perimenopause?

[scrabble1]

I'm 46, regular periods but started having some strange symptoms. First one is feet tingling it is uncomfortable. I have also started having migrane with nausea/vomiting. Previously only had visual migranes with no sickness or pain. Could these be peri menopause?

Rufus that's interesting because my tingling is across my scalp. Thought I was going mad!

I've felt really crap today. Hot flushes and sweats. Aching especially legs and groin. Weary. Luckily I was off work so rested. I took a menocool and had tofu for tea and feel much better. I'm going away for a week on Saturday and want to be able to cycle and walk. This week normal walking has been a struggle.

It's really sad that so many women are struggling like this but so few seem to consider HRT. Unless you have one of the very few medical issues which means you can't use it (and there are hardly any), the benefits to at least 60 outweigh the risks. I'd really suggest you read Menopause matters website, especially the blogs at the bottom of the Home page, written by the consultant gynae who runs the site.
There really is no need to suffer or spend years faffing about with alternative things which may or may not work.

Do they give hrt for perimenopause? I would have thought it'd be difficult to pin point the hormonal fluctuations?

I second everything Polly says in her last post.

Freakin I tried HRT but it wasnt enough to control my fluctuating hormones, so I am now on a low does bio-identical pill designed for people in peri menopause. It's called Qlaira. Zoeley is another like this. It has helped a lot (even though I never got on with the normal combined pill when I was younger). I will go back to HRT when my estrogen is consistently low, rather than 'spiking' like it does now.

My GP was happy to give HRT for peri menopause, and the endocrinologist said it would actually be more dangerous for me not to take HRT/the pill.

Thanks rufus I'll go and see my gp when I'm back from holiday. Thankfully in Britain so should be cool at night 🌝

I have many Peri symptoms but they can be from other things so I think that's why my gp hasn't offered me hrt yet. I suffer most with headaches. I was under the impression because my periods are still fairly regular that hrt is needed yet? I'd take anything at the moment!!

mummy I agree that it's best to rule out other things that may not be peri meno, first.
But there is no rule about when to start HRT.
If someone has symptoms of peri that are affecting their quality of life to the extent that they can't sleep, work, function properly ( don't mean you especially, but anyone) AND they have also tried all the self-help measures (diet, exercise, relaxation, ) and are still suffering then HRT is fine (regardless of whether periods are regular or not.)

Periods in late peri meno are often anovular (no ovulation happening) so you can still have regular periods (with no ovulation) and feel rubbish!

I have had these symptoms since I was 38.
I was diagnosed at 48 with pernicious anaemia (b12) deficiency.
My periods remained regular even though I had all sorts of menopausal symptoms. I'm 50.

I second Polly's last post (can see a theme developing here!). I was still having regular periods, yet my estrogen at times was as low as 39 pmol (at other times, into the 800s - hence reason HRT didnt help me much).

Obviously rule out other things, but be careful not to get in the situation I was in when I was having test after test after test (plus MRIs) with no 'positive' and began to think I was a) crazy b) a hypochondriac and c) doomed to a hideous, scary painful existence from them on. It totally changed my personality. This was all because my former GP wouldnt accept that my symptoms could be hormonal.
Thank goodness for my new, better informed GP practice, MenopauseMatters and an on-the-ball endocrinologist!

I hate to quote the Daily Fail, but I did find this article interesting - if nothing else, to prove my initial point that the OP's odd symptoms could well be hormone related!
www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2324019/Menopause-The-unexpected-signs-youre-hit-it.html

W

Thanks all.
My story is I have an auto immune disease which obviously can cause lots of similar symptoms but I've kept track of them and im sure they are hormonal. That make my auto immune thing worse!! But then the gp just blames everything on that. Blood tests for Peri have always been normal but larger they are unreliable anyway. Part of me wants to say let me try hrt and see. I'm 41 and have been Peri for 3 years but worse in the last year. Both mum and sister were done by 45

Larger should say I gather!!

Just seen this article which might be of interest to people on this thread.
www.womanandhome.com/galleries/diet-and-health/36635/8/0/perimenopause-symptoms

Polly and Rufus rock!

