Peri menopause/menopause support

[Secretsquirrelsbuddy]

Hi everyone. I am in peri menopause. Whole range of wacky things going on with my body. But the hardest part for me is the anxiety, I am at times horrible with it. Thought it might be good to have a place to let off steam, share our symptoms and support each other.

Thanks for starting this thread.

After a couple of years of heavier and more frequent periods, this has been my first horrendous month and I've felt like I was going to bleed to death! My gp has prescribed something which I now assume will be tranexamic acid. I hope it works as I can't cope with another month like this.
Also suffering from increased anxiety and sleepless nights

Hi sorry for not replying sooner. My anxiety has beeen off the scale last couple of days. I used to be one of the least anxious people. I literally wake up in morning after sweating and tossing and turning and look for something to be anxious about.

I had horrendous periods for a while last year they have settled again though. I hope that happens for you. When I stood up I could literally feel it pour out and I was flooding daily. I hope the stuff from the doctors works as it’s so exhausting

Anxiety and insomnia are very common during this time. I suffered terribly with both. I can't take hrt but my lovely doctor prescribed me Amitriptyline and it has solved both the anxiety of which I've had none since, although i wake up around 2-3am it is much easier to get back to sleep now, whereas before i was lying awake until the morning.
Changing my diet to lower carb has helped the hot flushes dramatically, i still have 3/4 but they're mild and happen around the same times daily.
There's lot's of support and various advice available on this board so you're in the right place .

Oh, i gave up any 'added' sugars, and also totally gave up caffeine in drinks.

I have just started low carb as I heard that helps. Glad @AngusThermopyle you got your anxiety under control it really is the pits.

I was prescribed the same after a couple of glorious incidents of ‘flooding’ in public places

It worked!!!

Sorry that was for @20DigitCombination

I am anxious and insomniac for half the month too, with really really painful breasts as well. Plus my period is heavier (but shorter) and gets closer and closer together. I hate this so much but don’t feel confident in the kind of support I will get from a GP

I approached my go and was refused HRT until my periods become irregular. I asked for help with anxiety and was offered an online course.

Try these for the anxiety made a big difference for me along with hrt.

victoriahealth.com/magnolia-rhodiola-complex/

... and Maca and evening primrose oil with star flower oil.

Oh forgot these

victoriahealth.com/cherry-night/

That’s what I was worried would happen to me Secretsquirrelsbuddy. I don’t need CBT - I have had literally years of NHS therapy for anorexia and there is nothing I don’t know in that area
😀 I don’t need antidepressants either. I’m not depressed, I’m peri menopausal.

I am having a hormone blood test through medichecks next week. Not sure it will be much use though.

Thanks for the tips pulltheotheronewillyou. I will order some.

@Secretsquirrelsbuddy
@IheartJKR
Thanks for the replies.
Well, either the medication has worked or I have no blood left after a mammoth 18 day period which got worse with flooding towards the end. It is tranexamic acid btw. Having blood tests next week as I'm sure I'm anaemic. I'm so tired too.
Can I ask for a hormone test if I'm not offered one? I'm dreading my next period and have no idea when it might arrive after this one.

Sorry to hear about everyone else suffering. I'm really hoping we're all out the other side sooner rather than later.

@Secretsquirrelsbuddy

I approached my go and was refused HRT until my periods become irregular. I asked for help with anxiety and was offered an online course.

@Secretsquirrelsbuddy i hope you aren't going along with this as it's bollocks.

There are millions of women on HRT who have regular periods.

Spend a couple of hours reading the info on the website of Dr Louise Newson (My Menopause Dr) and go back to your GP and ask again for HRT.

If they refuse, see another GP.

@JinglingHellsBells thank you. I will have a read and determined to go in this time much more knowledgable. I have another appointment on Thursday

@Secretsquirrelsbuddy I can really empathise with the anxiety. I have been waking regularly over the last few weeks with a terrible feeling of anxiousness and almost dread, for no obvious reason. Have been having weird dreams as sleeping badly also and hot sweats. Am going to arrange a call with my GP this week hopefully.
To the pp with flooding and tranexamic acid - it worked for me when experiencing same, hope it's done the job for you.

Thanks wetwiped. Not sure when I'm supposed to stop taking the tranexamic acid though as the leaflet and google don't say! As soon as the period appears to end?
Did any of you go for further investigations or was it just assumed that the flooding was normal?
I also get the waking up at night with anxiety and dread , plus weird, bad dreams. I hadn't put that down to peri menopause before finding this board.

One other question. Have any if you had to take time off work? If so what did you put down on the sick form when you got back?

I did get fully investigated, hysteroscopy, lap clear thankfully. My period lasted around 4 weeks, small break of a few days then started again and only stopped with the TA. I can't remember how long I took it for but vaguely remember there was a time limit on how long you could take it for, I might be wrong there.

There are other hormonal options to stop flooding periods, I couldn't take any of them due to health history.
Did have time off work as ended up severely anaemic. Hope you get sorted soon - awful time. Be kind to yourself and rest up

Menorrhagia was the term used on sick form.

@20DigitCombination

Thanks for starting this thread.

After a couple of years of heavier and more frequent periods, this has been my first horrendous month and I've felt like I was going to bleed to death! My gp has prescribed something which I now assume will be tranexamic acid. I hope it works as I can't cope with another month like this.
Also suffering from increased anxiety and sleepless nights

I’m so relieved to have found this thread, I thought I was going mad having really heavy periods at 50! Mine seem have condensed into 3 days now as well. I’ve never had periods this heavy so it’s a bit of a shock. I think I need to speak to my GP as I can’t carry on like this.

The anxiety also makes sense, although I put it down to Covid/lockdown etc but I feel constantly on edge. I’ve been taking a CBD spray when the anxiety gets to much along with doing a bit of mindfulness and that seems to calm me down. I know CBD can be a bit of divisive, but it seems to work well for me.

It’s great to have this thread, thanks 😊

Thanks wetwiped I'll go with that if I can remember how to spell it!
MrsDeClarmont, I know what you mean.
I was expecting hot flushes and changes in my cycle but not the range of symptoms I've been getting. I was also putting the anxiety down to Covid. I've tried mindfulness, which works in the day but not in the middle of the night.

Hi glad to have found this thread... I am 38 but last month had 2 periods last month.

My periods have always been heavy as I have some fibroids but lately they have been very heavy to the extent of flooding heavy duty tampons and super pads in hours for the first 2 days and they abruptly thin out the next 2-3 days.

However, this month, I am late but been having all PMS symptoms and cramps. Everything I read has suggested peri menopause but I thought I am young to go through this?

I also started getting what I imagine hot flushes to be last year- not every time but at least every other month I will get this internal radiating heat and will throw open all windows even in winter and I sometimes wake up drenched in sweat.

I have a blood test booked on Friday and an internal pelvic scan booked in next 2 weeks. Anyone have any advice or should I accept it has started?