To ask how old you are and what your perimenopausal symptoms?

[Divinespark]

Just that really?

Almost forgot about my body temperature, I'm either too hot or too cold. I can go to either extreme very quickly.
And the most recent, irregular and heavy periods.

I'm 42, I think it all started when I was 38 and having hot flushes with a young baby so was dismissed as a post partum thing. Been on hrt two years, totally transformative. Menopause specialist believes I am now towards the end of darned thing - early for it all.

Periods went haywire, 3 weekly, horribly heavy. Furious or tearful, anxious, felt out of control. Dry hair, nails, joint pain and fatigue and brain fog ( although I also have other health conditions contributing) . Issues with histamine/ allergies increased. Tummy area weight gain.

I am 49

brain fog
anxiety
weight gain
tiredness
aches and pains
dry gums/ mouth
vaginal dryness/ soreness
mood swings mostly crying!
sleep problems
spots!
irregular periods
migraine
hair loss
palpatations

I have had PEs so GP won’t prescribe HRT wanted to give me prozac!! so I am saving up to go privately- the brain fog and anxiety are really affecting me!

Am 57 and still having periods. Brain fog and feeling hot. Not much else at the moment. Perhaps tired after work but that may be normal for most people.

49. Mild physical stuff has started over the last year or so but it was the mental side of things that sent me to the GP.

Anxiety ramped up MASSIVELY last year - did CBT which helped a bit and took CBD oil daily which helped a bit - then by this summer it was ADHD symptoms that made me go ask for HRT. Couldn't concentrate at work at all and even at home/doing more practical stuff I just couldn't get anything finished without getting distracted. Never had ADHD diagnosis or anything before but having read a bit, it seems that it's quite common for the drop in hormones to trigger more extreme symptoms.

49 and not had a period for 9 months so I might be post menopausal, or nearly.

Symptoms: periods far more irregular. Sometimes 2 weeks apart sometimes 3 to 6 months apart. But lighter.

Stiff joints when I get up.
Thinner hair probably. But I lost a lot following Covid so that’s partly why.

That’s it.

A weird and random one, but is anyone else having issues with their ears? Mine are itchy on the inside and filling up with wax really quickly (to the point where my hearing is very badly affected). I used to be able to have them microsuctioned annually, but now need to have it done every few months.

Headaches during my period (which I never used to get), occasional migraine, obsessive behaviour, hormonal rage, low mood, dry/less elastic skin, overly hot at night if the room is anything other than cold, and anxiety. Isn’t being a woman FUN?

Fortunately my GP surgery has an excellent menopause specialist nurse and I’ve been offered HRT already. Just need to get on an organise it.

Yes, terrible problems! I attributed it to AirPods but I haven’t used them for 6 months! Had a horrific ear infection and things haven’t been right since. Tinnitus, itching, ear wax build up, loss of hearing.

If the menopause is to blame for that too, that’s really irritating. It’s been a really tough year with my ears, my infection took 2 courses of antibiotics to clear it and I had to have a week off sick which is very unlike me. And the pain was horrific.

I was in Peri for about 4 years - symptoms evolved from alternating crying / rage to severe anxiety and poor sleep - then a long period of feeling just flat & meh.

HRT has been a gamechanger, but have increased the Oestrogen dose over the years. Also take a small amount of Testosterone.

Everyone get onto the Balance website - read all the free guides and listen to the amazing podcasts that include the latest evidence and research. Read the NICE guidelines. HRT is body-identical now, no different to your own natural hormones. Makes oral contraceptives look appalling! There are lots of different options to try. HRT massively reduces the risk of Osteoporosis, Heart Disease, Dementia, Bowel Cancer & Diabetes - current research suggests that in women, HRT is better / safer in preventing cardiac events than Statins. I think that in 10-40 years time there will be a massive difference in morbidity and quality of life between those that do and do not take HRT. There are safe options available to almost everyone.

46 next week:
upper lip/chin hairs (lovely!)
uhm... itchy undercarriage
gaining weight more easily
occasional insomnia of a different kind to what I've had before - very tired and feel totally ready to drop off, but just can't drop off, or keep waking up. Tends to happen two nights in a row, every month or two
getting more contact allergies - eg now can't seem to wear watches or, @JMSA, earplugs/ear buds without it causing persistent itching. I got a bad infection and dermatitis exteriosa in the ear (I think it's called) beginning of this year and that dermatitis keeps recurring, hydrocortisone cream helps when it flares us.

