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Menopause

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Original poster

How do you even know if your in perimenopause?

69 replies

Afternooninthepark · 17/02/2019 19:22

I’m 46 next month. I’ve been feeling crappy for a year or two now. My GP says that as I have a regular 28(ish) day cycle I am not in perimenopause.
These are the regular symptoms I’m getting,
Really bad, daily anxiety which is currently my worst symptom
Depression
Very heavy periods (I do have several reoccurring uterine polyps)
Bad PMS the week before period (never really suffered before now)
Aura migraines, on 3rd day of my period
Lack of libido (happy never to have sex again 😟)
Dry down below and really itchy a week before period
Really itchy skin (especially on torso and scalp)
Aching muscles and achy joints
Fatigue (I am anaemic due to years of heavy periods)
Night sweats a week before period
More body odour than I ever had before
Lots of wind and bad indigestion
Can’t concentrate

Most of these things seem to be caused/exacerbated by my hormones as I feel worse a week before and during my period (absolutely dread having periods now) and feel shitty during mid cycle too. I only get a few days a month when I feel ok!

Anyone else get any of these? Feel my gp just doesn’t want to know tbh!

OP posts:
picklemepopcorn · 17/02/2019 19:24

Can you try a different GP? The first time I went to GP he said I was approaching perimenopause. Pah. Have they done various blood tests? thyroid, VitB etc?

toomanyofthemnow · 17/02/2019 19:26

Has your GP actually done a blood test?

RandomMess · 17/02/2019 19:29

I think most of the medical profession seem ignorant, I'm your age and been told I'm probably too young without even asking about my symptoms!!!

I'm sure I have been peri since my early 40s so hopefully less than a decade to go now until I get there...

Original poster
Afternooninthepark · 17/02/2019 19:29

I’ve had vitamin B12, thyroid, vitamin D and my iron levels checked (all under my request). He insists that as I’m having regular periods then I’m not in perimenopause!!

OP posts:
Original poster
Afternooninthepark · 17/02/2019 19:31

random same here, gp has never asked what my symptoms are!!

OP posts:
picklemepopcorn · 17/02/2019 19:40

Try the menopause support supplements, see if they help.
My GP said I wasn't peri unless I was having hot flushes and or night sweats.

Original poster
Afternooninthepark · 17/02/2019 19:41

pickle I’m going to have to start taking something, will have a google.

OP posts:
RandomMess · 17/02/2019 19:48

Crazy isn't it, whole meaning of peri is that it's the time before the hot flushes etc start.

picklemepopcorn · 17/02/2019 19:48

I'm using a menopause specific multivitamin, menopace.

Agnus Castus.

Evening Primrose oil

Black Cohosh.

People seem to respond to different things.

SofiaAmes · 17/02/2019 19:53

Your GP is talking nonsense and probably hasn't read any information on hormones since medical school. Look up the current NICE guidelines on Peri-menopause and menopause.

I started having peri-menopause symptoms in my early 40's. It was shortly after giving birth to my 2nd child so I initially thought it was the aftermath of the pregnancy/bfeeding hormones. (I was having completely regular periods and continued to do so to this day (15 years later).) But when the symptoms didn't go away, I started seeing doctors. Eventually (took about 2 years) I finally got referred to a hormone specialist (Dr. Panay - still around and quite senior now) in the UK and a hormone specialist in the USA (I was traveling back and forth quite a bit) who both immediately diagnosed peri-menopause and prescribed a low dose birth control pill. The pill completely sorted the symptoms, plus a bunch more things that I had no idea were hormonally related (like the bad hair day I had had for years) and frequent asthma attacks and migraines.
I would start with trying the pill (mono-phasic) and see if that helps.

SofiaAmes · 17/02/2019 19:53

P.S. I have NEVER gotten a hot flash at any point in my peri-menopause.

SofiaAmes · 17/02/2019 19:59

Here's a link to the NICE Guidelines. Please note that the very very first thing they say is: Adopt an individualised approach at all stages of diagnosis, investigation and management of menopause.
Please print the guidelines out and take a copy back in to your GP (and give them to him/her) and then if he/she doesn't listen, get a new GP.

Original poster
Afternooninthepark · 17/02/2019 20:17

Thanks everyone at least I know it's not all in my head.

OP posts:
Original poster
Afternooninthepark · 17/02/2019 20:18

Think I'll try and see a different GP at the surgery.

OP posts:
Flicketyflack · 17/02/2019 20:21

I am 47 in August and have experienced many of the symptoms you describe and the thing I find worst of all is how much of the time I think I am losing my mind.

As you described it makes you feel rubbish MOST of the time.

