Peri-Menopause Support Thread

[OldEnglishSheepDog]

Hello – would anyone else be interested in an ongoing peri-menopause support thread? I would love to chat with other people going through this utterly miserable experience.

Here’s my story. I’m 38, I have one child. We had hoped for another but after two rounds of IVF we decided to be grateful for what we had. Last month, after a few symptoms started making themselves evident, I went to the doctor for a blood test which confirmed that I am now officially peri-menopausal.
I’m starting this thread because I have never felt quite so lonely and scared as I do right now. The physical symptoms of hot flushes and occasional but intense headaches are bad but there is a whole new world of anxiety, depression and existential angst which has opened up since around November. I suffer palpitations which send me into a panic. I fret about my relationship while simultaneously withdrawing from it. Yesterday, I cried at a Radio 4 programme about The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. I have quit alcohol completely. I am eating more healthily than I ever have before and exercising regularly and yet my middle has thickened and refuses to budge no matter what I do.

I find the menopause support web pages patronising. They seem to want to paint the whole experience as a new and exciting chapter as opposed to the slow death that it seems like at the moment. So I wanted to start a support thread that acknowledges the darkest aspects of this experience and allows us to wallow a bit before providing some practical suggestions.

If I end up just screaming into the abyss on my own, that’s fine. But if anyone else wants to join in, please do.

Just found this thread. Hoping for some advice. I’m 44yo. Dr started me on Tranexamic Acid for heavy bleeding. Last year I flooded through tampon & pad and had to leave work to come home to shower. After that dr put me on Norethisterone for 3 months in the home it would sort periods. Once I stopped that my periods kept coming heavily. She then sent me for scans which showed fibroids but not too bad. Fast forward 6 months to June and I couldn’t work out whether I would have period over summer holiday as they were so erratic. I can go 6/7 weeks with nothing and then small bleed for 3 days. Now I hadn’t bled for 5 weeks and since 24th Sept I have bled everyday bar 2 til now. That is 4 weeks!! I’m exhausted. Not taken my TXA as only heavy spots so not needed them. I went to dr today to ask for blood test to see if they show menopause. Any advise??

Hello can I join you please?
I think I am peri -ish at 42.

How do the blood tests work? Forgive me I'm totally ignorant
about all of this...

Stumbled onto this thread and had a quick skim. I think I need to book to see my GP!
Hulking out!
^this. I am a ranting raving loony with such violent rage it is scaring me. WTH is going on? Will HTR fix this? And give me some libido back? I’m currently dead from the waist down I’ve actually been waiting months for a hysterectomy but I can’t wait around for that before I get HRT the way I’m going

I'm 44,Gp thinks I'm in peri.
Periods heavier and closer together. After period I have a few days of brown spotting.
At ovulation I have severe pelvic pain and pinky brown spotting for about 3-4 days. Only really when I wipe - sorry tmi.
Got diagnosed with pcos few years ago.
Normal smear July 18.
Does this sound like peri or should I be worried?
Thanks

Also get a heavy dragging feeling in vag and regularly get javelin arse.

Smiled the BT measures hormone levels and they can tell from the results whether or not you are heading for menopause.

Am joining into this thread. The perio rollercoaster has made my health anxiety blown way out of control. I seem to have period cramps all month, heavy period every three weeks, weird tingling in face and nose when ovulating, tired bloated legs on the week up to my period. Think it’s just my anxiety that has made me get prickly sunburn skin too. I have a polyp which is getting measured again in December. Had all bloods done and they came back normal. Anyone help or identify with these symptoms. Valerian seems to helps for like 30 mins.

I’m joining too! Been in Peri for a couple of years according to blood tests and my symptoms have been getting progressively worse. Main ones brain fog, low mood, anxiety and peeing a lot, more migraines which only used to be pre period occasionally sleep issues. I tried the herbal route and diet and cbt which did initially help took meno min with krill oil and solgar magnesium calcium zinc supplement at bedtime which helps relaxation and sleep. I’d recommend these as a starting point. However in last few weeks I have really not felt myself and the kids noticed that every sentence began with I’m worried ... irritability like pmt for 2 plus weeks and periods anything between 20-45 days. Anyway I literally felt I couldn’t cope any more and have now started hrt. Oestrogen gel everyday and progesterone days 15-26. I’ve done 2 weeks and just a couple of days ago have started to feel like my old self. I’m concerned about taking the progesterone which begins tomorrow but at the moment I’m feeling like I’ve hit the jackpot ! Hope this story helps someone

Has anyone tried Menopace vitamins? I was thinking of giving these a go as I've read some good reviews. I have an app on Wednesday to talk about HRT as I'm struggling at the moment with sleep problems waking up so hot but not soaking, headaches, joint pain, dizziness and mood swings. But if these vitamins could take the edge off even a couple of good nights sleep I'll be happy.

Hi I haven’t tried those big tried lots of main stream ones which didn’t do much but these ones did ! www.dolphinfitness.co.uk/en/cleanmarine-menomin-60-capsules/114193/?ladid=uk&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIuM_d-evO3gIVz53tCh2sNw6eEAQYASABEgIsI_D_BwE

I've been taking Evorel sequi, vitamin D, evening primrose and starflower oil with vit b6 and 5-HTP tablets along with minimal sugar, caffeine, processed foods and increase of exercise and I have to say I do feel somewhat better. How to work out the contributing factor I do not know! Just thought I'd share in case it can help anyone else.

Marked reduction of anxiety is a big plus.

