Could I be in perimenopause?

[Thewholeshackshimmy]

Can you still have a regular cycle but experience many other peri symptoms?
I am 48 have a regular cycle but find that my cycle makes me feel just awful these days.
Nowadays, I feel crap about a week before my period (never had PMS in my younger years), mid cycle I feel so, so nauseous and have dreadful acid indigestion, gurgling guts and gas. Due to uterine polyps (which Ive read is due to low progesterone), when my period comes its so heavy which has made me low in iron. I am also getting aura migraines on my 2nd or 3rd day of period.
The GP’s I have seen say I can’t be peri as my periods are regular and I dont yet have regular hot flushes yet I have all other symptoms like very excessive anxiety, aching joints and muscles, sleepless nights, no libido, vaginal dryness, depression, anger, these awful digestive issues, fatigue, belly fat when I’m still eating exactly the same and slim else where etc. Most these symptoms seem cyclical. Yet the doctors (I‘ve seen 4 different ones) all insist that unless my periods are irregular, I have hot flashes and night sweats then its not peri.
Well if these things are not hormone related what the heck is going on with me?

Yes you could be. I was in peri-menopause with regular periods and no hot flushes. Took me two years from going to GP (I am 48 now too) to get HRT. I had a sore, dry vulva and the GP kept saying it can't be menopause as your periods are regular and no hot flushes, and sent me to gynae when the creams she prescribed didn't work.

The nurse who saw me in gynae said, ' As soon as I soon your notes I knew you needed HRT, no need to give you a blood test.'

I think the one hour lecture or leaflet or whatever ' training' medics get in menopause must just say,' 'symptoms are hot flushes and irregular periods' and they never update their information from there.

its a disgrace that just over half the UK population will go through menopause and GPs know so little about it.

@wednesdayweather

Yes you could be. I was in peri-menopause with regular periods and no hot flushes. Took me two years from going to GP (I am 48 now too) to get HRT. I had a sore, dry vulva and the GP kept saying it can't be menopause as your periods are regular and no hot flushes, and sent me to gynae when the creams she prescribed didn't work. The nurse who saw me in gynae said, ' As soon as I soon your notes I knew you needed HRT, no need to give you a blood test.'

I think the one hour lecture or leaflet or whatever ' training' medics get in menopause must just say,' 'symptoms are hot flushes and irregular periods' and they never update their information from there.

its a disgrace that just over half the UK population will go through menopause and GPs know so little about it.

I am getting so frustrated with it tbh. I can’t afford to go privately to the likes of Dr Newson who I imagine would say straight away that I’m in peri. The nearest I’ve got to a GP taking me seriously is one saying “that I’m probably ‘nearly’ there” would the heck that even means I don’t know!?

You have described my symptoms entirely op and I am peri

I have been speaking with my gp this week about hrt she wants a blood test and bp before she will prescribe

I have been using vagifem since June for vaginal dryness and have all of the other symptoms you have described especially the digestive stuff

Miserable

On waiting list for Newson clinic but long list and big 💰

OP, try going back saying you have been on a menopause board and other women with exactly the same symptons say they have been diagnosed as in peri. Say you want to start HRT. If they refuse say you want a blood test to assess if you are peri. I have found you get more success with GPs if you can state what you want and are prepared to vigorously argue for that. Good luck. Tbh, I just see the poor menopause knowledge/ support from GPs as a symptom of deep rooted cultural misogyny. We just aren't important enough to prioritise.

Im 43 & have a lot of the symptoms you have described plus hot flushes and night sweats.

My GP says its a waste of time doing bloods if cycle is regular. I went on low dose pill to regulate my heavy periods that were coming every 18 - 21 days.

Im trying to watch diet, exercise, take supplements etc to try and keep symptoms to a minimum.

@Mrsbclinton

Im 43 & have a lot of the symptoms you have described plus hot flushes and night sweats.

My GP says its a waste of time doing bloods if cycle is regular. I went on low dose pill to regulate my heavy periods that were coming every 18 - 21 days.

Im trying to watch diet, exercise, take supplements etc to try and keep symptoms to a minimum.

Can I ask which supplements are you taking? I need to re-evaluate my diet and supplements.

Does HRT make belly fat go away?

@Thewholeshackshimmy Im taking menopace in red box. Its a multivitamin & has some other herbs to help with symptoms.

Im also taking fish oils for my joints/ hair/ skin

Most GPs are crap when it comes to women’s health.

