Am I ill or is this peri?

[peppermintteadrinker]

I've had peri symptoms for a while like anxiety, irregular periods, change in pmt symptoms getting worse and at diff times. I had fsh tests twice and though unreliable one test would indicate I am peri. I'm almost 46.

Anyway, I've had tests for low iron for a couple of years on and off. I catch every bug going usually and am frequently exhausted. I'm taking vitamins and iron all the time.

A month ago I came down with something. Felt hungover but it didn't go away. Spent a week in bed.. Very slowly got better but felt back to square 1 yesterday. I ache, head thumps, feel shivery but sort of inside. My temperature is on the low side. I'm weepy but feeling v down because I'm not well and everything is crap just now.

I have wondered if I have coronavirus but not the usual symptoms as some report this sort of thing but also started to wonder if it's menopause? I'm a week late for period. Last month came on twice. So I'm all over the place.

I remember my friend saying she felt achey and old before going on hrt.

Any chance I'm not actually ill and this is menopause? God it sucks.

Sounds like both- remains of Covid and peri. Periods going awry is the first sign and you have that.

Is it worth having a Covid test now? Might be too late but on the other hand if you are shivery that is a sign of a temp.

I'd maybe go to a drive-in test centre and get that checked out first.

I've looked at the covid tests. They all say if it's been more than 5 days then don't bother. I didn't have high temperature or cough or loss smell etc at any point or J would have tested then. Maybe I should ring gp but I just feel they won't have answers and aren't very interested anymore. She offered me antidepressants or the coil previously.

I'd keep a track of your periods on an app or something anyway - def useful to look back at patterns. There are so many peri symptoms which are random and weird but yours sounds a bit drawn out - has it been the same for awhile?

Oh yeah.. I have done an app for over a year now. I've no doubt I am in peri.. It's just this last month of feeling actually ill. Started to wonder if I am ill or if this is just how it is? And maybe I need hrt. But I'm nervous of synthetic hormones cos they push my BP up and I'm already on meds. And don't want to throw a hormone bomb in the mix if maybe I have just got a virus that won't go away.

Just wondering if others had physical symptoms like this with peri I suppose. Feeling bit sorry for myself and musing about answers.

I believe the HRT gel has the least side affects. Could this be an option? HRT changed my life for the better. I feel awful without my hormones. Could you try a month on them to see? It only took 7 days for me to feel benefits.

Hope you feel better soon.

You'll find loads of info on the website of Dr Louise Newson. (meno GP)

Worth reading.

HRT is not synthetic- most of it, anyway. 99% of estrogen now is made from yams, and micronised progesterone is made from yams. (you need both hormones if you have a womb.)

@wantmorenow It's transdermal estrogen that is safer and that only applies to blood clots. Transdermal= through the skin= either patches or gel.

OP don't accept antidepressants- HRT is the first line of treatment for peri / anxiety/ depression (all in the Nice guidance, top of this page.)

What you've had for the past month sounds like a virus to me OP. Feeling tired is a symptom of peri - definitely - but the other things just sound like post-viral syndrome and should get better with time. Could be Covid, or something else. I've certainly had viruses in the past that make me feel like you describe.

If you want to take something for your peri symptoms, I can wholeheartedly recommend Oestrogel. I started it in December after several years of gradually worsening peri symptoms and I feel fucking great now. Aches and pains - gone. Anxiety (even during a global pandemic!) - gone. Mood swings and red mist type anger/road rage - gone. Hair looking thicker and less limp. Libido back to normal. I feel years younger!

I am 49, had "possibly covid" mid March and my stand out symptoms were jittery feeling, anxiety, insomnia, and dizzy spells. I also started off feeling hungover. It did develop into sore throat, inhaled powder feeling, and mild cough.

Everyone I have spoken to irl put the jitteriness down to Peri (my periods had been rather irregular the previous 4-5 months) but I have recently seen an article that stated that neurological state changes are not uncommon esp in "younger" (as in, less than 60) women. The study is on hospitalised and seriously unwell people and the changed states are more significant - sudden dementia like symptoms, sudden psychosis symptoms - but I wonder if a "watered down" level of illness might produce a "watered down" level of changed mood state. Disclaimer - not a scientist.

www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(20)30287-X/fulltext

You should get your thyroid function checked. It can affect all sorts, including mood, energy, temperature, as well as all sorts of other lovely symptoms like hair thinning, dry skin, constipation etc which can all be palmed off as meno or general “poor diet” or “get some exercise” stuff but are actually quite debilitating.

