Tell me about your perimenopause fatigue, please

[inininsomnia]

My energy is all over the place. Not bad on Monday, really awful yesterday, and today I started well but I've been in bed since 4pm. I'm always tired but out of nowhere I can feel like I've been hit by a train. Afternoons are the worst.

I have fibromyalgia and other issues, so I'm trying to figure out if this is chronic fatigue-y (after a long period of stress) or perimenopause. I definitely have other peri symptoms.

I have an appointment with a private meno in a month's time. I'm getting into a real mess with my work in the meantime.

Tell me about your experiences, please?

Hello. I've been struggling with this too. I've also never been an energetic person but in the last few months it's got worse. I won't bore you with the details but I accidentally ended up in front of a GP the other day, who diagnosed a touch of asthma. Using the inhaler has been transformational. I can now do a 30 min walk, using the inhaler at around the half way mark and maybe when I get back, and my energy levels bounce back. Previously I'd been taking up to an hour to recover from that walk. Never in a million years did I think I had asthma, but in hindsight it does all add up.

Oh god the fatigue was bloody awful, literally couldn’t move at times - HRT has been life changing for me, I feel back to my usual self and my energy levels are much more stable.

44 and started HRT 2 weeks ago.

Made a huge difference already to my general vitality - I was permanently tired and achey

Thank you - it's reassuring to think that energy can bounce back! It's all crept on quite slowly and I can't remember what normal feels like. I'm a wreck.

I'm seeking HRT at the moment... I'm not quite quite 44 and can't get blood tests (due to the shortage of blood tubes) so trying to find a GP who will prescribe at my age based on symptoms.

@pudsma Glad you figured out your asthma, however randomly!

@inininsomnia I too am 44 and I'm afraid I couldn't be arsed with the whole GP faff - so I paid for a consultation with a private clinic... was expensive but worth it - was in danger of having to quit my job and that will be even more expensive!!

OP just pay for anyone off PAYG private GP to get it. That's what I did.

Sorry a ONE OFF private GO appt. if you find a nice one they will listen to you and if suitable give you a prescription that same appointment. Mine did - was v easy and it is fabulous life-changing stuff.

Im 42 amd similarly wondering if I have chronic fatigue flare up or something else.

I se to have trouble staying asleep. Could nap in the middle of the day easily. Fall asleep easily but wake up sometime by about 4 and cannot get back to sleep..

Im super anxious but have anumber of reasons that might be an not sure if anxiety is feeding lack of sleep or lack of sleep feeding anxiety.

Im job hunting and ghs thought of starting work in this state is horrible. I wish I was already established.

Im a hit scared to see dr and just get anxiety pills(already massively overweight)

But the peri thing on mn has made me think too.

I was the same, just wiped out. I've gone lowish carb - not keto but mainly removed grains from my diet. It's been a week and I am so much better. I think we can tolerate carbs less when we are older.

My fatigue is lots worse with peri but blood test revealed low iron due to horrendous periods so that doesn't help. I feel a lot worse tiredness wise the week after my period.

@PinkCricket I was the same, and put it down to being busy, two kids, work etc but it seems it was all hormonal because as soon as I started HRT my anxiety levels dropped, my sleep improved, my head was clearer, I had more energy, less irritability and my skin improved. Most of my symptoms I didn’t associate with menopause at all until HRT stopped them.

How do they decide if its peri or amxiety?

I can only do online messagat the moment with gp so meed to wrok out how to word it!

Tell them you think it’s menopause related and describe your other symptoms too not just the anxiety and if they try to limo it all in with chronic fatigue, underlying anxiety etc just explain you don’t think it’s part of your pre-existing conditions. I’m sure guidance is to not use anti depressants as a first treatment for women of menopause age but I think doctors still aren’t aware of that. In the end I just asked for HRT on the basis that if things didn’t improve I’d come back and discuss other treatments.

I was exhausted having not had a full nights sleep for three years (waking at 3.00 every night).

HRT made a difference in a week (seriously), if I do wake up I go straight back to sleep which is normal for me.

Back to firing on all cylinders and no feeling of exhaustion...

A slow reply here because god, I'm tired. GP sent me for blood tests, apparently forgetting there's a shortage of blood tubes, so that won't happen for ages. I have an appointment with a private meno clinic but still three weeks away. I'm a little wary though because those clinics essentially have a product to sell. I asked a question by email and the answer was less direct than I would have liked. I have a family history of breast cancer so that's a concern.

But this new wave of tiredness - about the last three weeks or so - is like nothing I've ever known. I'm trying not to fret that it's appeared with regular tummy bloating (but will ask GP) but dread anything I need to do because I can't function. Bloody hormones.

Thanks for all your replies. Wishing you energy today!

Been going on over a number of years, getting off to sleep easily, but waking at 3 or 4am for an hour or more. Then nightmares.

But intensified last spring, getting very hot and sweaty too, which of course I put down to pandemic stress until I happened to have an appointment with a sympathtic GP who diagnised peri-menopause. Its taken me the 6 months since then to get offered treatment. Got worse again to a sort of half sleep after 3am, so I never wake up feeling rested. I can sort of cat nap, but again not sleep propelry during the day. Perpetually down, despondent, forgetful and confused.

You have my sympathy @Summerhillsquare.

Another question for everyone, if I may. I'm having some quite scary, unpredictable energy crashes. They can happen any time, even evenings, which used to be my best time. I have a major work deadline tomorrow but I've been in bed all afternoon, so tired I feel sick. Can peri do this?