I mentioned it to my gp last Autumn to find myself referred for a pelvic scan where they found an 7.5cm benign cyst Shock

They blood test showed me to be on the lower end of the recommended iron levels.

It is definitely worth speaking to GP who is helpfulWink

I think I had talked myself out if the fact it is the beginnings of menopause but because no one talks about it I had no idea what the symptoms are but have just tolerated flooding, irregular cycles and horrific PMT symptoms. Some days I just want to be left alone Sad

Redwinestillfine · 17/02/2019 20:41

I started with peri symptoms a year ago, after a few trips to the Dr I was sent to a gynaecologist who recommended the coil. It's sorted some symptoms but not the nausea and since then I also get occasional night sweats.... I should go back but hormone tests showed nothing so far.

picklemepopcorn · 17/02/2019 20:46

There is another thread, called 'dying of perimenopause' where we are comparing notes.

I've felt rubbish for about 6 years, I got incredibly hot feet at night. blood tests showed nothing until a couple of years ago. Then it was low iron, Vit D and thyroid. My periods were getting heavier and closer together.
Finally, this year, I began skipping the occasional period, and some of them were lighter or shorter. Now I've been several months without. Fingers crossed...

ShannonRockallMalin · 17/02/2019 20:47

OP, I have many of the same symptoms as you. I only had to mention a couple of them to my GP (when I was there about something else) and she said I was in peri menopause. I’m 43.

I would get a second opinion.

picklemepopcorn · 17/02/2019 20:49

There is another thread, called 'dying of perimenopause' where we are comparing notes.

I've felt rubbish for about 6 years, I got incredibly hot feet at night. blood tests showed nothing until a couple of years ago. Then it was low iron, Vit D and thyroid. My periods were getting heavier and closer together.
Finally, this year, I began skipping the occasional period, and some of them were lighter or shorter. Now I've been several months without. Fingers crossed...

Original poster
Afternooninthepark · 17/02/2019 21:42

Just checked out ‘I think I’m dying if perimenopause’. Ahh looks like it’s gonna get worse 😩

OP posts:
Fartingisfun · 17/02/2019 22:00

45 here and I have gone through the menopause.

I had virtually no symptoms.... other than longer and longer gaps between periods. Granted the odd hot sweat but because of my aged it never dawned on me that it could be menopause.

I therefore didn't go to docs until recently...
5 years since last period.

GP was definitely ready to dismiss me when I first said I wanted to talk about menopause but in the absence of a cycle in such a long length of time agreed to do bloods and it transpires that I am firing on no cylinders at all.... in fact they now reckon I was dwindling out when I had the kids.....

So. Not unheard of to be perimenopausal at 46. Not at all.

Push for support and answers and good luck x

beeyourself · 17/02/2019 22:15

Op - you have opened my eyes - I have every single one of your symptoms, plus hot feet at night that another poster mentioned!

I'm quite relieved that there might be a reason for this. I recently had hormone levels checked but results not back yet.

So what can be done about all this?

silver1977 · 18/02/2019 09:22

Hi OP, I have most things on your list too, anxiety I have gradually realised I am suffering from but wouldn't have linked it with anything else on the list before reading this. May I ask about your reoccurring uterine polyps? I had a smear recently and asked whether she thought I had a mild prolapse as I had been concerned, she said she couldn't tell Hmm but could see a lump/maybe the start of a polyp? She said to wait for smear results as if I am referred to the hospital following the results they can check me out there, my results are thankfully normal so I guess I need to go to the GP, I don't know how serious a polyp is?

In your case I would definitely go back but to a different GP, I never see the same GP at our practice anyway but I'm not sure what it's like at yours. Maybe a female one may be more interested, could you request one when you phone?! As a PP poster suggested, maybe worth trying some multivitamins specifically for the menopause just to see if they help.

Original poster
Afternooninthepark · 18/02/2019 12:52

Thanks everyone, I’m definitely going back to the gp, ideally, I would like to see a female gp but I don’t think there is one at my practice.
Silver, my polyps we’re discovered during a scan. I had the first lot removed in day surgery but unfortunately a year later they grew back, I had some removed via a hysteroscopy but they’ve left the largest one and want me to have a Mirena to ‘shrink’ it but I’m apprehensive as I don’t want side effects as that’ll shoot my anxiety through the roof but the gynaecologist didnt seem to care about that he just kept pushing the Mirena on me with no other options. I hate being a woman sometimes!!

OP posts:
Emerald13 · 18/02/2019 13:58

My symptoms started 2 years ago at 41 with almost regular but very light periods! I spent a lot of time and energy to find a gyn who knows and cares! Everything back to my old self and feel absolutely better than 2 years ago.