It hit my mum around the time of her first menopause symptoms (in fact they may not have been meno symptoms, but she was told they were for years until she pushed for a thyroid test). I’ve been unfortunate enough to have it since my first DC was born, but hormonal upheaval can be a trigger either way.

If you have any autoimmune disease in your family or if you suffered with glandular fever in your teens etc you may be more at risk. That was exactly how it felt to me - the aches and exhaustion of glandular fever.

Worth pressing for a test if you haven’t already had one anyway, as it’s a simple quick blood test and simple fix with one tablet a day.

Thanks for replies. I'm sure thyroid has been checked a few times but I think I'm going to ask for a copy of my results actually.

It could be a mix I suppose of a post viral thing and the sodding menopause. I'm just exhausted and dizzy today but also back to churning tummy and feeling a bit nauseous but that almost feels familiar so wonder if period might happen soonish. It's longest spell without one for over a year.

@MarkRuffaloCrumble

You should get your thyroid function checked. It can affect all sorts, including mood, energy, temperature, as well as all sorts of other lovely symptoms like hair thinning, dry skin, constipation etc which can all be palmed off as meno or general “poor diet” or “get some exercise” stuff but are actually quite debilitating.

It hit my mum around the time of her first menopause symptoms (in fact they may not have been meno symptoms, but she was told they were for years until she pushed for a thyroid test). I’ve been unfortunate enough to have it since my first DC was born, but hormonal upheaval can be a trigger either way.

If you have any autoimmune disease in your family or if you suffered with glandular fever in your teens etc you may be more at risk. That was exactly how it felt to me - the aches and exhaustion of glandular fever.

Worth pressing for a test if you haven’t already had one anyway, as it’s a simple quick blood test and simple fix with one tablet a day.

thanks for this post

Hello peppermintteadrinker - not here with advice (sorry) but more solidarity.

I've had some weird symptoms on and off for years now, but I'm going through a really bad patch of them now. When the attack first comes on there are some huge waves of dizzy / lightheadedness, also nausea, then my tum just creaks and groans and bubbles.

Then it seems to settle down into an exhausted, foggy feeling but with some bouts of feeling weak and like I'm going to faint and just all round dreadful. My temp keeps fluctuating and going down very low (so low that I've ordered a new thermometer as I don't trust mine).

I was on the phone to the drs on Friday and they didn't even suggest menopause (they thought maybe Meniere's disease or a pinched nerve in my neck). But that was before I discovered the low temperature. I have another phone appointment tomorrow. It has occurred to me that maybe it's peri menopause rather than anything else, though not sure if that would make me feel soooo utterly terrible plus have the low temps.

I'm also hoping they'll check my thyroid, I think I had it checked years ago but then the symptoms come and go so maybe it was ok the day of my test.

@LimeLemonOrange sorry you're struggling too. Does sound similar. I have thought thyroid a few times but it has been checked. I think I am going to ask to my test results from March though.

I'll have to Google menieres.. Not familiar with that but I do hope they get to bottom of it for you. I'm bit better today. I think it's likely a virus in my case but I do wonder if peri confuses things. Could be half virus half peri!

Anyway I'm now on b12 patches, vit d gummies, eve primrose, wild yam, iron spray, magnesium... Hahaha... I'm such an old Croc! If any of it works I won't know which one!

@bestbefore I feel like a stuck record as I’m always advising people to get their thyroid tested . But I was left dealing with it, exhausted and in debilitating pain, for months (and I was lucky - many people suffer for years ) so if I can prevent one person having to go through that I’m going to keep pushing it! It’s such an misunderstood thing - people (doctors included) seem to imagine it’s just an excuse for being overweight, but it affects so much more.

I'd be careful about trying to make symptoms 'fit' with menopause. It's something women tend to do rather than 'bother the doctor' and it carries a risk of something being missed. I'd assume other things rather than peri menopause causing this.

Have you heard about 'Long Covid'?
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/what-is-long-covid-and-how-many-people-are-suffering_uk_5efb3487c5b612083c52d91d?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvLnVrLw&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAM1GixLZYX2_mKCSSHFX4mYBkfrie3CzJiU-yciSWPDN4_L_m1uoV3psxRD4hkAv3H0DeL1ZFX4W7eTU8nq86BIJB3VypfEtOqWkw5bmA5la70rteWmvTKTro4HdBS7wxk_X2bf7ruixaAYcA0rcP6MZDW8eJZEcBHLZLrcytFuE

There was an item about it on Radio 5 Live Breakfast this morning - should be available on iplayer.

Also, get your Vit D checked - I had all sorts of horrendous symptoms due to very low levels