I’m being complete witch to my family. Is this peri-menopause and what will help?

[Lemontarte]

I am 45 years old and periods have been irregular for the last 18 months. I’ve missed some - so I’ll have a period, then miss the next one, then I might have two periods and miss the next.

I’ve also put on a couple of stone and begun drinking regularly (2-3 glasses of wine 3-4 nights a week) for the first time in my life.

I feel a little depressed - not ‘can’t get out of bed’ depressed but fed up. We’ve fallen into financial difficulty during lockdown and now have debts. They’re manageable but leave us with no disposable income.

And my mood is so awful. I’m impatient and short tempered with our children (they’re 7, 9 and 13). I don’t play with them very much, I’m shouty and really lose my temper when they’re bickering or not behaving. I feel horrible because I’m mean and moody most of the time.

My awful mood and missed periods make me think this is peri menopause. I’ve read up a little bit symptoms are so varied. Haven’t seen the GP.

What was peri menopause like for you and what did you do (if anything) to counter the symptoms?

I started HRT and it made all the difference.

I'm getting hot flushes and other symptoms and I've got blood tests booked for Friday.im only 41 but had symptoms for ages.

Interested to know what symptoms were like for you - I’m struggling the most with my awful moodiness

apps.apple.com/gb/app/balance-menopause-support/id1503345959



Sent from my iPhone

Do see your Gp.

Black cohosh saved my sanity. (not allowed HRT)

Sounds like it. I had my last period at 46, no missed ones or anything. Then the symptoms of menopause hit like a bus. Irritability, difficulty following conversations, crippling anxiety, jumbled thoughts and constantly forgetting stuff. I keep a diary now writing down things that happen in the day. I’ve also had to start being super organised as I’m forever forgetting where I’ve put things. If a Bill comes in I pay it immediately as even waiting 10 minutes means I’ll forget to do it!

It’s been 4 years now. I don’t want to take HRT xo I’m just hoping it’ll get better at some point.

I had absolute rage a lot of the time. A constant feeling of doom. Muddled thinking, exhaustion, insomnia, weight gain with a real difficulty in shifting any of it, despite huge efforts. All so much better after four months of HRT.

It could be. But, without sounding preachy, cut the increase in booze out as well. I’m not peri yet but normally only have a few drinks on the weekend. Am on summer hols now (teacher) and have been drinking a few every night and feel awful - not depressed but low and irritable and have put on weight. It’s definitely the increase in booze as I do it every year for the first two weeks! It might help a bit