What were your first signs of peri?

[Cloud44]

I’ve not long turned 40 and I’m wondering if I’m in the early stages of peri or if I’m too young / over thinking it.
The symptoms seem to come and go: not as much energy as my mid 30s, lacking a bit of motivation, occasional aches, lower libido than five years ago, occasionally forgetting things then I remember.
What were your first signs? Any recommendations of little tweaks I could make / vitamins to research before the symptoms become more regular?

I suspect I'm peri - aged 43

The last year or so my sleep has taken a nose dive. I'm either absolutely knackered and sleeping for hours, or awake all night. I've always been a big sleeper and my body still needs it so I'm struggling with the insomnia

I also flood pretty badly. On my heaviest days I use a tampax, a pad and period knickers (bloody - no pun intended - amazing!)

So im starting to try and look after myself. I want to lose weight, but trying to do it sensibly, exercise more and just take abit more care of myself

I've been tracking periods for years due to TTC and noticed mine very gradually changing from a regular 32 day cycle, to 30 days, to 28 days and now 26 days. This has been going on for 4yrs now. No other symptoms that I've noticed, but assume its peri.

Heavier, shorter periods that turned into floods. More tired. Huge PMT, which I’d not had much before.

I forgot my first symptoms besides hair loss!

Brain fog, forgetfulness, irritability, joint pain, dry skin, forgetfulness, skin-crawling feeling.

Really dreadful PMT, arguably PMDD - despair for a day every month.

Terrible bloating which is not shifting - I don't get the huge deflation that I used to get every month with bleeding.

Anhedonia and sense of disengagement. Nothing brings pleasure, even the things I really love.

Loss of need to nurture. Nesting instinct is gone.

Lack of interest in cooking, or eating interesting things other than piles of beige.

But there are upsides! I like being less girly and more assertive, for a start. I also like not giving a damn.

Itchy skin
Thirsty a lot / slight sore throat feeling a lot
Bloating
Gaining size around the waist, but not elsewhere
Waking up early and struggling to sleep again
Red blotchy cheeks
Waking up soaked in sweat (infrequent. Maybe every other month? Seems to be much better now we have a silk duvet rather than man-made fabric).

At 38 I started to notice Lower libido, poor sleep (waking up in the middle of the night drenched in sweat and unable to get back to sleep. Then when I turned 42 I started missing periods for 3-4 months then getting the period from hell. I'm 44 now and hadn't had a period for 6 months before finally starting oestrogen patches and getting the merina coil.

First symptom = 10 week period (followed by a fun 9 years of periods between 3 and 18 weeks). Next symptom = menstrual migraines.

On the plus side I am a lot calmer and more chilled out now than I was 5 years ago!

Mine were rage, clumsiness and itchy ears. Followed by gum disease.

Drink less alcohol or eliminate compleatly,have a good well balanced diet,don’t smoke and prioritise sleep..

Migraines.
Having to have an afternoon Power Nap.
Joint pain so bad the GP thought I had arthritis.

All of these were gone within weeks of starting HRT.

Just to add, my periods were still regular as clockwork.

Ah the itchy ears and gum disease are awful, aren't they?!

Mine started about the time I had my 3rd baby in 2020, and my post natal period was absolutely horrible. Low iron coupled with horrendous depression and anxiety, and the most dreadful low iron ferritin levels all brought my perimenopause symptoms on very quickly.

I now get dreadful PMT each month more memorable menstrual migraines, and the worst case of painful gingivitis I can deal with before my period every month too. My gums are so sore sometimes that I stand and cry cleaning mu teeth.

I absolutely hate my body and its stupid pain it puts me through. Having a head injury and post concussion syndrome before being injured by psychotropic drugs 10 years ago was bad enough. Living with perimenopause and then menopause for the next 30 years or more is the icing on the cake 😳😩

Putting on weight and binge eating. Eating more protein and minimising ultra processed food in the house helps. Read recently that we become less efficient in processing protein as we age

I’m nearly 50 and the only symptoms I’ve had is that my cycle has become a bit more irregular. I’ve always taken well woman vitamins to keep me in an even keel but switched the the well woman plus ones when I started with the irregular cycle.

It doesn’t have to be doom and gloom. I’m going to go on HRT if owt changes

People who are suffering from awful symptoms - is it because you can't go on HRT?

Anxiety worsened to the point where I couldn’t get out of bed some days.
Dry vagina.
Heavier periods.

Oh yes, and I kept having to reach for words, which as a tutor, wasn’t really ideal.

Waking in night and not able to get back to sleep, dry eyes.

In my early 40s and pretty sure I've started peri.
Periods are horrible. I can't leave the house as the flooding is so bad and last a week or more.
Irritability
Feeling like I can't be bothered and everything is a effort.
Dry skin
Need to pee more often
My whole body is so bloated.
I've skipped Periods for a few months at a time.
Weight gain that won't shift
Anxiety about driving
Anxiety that my dh is going to die
A deep sense of loss and regret that my children are all grown up and I will never be young again.
A sense of grief that I will never be pregnant again even though I don't want any more children.

Of all the things above its the weight/bloating that pisses me off the most.

Sorry that was long op. I just started typing and it all tumbled out 💐 hope you are ok.

Mine began with extreme tiredness, the exhaustion that often occurs in early pregnancy that no amount of sleep will cure. Also, the fear! Fear of cars, speed, loud noise- I saw danger everywhere.

I had a massive libido surge when every man looked attractive! Two periods a month for a year or so, then...nothing, zero sex drive, periods stopped.

I'm about 5 years on from my last period so post menopause now. Still no libido, hot flushes but generally feeling better.

All of the above. Mainly brain fog, apathy, no joy in anything. Increased wine consumption. Irregular periods. Not putting ‘two and two together’ just accepting life is shit for women getting older. Always loved driving, being anxious and scared of driving in the dark. Blame, constant self blame. It’s my fault. I should be better, cope better, not feel this way. Do I really need HRT? Should I bother my Doctor? Should I just ‘suck it up’ and get on with it? Well, I have done a fair bit of research and realised ALL of this is hormone related and it’s actually in everyone’s best interests to get hormone replacement therapy. I’m phoning my Doctor in the morning to ask for an appointment and I urge all of you to do the same. I used to be so worried and opposed to HRT not anymore. We deserve to be supported and given medical input that enables us to be the best versions of ourselves. Good luck. Make that appointment.

My hairs got thinner this last year! Not cool

I've been reading some women in American health practices saying all the peri symptoms can be irradiated by not using a screen, getting up early, bodybuilding and not eating 3 hours before bed.

Also live mostly outside, eat organic and food made in England and don't stress.

Well, lucky our ancestors (who did this lifestyle mainly) had peri so easy then isn't it?! Not.

Joint pain. Bad to the point I had an extended period off work as it was too sore to do anything.