Peri menopause/menopause..do most women have terrible symptoms

[Grinchpyjamasalready]

And what age did your symptoms start?
Reading about all the horrible symptoms, i’m starting to feel a bit freaked out.
Suffered with endo and hormone imbalances & bad pmt all my life, will this mean a horrific menopause
I’m 44 and seeing possible signs…long, horrible periods with clots and the moment and constantly emotional or angry 😫

I had symtoms that affected my life but it was a walk in the park compared to PMS 12 or 13 times a year

I find it amazing that, among women in their 60s and older who were never offered HRT as an option because of the supposed risks at that time, very few suffered debilitating symptoms yet now, since all the media focus, lots do and I wonder how many younger women now are frightened into taking HRT.
In my group of friends, most had manageable symptoms and have never taken HRT, we are all now through it and most of us are healthier and fitter now than pre-menopause

I had a few irregular periods between age 49 and 50 and then they stopped. That was 12 months ago.

No problems or unpleasant symptoms at all.

I'm either lucky or a freak of nature and just haven't started it yet, as I've not noticed anything other than an occasional late or heavier period and possibly had about four hot flushes this summer (but it has been stupidly hot until now, so who knows?). Two women at work had/have awful symptoms, one feels fantastic now she's on HRT, the other isn't able or willing to risk it as she has the BRCA1 gene, so has felt really unwell with brain fog, aches, pains, acne and tiredness amongst other things for about 9 years.

However, I've also got autoimmune disease and haven't ever slept much, so I probably wouldn't notice if I was having any joint pain or insomnia from peri...

It's like childbirth - varies massively from person to person.

Am 48 and have been struggling since I was 46. Persistent migraines, disrupted sleep, digestive issues and vertigo being the worst symptoms. Now on HRT and feel much better. But I have friends who have gone out the other side with barely an issue...

They still haven’t stopped. I had a coil because I became anaemic due to the heavy frequent periods. Everyone said my periods would stop, hooray ! , but they didn’t. I still get a light one.

Weird question but does perimenopause cause flatulence issues, for past few years I've been trumping like a trooper? Lol to much info I know but I'm bloated and when I'm at work I get myself into a pickle holding it in

Yes ! Definitely more wind. Then it starts popping out when you don’t even know it’s there 🤣

Absolutely, along with issues with digestion, food intolerances and all manner of issues relating to the gut.

I'm preparing for the worst yet hoping for the best outcome.

My DM had an awful time coming off hrt after 25 years, the GP wouldn't prescribe it anymore.

DM fell into a depression that she never really returned from age 65.

I'm hoping to avoid putting the menopause off with hrt and surviving though I'm not sure it'll be possible as my pms is a nightmare.

I'm already feeling forgetful at 41.

I'm 53 - periods have been regular as clockwork, until I've missed the last 2. I had about 3 weeks of hot flushes - particularly on a morning, when it seemed to be every 20 mins or so, followed by chills. Non since. I'm praying I've had the quickest menopause ever. One thing I will say is my usual fantastic memory is now horrendous. I find myself looking at people at work and desperately trying to recall their name. There has also been, almost overnight, a deteriation to the skin around my eyes.

Well it's not fun.

What's with the itchy prickly ruddy skin though? I know the science etc but wtf relieves it?! Driving me properly batshit during the night it is.

Oh gosh I’ve had the trapped wind except probably not as trapped as I’d like it to be. I’ve been standing there willing the person I’ve been speaking to, to move away before I have to as I just know that parp is getting out if I move.

I think it’s like pregnancy and childbirth: some women sail through it and for others it’s horrendous. There seems no rhyme or reason to it.

What I hate is when people who haven’t got/had difficult menopause symptoms think that women who do are just moaning. It’s like comparing your easy pregnancy with someone who had SPD, hyperemesis etc. It’s not about how resilient you are - the SYMPTOMS VARY!

I don’t think anyone, celebrity or otherwise, has said this, or even implied it. For some women the symptoms are completely debilitating and they didn’t even know what it was. They are certainly not just ‘feeling sorry for themselves’.

And I think the phrase ‘making a drama out of the menopause’ is pretty anti-feminist, tbh.

No. Don't be fooled by some of the self-promoting "celebrities" who have boosted their careers by making a drama about menopause

Davina and Mariella et al are doing my head in. And it does us no favours at work being portrayed as hormonal, sweaty, harrudans when we get to 50!

I agree @ResplendentQuetzal

I'm in my mid thirties and have some symptoms very irratic periods, sweating, insomnia and mood swings.. nothing too horrible yet. From age 22 to 25 I had no periods but very few other symptoms.

Life time of no issues with periods, barely noticed them. No pmt, no pain etc.

Peri menopause has been horrific; possibly as I had children later, not sure. Didn't realise that's what it was till
quite late.

Hrt an actual lifesaver but still need to tweak and possibly have testosterone. Fatigue is huge and libido is zero. I've been quite surprised how quickly I've really needed to go up v high from relatively regular periods last year to now.

Peri started late 30s, was on hrt by 44. Now 45

Personally I think I've sailed through.. I'm not the woman I was 20 years ago.
Few night sweats, don't need to wear 4 layers to bed, can't stand noise , men just ugh! But on the whole I'm enjoying it weirdly. I think half of the debate on menopause is Not being young anymore. I'm not young I'm 53 and enjoying the oh god fuck off stage 😀

I have PCOS and adenomyosis. I’m almost 46, but my periods are still regular. Nothing else has changed. Still slim, fit, have a sex drive, no incontinence etc.

I would have to disagree with this. MIL and her friends are all in their 80s and 90s and describe their menopause years as ‘dark times’ all suffering to various degrees in the same way women do now. Difference being that it wasn’t talked about openly other than with friends and seen as something to just suffer through. Visits to doctors would result in them being shamed and laughed at with no help offered at all. One of MIL’s friends in particular had an awful time and suffered for 10 years. HRT was not an option for them, but I’m sure many would have snapped it up if it were.

Yes.

Menopause is when periods stop for a year. Nhs lists this as normal when you're between 45-54.

Perimenopause, which is when symptoms can start being a problem, can occur even as long as 8 or 10 years before.

basically from age 40 it's normal to begin to experience peri symptoms. Some in 30s. Some won't feel anything till they're 50.

Some are lucky and barely notice a thing.,

At age 45 you can request trial of hrt with no blood tests.