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

[WhereAreWeNow]

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

@WhereAreWeNow First off had to switch GPs to get HRT (same practice). First GP tried transanamix (sp) acid and the pill which made no difference to me. Then got prescribed some bog standard HRT - can't remember what it was called. That was awful - things got worse. So went back after a few months and was prescribed Qlaira.

That was great for a couple of years but I started getting well arsey during bits of the cycle so went on to Femeston which I've been on for a few years and its pretty much OK.

Other things that helped, reading up on peri symptoms and ticking them off - I wasn't going mad - it was peri menopause.

Also Agnus Castus - which GP recommended as a supplement - she said she didn't normally take stuff like that but it helped her. It seemed to help with the Rage.

Started a bit more exercise, eating better, trying to de stress. No idea if any of that helped but I think generally just not a bad idea.

Wool duvet for night sweats if they are a thing

Good luck, it does get better - honest.

Thank you @GiraffeNecked - So glad to hear it gets better!

@WhereAreWeNow not rtft but just to say, I have your experience almost exactly. I’m now 46. I’ve gone 2 months no period and have started getting a lot of hot flushes . But all those other symptoms have gone. It’s all happened overnight. Even my anxiety has almost disappeared.

Waiting for the next raft of symptoms of course, but the peri stuff seems to have ended!!

They will have to peel my hrt patch off my cold dead ass! That’s all I’m saying

Also I’ve started taking vitamins seriously and I think that has significantly helped my anxiety and exhaustion. I feel much better. I take well woman , eve primrose, vit d, and magnesium.

I’m now looking into a new exercise regime to help protect my bones, thinking about joining a gym and also taking up boxing

Thanks @tootyfruitypickle - I've been taking EPO and iron for a while now. I've just started taking magnesium, calcium, and Vit D. No noticeable difference apart from maybe slightly less achy joints.

@WhereAreWeNow can I ask if you've had any improvement in the achey joints? Honestly I can hardly move in the mornings...

Thank you to everyone for the suggestions on here, some great ideas. @GiraffeNecked my GP prescribed the same for heavy periods but like you, it didn't really help. Interested to hear that HRT may be the way forward!

@ClaraTheImpossibleGirl it's hard to say. I think my overall achiness may have improved a tiny bit but I still have very noisy, clicky joints which bother me a lot.

Thanks @WhereAreWeNow, I do take cod liver oil but maybe EPO is one to add to my list. I may try Co Q10 as well as I've read good things about it. Really anything is worth a try for me at the moment to improve my general tiredness and achiness!

Hi. I just wanted to give an update.

I asked the GP for Qlaira contraceptive pill (an option suggested by @JinglingHellsBells on this thread). She was a bit unsure at first because she had no experience of prescribing it (and it's pricier than other pills). To her credit, she went away and read up on it and then agreed to prescribe it.
I'm now half way through the 2nd month on it and it's been great.

Insomnia isn't cured (last night was a bad night) but it is much better.
I still get irritable with DP sometimes but he is quite irritating sometimes...

I'm definitely not feeling as out of control and filled with rage and anxiety as I was. I feel less brain foggy.

My period/withdrawal bleed was how I imagine periods are for lucky women with normal periods: 3 days of light flow and hardly any pain. After a lifetime of ever worsening flooding, cramps, painkillers, faintness and anaemia, this feels truly life changing for me.

The contraception is an added bonus.

I know there were a lot of women on this thread who were going through the same thing and weighing up options so I just wanted to share my experience in case it's helpful. Obviously the pill isn't for everyone and there are risks and potential side effects but for me it's been a good choice.