Help needed..,,peri? Full on menopause?

[Lottie7777]

Can anyone give me some advice whilst I await a doctors appointment. I’ve been having hot flushes for bouts of a few weeks for 5 years. I’m just 44. The last 18 months my periods have become irregular. Other than that no obvious meno symptoms (I’m moody and prone to anxiety anyway, no change there). I just had a blood test and fsh level has come back as 56. The doctor rang and said to come back and talk to a female doc about hrt so I’m awaiting that appointment.
In the meantime can anyone give me any advice? What does 56 mean? Given I’m not having too many symptoms, is it advisable to decline hrt and just do lots of weight bearing exercise and eat lots of calcium rich things?
I just feel so young (and ashamed) to be possibly menopausal even though I know it’s not uncommon.
Thanks loads.

It means your FSH level is at post menopausal levels, but they fluctuate from day to day, hour to hour so all it really says is that you're in perimenopause.

You should probably have a blood test on day 3 of your period and then get retested next month, this will give you a better idea.

Don't be ashamed of being menopausal, my symptoms started when I was 45 and here I am at 50 still having periods and not through it yet.

As for whether you take HRT or not, you'll find people on here telling you you simply have to take it, and others who have taken the more natural path. There's loads of information out there, on menopause matters and also on this thread to help you make up your mind.

Menopause before 45 is premature menopause. Medical advice is HRT up to 52 at least (age of normal menopause.)

The Daisy Network is a national charity run with others drs (including consultant Nick Panay from the Chelsea and Westminster meno clinic) and their website has lots of advice.

You definitely need hrt for avoiding future health problems.
You are too young to leave your body without estrogen!
I am 43 and on hrt. I diagnosed with early meno a year ago with an FSH about 35.
You need to stay on hrt until the normal age of menopause or for life if there is no contradictions.