I went for acupuncture privately. Sorted out all my symptoms, reduced flow, made me less anxious, sleep better etc.

If you can afford it I’d recommend it. £60 up my way. Changed my life without hormones pills or potions.

Mrsbclinton I have looked at those. Think I need to try them
Elieza I had booked acupuncture then Covid hit. I should rebook. I had my reservations as I wasn’t sure if it would help but I should give it a try.

Hello. My understanding of perimenopause is that it's exactly what happens in the years before your periods start jumping about. I'm 50 with regular periods and definitely consider myself perimenopausal as I have a lovely collection of symptoms.

@wednesdayweather has it absolutely right when she says "I think the one hour lecture or leaflet or whatever ' training' medics get in menopause must just say,' 'symptoms are hot flushes and irregular periods' and they never update their information from there."

It's like the one thing I knew about pregnancy was that you were sick in the mornings, and I never was once across four pregnancies!

That would be an intersting thread, "What did you know (or believe thqt you "knew") about pregnancy" before you decided to read a pregnancy book or fell pregnant yourself.

My list is a lot longer than "morning sickness". Could take me a while to think it thru.

Thanks for this thread : nearly all the ones I see are all about menopause and assume knowledge.

All my symptoms during periods are exactly like yours. I had covid recently combined with this awful period nausea. Not fun. Also no idea now whether night sweats are because of covid or hormones!

Am just starting GP road. But I feel so clueless.

Sitting here today feeling sorry for myself with the bleeding still on Day 6 and the gastro pain you describe.

I’m so glad I found this thread. Thought I was going mad it was being a hypochondriac. I’ve been experiencing periods every three weeks, and mid cycle I get the most awful day or two of low mood and crushing stress… coupled with that “gurgling guts” described here and upset stomachs/food issues.
Anyone had any luck with something other than HRT?

Change of diet really has helped.

More fruit and veg

Very little bread

Good quality protein

Lots of water

Only 2 coffees per day

After a couple of weeks did not miss the bread

Lots over one stone too

Seen GP waiting for bloods- delay due to lack of glass vials

As contemplating hrt

My symptoms started with heavy periods

Vaginal dryness

Then Hair loss

Then Rage

Dietary problems (2-3 yrs) has been most recent since then I have changed diet

Bloody miserable which is why I spoke with GP

I have very disordered eating and 20 minutes breaks at work. I love bread and it's basically (fairly legendarily) all I eat. Waaahhh.

I know we should all try to be healthy but life seems so unfair when easing (not even solving) issues requires you to cut out on what are innocent pleasures. . I am terrible with water and fruit and veg (eating full stop tbh is bad)but will try.

I can barely drink alcohol now, and I haven't drank anything like heavily for years.

Has everyone got supportive DPs or has anyone else got a slightly old school 'it's al in your mind/get over it' type...? DH thinks off everything as a physical illness that can ,and should, be resolved by a quick trip to the GP. And quickly.

@LowlyTheWorm
I’ve been going to acupuncture for many years and she really helped with a lot of my peri symptoms when I reached that age.

She regulated my periods when they were all the time, lightened them, shortened them and stopped the water retention prior.

She helped my brain fog, calmed me down and improved my sleep.

The things that haven’t been fully resolved are joint pain, some hair loss, and some gut issues. I still get brain fog to some extent too. But less, and everything else is so very much better it’s changed my life.

Acupuncture has a good track record with female reproductive systems. It’s been proven and isn’t woo. Most needles you don’t even feel.

It’s just people are scared of taking a leap of faith in case it doesn’t work or the cost (£50-£60 a session in my area) isn’t affordable for some.

It’s on the nhs for some things like varicose veins, but I don’t think peri is one of them. Anyway you’re better visiting a private therapist that does it day in day out, rather than a gp who did a short training course and isn’t as good.

I’d definitely recommend it. I’d also suggest though that like everyone, whether it’s a joiner, hairdresser, physio or acupuncturist you get good ones and ones that arent quite as good. That’s life. I’ve been to two. The first was ok but the second was fantastic. So if you go give it a few sessions and if you’re not seeing the results you want try a different one.

Thank you @Eliezai I happen to have a really good acupuncture clinic nearby that treated my friend for severe hyperemesis in pregnancy so I will
Email them.
Also going to give my eating and diet a bit if an overhaul… maybe looking at the fodmap
Stuff as it might be like IBS being triggered by hormone shifts.

This thread is very interesting. I didn’t know digestive issues were a symptom of perimenopause.