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.

I'm 47 and peri. I've got a Mirena and on Evorel patches. The Mirena needs changing. I also have fibroids. Not sure if I should go for another Mirena. It has been great in dealing with heavy periods but I'm wondering if I could now cope without. Can't face dealing with periods again though but maybe they are nearly finished anyway, I can't tell as I don't really get them any more with the Mirena.

Although they have calmed down since the patches and my brain fog has gone, I still get mild night sweats, big mood swings and insomnia though. Last week I was inconsolable and about to pack my job in. This week I'm, like, whatever? Can't tell what's sane/normal and what's irrational any more.

Hello, I'm 47 on Christmas Day (lucky me) and I think I am peri-menopausal but I'm not sure. My cyclical mood swings are much more severe with higher anxiety and occasional insomnia, my cycle is 3 weeks, periods short and very heavy and my face looks like a pizza. I feel like a teenager again. Weirdly, my labido is higher than it has been since I was a teenager. Is this all part of the start of the change? The worst symptom at the moment is the spotty face though. I don't know what to do about it. I didn't have many spots as a teenager so perhaps this is my skin's rebellion? Any advice on how to treat my poor face?

I’m so happy I have found this post. I’m 45 and haven’t had a period since October. Is this how it starts? My mum and my sister had periods untill their late 50’s I always thought that’s what you go by? I suffer with anxiety so this is not helping it at all. Earlier in the year the doctor found blood in my urine but after blood tests came back all clear that was the end of that. Googling all sorts. Is this no show period normal?

I think so Ramina. Have you done a pregnancy test, just in case?

Thank you for replying honeyroar, it’s very much appreciated. My hubby has had a vasectomy so there’s no way I am. I’ve also had a couple of hot flushes so the symptoms are there. Going to the doctor on Tuesday so hopefully get some answers.

Hello. I'm 54, haven't had a period for 16 months and use vagifem and oestrogen cream externally.
It's been pretty effective for dryness and slight associated issues.
However I'm still getting periodic low mood with terrible emotional times and lack of libido.
Plus some night sweats and insomnia.
And am aching and tired.

I'm wondering about asking for HRT

Damn, read thread title as post menopause. Sorry.

Heart symptoms are the ones I struggle with...palpitations, racing heart, anxiety...Oh the joys!

Hi fellow perils I’m 45 and the haywire hormonal mood swings I’ve been having this year feel like a second adolescence. Also fatigue, generalised anxiety and insomnia. Great.

GP has given me the Rigevidon combined pill to help regulate my hormones but the online reviews for it are terrifying! Is anyone on this pill? I’d really appreciate more info on how it affects people.

Does anyone think at the age of 37 I could be peri menopausal? My doctor is not having any of it. He sent me for blood tests recently which found I had very low iron but didn't test my hormone levels
Thanks

What symptoms are you having mummy?

@AtrociousCircumstance
I've suffered with anxiety for years and take sertraline and propanolol. But the last few month I've been having night sweats, hot flushes, periods have got closer together and on for longer, sore/burning boobs, palpitations, lower back pain worse than usual, anxiety is really bad and I'm more irritable, i can hear my heart beat in my ear when I go to bed, can't get to sleep or stay asleep. All of these things are worse within nine days of starting my period. I was sterilised nearly 3 years ago after my last child but apparently it doesn't affect your hormones!

Whoa, you’ve got a royal flush of symptoms there! Sounds perimenopausal, absolutely - your periods getting closer together is a big giveaway. Sounds so tough. Have you thought about how you might deal with it?

I’ve ordered some Menopace supplements so will try them out, plus I’m going to start exercising daily and forcing myself to go to bed earlier (obviously haven’t done that well with the latter tonight but hey ho...!).

Also still interested in anyone’s review of Rigevidon. Haven’t started it yet.

@AtrociousCircumstance
I honestly don't know how to deal with it. It must be something more than my usual anxiety though else surely the medication would be stopping it happening. I don't think I can cope with it for 10 days out of every 25!! Do you think I should push for a blood test? I am recording everything in a diary to take with me. I have started doing yoga and I follow slimming world (both have slipped over Christmas) but I just want to feel better

Sounds really hard Mummy I watched that BBC menopause documentary recently and the main positive thing I took away from it was regular exercise helps with all symptoms - bone density, mood, sleep, anxiety.

Am going to try these menopace supplements and shall report back. Hang in there!

(Some symptoms, I should say - don’t think it affects hot flushes etc).

Just been confirmed I am peri-menapausal if that's even the correct terminology. I know so little about it.

I'm 39 and the dr phoned me at work and I cried as just expected results to come back ok.

No period since 2 October 2017 which was about a week before my brother died. Symptoms experienced were put down to stress of this. Dr wants me to take HRT for ten years and just wondered if could get honest opinion re this. Does anyone take anything herbal that works?

Thanks for reading x

mum2one79 sorry to hear about the loss of your brother. It may be worth checking to see if anything herbal works before going onto hrt. What symptoms do you have?

My main problem is health anxiety. I seem to ricochet between one terminal illness and another as my aches and pains move around 😮.

I find it really hard to manage as seem to be fixed on wondering what hurts and what it could be. Any tips on how to manage this would be greatfully received.

Kahlua4me
Thank you for your kind words.
Hot flushes, lack of concentration at work,feeling low, irritable, night sweats, headaches but omg the anxiety is the worst and I'm the same! Pain anywhere and I think the worst. Didn't even link this feeling to this as thought was due to brothers death.

I think they are probably connected. You are dealing with the loss of your brother and your grief and then the menopause hits sending you into a spin.

My mum died suddenly a few years ago and I know it has made me face mortality and the thought of how fragile life can be. Then I became perimenopausal so every ache and pain that occurs I think the worst.

There is a lot of info about health anxiety on menopause matters website, so many women going through the same feelings which I have found to be strangely comforting!

So sorry to hear about your mum. I am so glad you posted as I had no idea.
Still to speak to dr about options therefore so far have avoided reading anything online.

I will look at menopause matters though. Thanks very much x

I'm so glad I have found this thread, I spoke to my gp as my periods have gone from being very heavy to very light and they have suggested blood tests as she thinks it may be peri menapausal. I had not read much about it but now I have I have lots of the symptoms, night sweats, low moods, memory, clumsy, aching joints. It's all quite scary as I'm only 38. I should really just wait for the results but it's not looking good.

I read somewhere that you can be peri menopausal for 10 years before the menopause kicks in. Have you had the blood test yet?

Mine started with a bang about 15/18 months ago. I was in and out of the gp surgery and a&e thinking there was something seriously wrong with my heart. It wasn’t until I got to the cardiologist and after all her tests she said I think it’s the menopause. It’s very frightening until you know what you are dealing with, and even then it’s tough at times.

I think I need to go and see my gp to talk it over. I went a few months back to see a female gp as thought it would be better for me. I was wrong! She was very young and started by saying that palpitations were not a symptom of the menopause but didn’t have any reasons on why I had them...
Anyway, will book to see my gp and see what he has to offer.