What were you first symptoms of peri menopause?

[Cloud44]

What were your first signs of peri menopause and have you found anything that’s helped? I’m early 40s so not sure if it is that but I’m just not feeling quite right, not got as much energy as normal, being a bit snappy, worrying about things a bit and just not feeling as happy as before, all for no real reason?

Turning 40 in 2016, like a pp, I had debilitating fatigue (for three years). It may have been caused by a virus but it might have been the start of it. I cut my hours at work. I felt very weak and lacking stamina. I was found to have testosterone levels on the floor in 2020. It is common to lose testosterone (over oestrogen) first. Between 2016 and 2020 (aged 40-44). I also had anhedonia (loss of interest in things) and would get overly worked up by small issues, eg smashing a glass by accident.

Ended up being seen by a hospital endocrinology unit in 2020 who could not help and eventually obtained HRT in 2021. I also had a bladder scan in 2019 for an overactive bladder which looking back (as it’s no longer an issue and no cause was found at the time of the scan) was another unassociated symptom.

Your 40s can naturally be a tricky decade in your life for lots of reasons. They can be quite settled and dull or even stressful and dull at the same time. Research on happiness shows a U curve in mid life. So not all feelings of ‘meh’ or anxiety can be ascribed to hormones and everyone is different in their reaction to dwindling hormones. But it’s worth everyone being aware of the wide array of symptoms it can cause, so you can advocate for yourself if needed.

At 42 my periods changed a bit. I started getting a bit of spotting before a period was due but it was brown blood, like the end of a period. Then I'd have a few days of severe physical and emotions tension before the period started. My cycles became shorter, sometimes every 21 days and heavier with blood clots. I'd sometimes have flooding.
Later symptoms included anxiety, brain fog and poor sleep.

Hot flushes, disturbed sleep and brain fog. All started when I was 42 and got worse over 6 months before I read up on menopause and made some changes.

I have cut out alcohol, caffeine and all fatty and spicy food and increased exercise. Since all that, I’m definitely sleeping well again and having less hot flushes and brain fog.

I haven’t been to the doctors as I don’t want to take HRT.

Weird periods. Some months heavier with flooding, some months much shorter and lighter, and my cycles were all off in terms of timing too.

Also really dry skin 😩

Yes me 👋
I think that could have been one of my frost symptoms along with restless legs.

I'm 53 and haven't had a period for 4 months so obviously I would assume perimenopause, no other symptoms other than being very risk averse recently, not sure if it's connected.

@mynumber interesting! I'm pretty sure I'm peri and the worst thing I've had so far is being constantly itchy. It's debilitating

Me! Taking magnesium sorted that.

Other symptoms: brain fog / memory issues, erratic period, short fuse, people-intolerance, loss of libido.

I need to go and get HRT really. It's just finding time.

With hindsight, my first signs of peri were in my early 40s. I kept having night sweats and shivers and assuming I was getting a cold. I kept feeling really run down and assumed it was stress and I just needed a holiday. I started being irrationally emotional about things that really didn't matter in the grand scheme of things.

I could always pass these things off as being some other cause but with hindsight I think it was the first signs.

My periods were completely normal throughout all of this - for about 8 years. The last 2 years they became erratic, heavy/light/random/missed/shorter/longer and that's when I realised I was in peri. With hindsight peri started a looooong time before my periods went waffy.

You'll be pleased to know all these symptoms, and more, continue into and beyond menopause proper.

It's great being a woman

Mid 40s heavy periods ,absolutely no other symptoms. Periods stopped aged about 46

Periods went from being regular as clockwork to being all over the place in terms of dates/flow. Really sudden and heavy at times.

Severe mood swings, anxiety and depression. Hated my husband, everything he did irritated me, fantasised about divorce constantly. Always feeling like I needed to escape my life.

Me! Dry and itchy but moisturiser just seems to give me spots 🙄

Have you tried taking magnesium? I've always be susceptible to hormonal itching (really badly in pregnancy, for instance), but it stopped it totally.

Irregular and heavier periods and not sleeping.

Itchy skin
Hot sweats
Insomnia
Hating people

Dry eyes was my first symptom when I was 39.

Irritability, too . I developed coping strategies.

Gradual changes to my periods.

howdydude itchy yes, but only in my ears! Having a good tickle with a Qtip is orgasm-inducing, so I can't complain 😂

Itchy skin (especially boobs!), insomnia, lack of interest in everything, irritability, awful anxiety and palpitations, brain fog……I’m 44 now and it’s been a good year of this so just been prescribed hrt patches. Fingers crossed they help!

Exhaustion, brain fog and anxiety. But the brain fog was the worst. Overnight I felt like my IQ had halved.

Not sleeping and night sweats.

No, but I'll definitely have a look - is it just the tablets you take? I already take Iron and VitB12.

It's a capsule, and specifically magnesium bisglycinate. DH buys one from Terra Nova which works well for me.

Thanks @NoWordForFluffy I'll have a look for it ☺️

Hi. I have been in perimenopause for the past 3 years. I am having a crazy time. The worse thing is losing feelings for my partner. Have anyone experienced it too? I feel sorry for him,he hasn't done anything bad,I am just not sure about him. Can anyone help? Is that menopause too? Thank you