PGP & Perimenopause

[frannydandy]

Does anyone else suffer this and is it linked? Totally perplexed. Last week PGP returned with vengeance, my youngest is 11 years old and Im not pregnant! I usually get achy a week before my period but this was full on raw pain. This outburst I linked to being a week before my period was due ('ish' as they are closer together, stopping, starting, clotting, heavy, light - a real mixed bag). In complete agony, unable to walk some of the time. Currently undergoing Physio after Carpal Tunnel Release surgery and spoke to my specialist. She believes my wrist pain and hip problem are linked with my other peri menopausal symptoms. She told me to get referred by my doc to the womens health physio team as a matter of urgency and to get blood tests. I see my doc this morning who is uninterested in my peri menopausal symptoms, just agreeing that yes it sounds like im premenopausal. She checked my hip and issued strong pain killers. No referral. I asked if it was linked to the menopause and she said not. I asked if I could have bloods done and she refused on grounds that there is nothing they will do before Im 50 anyway?? I also suggested my Thyroid was tested as my mother has underactive. She said it was last checked in 2012 so she wasn't going to check again unless I came back again with the same pain and unable to cope. She told me to go to Holland & Barratt and look at what they had to offer for the menopause.
Well I came out holding back my tears - no mean feet these days. Day to day Im miserable, snappy, angry, sad, lonely, solitary, incoherent and a blithering mess. So today I felt my pleas fell on deaf ears and making me feel as if Im over reacting to all the symptoms and pain Im suffering. I don't see that popping painkillers is the answer - altho 6hrs pain free to get thru work today was quite something. But not something I want to get used to, especially if it could consequently be causing me long term damage.
So what to do now? Do I return and see a different doctor? I don't know if its the practices policy not to test or whether its an uncaring individual who is smugly around 34 and experienced nothing of how I feel and so far removed from the person I once was.
I feel so alone in this and don't know where to turn for help and someone who will listen and take me seriously.

Apologies for the long jumbled rant, Im in a bit of a turmoil.

I would go back and see someone else. If the painkillers you have been given are anti-inflammatory ones, they should help with any swelling and help.

I started taking hrt and at a similar time, started on vit D3 25ug/1000iu.

This was because I had an arthritis test when the hrt was prescribed and it came back as ok, but low vit D. My practice nurse suggested getting tested because my neck hurt so much.

It might be worth trying it out in the meantime - you can get cheap tablets from Sainsbury and waitrose - the ones in H&B are more expensive. (I found I got worse using the oil mouth spray, which is supposed to be better, so back on the supermarket tablets).

I found that if I stop taking them, the aches and pains all come back. It took about 6 weeks to work.

PGP???

Re the rest of your post - go to a different GP without a doubt. The one you saw was both uncaring and ignorant. Menopause can occur at almost any age (sadly) from 20's to late 50's. If your thyroid was tested in 2012 then it is not too soon to re-test. My TSH increased one whole unit over 18 months. Do you have other symptoms - weight gain and feeling the cold are the two other obvious ones in addition to fatigue and some pain?

Blood tests cannot definitely diagnose menopause in women of certain ages (according to the new draft NICE guidelines) because FSH varies so much:

"Consider using a FSH test to diagnose menopause only:
*in women aged over 45 years with atypical symptoms
*in women aged 40 to 45 years with menopausal symptoms including a change in their menstrual cycle
*in women aged under 40 years in whom menopause is suspected"

Which category do you fall into?
Depending what your symptoms are and especially if you have started missing periods, a low dose HRT may help, otherwise perhpas you might consider the CCP Qlaira which will give you bio-identcial oestrogen and regulate your cycle - hopefully easing some of your ohter symptoms too.

Defo insist on the blood tests if you have the relevant symptoms

Pelvic girdle pain

Thanks Whatevva - I haven't heard of the abbreviations nor the pain. Sounds uncomfortable......

franny I'm so sorry you're experiencing this, but unfortunately it seems to be common.

I've had PGP for 19 years and have had 6 major pelvic surgeries. Unfortunately for me I have never got to the point of walking unaided since giving birth to DS2. My symptoms have always flared up just before and during my period but as I am nearing the menopause they seem to be much worse all the time. I have had major surgery in May which didn't go too well so we're not sure what it is atm.

I'm a member of some support groups (online and on Fb) and quite a few of the women have said they have experienced a worsening in their symptoms as they have become peri-menopausal.

In your shoes I wouldn't wait for a NHS physio I would contact the pelvic partnership to ask them for a recommendation of a chiropractor who is experienced in treating PGP in your area.

Thank you all for your advice. I was in such a turmoil last week with the pain, anguish and emotions running high. My period started yesterday and symptoms have eased dramatically! My muscles are now just sore. I was prescribed Naproxen for the pain; I only took the one and got thru without any further doses, its not really the road I want to take if it can be avoided. I will look into the supplements suggested. I fear this may be a recurring feature of my monthly cycle now, I guess I will just have to wait and see. I am usually just achy and stiff around that time of the month so this episode came as a shocker.
I visited Holland & Barrett, not really having a clue what to buy. Ended up with their own brand Menopause Mood Relief which contains 300mg St Johns Wort & 6.4mg Black Cohosh. Wasn't till I got home and could read the leaflet inside that I cant take them because Im on Amitriptyline for my nerve pain in wrist. I realize its the St Johns Wort and I should have bought a product without it in but Ive been feeling so low and not myself it was kinda desperation. Decided to come of the prescribed meds for a couple of days and then perhaps start these tablets instead. Probably not the right thing to do but Im not sure shop will take tablets back and at over £16 per pack I didn't want to waste them.
I should have mentioned Im nearly 44 and periods are coming closer together and vary in flow and length, often on for 2 days off then back on in another 2 days. Im permanently running on hot and am rarely cold, only hands and feet really.
Im comforted to hear that Im not loosing my mind and everything appears to be linking together with Perimenopause . I have been feeling as if my body is failing me and Im falling apart at the seams.

I will check out the support groups and speak to my physio Fri about how the doc handled things. I may look into visiting a chiropractor to see what they have to say.
In a slightly calmer place, I know I need to learn to live with this and take each day as it comes, trying not to freak out and keep emotions in check.
Thank you all x