I think my 'random' symptoms are perimenopause

[MaloryMad]

I've had various different things change in the last 5 years. Off the top of my head - dryness, brain fog, low mood (actually mood swings), hot sweats at night, loss of libido and Plantar Fascitis for the first time in my life. (Never been pg). Loss of libido and dryness hadn't really been terribly noticeable, as I'm single and although I do have a male companion our relationship isn't sexual, although I think he'd like it to be. Looking back now though I can see that my sex drive has dropped through the floor. That makes me feel a bit sad because I always had a high sex drive and was very keen on it..It saddens me to think I may never have (or want!) sex again!
Anyway, because none of my symptoms have been related to my periods I just didn't really think about perimeno. Periods have been regular for the last decade, for the first time in my life as I was always very irregular when I was younger. The past few months though, I've noticed my cycle got longer, then I had a light bleed about a week before I was due. That has now happened twice, eg I noticed spotting in the middle of last week for a day or two but period isn't due till this coming Friday.

I'm not sure why I'm posting. I feel a bit lonely about all of this! I realise I don't know much about the menopause, and don't feel I have anyone to talk to about it (no female friends of relevant age). Am I supposed to go to my GP to get tests to find out if I'm in peri, or just deal with it? At the moment the symptoms are bearable, although I don't enjoy the mood swings.

Any advice? Are these normal symptoms? What can I do for my health? (I do need to lose about 5st and don't exercise so I guess that's a starting point). Any healthy eating pointers?

I'd like to try to approach this in a positive frame of mind but I can't help thinking in a rather Am-Dram way "OMG I'm not a real woman any more and my life is effectively over"

Oh sorry I haven't said, I was 50 in January.

I would speak to your doctors and ask for a blood test to determine one way or another.

Although the symptoms are bearable, you could be feeling so much better so don't put up with how you are feeling.

There are plenty of good threads on here with great advice. I've been reading them and they certainly make you feel more positive about what you are going through and what to expect.

You're never alone on MN

Certainly sounds likely. Go see your gp who will easily be able to let you know for sure. As dress down said, there should be no need to feel overwhelmed by these symptoms if it is the start of the menopause. Don't do what I did and ignore all the help that was available. I put up with so much for far too long and should have addressed the issues sooner. Life would have been so much easier.

Hi there, you're definitely not the only one. I could have written your post myself, the only differences being that I have DCs and acquired endometriosis and IBS too!

I've had blood tests but they cannot be proved accurate yet as I am still using Depo Provera jabs to supress the endo, which can alter the FSH levels apparently. I've not bled for a year. When the first test came back as 62 I felt hugely depressed. Second was 28 which still makes me peri but didn't seem so 'old and past it'. I'm 46 btw.

I talked to a friend who is usually very straight talking, not expecting any sympathy. She is 51 and reckons it's a common phenomenon to feel depressed at the end of your fertile years, even if you never wanted more/any DCs.

So, orthotics/Fitflops/Birkenstocks. Replens for the dryness. And a grumpy DH for the libido!

Have gained a lot of excess middle, only about 10-12lbs but when it's all in one place it feels uncomfortable. Cutting out bread has helped but the cravings for cake and biscuits are hard to conquer!

Though this may sound perverse, I have realised that this is as good as I get on a physical level, weight loss aside, so I'm going to have to sort myself out. We both are

Just the very thing I have been wondering too. I don't know are you meant to go to the gp?
My 'symptoms' are : dodgy tummy, cramps and nausea for weeks , sore joints, waking in the night, tired, no periods for months now.

Have read threads tonight which might indicate I should see the GP - they will probably send me packing for wasting their time!

I am 50 and dealing with mood swings, insomnia, fatigue, aching bones, itchy skin, frequent urination, night sweats, heavy periods, weight gain, random acne and more. I am lucky to have friends and colleagues with many of the same symptoms, but have also turned to MN many a time for reassurance that I am not alone.

What I've found hard is the lack of "official" information on the huge variety of symptoms that seem to be caused by menopausal hormone fluctuations - most mainstream books and websites (eg NHS) only focus on the more obvious symptoms like hot flushes and night sweats.

I'm finding weight training helps with the aching bones and joints, and that the tiredness is helped by vitamin supplements.

I also have moments of feeling unwomanly but I am trying (not always successfully) to reinvent myself as a strong and confident human being.

You are not alone!

Peri or meno is not an illness.

You don't need tests of any kind unlesss you are TTC for example- in fact it's a waste of time and money.

Your hormones during peri are all over the place, so unless you are well into your 50s and having odd bleeds which could be significant of a more serious illness, then drs won't see any need to test you.

You ought to see a dr if you are 50 or over and have abdominal symptoms such as bloating, pain, IBS type symptoms, weight gain around tummy, as worst case it could be ovarian cancer.

Malory weight loss is key to your symptoms. You could maybe start by cutting right down on carbs, alcohol and sweet things and taking up walking for 30-45 mins a day.

I disagree with Alice re. testing and involving a Doctor - pregnancy isn't an illness but all manner of tests are done!

Having the relevant information helps with treatment of peri-menopausal symptoms and may rule out (or in) other 'illnesses' or conditions... and any reasonable Doctor will agree to testing not only FSH levels but possibly thyroid levels etc at the same time too.

But you surely aren't saying that the peri meno is the same risk as having a baby!
In pregnancy you can die though complications- or your baby can.
You dont die through the peri or menopause symptoms.

If anyone has unexplained symptoms wich may indicate another disease, fair enough.

But the point with the peri meno is that you need your hormones tested more than once in a month at certain specific times, due to hormones changing all the time.

A one-off reading is not accurate which is why so many people post here to say that they have a "normal" reading but have symptoms still.

