Is this perimenopause?

[Happyhappyveggie]

I am 44. In the last 18 months my periods are have become utterly hideous.
My cycle is now 18-21 days, pmt lasts over a week before where I feel really really low. Periods very heavy- all I want to do is eat carbs and sugar and lie on the sofa for 4 days (which also makes me feel worse as normally I eat well and exercise).

I end up looking pale and haggard too and my sleep is really disrupted for days. The other major symptom is heart palpitations in the build up.

I know some of these symptoms are typical for many and I've always wanted to carb load with pmt but it's just so much worse than ever.

I have had blood tests to see what's going on and all were normal but I don't feel normal at all!! I also had an ecg and results were normal.

Aibu to think this might be the start of perimenopause? I really feel rubbish!

itchy backs of ears and forearms here! nice to see we're ticking all the boxes lol

Dear all

A lot of these symptoms are cleared up by HRT - just saying.

xx

my issue is that I was on the Implant until a month ago, had two years of no periods, then as it faded, random periods that stopped and started.

Now it's gone I haven't had a period in 5 weeks!!!

My mother is dead but I think she went through menopause just after she had me at 40. I'm 43?!

Does anyone just not want to do much on some days? i could easily just stay in bed - once i get up its okay and get on, but i feel as if i am wading through mud most of the time and everything is an effort, even getting dressed.
I have heard that HRT is very good, but i just dont fancy taking it.

Thanks for all the responses- yes, I have been getting headaches actually too. And also a feeling of anxiety a lot too- the palpitations are awful
I was tested for iron levels, thyroid etc etc. Everything normal -I think my doctor thinks I'm a bit mad and recommended CBT because of the anxiety and heart palpitations- really unhelpful tbh

I have pretty much given up drinking and caffeine is next. Woo. I am making diet changes when not hormonal carb and sugar loading- I try to follow a good carb/fat diet and also do a bit of fasting but not sure about it.

I also feel a bit tired and old all of a sudden despite 'only' being 44

A lot of the symptoms people are having - including anxiety, tiredness, mild depression and palpitations - are common in women whose oestrogen levels are lower due to perimenopause.

HRT puts that oestrogen back - in a much lower dose than the pill - and makes you feel better.

It's not good for some women if there's a history of certain cancers in the family and it may be that your symptoms are caused by something else.

It made me feel like me again. Which is good!

www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng23/chapter/recommendations

I'm the same age as you and was the same this time last year - massively heavy periods and feeling like shite.

Wasn't the menopause. Was a mahoosive fibroid. Ask for a referral to a gynae and an ultrasound just to check out what's going on with your uterus.

Def not fibroids- had that checked about a year ago

I am 47 and have has same symptoms in terms of periods all over the place and very heavy at times. Also had recurring cystitis and thrush.

I had a blood test which also came out normal. GP was initially reluctant to prescribe anything but after I'd had a v heavy period that didn't seem to be stopping she did prescribe something for that to stop it and since then has put me on an oestrogen based contraceptive pill .

My gp was against me going on Vagifem (a topical pessary) as she is adamant that this increases the risks of ovarian cancer. However on Kirsty Wark's Menopause program the expert reckoned that was the safest form of oestrogen. It's all v confusing - mixed messages!!

Oh and I've cut down on caffeine - this did help.