Perimenopause??

[Hemlock2013]

I feel like I’m going mad. Cycles have gone shorter and now longer over the last two years. Mood swings in abundance. And this week, I’m sweating constantly and have terrible b.o in the mornings which is totally new for me.

I’ve spoken to the dr twice about perimenopause, because I’m 39 and my hormone blood test results came back normal he’s not wanting to put me on hrt until I have a solid meno symptom like hot flush or night sweats. Whilst I seem to be hotter and sweatier at night, I’m not in the category of waking up like I’ve been dipped in a bath.

So I guess my query is, am I going mad? Is there another underlying issue I’m not considering or is this normal perimenopause bollocks?

Tia

My understanding is the hot flushes and night sweats often come later in peri. FSH tests not massively reliable. I've been prescribed HRT without these through a specialist Bupa phone consultation which I paid for. Well worth it. Need to go back to my GP now to continue on the NHS. I'm 42 and been peri for at least 2 years now I reckon.

Blood tests are not used to diagnose peri, symptoms are, and you definitely have several. I predict more will pop up in the months to come. Go privately to a menopause clinic if you can.

If your hormone levels are normal has he tested for anything else? Also is anything else going on in your life Ie stress, anxiety?

Some peoooe will quickly jump and diagnose you on th Internet, sadly, with no medical qualifications, shouting it’s peri, when it could be a number of other things, inc stress and anxiety.

When I first went to the GP at 40 thinking it was peri, one of my main symptoms was anxiety (previously no MH issues at all). He said I was too young, it was 'just anxiety' and prescribed me antidepressants. I wasn't too young as I've had surgery on both ovaries which leads to early menopause. Don't think he realised that.

3 years later I'm certain it was the start of peri and the drugs were the worst possible thing he could have given me (bad reaction).

Personally, and having talked to friends, if you've previously been mentally well but become anxious coupled with changes in periods and other symptoms it's more likely to be peri than independently arising 'stress' or 'anxiety'.

It's been people 'shouting it's peri' on the internet that have helped me and friends much more than frequently dismissive medical professionals.

@Hemlock2013 Read the info on the website of Dr Louise Newson.
It's got some great fact sheets, videos and podcasts with menopause experts. Google also Nick Panay and Diane Danzebrink, for his interviews on Youtube (he runs the meno clinic at a London hospital and is a key meno /HRT researcher .)

He is also interviewed by Liz Earle on her Wellbeing website - a very good 1hr long interview on meno and HRT. (I've linked to it here a few times so it may come up in a search.)

He says that the first signs of peri are irregular periods.
Things like flushes etc often come only after a final period.

Blood tests are needed in women under 45, not so much to diagnose peri, but to rule out anything else.

I'm on hrt and assumed perimenopausal and I've never had a hot flush or night sweats, ever. Not all women have them. Keep badgering.

Morning, thanks so much for all the replies.

The blood tests the dr did were to rule out anything as well as check hormone levels, so kidney and liver function, thyroid, the ovarian cancer check etc. All normal so I believe he did his due diligence. I think because of nice guideline his hands are tied. He said unless hormone levels were really conclusive, in someone my age he can’t go down the hrt route. He has written to a gynae though to ask advice and he did say if I went to a private clinic I would be treated differently as they weren’t held to the same regulations?

With the anxiety and general mood swings, ive taken myself to therapy to cover all bases. Only times in my life I have ever truly struggled with mental health, are after hormonal events such as pregnancy/breastfeeding etc.

I’ve done lots of research, watched Louise newson you tube interviews etc. I think it’s just so hard to get a diagnosis if you are the wrong side of 40….

There is no RULE for your GP saying he cannot issue HRT for a woman aged 39. He's being a bit pedantic and his hands are not really tied.
Blood tests are a guide, not the be all and end all.

Did you have blood tests done at the right time of your cycles - supposed to be from days 2-5, and done twice over two months.

No, random time of the month, think from memory it was mid cycle (although hard to know as they are erratic) and just done once.