Perimenopause starting slowly

[sniffsneeze]

Can hot flashes/flushes start gently? As in a burst of heat that doesn't bring on a sweat. I just start to overheat. Awful explanation so apologies.

Period late, 46, not pregnant, joint pain - is this the beginning?

@PorridgeAgainAbney 👋🏻 join in by all means. I have low b12 so do tend to get cold at times. Bone cold - where I need a warm bath before I feel fine again.

Hi, can I please join in too. I am feeling exactly the same @PorridgeAgainAbney . I get really cold, but have night sweats, but no hot flushes/ flashes during the day. I'm 46 and started to suffer really badly about 4 months ago with reflux, never had it before. Then the anxiety kicked in, and insomnia. I went to the Drs who diagnosed Perimenopause through symptoms. She said that there was no point doing a blood test (although I did have one and it came back with no changes) because hormones are all over the place. I started taking Femoston oral HRT about 7 weeks ago. Both oestrogen and progesterone (sequi) and initially it helped the sleep, but I'm still finding that in the week before my "period" (this week) I am barely scraping 3 hours a night, and the acid reflux is causing me terrible angst. I have felt less anxious in the weeks previously, and have cried less. I am changing to patches next week, which I am hoping will sort out these early teething problems, and should be better for anyone with digestive problems.

This thread is very relevant to me as I have been experiencing many of the symptoms you have all listed and have just been to the doctors as I can't carry on feeling so rubbish. Actually it was a lovely nurse who quickly assessed my problems at a pill check and spoke to the doctor. I have to change from the combined pill to the mini pill as I have been experiencing visual aura migraines, then it's a decision about whether HRT or citalopram would be best. I just know I need something to help me feel better.

Thanks for the welcome . I will look at B12 as I've also cut right back on meat, fish and dairy over the last year so I'm aware that can create a deficiency on its own. Currently sitting at work looking at my nails which are purple as I'm so cold!

Been meaning to go to GP for a while but it's ironic really. There is so much info out there about HRT/peri-menopause treatments that it overwhelms me because I worry that I won't make the right decision, but that's precisely because I'm exhausted and anxious and need treatment to help those symptoms .

@HeatedDryer I think you are right to explore HRT. As I said I've only been on it for 7 weeks, but my Dr reassured me that we will explore all methods and strengths until we find something that is right and works for me. Look for Dr. Louise Newson, she has so much excellent information on her website below, and is a real advocate for womens' peri and menopausal health. I really believe knowledge is power and the more you understand what you are experiencing, the better it is to find relief. Link below.

www.menopausedoctor.co.uk

👋🏻 everyone. Yes to Dr Louise Newson. So informative, I feel likes she gets it as she's also going through it herself at the minute.

The acupuncturist said I have to embrace who I am now rather than mourn who I was before peri. He made me laugh when he said I was so inflamed and tense I was waterproof, fluid couldn't hydrate me properly as it couldn't get in anywhere. This was the reason I had to pee immediately after drinking water, the water had nowhere to go. He looked a bit pissed off when I laughed loudly and then said I had to stop this happening or become a dried up old crone. English wasn't his first language so I'll forgive him.

Today's complaint aside from my neck issue are one of those headaches that won't go away. They are getting more frequent and Ibruptofen won't touch it.

If you're getting your b12 checked also get your folic acid and vitamin d done at the same time. Everyone in the UK should be taking vitamin d daily anyway according to everything I've read recently.

@HeatedDryer It's good you are looking at options but your nurse is very much behind the times with regard to offering an anti depressant. In 2015 the Nice menopause guidelines clearly said that ADs have no place (their exact words) in the treatment of menopause in women who are not already diagnosed with depression.

There has been so much in the media about this for years since , and many meno experts consider it nothing short of a scandal that women are 'being drugged' with ADs when the correct treatment is estrogen. For women who cannot use hrt ( if they have had cancer or heart attacks) ADs can help with flushes but for other women they don't work and can actually make matters worse.

As PP said there is a lot about all of this on Dr Newson's website.

I've not tried mine yet but have you tried Spacemasks for insomnia. I keep reading they're really good.

Thank you for the info. It was the GP who suggested citalopram, my main symptom is anxiety and she said it was a good treatment for that. Other symptoms are occasional hot flushes, very emotional before period is due, sometimes trouble getting off to sleep/waking early, sometimes restless legs in the evening. But anxiety is the main problem and I have no reason to feel this way.
She didn't want to prescribe anything just now as I have had to switch pills, she said that I needed to introduce one new thing at a time. I feel unsure which route would be best for me.

Hi there, please can I join in. I have no physical symptoms apart from irregular periods for the past 4 months. I miss a month, come on, off a couple of days, then On again then Miss a month etc. I am 43 and not sure what's going on!

@HeatedDryer The advice is the same- anxiety in peri is treated with HRT not ADs. Read Dr Newson's website on this.

@HeatedDryer www.menopausedoctor.co.uk/menopause/s1e20-menopause-and-antidepressants-dr-louise-newson-and-kim-goulding

@JinglingHellsBells thank you I have now read it. Spookily accurate description of how I am feeling and what I have been experiencing.

I have a feeling GP will be reluctant to prescribe HRT

@HeatedDryer Unless your GP has a sound medical reason for denying it, she can't. The choice over menopause treatment is according to NICE a joint decision between a woman and her dr. You have to say you have read up about it, quote Dr Newson if necessary and the Nice guidelines and say it's your choice that you try it.

Dr Newson has actually written a template letter (on her site) with a lawyer to help women get HRT or whatever they need if their GPs are being difficult.

@JinglingHellsBells thank you that is so helpful. (Could you come with me to my next appointment please?)

I would if i could but have a virtual handhold anyway

This is me and I'm so glad I'm not alone. I'm 44 and always hot! In this weather, I'm going to bed in just a T-shirt and having to sleep with the windows open, I can walk down the road with a frost on the ground and be wanting to strip off!
I've been too nervous to google peri-menopause symptoms (no idea why, denial maybe) but just reading all your other stories, I can relate to so much more than the hot flushes. I've never suffered with anxiety before but at times I can drive myself mad.
Maybe I need to grow a pair and do a bit of reading.

@JinglingHellsBells thank you

👋 Hi I'm joining too. I'm 43. My symptoms are coming and going. Had anxiety, insomnia long light periods but those seemed to have gone at the moment since increasing the fat in my diet.
Now left with terrible memory which makes it difficult in work and conversations at home.
Anyone else find it affects their work life?

Oh yes the brain fog. Awful. And I seem to be so clumsy.

@sniffsneeze No - no hrt as yet - due an appt with my endocrinologist soon (pituary cyst which can affect hormone levels) so will ask his advice. The mini pill raised my prolactin levels so much it gave me breast discharge - so want to make sure I get the right stuff 😂

That makes sense @Kettle28 it'll be interesting to hear what they suggest.

@heateddryer It's really hard to stand up to a GP who is fixated on anti depressants rather than HRT. I've read other people have printed the NICE guidelines off and taken them to the GP at their next appt. I'm not saying that GP's are deliberately trying to give us the wrong meds. I'd rather believe it's just education and info filtering down. Dr Louise Newsom's website has tons of advice including approaching your Doctor.