I've had 2 attempts on HRT for peri menopause and been an absolute wreck both times. I've now been put on Zoely as Rufus mentioned and I feel largely normal!

Can be so hard to get an understanding GP. Despite years of night sweats, hair loss, exhaustion, joint pain and borderline osteoporosis, my original GP refused HRT as my one off blood test was normal! I then saw another GP who prescribed me oestrogen patches ( but without progesterone- it was only reading Polly's posts that I realised this was a serious mistake!).

Rufus- similarly I had MRIs and all sorts as GP couldn't countenance my symptoms might be peri menopausal as I was 'too young' - early 40s

Clawdeen It's so reassuring to know that I am not the only one - though also makes me so angry that we were both in this (at the time pretty scary) situation. I just wish GPs and women in general were better informed about peri menopause and the less usual symptoms. It would save so much NHS money!

Yes rufus really scary. Glad you understand, although sad there are many GPs like that out there. I was sent off for investigations for brain tumour and MS. Dread to think the cost to the NHS. Would have more than funded the whole practice receiving menopause training!

That's weird. I had exactly the same tests/possible diagnosis. I'd even convinced myself it was MS as I was 'too young' for peri menopause and didnt have the 'right' symptoms. That's why I do now get on my soap box when people assume that hot flushes and scant periods are the only signs of peri/menopause and anything else 'probably isnt'. It's just not true.

Hope you don't mind me hopping on here for some advice. I'm 38 and have noticed my periods becoming unusually regular (have PCOS so they haven't been regular ever) and only lasting a day or two at most. I have been feeling hot all the time, but put that down to being chubby - my DH complains that he's cold, but I haven't been able to understand why - but now I'm thinking they have been hot flushes (one minute sweaty, next minute back to normal). My boobs have been painful and heavy the last week, they only ever hurt when i was pregnant not during periods. I have been moody and argumentative, but at the same time tired and listless.

Could this be the perimenopause? I thought I was pregnant but took a test and it's negative. It would be a miracle because I have secondary infertility and DH isn't particularly fertile, but I wanted to rule it out. I phoned my mother who I remember had an early menopause, she told me it started for real at 42 (not perimenopause but the real thing) but my grandmother started in her early 30s. My sister and I have inherited our fertility issues and dodgy genes from our mum and grandmother in other areas so I'm really worried that this is another one of them.

Is 38 really early for perimenopause? My mum said to go to the GP for blood tests, and they can start you on hormones to reduce the hot flushes and other symptoms. I'm gutted to think that it's that though because it will mean for sure no more babies. Can you wise ladies give me some advice?

Hopeful bump? I am also slightly (and probably irrationally) worried about how this will affect my marriage. I mentioned this possibility to DH and he said "you're going through the change, I'm not going blind, you are still the same person I love" but i am depressed and if it is linked to this, then while it explains why I'm depressed, it also makes me think that I have years of this ahead.

Your mum is right :)

You need to see your GP and perhaps ask for a referral to a gynae for tests. You would be strongly advised to use HRT as replacement up to 50 at least as premature meno puts you at a higher risk of heart disease and osteoporosis in your 50s and onwards.

So glad you posted this, I'm 40 and sure I'm in early menopause, my GP refused to test me even though my Mum and Nan had early 40s menopause.
I have the scalp sensation thing, it drives me mad but it only comes now and then, I also have fibromyalgia and the GPS tend to blame anything unexplained on that.
I have crippling migraines right before my period with sickness, dizziness and confusion.

I spend days in bed with this crap.
I've been given migraine tablets which I mostly throw up, nothing touches the pain.

You've inspired me to get this sorted 😀

Sherrif They tried to tell me that my issues were due to Fibro initially. I think there is some crossover with some people's peri menopause symptoms?

My migraines (and aura) definitely got worse as I hit my late 30s, always just before my period. Fingers crossed, taking the pill (HRT wasnt strong enough for me, though I will switch back when I am older) has reduced the migraines. GP wouldnt let me go on a regular combined pill due to my migraines, but did let me try a less potent one with bio-identical estrogen which is what I am on now.

Hope you can get things sorted soon.

Thanks polly - my mum has osteoporosis so it's on my radar but I didn't know it was linked to the change.