Please be honest - Perimenopause

[JustLaura]

Please be honest. I want to hear the truth.

I don't think I'm that far down the 'peri-road' as still having 12-14 periods a year but what feels like 40+ Perimenopausal symptoms. I'm late 40s.

I feel absolutely horrendous, tired, groggy virtually every day.

Is this how it is for you?

Is this the future? Will it be like this forever now?

Thanks

I don’t know anymore what’s hormonal, and what’s caregiver burnout, and what’s just age related wear and tear. But I feel the same - totally knackered and permanently fucked off. I’m also late 40s. I do hope things get better.

Do't assume anything.

Go to your GP and ask if they can get some tests done eg bloods etc.

It could be peri - but it could be nothing, something sinister or anything in between as well.

Just get some test done and go from there.

@ButtercupBeans

Seen GP.

Multiple blood tests done this year. White blood cell count and CRP was always high but as soon as a "pattern' was established and white cell count dipped just into 'normal', GP said it was just normal for me.

Won't test for hormones as says unreliable in women of my age.

I know you said they don;t want to test for hormones but they really should - even it it not 100% accurate.

Try and insist.

Have they tested your thyroid?

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/underactive-thyroid-hypothyroidism/

Do you have a male or female GP?

@ButtercupBeans

Thyroid was in the first batch of blood tests and they said that was OK. It was in the middle area of the range.

Male GP.

If you can have a second opinion - ask to see a female GP.

I find female i.e. women GP's more understanding - they are women and get it.

My female gp was hesitant to give me hrt.
My practises male gp who was taking my females clients that day let me take them no problem by going through a questionaire.
Its not a women vs man doctor issue.
Peroids or not doesnt mean you are not peri, or is this some Uk requirement?.
Insist you get a fully check up.

Exactly the same. I had a few days away and felt great which made me question is it hormones or stress. I am thinking of trying HRT to see if there's an improvement.

If your CRP is always high (not linked to a virus or something short term) it sounds like you have inflamation somewhere in your body. What is your diet like? Do you exercise? Do you have any viseral fat? What your hba1c?

I find to feel well in my 40s I have to be 100% with lifestyle measures whereas before I could fet away with a less than perfect diet and sitting most of the day. On top of this I take hrt but appreciate it is not for everyone.

I am trying a overhaul @Samphire44

Diet: Could be better. I like to snack too much but I'm changing that.

Exercise: My only exercise is walking.

Weight: Overweight. It's increased over the last year. Other Peri symptoms are well established.

I'm trying to make small changes in the hope they become routine to me.

I do need to make changes.

HbA1c was mid-range.

I definitely look/feel radically different from early 40s to late 40s.

Have you checked vitamin D... Or just take it. We are all low in it in the UK, especially after terrible summers.
You don't need to have stopped periods to get HRT. The HRT covers peri and menopause - you just take the progesterone differently.
Speak to a meno specialist at your GP and say you want hrt.
Alternatively try Menopace. You can buy it in supermarkets.... It is soya based and mimics oestrogen. I found it improved me so much the Dr agreed to hrt right away.

You might find the hrt gives you the energy to put the other lifestyle measures in place, I certainly did and was on hrt for almost a year before I started to have the energy to exercise and clean up my diet.

That is great that you are already making small changes, consistency is key and making sure they are sustainable. I find gadgets helped me, I got a walking pad and now only use social media when I am walking on it with a target of 8k a day.

For diet I found a cgm for 2 weeks was really helpful in showing me the impact of different foods on my body and now know what it eat to feel good. I think if your hba1c is in the mid to high 30s you already have some degree of insulin resistance (most women do in mid life due to the drop in oestrogen) so it is really important to stabilise your blood sugar (up fibre, walk after meals, reduce processed carbs and eat starchy carbs last or with fat and protein).

Tbh I haven't found peri too bad, and I am 50 now and started at around 42 I think.

