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Original poster

Perimenopause or hypothyroidism symptoms? (title edited by MNHQ at request of OP)

35 replies

thenewaveragebear1983 · 11/07/2023 20:18

I’ve managed to pre-book a telephone appointment for two weeks today for this list of symptoms which I am convinced is the start of perimenopause- (in fact not even necessarily the start as I have had this for at least a year).

11 months ago I had a raft of blood tests as I had a week long anxiety attack and spontaneous panic attacks. All came back clear. In October I had pretty much a breakdown but I think that was more due to my horrible job which I have now left)

I am going to ask that they test me again and test me for Perimenopause. What else do I need to ask for?

symptoms:
-increased general anxiety, especially when driving, and health anxiety.

  • intrusive thoughts/ very dark thoughts/ unable to stop thinking about eg, dh or dc dying or being hurt, or me dying or getting cancer. When it’s bad it’s literally all day.

-weird pulsing feeling at the base of my throat which I think is palpitations (except I don’t have other symptoms eg dry mouth or sweaty hands that normally present with palpitations) - occasional but at least 10-15 times a week, sometimes all day
-I have a very low heart rate, like 35-37 bpm, I had an ecg last year which ruled out any heart issue but the gp basically brushed me off with ‘you’re super fit’ when I was feeling so utterly unwell and my resting hr was 33bpm 🤷‍♀️
-brain fog
-night sweats one or two times a month when I’m due on
-insomnia sometimes- used to be terrible but i have worked very hard to get more sleep
-period regular but has changed to two days that are so heavy I can’t go out, then about a week of v light.
-so so tired. I exercise, I eat well but I am
just exhausted. I have cut down my running significantly this year because of this and yet I still feel tired
-unable to lose weight unless I cut calories dramatically (eg 1000 a day which is insanely low- I’m 5’7 and 11st)
-lack of libido (but I’ve never had a particularly high sex drive)
-hair loss (coming out in handfuls when I wash my hair)
-increased hirstutism
-aching joints and tired legs , restless legs

I’ve been feeling like this for at least a year because it was a year ago (august) that I had the tests. I have called the gp because of the anxiety because it is having such a huge negative impact on my life now. But when I mentioned it to a friend they instantly said Perimenopause, and when looking at this list of symptoms I am inclined to agree.

I am only 39 (40 next week) . I eat well, I exercise daily, I have a pleasant stress free life and no health concerns. 3 kids but as kids go they are easy going, happy marriage. No stresses basically, except the normal.

I’d be very interested in other women’s views on this, and advice on what to ask the gp for, and what to ask them to test me for.

OP posts:
Original poster
thenewaveragebear1983 · 03/12/2023 07:21

@tigertummy if you look at the symptoms of hypothyroidism they are nearly identical to peri. Then look up long Covid, and that’s the same too. And fibromyalgia. To be honest, I took the HRT because it was the only thing they were offering straight away. The anxiety lessened immediately and is almost completely gone now. I just don’t get that ‘cold flush of doom’ feeling that I was getting, my total health anxiety has all but stopped, and I can drive again. But then, I do think my health anxiety was partly not ‘anxiety’ but actually genuine health- I felt utterly dreadful, my heart was pounding in the throat, I was breathless walking upstairs (despite a year ago I was running half marathons for fun) and worse, no one - literally no one- was listening to me. I sat in a&e with chest pain on my son’s birthday and genuinely thought they are going to tell me I’m dying. So I get a bit defensive when the doctor asks how my anxiety is, because I was anxious because you were ignoring me!! Now I’ve pushed for a cardiologist which I have now seen, I hope they might reconsider thyroid as if the brachycardia is caused by that they will treat it even though technically I am not bad enough for thyroid treatment.

one thing I’ve realised though- it’s possible to have more than one thing wrong with you. I know that sounds obvious but when we think we have these big ‘syndrome’ conditions, it’s so easy to blame everything on it. My advice would be to separate the symptoms and see the right people for each thing. I was having these awful chest pains, and went to a chiropractor and within two sessions she’s stopped my chest pain, corrected my breathing, and no more palpitations. I’d written those all off as peri/thyroid/mystery disease….

good luck with your diagnosis. We have to fight to get anywhere but keep fighting 🌷

OP posts:
AceofPentacles · 03/12/2023 08:28

I'd definitely get the repeat thyroid test - if my TSH was over 5 I'd feel awful!

tigertummy · 03/12/2023 08:34

@thenewaveragebear1983 I'm so sorry you've gone through such an awful time. I have so much sympathy. I have 2 young children and I feel constantly incapable. I'm seeing someone for my anxiety partly to make a point to drs but also it is helping me not spiral when I'm feeling weird so that's something. I'd just like someone to take me seriously and say this is what it is and this is what we can do about it. I feel like I'm missing out on the best bits of life!

Thanks for understanding

todayortomorrow · 03/12/2023 08:52

I have hypothyroidism and went to see a private specialist about it. She told me she thought the optimal range for tsh is 1-2. I monitor mine and I feel my best when it's 1-1.5. If it's over 2 I feel awful.

There are also other thyroid metrics which the NHS have stopped measuring that can give the whole picture - tsh is a blunt instrument.

As someone whose thyroid has caused me huge issues over the years, strongly recommend seeing an expert - either privately or with nhs referral.

When I finally got my diagnosis it was life changing. I'm in 1 pill a day now and all the symptoms are fixed. Good luck

FortunataTagnips · 03/12/2023 09:51

Apols for hopping on this thread, but @todayortomorrow what did your endocrinologist say about your T4? Mine is consistently below the NHS normal range but GP says it’s my normal.

todayortomorrow · 03/12/2023 09:56

Hi. I had to check my spreadsheet as haven't had it measured for ages now I'm feeling well! She said range 10-22, looks like mine was normally 15-20 when I felt good. What's yours?

FortunataTagnips · 03/12/2023 10:30

These are my most recent results. I’m trying to work out whether my ongoing feelings of grimness are perimenopause or something else.

Perimenopause or hypothyroidism symptoms? (title edited by MNHQ at request of OP)
todayortomorrow · 03/12/2023 10:40

They definitely don't look extreme - if you feel grim my guess is it's not thyroid caused. Chaos when thyroid & peri combine though

FortunataTagnips · 03/12/2023 10:43

Thanks, @todayortomorrow . I started HRT yesterday, so hopefully that’ll help.

todayortomorrow · 03/12/2023 10:44

Good luck!

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