Is this likely the start of menopause?

[ItsTooEarlyForThisNonsense]

Trying to get an appointment with my GP is akin to the great bog roll shortage of 2020. I think I might be hitting menopause but I’m not sure and some of my symptoms are not new (years old).

I have endometriosis and GERD which muddles things. I had exploratory surgery (for the endo, a little under a year ago).

Ongoing symptoms:

Severe lower back pain (assumed endo as it’s cyclical and it’s not new, it’s been happening for years)

Daily acid reflux (likely due to the copious amounts of NSAIDS I take to manage above back pain, again this has been going on a while). However has increased of late.

Bloating. Daily. Also, see endo.

New:

Unexpected upper abdominal pain (in the centre of abdomen , just under the rib cage). After drinking a cup of tea last evening, I had to lie down as I got a band of pain in this area. This has happened a few times, but I put it down to my love of garlic mushrooms.

Late periods, I used to be able to calculate the exact dates but now they arrive late. The last one was particularly heavy (but again, I have endo). Cycle has been late for around 6 months.

I finished my period around a week ago but noticed I have cystitis like feelings, but no cystitis. I noticed very mild blood tints when ahem wiping after going for a wee.

This morning, I’ve noticed two small patches of blood in my pyjama bottoms. Not a huge amount, but I was surprised. However, no more signs of bleeding this morning .

During my last two cycles, I get very sore lymph nodes in one of my arm pits. Very tender to touch , move my arm and there are definite lumps, which then subside.

Do I sound like I’m hitting menopause? I’m 40.

Push for a GP appointment. Try to get one tomorrow as you don't sound very well to me. Lymph nodes swelling is a sign your body is fighting an infection.

Unexpected upper abdominal pain (in the centre of abdomen , just under the rib cage). After drinking a cup of tea last evening, I had to lie down as I got a band of pain in this area. This has happened a few times, but I put it down to my love of garlic mushrooms.

That sounds like gallstones to me!

It doesn't sound menopause-y to me, but i'm not a doctor. I know how difficult it can be to see a GP but I think you really need to be seen.

Literally just about to post this exact thing. Gallstones with probably a touch of gastritis.

Not sure about the rest OP but I'm interested to read the responses. I too get lower back pain but it's only on waking in the morning, I go for a wee and it goes away again.

I would want a GP appt too - I think there can be a danger of women attributing medical symptoms to the menopause when there is an actual underlying illness at play.

Those symptoms could possibly be many different things including ovarian cancer.

Think you need to get yourself seen if it takes a marching band to do it. And make sure all things are considered and it's not all just assumed to be endo.. blood tests needed.

I did wonder about gall stones for the abdominal pain, it’s certainly possible. I also have a generally odd feeling of indigestion or mild discomfort throughout the day.

I’ve just had another cup of tea and already I’m feeling bloated and like I have reflux , but in my tummy.

I've had gall stones and it felt very different to what you're describing it was a very sharp pain on my right hand side abdomen. With deferred pain through a shoulder (nerve pathway thing).

But I daresay these things vary.

You won't get your diagnosis here of course, but you should heed of the fact this isn't an open and shut case of menopause... Get checked out.

What you're describing doesn't shout menopause to me btw, which was your original question.
I'm going through that so have read a lot all around the topic and talked about it lots with other menopausal women.
I'm not a Dr, so strictly an internet random, but it would be an unusual profile of symptoms if it is that imo.

That sounds less menopause and even less like endometriosis.

So I'd be getting to the GP. Get bloods done ask for full bloods, that back ache is odd where is it? And taking that level of painkillers?

Is it 100% internal have you been to physio, check the QL muscles they are so deep it can feel like kidney, lower back pain.

I had surgery for endometriosis and I'm in perimenopause so my symptoms were:

Hot flushes
Sleep disturbances
Gastric pains
Brain fog
Tired, exhausted
Moody
IC symptoms
Increase in UTIs
Bloating
Weight gain
Heart palpitations
Irregular and heavy periods

You could have some peri symptoms but the bloating straight after tea, the lymph nodes, back pains. That sounds like something else is going on.

I don’t feel typically unwell, just “off”, but I put that down to the gastric discomfort. I’ll take heed and attempt the marathon to get an appointment this week. Should I accept a telephone appointment or insist on F2F?

@startstopengine the back pain is in the same area every month and typically starts just before or after a period. It’s lower right , so not typically spinal, it’s more to the right just above my right buttock. It’s cyclical and responds well to NSAIDS every four hours, daily for 1-2 weeks, it’s extremely painful so I can not function without the pain killers.

I know that this level of painkillers isn’t ideal and therefore I put the reflux down to this. I have to take antacids (Tums) etc also daily, multiple times per day. When it’s very bad, I take omeprazole too.

The lymph nodes I also wasn’t concerned about as it’s cyclical . They are sore and then subside, but I definitely feel them, they’re very tender and it hurts to raise my arm. Do others not get this?

TMI but I do notice an increase in being clammy quite regularly, my back is usually quite wet with sweat. I put this down to hormones and heat. There’s so many non specific symptoms I don’t know if I’m just hyper focusing now!

I could do with losing a few pounds (read stones) so I assumed this would be a factor but in spite of trying, I don’t lose weight.

Can you take omeprazole daily? I take long term NSAIDs as well as an antidepressant and I've been told to always take one in the morning. I have a lot of random symptoms that are all related to reflux if I don't take them.

Agree with omeprazole every day and do not take NSAIDs on an empty stomach.
Your low back pain could be an issue with your sacroiliac joint. The pain can be cyclical, due to hormones affecting the ligaments. I damaged my sacroiliac ligaments in an accident and while I always have some pain, it was always worse around period (when I had them,)
Can you self refer to a physio?