I didn't bother seeing the doctor because I knew this was it and I was going to have to get my head around it and make the necessary changes, because it doesn't go backwards into how it used to be. I took Menopace which was excellent, I cut out breakfast and began fasting most days so I lost weight. I also got oestrogen cream for down below as I did get dry, and a vibrator so I did not lose my sex drive, as I wasn't ready for that. I began living out 'not my problem' with general life stuff and made sure I rested and withdrew when I needed to and I generally changed my exercise routines for lower impact stuff BUT cannot get away with doing nothing. I have to move otherwise I ache.

The worst peri symptom I had was anxiety and after 8 years of peri decided to chat to the HRT doctor about it, who put me on low dose patches and tablets and that stopped the anxiety. I didn't have hot flushes at all. HRT has been excellent so far, no periods, no worrying, feel better generally. I think I did well to go 8 years without but it has been useful recently.

I reckon peri doesn't have to be that bad as long as we make the changes. It's no good thinking, 'God I must get round to stopping this and that.' For me, that went along with thinking about how old I am now, a more mature person, and therefore I really ought to get my shit together. If not now, when?

Thanks @BlueMoanday

I sporadically take vitamin D but not a high dosage so I will look into that and the Menopace sounds a good option to try too.

I'll keep you posted on that.

If you are late 40s, probably peri, a parent, working, not in great physical shape, and maybe not eating that well and not exercising that well then I’m afraid that whole package could explain tiredness and grogginess.

With age comes wisdom, but also goes stamina and recovery rates. We just have to work a bit harder to stay in good nick.

Have you talked to the GP about HRT? Late 40s they can prescribe on symptoms alone, you don’t need a blood test. Symptoms are many and varied - NICE lists:

as well as a change in their menstrual cycle they may experience a variety of symptoms associated with menopause, including:

• vasomotor symptoms (for example, hot flushes and sweats)
• musculoskeletal symptoms (for example, joint and muscle pain)
• effects on mood (for example, low mood)
• urogenital symptoms (for example, vaginal dryness)
• sexual difficulties (for example, low sexual desire).

Give yourself a bit more physical care - better eating, maybe some supplementation, lose a little weight, get outdoors to walk more or start a bit of exercise. Sort your sleep hygiene. Gift yourself something that would make home life easier - be it a cleaner or a Hello Fresh delivery.

I would say take an A-Z vitamin and get fit and healthy. Plus plenty of sleep. The older you get the more it matters I've found. Oh also severely limit alcohol.

GPs are notoriously shit at anything menopause-related (or periods, or anything female hormone-related in general), and tend to think that women of a certain age just need to accept things the way they are and stop complaining.

See another GP and keep badgering until you get taken seriously.

I had two years of aching joints, felt annoyed easily, a few hot flashes and brain fog. Then it was all gone except the very occasional hot flash. I didn’t have HRT. My same age mate did have HRT. She is as annoyed with everything as ever. It’s hard isn’t it some women have symptoms that mean they can hardly function and need HRT. Mine were unpleasant but manageable. It’s very individual.

I have been on HRT for 3 years and at first it seemed to make a difference but that may have been placebo. It certainly wasn’t a magic bullet for me, the way it has been for others.

Thanks @ViciousCurrentBun

Can I ask what age the aching joints started? Did you periods just stop?

Has anyone experienced tinnitus or a feeling of blocked ears?

No idea why that happens but I've read it's a common peri symptom.

Did it resolve itself once into menopause?

@BlueMoanday

Just ordered Menopace! Great reviews for it on Amazon too.

My aching joints started at 45 but I do have a scoliosis so had a few minor aches before. Periods were all over the shop for a years and then just gone.

Thanks @ViciousCurrentBun

I know everyone is different, but how many years in your experience?

Do you feel back to your old self now?

HRT literally changed my life. I was not sleeping, aching, tired, joyless and had headaches constantly. Not to mention ears ringing, hot sweats and awful anxiety….was a game changer.