I have no idea what's happening with my periods, I have been on contraceptive implant since youngest was born 12 years ago and I almost never get any bleeding or period symptoms.

49 - regular & pain free periods but got much more tired than usual and blood sugar went all weird. Had nagging background anxiety. Taking very low HRT 1mg and it’s sorted it out

Now fully into menopause but the perimenopausal symptoms were wildly erratic periods (anything from 3 to 16 weeks) for the last ten years, along with menstrual migraines.

I'm 46

Started symptoms at 40 they were quite extreme.

Increasing PMDD (already diagnosed at 36)
Severe back and hip pain
Extreme fatigue and brain fog (eg forgetting how to work my indicators while driving)
Very over emotional
Excessive sweating

I also had some classics such as weight gain, itchy skin, insomnia,

Since being on HRT I still have hot flushes and sweating but greatly reduced, pain flare ups but nowhere near as severe. I sleep better and the fatigue has lessened but the brain fog is still a big deal!

I've just turned 38 and I'm undergoing tests for peri. My GP said it would be considered early if that is what is going on.

The symptoms are
Night sqeats
Loss of libido
Feeling low/numb

I've also noticed dry skin. I had bariatric surgery and although I've lost a lot of weight it hasn't come off like it does for some. So I think weight probs one too.

I feel low about it tbh and I'm losing my youth before I expected. But then I don't feel for others peri makes you old 😔

Lots to look forward to then

😄

🤣

It seems like a really wide range of symptoms on this thread, some of which could potentially be due to other things? Wondering how you decide what’s a perimenopause symptom and what isn’t?

45 here. Put on hrt by specialist at 43 due to life long pmdd (stabilise hormomes).

Anxiety only symptoms since early 40's. Never been anxious before.

Have no waist but I've gained massive amounts of weight since having 3 children close together. Will see (hopefully) if waist comes back after (hopefully) losing some of the weight next year now children are older.

Periods still regular, although last two months have been 27 days, then 30 days which is unheard of for me so thinking I'm starting very early perimenopause.

I'm pleased to be on hrt and confident in its benefits for me as I enter this stage of life.

I find myself thinking the same thing. Aching joints? Menopause or arthritis?
Raging mood and insomnia? Change in circumstances or menopause?
It seems that every single thing that happens to a woman from the mid 30s to death can be put down to menopause.

I'm definitely putting my lack of period since April, my night sweats and infrequent hot flushes down to perimenopause, but everything else I keep an open mind about.

I haven't come across this as a symptom of perimenopause, but I guess if dry skin is, then that could be anywhere on your body and I imagine irritated ears would lead to more wax build up.
It could also just be ageing. We should ask around our fellow men of the same age. Mind you they have extra ear hair to content with which might influence the outcome of this scientific study!

45: no libido whatsoever. Extreme mood swings - from exceptionally high to desperately low. Sleep issues. Periods still regular at 25 day cycle but heavier.

I had my last period at 52 the only symptom was heavy regular periods after a lifetime of irregular ones and the odd hot flush.

My strangest thorough is post menopause, I used to be an early bird who fell asleep early but I'm now a night owl regularly awake until 2am

53, started HRT (patches and utrogestan) just over a year ago. Went to GP due to the following:

Hot flushes, mainly at night
Insomnia
Massive increase in migraines
Horrendous anxiety, the worst being a sudden fear of driving
Mood swings
Reaching the point where I just didn’t want to carry out most of my caring responsibilities in the family any more, which was really bad as I have two dc that have disabilities.
Exhaustion
Joint pain
Changes in bowel and bladder habits

HRT definitely helped very quickly with the flushing and insomnia, but my migraines got worse, particularly on my patch changeover days and when my progesterone phase finished, so was switched onto daily progesterone and my patches were upped, which helped.

Anxiety improved, but not massively and I still dread driving, but am able to do it when I need to.

Exhaustion and joint pain hasn’t improved, but I do have an underlying condition with predisposes me to both.

Recently I have started struggling with waking at 4 am every night (regardless of what time I went to bed) with awful internal tremor, which feels like the whole bed is vibrating. I am ridiculously exhausted as a result, as I am only averaging about 4 hours sleep a night, some nights less than that. I find the internal tremor sensation really distressing, but am not sure if asking for the next strength patch will help.

It’s ok, I think there are plenty of people who have a similar lifestyle and do suffer peri symptoms.

Diet and exercise are hugely important but part of it is also luck of the draw.