Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Menopause

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

I think I'm in peri. It's hell. What are my options?

160 replies

WhereAreWeNow · 15/10/2020 11:36

I'm 44. I've always had bad (heavy and painful periods) and my PMS has been getting worse over a number of years but it's now just totally out of control.
I'm exhausted, achey, and I have terrible insomnia for 2 weeks before my period,.
I'm so irritable, tearful and angry for a good two weeks before my period - I veer between depressed and raging. I'm horrible to be around.
My periods are still regular but increasingly heavy and painful.
I can't concentrate and I have the worst memory.
I've also had a lot of joint pain. I had been worried that I have osteoarthritis but I'm now wondering if it's another symptom of perimenopause.

So the first question is, does this sound like perimenopause?
Second question is what can I do about it?

I've got a GP appointment (phone) on Friday. What should I be asking for? I'm scared of HRT because of cancer risk.

TIA

OP posts:
Aurea · 16/10/2020 16:47

Try taking a magnesium supplement which helps alleviate symptoms of peri/menopause.

www.healthline.com/nutrition/magnesium-for-menopause#other-benefits

Fannybawz · 16/10/2020 16:52

[quote JinglingHellsBells]@WouldBeGood That's the weirdest thing I've read here! Prozac is addictive and cannot understand why a dr would offer that rather than hormonal treatment. Not your fault but very odd prescribing.[/quote]
What are you on about? “Prozac is addictive?” 🙄

I was prescribed it for two weeks before
My period and it completely works

TheBlueStocking · 16/10/2020 17:13

Prozac can cause discontinuation syndrome.

TheBlueStocking · 16/10/2020 17:14

It's different for different people. But some people can find they feel awful both after taking it and after stopping taking it.

Paddingtonthebear · 16/10/2020 17:24

Hmm I am wondering if this is happening to me, I’m 44. I was on depo provera for years but not currently as it ran out in May during lockdown and I haven’t been offered another appointment yet. I’ve had regular periods since coming off depo in May. Also loads of headaches and joint ache but I have disc problems in my neck and back so hard to know if related and the headaches could be cervicogenic.

I have never been able to go on the pill due to blood clot history in my family. What might they suggest?

JinglingHellsBells · 16/10/2020 18:49

@Paddingtonthebear Read the website of Dr Louise newton or listen to the podcast linked to a few posts down here.

HRT is NOT the Pill- there are huge differences and you can probably use HRT.

HRT is a different chemical formula(it's the same as your own estrogen) and doesn't cause clots if you use gel or patches.

Eloisedublin123 · 16/10/2020 21:21

See the advice on using gels and patches rather than the old “one tablet by mouth” hrt. Is there a progesterone tablet, get or patch that you can take (I know there’s one for oestrogen) that’s less heavy hitting that the old fashioned aforementioned “one tablet by mouth” please?

bythehairsonmychinichinchin · 16/10/2020 21:59

This video is very informative
www.facebook.com/1813454045540962/posts/2751618768391147/?extid=0&d=n

Also this one for those of you who have had cancer

www.facebook.com/1813454045540962/posts/2767684820117875/?extid=0&d=n

Menopause support fb page
www.facebook.com/supportformenopause/

bythehairsonmychinichinchin · 16/10/2020 22:01

Menopause Support is a patient expert led not for profit organisation founded by therapist, consultant and menopause expert with nurse training in menopause Diane Danzebrink

menopausesupport.co.uk/?page_id=2651

WokesFromHome · 17/10/2020 16:50

I found the Menopause Matters website a godsend when I wanted to jump off the periM cliff.

Elieza · 17/10/2020 16:55

I pay for private acupuncture. It has regulated my periods, made them lighter, shorter and more bearable. It’s helped me with other things too. At £50 a session it’s not affordable for all but it suits me as I don’t want to use hormone replacement if any sort and this way I don’t have to.

AmICrazyorWhat2 · 17/10/2020 17:01

@Elieza. I’ve heard good things about acupuncture but know little about it- I know someone who swears by it for back pain. How does it regulate periods? I’m having both back pain and difficult periods!

Elieza · 17/10/2020 18:38

@AmICrazyorWhat2
They can start and stop your periods and balance your hormones so you don’t have pain, high blood loss, feeling faint, periods dragging on when it’s like brown smears for days either at the start or finish etc.

I had my first appointment and she did her thing and I was to let her know when my period started and she said for my age etc it should run about three or four days only.

I phoned her on day three as requested to give her an update on what was coming out ( eg clots, red or brown, light heavy or whatever, leave your dignity at the door) and she said to come in the following day so she could stop it. I did so and got more needles and it stopped.

