To ask about your perimenopause symptoms

[Midlifelights]

I am 47 and likely in perimenopause - I feel pretty shit for about 3/4 of the month these days to be honest.

My latest symptom seems to be feeling extra shit on the last day of my period- headache, feeling sick, very emotional, anxious, heart palps, only wanting beige food. It used to be that by now I was starting to feel better but no. Is it linked to rising hormones again? Anyone else get this?

Then I feel super shit around ovulation- same sort of thing. Then have a sunny week, then it’s pms & back to feeling shit again.

Aibu to ask if anyone else gets this joyful combination of hormone horror? It’s driving me nuts- I have had the pointless ‘there’s nothing wrong with you’ blood tests several times at the GP and been dismissed as anxious several times too 🙄

@ItsAlwaysSunnyOnMN

And often out of breath

I’m 48

Me too! I’m 51. Your list of symptoms very relatable.

46. Feel like 146. Body, mood, libido, ability to cope just seems to have vanished. So grim

I have sort of been lucky in that I am a carer for my disabled child and very sleep deprived that the menopause has completely passed me by. I’m 50 and haven’t had a period for 3 years plus. I think it’s karma for starting at the age of 10 and acne for six years that the menopause has been non existent for me.

This thread is comforting. I’m 44 and started to have a lot of similar symptoms to others on here. I’ve been having a lot of meltdowns and anxiety at work and it was my boss who suggested perimenopause as she remembered going through it. Having looked up the symptoms I def think that’s what is going on. Like lots here ovulation gives me more moodiness than PMT!

I'm 36 and have all of this I kept getting fobbed off as I'm too young, but my my and started the menopause at 40.
I'm going to arm to see the female doctor in our surgery and hopefully get some blood tests. My periods are the worst, currently having a period every 18 days and they're lasting anything from 4 to 8 days. I used to have 33 day cycles.

Crushing anxiety and catastrophising
Extreme exhaustion, insomnia, flushes and mixed periods. For about 15-20 days a month, I was just a mess.
I started hrt at 36 due to a lifetime of gynae issues. Had a fair bit of weight gain around the belly and lots of spots after a lifetime of clear skin. It's a small price to pay for being able to function.
Going to try hrt patches to see if it helps with the podge and bad skin!

@ShinyMe my hair thinned to the point where I could see my scalp - I’ve been taking a multivitamin for menopause and an iron supplement and, after about 3 months my hair has started to thicken again (I now have a layer of 2/3cm regrowth all over - curly hair so it’s a bit of a riot but it’s there).

Currently 48 and can relate to you all

I seem to limp from one symptom and then another

Heavy bleeding
The rage
Anxiety
Over-reacting
Bloating
Dryness
Hair loss
Now crippling hip pain, I am like a very arthritic person

I feel like me for about two weeks and then completely awful the rest of the time.

Waiting to see physio to check hip out
Thinking about dexa scan as worried about osteoporosis

Using vagifem
gp quite dismissive

Really awful so to all as makes it worse and makes me fatter 🤣

Tearful - and I mean, I cry constantly
Anxiety, low mood
Really awful night sweats
Extremely forgetful
Boobs dissapearing

I'm 49

@dingledongle I had vagifem for a bit & then doc said i didn’t need it- a gynaecologist prescribed it because of a slight prolapse. (Male) doc was utterly dismissive of me asking for it on repeat

I’m 43 and really grateful for this thread.

I am definitely experiencing more extreme moods (bad temper/crying at little things) at ovulation and just before my period. Also get kind of foggy feeling, like I’m coming down with something. My mother had menopausal symptoms for about 10 years and a headache that never went away the whole time. I hope I’m not going into that. I don’t think I’d ask for HRT because I never got on with hormonal contraception.

midlifelights I am sorry to hear about your GP, I tried several times with GP. Initially she suggested washing in diprobase in that area!
Vagifem has helped- however I don't want sex now!!!!!! No libido

jellycatspyjamas my hair has been thinning, what tablets have you taken? How long did it take?

I have been massaging my scalp and changing my diet but I know it really is systemic.

