can anyone help me ?

[Elasticatedwaist]

I am nearly 45 and i think i may be in peri . I feel so crap , i just can't carry on like this .
Between August last year and February my periods went irregular and i had spotting at times . G.P did a blood test and referred me to Gynae cology . I still haven't had my appointment due to Covid and my periods are now fine again so probably don't need to go about that now..but..

I have terrible PMS , really bad ,have always had pms and anxiety but not like this ! i feel like i've gone totally nuts .
during my period i'm having night sweats and palpitations
i feel exhausted most of the time
my hair has gone really thin and wispy
ive suddenly got wrinkles overnight ( have always looked young for my age )
ive gained weight
migraines are worse
nails are brittle
just before a period my gums bleed ( dentist cant see any issues)
i worry constantly
I just don't feel right anymore .

The blood test came back fine and the g.p didnt seem to be considering peri . i think she just wanted to rule out anything sinister hence the referral .
what do i do ?

Any changes to your health needs to be checked out. I'd go back and say you need further tests. It may have nothing to do with menopause.

Have you had your thyroid checked?

The blood test came back fine and the g.p didnt seem to be considering peri . i think she just wanted to rule out anything sinister hence the referral .

Blood tests are not reliable for diagnosing peri.

What do you do?
well, everything you have listed is classic peri.

Read around on peri menopause- Dr Louise Newson has a good website- and go back to the dr. If you want to try HRT you will need to see a dr, if not, then you can try various herbs and so on, like Menopace, black cohosh, etc, but there is not a lot of evidence they work for all women.

I'm 47 and I have exactly the same symptoms as you! Exactly. I'm on HRT which isn't helping. I've tried two types so far.

Blood tests are useless for diagnosing peri. You have loads of classic symptoms, and that is what a diagnosis is based on. You need HRT, it is a lifesaver.

i.stuff.co.nz/life-style/well-good/teach-me/113666670/perimenopause-lead-up-to-menopause-very-uncomfortable-and-poorly-understood

@botherfreedays sorry to hear the hrt isn’t working for you .
I’ve been on a really low dose of citalopram for years for anxiety. I suspect the gp will suggest upping it but I don’t want to as I have tried that before and can’t tolerate it (or others) can hrt be taken aswell as that ?
Can periods still be regular in peri ?

@Elasticatedwaist You are having very poor and incorrect treatment from your GP. NICE (see guidance top of this page) stresses that ADs are NOT to be given as first step treatment for peri moods and anxiety and that the treatment is HRT.

It doesn't work, for a start.

Yes, you can periods in peri.

Yes, you can use HRT with any other meds- it's replacement so is identical to your own estrogen.

Maybe see a different GP but also spend a good few hours reading the website I mentioned to educate yourself for when you talk to a dr.

Your symptoms are exactly the same as mine. I have tolerated it for a year but now I am starting HRT. I had blood tests to rule out thyroid etc....... but my gp said the hormone tests look OK but that they are not reliable as the next day they could be through the floor and the next day normal again. Thats what peri does, its like a constant wave of up and down for some people. I am hoping HRT will start to normalise the ups and downs for me! Ask your gp receptionist if they have a menopause specialist gp, I got a very sympathetic gp that way.