You don't need to test whether you are in or approaching menopause itself - but if you have symptoms that could be something else it is important to rule out the something else. However if you think your symptoms are to do with menopause and they are intolerable - eg any number of the 34 symptoms associated with menopause and oestrogen deficiency - then surely go to your Gp and ask for HRT to relieve these symptoms and also improve your long term health ( ie urogenital system, bones, stroke risk, vaginal atrophy etc provided you choose the right product

Just joined and felt I had to write about menopause. My life has been blighted by peri-menopausal symptoms for 2 years ( first missed period at 42 - but real symptoms since 44 - now 46) but because we are women we tend to soldier on and cope. I could list the symptoms I've had and have actually pitched up at my GP a couple of times with various bits and pieces. The thing to realise is that when it does all become clear that it is the menopause you are experiencing it all makes sense. I started HRT 3 days ago and my life is changed already. I had become worried about being able to hold down my job as my concentration, and general coping ability had become soo bad that I thought I would be sacked. The hot flushes intensified in the last 2 weeks to almost hourly, day and night. Hormone tests are inconclusive until they actually start to say - consisitent with menopause transition - like mine now are. I felt validated for all of my issues in the last few years. You only start to 'count' HRT in terms of risks when you are 50.

Don't be frightened of taking medication if you need it. It can always be stopped, dosage increased or decreased, and be managed. I have a friend who has made me feel a bit of a failure for starting HRT but my quality of life was deteriorating. She has now 'suffered' for 10 yrs - girls - i want to keep my marriage and my sanity!!!!! (And my job) Have been able to make dinner - clean the house and hold a conversation for longer than 5 mins - in the last few days. believe me - that is headline news in our house.

I feel very positive about the future at this time - but it is very early days so watch this space.

Ladies you may find some useful information, support and suggestions on Dr Christiane Northrops website. www.drnorthrup.com.

I agree with Ameliagrey, the menopause is not an illness. It's a life stage. For some it's a depressing one as your childbearing years are behind you and one can feel that old age is upon you. These feelings of loss are completely normal. Unfortunately symptoms of the menopause are probably the worst of any life stage and can last for a long time for some.

Anyway, you may want to check out the site. There is dietary advice, pros and cons of HRT etc.

I think it's like anything we experience - we can tell people what it's like - childbirth for example - but no 2 people have the same experience. Until you are in it and experiencing it it is very diificult to explain. I am only 46 and was feeling like I was in my late 50's. Not great with 2 teenagers and a house to run, dog to walk and a job to hold down.

I understood that i was peri-menopausal for a couple of years but it didn't ease it just being aware of it. It did help explain a lot of stuff but my symptoms have increased quite quickly recently and then I decided that HRT was the way to go for me. It's not for everyone but why suffer if you don't need to? There is no badge of honour for attempting to be superhuman in all of this. You have to weigh up the pro's and con's and decide with your doctor if it's right for you. However, I picked my GP carefully to be a bit older and wiser (and female) and who will have seen it all before. Young female/male GP's know the theory but don't have the life experience. I had a young GP last year who was no help what-so-ever but I now realise that it was all obvious back then and I could have saved myself a year of worsening symptoms and life could have been better.

Have a blood test to rule out thyroid problems - also v common at this age

I thought I was peri-menopausal but I was ill

Symptoms included dry skin, night sweats, waking at night, tired all the time, anxious, cold, heavy periods then erratic periods, terrible pmt and mood swings

Always worth ruling out (btw if it is not thyroid, don't think it's ruled out for life, it's a v common condition and could start later in life)

That's the problem - menopausal symptoms can be a lot like many other - thyroid, depression, auto-immune diseases etc. You do need to have blood tests at some stage to rule out obvious causes. I've had myself having thyroid problems, early Alzheimer's (the symptoms list is the same as some menopause ones), depression, bi-polar etc etc. Our hormones play a huge part in all of our bodily functions and if one is slightly out of kilter the rest find it hard to do their job. Even if blood levels are normal there can be issues at cellular level.

I suppose sometimes it's just hard to realise we are at that stage in our lives and it can be hard - particularly if you are below 50.

It was mainly 'brain fog', fatigue, dizzyness and unable to have a social life - did'nt really want to talk to anyone - that made me reach for HRT. I am now still up at 10pm - WOW.

I'm so glad I found this thread and have read all the posts. I thought I'd been going mad these last few months. I'm 41 and used to be able to do everything, all at the same time! But recently I have been having repeated thrush, mood swings, inability to multi-task, night sweats, can't sleep but always tired, serious 'brain fog' (so serious I had a car accident yesterday because I just wasn't paying enough attention, I'm fine though), and yes, I worry about getting the sack because I'm mentally struggling at work.

I'm sat writing this in tears because I'm just so relieved to know I'm not crazy, and I'm not the only one experiencing this, particularly the brain fog. I have a doctor's appointment booked for next week as I need to get something sorted, I can't function as I am longterm.

Hiya catmadwench, glad you have a GP appointment. My prob was thyroid (also was a nightmare driving and terrible brain fog so sympathies) and I am fine now. Hope you also find a simple solution and are soon on the mend

Hi mercibucket. I never thought about thyroid trouble. Now I have to get the doc to help me. I will get this sorted. Many thanks it's good to know I'm not alone in this.

A follow up to my previous post. Had a blood test which has found I have iron depletion, but not quite anaemia. Got to take high doses of iron three times a day for 2 months, then another blood test to check it's working. Turns out it gives all the symptoms I described. Result!

I'm really pleased you've found out it's something so easily fixed catmadwench
Hope you feel a lot better soon xx

I'm really pleased you've found out it's something so easily fixed catmadwench
Hope you feel a lot better soon xx