed for the rest of the night. At this point, I'd rather my bag burst, lol.
The night sweats have stopped, but the hot flushes haven't.
It's been about 15 months now.
I don't want another 8 years of this.

What is the blood test the Drs do, what are they testing?

I'm going to book in to see the GP, though I always dread it as they tell me to lose weight. I am trying to but now I am just full of muscle due to exercising a ton and confuse the GP who gets me to go off and on the scales as I am heavier than I look !

The 4am insomnia has meant I've had to finish work early a couple of times as I can't function properly on little sleep.

I thought PCOS and periods were bad enough but what fresh hell is this?! I am convinced that if men had to go through this they would have cured this years ago!

They test the hormone levels to see if you are in Peri and thyroid levels as apparently thyroid issues have similar symptoms.

Although I believe that the hormonal blood test is not always accurate depending on your cycle/ time of day etc.