Perimenopause and Young Dc

[Daphnesmate01]

So, for various reasons, some beyond my control I had my last two children later in life. 2 years after having my final dc, I seemed to have plunged head long into the peri (or at least symptoms seems to have increased). I don't take hrt, (I don't want to enter that debate) and have a pre-schooler and primary age dc plus one older child.
My younger dc are just being young children (sometimes I get used as a climbing frame etc.) and one is very energetic and enthusiastic about life.

Symptoms include long heavy periods (internal scans bloods performed, nothing of concern, loss of energy - take iron tablets for anaemia), foggy head, insomnia and increased mood swings.

Anyone else facing similar? Sometimes I feel really awful like I'm not actually there for my dc (emotionally) and have to work doubly hard to make sure I'm present, play with them etc. when quite often all I want to do is crawl into a corner somewhere. I remind myself I'm doing the best I can but parenting often feels so draining. We have no external support = zero. My dh is good with dc but works full-time and this is more about me than him.

@Hazelmazel the anaemia on top of peri must have been hellish I tend towards low iron levels since having my DTs and can really tell the difference if I don't take my iron tablets.

I hope your GP was able to help @Topsy44? I would love more energy to cope with my DC. They are finally back at school this week, maybe I'll be able to get back into eating properly/ exercise/ looking after myself then!

I took HRT (patches) and had massively long periods which resulted in me becoming extremely anaemic (obviously a bad reaction). I am considering using the gel now but reticent in light of the above.

So much has become overwhelming. I am not sure if it is the peri-menopause but I am taking a look at my relationships with others and feeling negative about them. I suspect a good friend told a fib recently (only minor in the great scheme of things). Some things have come to light about my dh (about whom, I have always waxed lyrical) only to find he isn't as shiny and wonderful as I first thought (again, not terrible but he was deceitful), we have been married for a number of years. My teenager is being, well a teenager and my primary school dc is pushing the boundaries (I keep getting spoken to by the teacher about his behaviour). I don't have much of a social life (working on it), no extended family but I do have a hobby which I really enjoy. Life isn't all blah and from the outside would look great but it is a bit empty without close relationships. I'm doing loads of work on looking after myself and this is a revelation, I'm also waiting for some psychotherapy - I feel I need to pour everything I am holding inside, out somewhere, I think that in itself would be a relief. Don't know if this is a 'midlife' thing or whether I am examining things in a different way, it is so easy to put everything down to the peri. Snappy, impatient and overwhelmed on the run up to another unnecessary period.