Are these Peri menopause symptoms ?

[PennyPeach]

For some reason, I'm loathe to put anything in suffering with down to the menopause! I suppose I worry that I've got something wrong with me and by 'dismissing' it as menopause, I wouldn't be taken seriously at the doctors.

I'm 48 and periods have always been light and short and pain free ish for the past 35 years - until this year. They're still regular but they're definitely heavier now and have been for about 8 months now with some flooding - I've never had this before.

I ache quite a lot. Back ache comes and goes, I'm a bit stiff and sciatic type pains in and off down my legs. I'm tired too - I'd be quite happy to lie on the sofa most of the day - and frequently do to be honest - I'm self employed and can work from an iPad no problem! I sometimes have disturbed sleep and I feel really unwell if I have less than about 7 hours a night! No hot flushes but I always feel too hot despite always being a cold person

I've had blood tests - normal. My vitamin D was very low and I was slightly anaemic but I've supplemented and recent blood tests show my Vit D levels now normal. I also had a pelvic scan 3 months ago - all fine

I'm overweight by about 3.5 stone. I lost both my parents this year so have had two lots of probate to deal with along with selling their home and also moved house myself - so am I just stressed?

I just feel lacking in motivation, stuff and in pain and I can't be bothered to exercise or diet - but plans in place for New Year!

I'm considering for the first time whether this is peri menopause. Is 48 too early ? I know the average age is 51.

I'm also thinking about HRT if I feel much worse - and I always said I would never take it

Any advice? Thanks

I have the Fast800 books so familiar with the way of eating and it does suit me - I've lost the same 10lbs on this diet about 6 times so far! I have made too many excuses really this past year

I think you're right though and it might be an idea to get a couple of stone off and see how that feels before considering HRT. At least that way I would know what's weight related and what isn't

Thanks so much everyone for the comments. I've been feeling really low about it all these past few weeks especially

OP, you said you were anaemic. That would make you exhausted and cry. Even mild anaemia can do that. If you're having heavier periods, you would be losing more iron.

Penny I can really recommend Dr Louise Newsom for getting informed about peri and menopause. Brilliant website, also podcast, also a book www.menopausedoctor.co.uk Symptoms can start around age 45 when oestrogen levels start dropping. Every single cell in your body has oestrogen receptors !! So it makes sense that with less oestrogen there may be many and varied symptoms to experience ! And we're all different. I always thought i wouldn't have HRT too but it turned out I actually knew sweet FA about peri/menopause, and in fact HRT has been ace. Had to go back to GP though as at first - like the majority of women sadly - and directly contradicting NICE guidelines - I was prescribed anti depressants. When what I needed was oestrogen ! You wouldn't deny a diabetic insulin - which is a hormone replacement therapy - so we shouldn't deny ourselves / or be denied oestrogen Breast cancer risks overstated, whereas - copied from "My menopause dr" website - . "Numerous good quality studies have shown that women who take HRT have a lower future risk of heart disease, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, type 2 diabetes, depression, bowel cancer and dementia. All these diseases increase in women who have gone through the menopause and have low hormone levels in their bodies. Women are seven times more likely to die from heart disease than from breast cancer." Good luck with your research and making the best decisions for you

@Ridiculousanx yes I had a blood test come back and I was slightly anaemic. I've been taking 14mg of iron every day since but not sure yet if it's made a difference. My NHS blood results come back all totally normal for iron - ones I had done privately - via Thriva - aren't as normal. Some aspects of my iron count were fine but one was not right and showed a deficiency. My doctor has banned me from having private blood tests as they have no clinical significance when taken out of context so I'll probably not have any more done privately

@soberish that's really helpful and that website is what I'm looking for. Up to date advice and plenty to read through. What sort of HRT do you take? Can you choose or are you just given what the dr feels is best?

Hi Penny, oh good hope it's helpful for you Dr Newsom also explains the different kinds of hrt and pros and cons. There is differentiation deepending on where you're at re peri / menopause - I still have periods so have oestrogen and progestogen - I use patches. Unfortunately there are shortages nationwide but I did a bulk order a few months ago from an online pharmacy (having previously had prescription from GP). At that time, although many kinds of patches were in short supply, there was much less problem with the gel, so that's what I'll try next if there's no patches to be had ! The only other differentiation the GP told me about was that oestrogen in tablet form has a [slightly ?] higher risk of blood clots forming - with patches or gel there is no risk at all of blood clots. HTH

@soberish very helpful, thank you.

I think my plan is to lose some weight and see if that helps my symptoms. And I'm going to make a dr appointment too. I'm cross with myself for stacking on this bloody weight but fingers crossed it'll come off. Err just as soon as I stop eating rubbish non stop

Interesting about the gels/patches too. I think I'd prefer the gel actually

@Pennypeach There is a drive to get all women to use patches or gel as these avoid blood clots forming . Not sure of your BMI but very overweight women tend to be given patches or gel (not tablets.)

Oh my BMI is quite horrific really. Probably about 32. So way over what I should be.

As much as it can be peri menopause, it is also likely to be down to obesity, removing the weight will likely improve many of your issues.

I do love you @Bluntness100

Yes yes I hear ya. I know it. I must reduce my weight and I will. I'm so bored of being overweight and can't risk it getting worse

Sorry I was blunt ☺️

It's true though, you'll find a lot of the stiffness etc will ease with getting back to a healthy weight, exercise also helps with mental health.

As much as the period changes are likely down to peri, try not to blame the other things on it, because then it becomes something that's happening to you and you can't change.💐

Yeah I know. I've hopped on the peloton again today and pedalled through the weird stiffness and pain thing. Sprayed myself in magnesium oil last night which actually helped. Oh and I've done two hours of full on housework. Also made a concerted effort to eat better these past few days - no eating loads of chocolate or cake! Made a huge quinoa salad so been having that

And surprise surprise, I feel ever so slightly better at the moment