Please come and talk to me about my blood results

[seagull70]

I'm 43 and symptoms for approximately 7 months now are:

Fatigue
Weakness (even cleaning teeth is too much sometimes)
Overall lack of energy
Brain fog, very forgetful
Dizzy spells, lack of coordination, I have to run my hands along the walls at home to steady myself and 'feel' where I am
Pins and needles and coldness of extremities
Loss of libido
Vaginal dryness
Palpitations
Jittery/anxiety/shaky
Insomnia

I don't feel depressed yet but my quality of life has
changed massively for the worst and I can see it's affecting my family too

I've had lots of tests.

Ferratin and b12 were low but are on the up with supplements

Neurological disorders ruled out (MS etc)

Thyroid good

ME/CFS has been mooted as a possibility but largely ruled out now.

Hormone levels were tested as my mum went through an early menopause and have come back showing an FSH level of 19 and oestradiol level of 68 (day 4/5 of follicular phase)

Consultant says I have insipient prem ovarian failure and wants me to start HRT. He believes that my symptoms could all be down to premenopause (especially as other things have been ruled out)

I'm not sure what my question is really do these symptoms sound menopausal? If you experienced similar, did HRT improve things?

I have read that low testosterone in women can also cause many of the above symptoms. Should I ask for a test?

Has anyone taken testosterone supplements and felt better?

Seeing GP next week so need to go in with a plan

No advice but watching with interest. I could be you

Hi there
I don't know anything about the levels for FSH etc but if your dr says you are having an early meno based on them then that will be correct.

HRT is really suck it and see. if it helps then that's what was needed. If it doesn't then there's something else going on.

Your levels of tiredness sound extreme- none of my friends ever experienced anything like that. Lots of people get a few of the things you've listed but would be really unlucky to have all at the same time.

HRT is worth trying and if your oestrogen levels are low then you are at a real risk of heart disease and osteoporosis later on because your meno is 10 years earlier than average.

At the same time, HRT sometimes isn't the whole solution - me and my friends made a huge effort post-50 to do all the 'right' things for health - upping the exercise, eating healthily, losing weight, cutting back on work if necessary to have less stress, cutting down on caffeine and alcohol.

Do you drink a lot of coffee? Some people get these types of shakes and palpitations from too much caffeine.

You can't buy testosterone and it can only be prescribed privately from what I've heard ( for women) but your consultant will be able to tell you.