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

My GP refuses to give me any HRT including the local stuff despite me being over 45 and having obvious symptoms. Apparently until I "fail" a blood test the risks are not worth it and so far all hormone tests have been "normal". I am calling BS on all this but not much I can do. I want to stick with the practice because they are good with my other health issues. How is everyone getting access to HRT?

Go private. There is no reasoning with stupid, and your GP is stupid.

@DrCoconut my GP suggested it! I saw a pelvic physio about bladder leaks and she looked at my vulva and said I needed topical oestrogen and sent me to my GP.

Went to see GP who quizzed me on all my symptoms and got me on HRT, and then increased my dose twice in 4 months.

Then she also prescribed testosterone.

I love my GP practice. Mainly female partners, so so supportive.

@Whatanidiot123 i can see that sugar cravings could make it difficult.
Usually I need a thing to diet for.

But it does help that I don't eat processed food as a rule - so not even a croissant or similar when we are on holiday, I even go for oats or kefir in hotels.

I also don't like processed sweet stuff as it makes my teeth feel gritty. The idea of eating biscuits makes me feel pukey.

I do eat insane amounts of fruit and dark chocolate and have a massive downfall in eating serious amounts of sourdough and avocado, hence the occasional diet!

Sounds like you have a great GP @Twentybottlesofbeer !

We also eat very little processed food although I’m not as disciplined as you when we’re out of the house or on holiday by the sound of it! I don’t eat biscuits, crisps, processed chocolate, bread etc as general rule. We make our own bread, eat a lot of oats, fruit and vegetables too.

I know that joint pain is part of peri but how bad does your get?

My shoulders, knees and lower back are bad and the pain worsens around the time I'm ovulating.

Is anyone the same?

I get about a week where I feel ok joint-wise but still have the other symptoms to contend with.

Will this ease off as I progress through peri or will it get worse?

I only had mild symptoms of the peri but asked for HRT and got it very easily. It has cleared up aching joints and the fogginess for sure. Periods are now like they were when we used to have a week off the pill. Never really had hot flushes. Feel so much better in myself!

Exactly how I feel.

Im 48 . Overweight, anxious burnt out and exhausted 😞

Can I suggest seeing a naturopath - mine has been a godsend. She specializes in perimenopause and menopause and that's why I went and saw her but while she said I have some perimenopause symptoms she did some blood tests and I was diagnosed with hashimotos (thyroid issue).

She was brilliant - and the same info I gave her was the same info I'd been providing to my GP for the past 12 months and my GP had also run blood tests.

I've had my diagnosis 100% confirmed by a different GP but I'm still working with my naturopath.

Would anyone say their experiences of peri symptoms have lessened the longer it's gone on?

I've had symptoms for about 4 years but still getting 12-14 cycles a year even though I'm late 40s.

I’m 57 and feeling better than I have done for a decade and currently unmedicated, well, apart from daily joint vitamin tablets! Aching joints since 47, but if I take my daily tablet the joints behave. I had awful periods for a few years, so heavy I actually missed a few days work (never missed work for periods in my life prior to peri), but then they gradually got less and less and fizzled out at 54, menopause at 55. And yes I am anxious and this probably was more during peri, but not unmanageable. Sleep and hot sweats were annoying from 49 to 56 but are improving rapidly now, in fact I’m feeling positive and more energetic than for ages!

I am 47 and I think I started peri menopause six years ago. I started rapidly putting weight on and having anxiety attacks then. Didn't occur to me at the time what was happening. In no particular order my skin is dryer, some days I am absolutely exhausted and other days fine. Anxiety was a massive problem for me two years ago particularly around driving. I am still struggling a bit with that but improving. My sleep is often disturbed but the worst symptom has been constipation. I am now pretty much caffeine free and taking the magnesium ok supplement. I think this might be helping. I still have very little feelings of 'joy' in life. My GP did not give me hrt after blood tests. She said to try supplements. So that's where I am... I really hope it does get better.

@SqueamishHamish if you are not feeling any better, back to the GP. You are 47 - the protocols are that any woman who is reporting perimenopausal symptoms such as disturbed sleep and anxiety should be offered HRT. However, many of us have direct experience of GPs refusing to prescribe unless you say the magic words "hot flushes".

I am assuming your blood tests included thyroid function which ruled that out as a cause of your tiredness. You are perfectly within your rights to go back to the GP and say "I'd like to try HRT please" as often as you need to. Good luck, it really shouldn't be that much of a battle.