Hi I am 43
I have had the blood test done and yet nothing
And yet my hair is thinning
I get anxiety having never suffered from it before
Headaches are awful
And tiredness comes like a a turning of a switch
I am taking magnesium supplement and b12 which helps but anyone else have any recommendations
My hair feels so dry and thin

Hello everyone!
I may need to join you lovely, erratic women. I have fertility issues with suspected endometriosis (cyst) on the scan - waiting for a laparoscopy.
I mentioned to my GP that I'm experiencing longer time between my periods, they have lessened a day over the past 18 months and the past three cycles it hasn't felt like I've ovulated and the resulting 'period' seems to just be bleeding, no other usual symptoms. I get hot flushes a lot and also night sweats.
GP has ordered bloods including FSH to be run so I'll get the results in a few weeks. Since taking it more seriously and reading into peri (beyond hot flashes and night sweats) - I am astounded by the amount of symptoms that I have - that I attributed to other things (like meds) but GP didn't even consider they could be side effects. I checked 55 of the 66 peri symptoms mentioned upthread (thanks for the heads up). So now it's time to wait and see and I'm NOT feeling patient rn!

Is there any progress with those of you who have suspected peri and had it confirmed? I know I have eggs from my AMH test but now I don't know if they're doing anything. Thanks for the posts, they have helped me understand further.

Best, Idiom

Hi 75, this is not menopause specific but have you tried jojoba oil? My hair won't take conditioner so I rub a few teaspoons into my dry hair before bed, or when I'm stuck in the house (greasy, so wouldn't go out!) and then I wash it out for luscious locks. It may take a few tries if nothing has worked for a while, but jojoba oil acts like the bodies natural sebum so it tends to lap it up when lacking.
I use it on my face at night on a particularly dry day, or after an exfoliant mask for tlc. It also removes cosmetics (just don't get it in your eye!) I use the organic Fushi brand. It doesn't cause acne. They specifically have a Good Hair Oil too which is fab but I like the multipurpose of my pure jojoba, plus if it didn't work for your hair you could use it on your skin.
Maybe that will help.
Best, Idiom. X

Hi all. I’m 45, have a 2 year old DS conceived via IVF (my own egg). Had been secretly hoping for a crazy miracle sibling but I think that the clock has finally stopped ticking and am in perimenopause now...am currently on day 45 of my cycle with no hint of a period (and yes, I have POAS loads, am definitely not pregnant.). This is my second long cycle in about 3 months, one before last was 39 days. I feel generally OK though, but am wondering if I should go to the GP and ask for hormone tests- is it possible I’ll need HRT even though no real symptoms other than irregular periods? I don’t want to waste NHS time but I want to stay as healthy as possible for my little boy’s sake. Any advice gladly received!

I am 47 with 2 youngish children - I too was hoping for a miracle pregnancy around the 44 mark but did not really do anything about it.

I called my gp about 2.5 years ago and was told oh don't worry you are probably peri menapausal not to worry and was not offered anything.

Now I have bad sweats at night, weight gain around my middle, lots of hot flushes, very bad hair which I am finding is really getting me down, so thanks for oil tips below and just want to go to the gp and get on HRT.
I think my last period was May or June?

I am not working but want to work full time from early next year so I just want to get on HRT gel and don't want to be turned away.

Great idea for a support group

Hello everyone! I'll be reading up shortly but thought I'd introduce myself first.

40yo, in the last six months my periods have been anything from 11-33 days in cycle length and 2-9 days in period length. I've been tired and lethargic and not sleeping as well, when normally I sleep like the dead. Vaginal dryness aplenty, but no lack of interest now I'm having hot flushes (or what I assume are hot flushes) and they're driving me crackers.

I've had bloods done - nad. They want to do an internal but I need to book again as the first appt I had to cancel as I was (still) bleeding.

I asked my sisters last night what if any symptoms they had as they're 5&4 years older than me and they're having similar, but our mum and grandmothers were a good 10+ years older than me

I don't actually mind it being the menopause as I'm definitely done with children (dp has had the snip anyway) but I could do without all these symptoms

Can I join please?
Periods been getting to crime scene in the mornings standards for past 2-3 years
Heart palpitations joined in the summer
Cry at EVERYTHING.ditto rages
Latest symptom nausea.from mid cycle it worsens with heightened sense of smell that has me gagging at most smells,good or bad.i feel utterly miserable,struggling to cook or be near hot food, people (deodorant,perfume,soap,I can't individually smell them all)
Skin,eyes and vag drying up
Let's not talk brain fog.....
Anyone got any ideas?I'm not keen on hrt but don't know where else to start

I currently walk a lot(don't drive) and only drink water
Tia

What age are you stilllivinginazoo?

Just turned 46 Jessie

Hi, please can I join too? I'm 49, still very regular periods, but heavier and shorter. Much stronger pmt that seems to last a week either side of my period. I cry nearly all the time (have had a very tough year with mum and husband both being rushed to and from hospital three times each plus my best friend with stage 3-4 cancer,so I could just be at the end of my tether/capacity), and I get insanely angry!

I had all the peri symptoms including night sweats, anxiety, racing heart at 2am and just zero sleep. I was angry at everybody then suddenly very happy. I have aches and pains and my last period was August. I started taking Menopace 4 weeks ago and all my symptoms have disappeared apart from sore wrists. It might not work for everyone but it's made a huge difference to me. I no longer wake with hot flushes and feel fantastic. It might not last for a long time and I may need HRT in the future but for now these vitamins are a lifeline.

I'd love to join in but the irony isn't lost on me that my brain isn't working and I've already forgot what I've read !!