Thanks

I'm 48 - no periods as I had the mirena coil for 10 years for contraception anyway, but bladder weakness, brain fog, irritability, misery, anxiety, sweats/flushes and dry skin/brittle hair all kicked in last year. Insomnia not too bad.

Started HRT (Estrogel and Utrogestan, as my mirena was due for replacement but had to be postponed because Covid) in April. It has made a minor difference but the brain fog, lack of motivation and anxiety are the most problematic symptoms - I had a thread, "Menopause or just losing my mind". I've just ordered a good vitamin B complex supplement, fingers crossed I can concentrate again soon.

New mirena scheduled for tomorrow, thankfully.

@dingledongle I use Centrum women 50+ and a sachet of Spatone daily. It’s literally the only thing that’s helped my hair - I sometimes feel like my body just doesn’t take nutrients from food anymore, my mum had severe anaemia from peri-menopause onward hence the keeping iron levels steady.

Go glad I read this thread! Just had blood tests which came back normal so gp said definitly not perimenopause. I've been getting worried my symptoms are something worse! (Exhaustion, irritation, night sweats, day hot flushes, light irregular periods very close together) she said I'm too young and my symptoms maybe because I've put on weight. I have put on a stone but I'm not overweight. I'm 43 but my mum was 45 when her periods stopped.

Oh sorry, it’s taken about 3 months for me to see proper regrowth but it’s so much improved - I had a receding hair line at one point.

I've been taking collagen powder and it's made a massive difference to my hair. Noticeably thicker and really shiny. My hairdresser keeps commenting on it as if it's some sort of miracle

Hi, I am 50 and have the following symptoms currently:-
Periods 5 days on, 5 days off
Hot flushes with palpitations
Feeling low
Being absent-minded, forgetting everyday words
Feeling unsexy and completely off sex
Aching all over
Anxiety
Lacking confidence
Short-tempered
Weight gain
Generally often feeling totally pissed off

It is reassuring to read other's symptoms, sorry you are all suffering but comforting to think I am not falling to pieces and this is all normal. for everyone.

Hi all. Joining in the 'party' here. Loads of similar symptoms to you all. First went to the GP a year ago. My BP has been an issue, but now settled. After a boat load of confusion and consequent delays, I have a telephone appt at 8.30 this morning to hopefully finally get a prescription for HRT. If I have to jump through any more hopps though, I think I will lose the plot with them. Deep breath, and just quote NICE guidelines is my plan.

edenhills that's bollocks. They are clearly perimenopausal symptoms. Blood test is notoriously inaccurate, and NICE guidelines state that once 45 diagnosis should be made on symptoms alone. So either try and get an appt with a different doctor, or try telling them you aren't far off the 45 and definitely mention family history.

I also have osteoarthritis. Am made to feel like shit for taking codeine. But feel sure the HRT will help with joint pain in general. So many people say it has for them. Fingers crossed. I will report back after my appt.

I’m 47 and have the following

Heaches
Dizziness
Foggy head
Internal tremors
Complete loss of sex drive
Easily irritated genitals
Aches and pains, especially in my arms and shoulders and neck
Ringing ears
Sinus issues
Lethargy and the subsequent weight gain
Lost all tolerance for alcohol

Periods still come like clockwork.

I'm 47 and have very heavy short periods although they are regular(ish) still. I can't go anywhere the first day usually - doc has just dismissed me. No HRT nothing. I have a very short fuse. Dizziness, foggy brain and very emotional, hair thining, and growing black hairs on neck ffs . Just want periods to bugger off now tbh! Can't have pill etc as I get ocular migraines. I'm reading here I should be offered HRT or at least be taken seriously?

Oh and pains in hips - so sore especially after sitting a while. I have started taking magnesium and b6 is it? I think it has helped my mood a little and hopefully will help with aches and pains

I didn't know about peri.My dm never suffered.When I hit 51 I had dreadful anxiety so bad I stopped driving!.I used to dread going on the bus too.A morning sickness type feeling.Exhaustion low confidence and anger bladder weakness hot flushes hair loss and dreadful joint pain.
Hrt has helped enormously.

@Midlifelights There is a menopause forum here on MN where you will get lots of help.