Same thing the following month, two treatments, before and after period. Repeated next month.

So a series of six sessions and that held me on course with regular, light, short periods for about six months I think.

I wish I had known as I’d have gone as a teen and balanced my hormones out with her needles as I was off school with period problems and ended up on the pill at a young age.

Anyway it’s £50 a session here and worth every penny to not have swollen boobs and big belly with water retention, the period problems I mentioned, and then periods coming fortnightly exhausting me.

It’s not cheap but it worked out at £50 a month average (6 sessions in 3 months benefitting for six months total).

After six months I needed treated for it again and so far that’s been fine. It was just a further two sessions about three months ago and I’m doing ok still.

She also treats me for other things and it’s amazing. Things my gp can’t fix are fixed with needles. Apparently it’s about to go in the NICE guidelines but I don’t know what conditions for. I’d not go to a gp for sessions even if mine offered as an actual acupuncturist will have years more experience than a gp only doing it now and again.

paintmywholehousepink · 18/10/2020 17:31

Wow @zafferana i would LOVE to sleep well again, have no joint aches and pains, PMS - gone, anxiety - gone, red-mist-type rage - gone, libido - returned, hair - thicker.... how old were you when you started taking it? What were the initial side effects? How long did they last?

zafferana · 18/10/2020 18:03

I'm 46, started taking it last December. No side effects whatsoever. Aches and pains were gone literally 48 hours later - I couldn't believe it - after years of getting out of bed every morning for the last few years feeling like a crone until I'd hobbled to the bathroom and loosened up a bit. Most things improved within a month - the only thing that took longer was my hair - which still isn't exactly lustrous and silky - but it's better than it was!

zafferana · 18/10/2020 18:03

That was for @paintmywholehousepink

paintmywholehousepink · 18/10/2020 18:46

Thanks @zafferana
Do you use the gel? How is it administered? I don't know much about it yet but your symptoms sound like mine. What is your prescription for? Are there different types of hrt?

zafferana · 18/10/2020 19:03

Yes, I have a Mirena coil and I'm on Oestrogel.

zafferana · 18/10/2020 19:06

It's in a pump bottle. You use 1-2 pumps her day and rub it into either your arms or legs - it's up to you which.

Yes there are other kinds of HRT. I really recommend you take a look at Menopause Doctor and Menopause Matters websites to educate yourself about the different types, the risks, etc. I found I got a receptive doctor when I went in and said 'I've done a lot of research and I want to be put on HRT'. You need to go in with ammunition!

Newgirls · 18/10/2020 19:52

I think acupuncture can be very beneficial for periods and pmt - even a foot massage can help with those. I’m not sure it will be able to counter low oestrogen and bone/health issues long term?

Stokey · 18/10/2020 19:58

This thread is super informative, thank you all. I have a Dr appointment next week to talk about suspected peri-menopause. I've had the Mirena coil in for 3.5 years but still bleed every month just not heavily. But I'm really tired, wake up between 4 & 5 and can't get back to sleep and have a few hot flushes, and achy. Also get horrible headaches round my period.

Is there a blood test they do to confirm you are peri? Or do they just go on your symptoms? I'm 46 so pretty sure I am, but was also diagnosed with a chronic condition earlier this year so that could be making the fatigue worse.

WhereAreWeNow · 18/10/2020 20:34

From what I've read, I think in general they don't do a blood test @Stokey. If you're over 45 and have symptoms, they take it as read that you're peri. They might do a blood test if you've got another complicating factor like a chronic condition though.

OP posts:
64sNewName · 18/10/2020 20:41

I have thought I’m peri for ages (am 46) but had my head in the sand about seeking help. I think I’m just afraid of being brushed off. Do these symptoms sound like a GP would take it seriously?

Difficulty staying focused
Joint and back pain
Periods less regular
Weight gain
Fatigue
Reduced libido (still enjoy sex, just don’t find myself thinking about it/initiating it as much)

😕

CoffeeChouxBun · 19/10/2020 07:34

@Stokey - my doctor asked me to come in for a blood test next week. As I mentioned upthread, I'm 53 and reluctant to come off the minipill due to super painful periods throughout my life. But I don't know if my periods have actually stopped or not as there are no symptoms on the minipill.... So she said to come in and have a blood test which would say if I was still ovulating or not.

Oblomov20 · 19/10/2020 07:40

All these posts make me angry. I've been failed by begging for help for the last 2 years and getting nowhere.

The last poster shouldn't even be being asked for a blood test because these now aren't required!

Please educate yourself and demand what you want from these ignorant incompetent GP's. AngryAngryAngry