Fatigue - could this be perimenopausal?

[Crabtree87]

I've been lacking in energy for some time and for a long time that I was depressed and tried numerous ADs but I didn't find them terribly helpful.

I'm now coming round to the view that I'm not depressed its lack of energy which is the problem. The fatigue doesn't seem cyclical, which presumably it would be if it was hormonal?

Earlier this year I had a couple of heavier than normal periods and then more recently had two periods which both came at 3 weeks instead of the usual 4 weeks. This made me think I might be perimenopausal.

I saw a consultant and he wasn't convinced that I was perimenopausal and thought I was tired due to heavy periods. However, my periods really aren't that heavy, my iron levels are normal (but at the lower end of the range), and my fatigue predates my heavier periods.

The consultant has given me the mirena coil and one pump of estrogel, although I have upped it to two pumps. He was keen just to give me the mirena coil (to reduce my bloodflow) and I had to push to be prescribed oestrogen.

Since taking the estrogel the quality of my sleep has definitely improved as has my skin (no longer as dry). Still definitely lacking in energy and get up and go though, which is impacting both work and home life and making me fed-up and irritable. I haven't had any hot flushes.

Do you think the fatigue is down to the perimenopause and that maybe I should be upping the oestrogen?

I wasn't very impressed by the consultant as quite a few of the things he said didn't sound quite right, so I'm seeing a different consultant in two months' time but would be good to get peoples' thoughts beforehand as I really can't afford to get any further behind at work.

I've had vit D, B12, iron and thyroid checked, and they are all ok.

I'm 41 which is the age my mum had her menopause and she experienced really bad fatigue.

You can't use oestrogen as a way to combat fatigue it doesn't really work like that.

I am not an expert on peri but I'd say if you are having periods and you are only 41 it's unlikely.

Much more likely to be stress and low iron.

Yes 41 is young but there is a strong family history of early menopause. My mother had fatigue has her main symptom of the menopause.

Iron levels are in normal range and I've also significantly upped my iron intake recently but not feeling any better for it.

I am in true menopause and taking hrt. Still get tired! I think it's just getting older. My fatigue is improved if I exercise and eat less sugar.

I accept that getting tired is part of getting older, but it is not normal to feel this tired and I don't have the energy levels to do any meaningful amount of exercise (I have tried to force myself but last time it took me 45 minutes to complete what should have been a 7 minute exercise routine). My diet is also pretty healthy so I don't think its the case of eating healthier.

Given that my mother had the perimenopause and menopause at my age and she had extreme fatigue (so much so she says she could barely stand), it has made me wonder if it could be perimenopausal especially since so many other possibilities have been ruled out.