Perimenopause - not for the squeamish

[itchynscratchy]

Are there any older mumsnetters who've been through this? I'm only 40 but have started the night sweats, ferocious mood swings and messed up periods. What's the worst new thing though is something I'm SO embarrassed to ask the dr about, I know "vaginal dryness" is a symptom, but has anyone experience really awful itching, with a sort of burning pain? No discharge, no smell (sorry for TMI)but unbearably itchy. TIA.

Well I have been wondering about this..... I am not 40 either !!!
I do have messed up periods, had no discahrge for quite a while and had 2 vsweating incidents..... I am sure I'm all right - well I must be !

itchynscratchy - I menopaused at 36 (am now 53 well 54 next week) BUT I didn't have ANY symptoms other than my periods stopped - so I've been very lucky. I did go on HRT for over 10 years for bone/heart protection but am now off it.

It is possible to menopause at your young age - you MUST go and see your doctor - don't suffer in silence (blimey - they've heard it all before - and seen it!). My friend has gone the holistic way but I'm all for modern medicine and didn't have any probs with HRT at all.

I have been to the doctors and had blood tests and have been told I am going through the menopause. I was 38 when my periods stopped for a few months and I had the tests then. My periods then returned for a few months but now I have not had a period since May. I am still only 39 now and my Mum is still menopausal! The doctor did tell me last time to go back if my periods stopped again as I would have to discuss HRT or whatever but I do keep putting it off. I do get some night sweats but they seem better lately and I do feel absolutely shattered all the time but then thats nothing new. I haven't really noticed and itching or dryness but I know my mum had something like that and she went to the Doctors, so you should go. I do hate going about things like that but we shouldn't put it off. I think I have put off going as I don't really want to be officially told I am menopausal when some of my friends are still having babies

My Mum was prescribed oestrogen cream for vaginal dryness during the menopause.

IME, dryness can cause a burning pain (in my case, it was a dry mouth - kept thinking I'd burnt my tongue).

Thanks all. I'll bite the bullet and go to the doc as I've just done a load of researching and have other things I didn't realise where part of it - insomnia, depression etc too.
Feel really

I must admit I often feel hormonal and tearful and normally I am quite a happy person. I don't sleep very well either and am getting really lethargic. Perhaps I will go to the doctors sooner rather than later as I am feeling really fat and frumpy even though I don't think I have put on any more weight. Though I am not exactly skinny either

Don't know if this makes you feel better or worse Goldfish but perimenopause can last 10 - 15 years ! You're not officially "menopausal" until you've been about a year without periods.
I was shocked by how many symptoms I could tick off, but it's also in a way nice to know there's a reason I feel like sh*t.

I didn't know that about having periods. I could go on like this for a while then. But like you say at least there is a reason for feeling so sh*t. Why was I not born a man?

joolstoo, you mention your friend going the holistic route... whats she having and how is she doing with it?

i treat quite a few menopausal women with reflexology and they seem to benefit very well.

maybe holistic was the wrong word - I mean she uses her diet - soya milk, nuts and grains, supplements and all that stuff - she seemed to have a really good period then the sweats came back - I tried to get her to at least try HRT but she won't hear of it - each to their own.

I'd love a reflexology session though - just for the sheer pleasure of it!

Itchy - sorry to hear all of this.....Which website did you find that had a good enough description... I am interested....

I'll see if I can do some links.
\This one's good{http://www.pamf.org/health/healthinfo/index.cfm?page=article&sgml_id=hw228763\lots of info}
If that works I'll do a couple more

Bugger.
Well that's the address, here's a couple more
www.womens-health-fitness.com
www.altmednetwork.net

Rosies I have tried a few natural remedies such as dong quai, wild yam root, vitamin E and evening primrose oil, soya isoflavinoides etc. Can't say I feel the effects yet but I've only just started.

It's nice to know that absent-mindedness can be one of the symptoms, as I am even dimmer than I was when I was pregnant these days.