MH or perimenopause?

[Periperinotchicken]

Hoping for some advice out there from women who might have been through similar. Posting in health and AIBU.

I’m 48 and for the last few months, which coincided with an upsetting work patch, I’ve been quite panicky before bed, finding it hard to sleep and stay asleep and low mood (nothing to look forward to) and anxious during the day. Every day is different and I’ve some hours of feeling fine.

I’ve also lost a lot of weight, might because of the need to move around and keep active when anxious and since lockdown I go for a walk each day in nature.

I’ve seen a Herbalist who prescribed a tincture for sleep and after meals. I’ve stopped drinking alcohol, tea after lunch time and now taking magnesium, b complex, fish oils and vit D. In the last week I’ve started St John Wort. I’m also eating healthy and cut out chocolate. Trying to put in place good sleep hygiene as well but still not feeling myself.

Blood test for hormones (I know that this is not reliable) and thyroid were in the normal range (although my TSH was slightly low and my T4 is slightly high) but sub clinical and not requiring medication.

Last period 42 days and the one before that was 20 days, prior to that regular 27/28 cycle. Not sure if this is peri-menopause or periods affected by weight loss and stress.

I’m just not sure if this is a MH issue or peri-menopause and whether to go down the AD or HRT route or muddling through.

Any other advice greatly appreciated

although my TSH was slightly low and my T4 is slightly high

Did they comment on that/ tell you that? Hyperthyroidism would create anxiety and weight loss.

Just wondering if it's something to monitor or ask if an antibody test is worth doing?

I definitely loose weight with stress. Peri for me has been more about apathy unless that's the pandemic! And over eating, weight gain for the first time in my life. But many experience anxiety.

Both hormones help to feel more settled and confident so loss of them can cause anxiety.

At your age you should be able to ask for hrt trial with those symptoms, to see if it helps. It's just whether the thyroid is anything to monitor too.

Thank you @dinodora.

No, the GP surgery didn’t tell me that, they gave me the all clear but I asked them to email the results and shared them with the Herbalist. She advised an antibody test through Medicheck which came back in the clear.

Sorry to hear about your symptoms, did you go down the HRT route? Yes, I’m wondering about a trial.

Ah that's good.

Yes my issues have been getting really angry, extreme joint pain, insomnia, phases of over heating at night, a few hot sweats but not much, extreme tingling, lack of concentration and just losing interest in things. It's very linked to my cycle. I wasn't on any contraception.

I'm only a few weeks in and the difference to mood, energy and joint pain was huge notice in the first week or so. Memory and concentration is a bit better and I've definitely felt calmer.

I'm now sleeping through again. I feel cool again. I Think I may need a tweak to higher at my review but many say you do need the 3 months to assess.

That’s quite remarkable that our hormones (or lack of) makes such a difference.

Is it ok to ask your age and what your periods are like?

I have hypothyroidism and was told I have hypermobilty after my first child when very fatigued and in a lot of pain, but I'm now wondering if it was hormonal.

I'll be 45 this year but I feel things have been slowly going down since my late 30s. I was never the same cycle wise after my first child who I had then.

Ive been trying vit d, magnesium glycinate, taurine, b vits, omega 3 for the last two years. Ferritin kept dropping so spatone with Vit c too. Mag and taurine definitely helped sleep. In the mix there's been some issues with thyroid levels. But the other symptoms were getting worse so after getting thyroid right and tracking periods, which despite being regular at 25-27 days (as I always have been) were becoming incredibly short, one day with spotting, I went to Gp to ask re hrt. In my late 30s they became v heavy. (I had second child at 41) I didn't need to worry, it was the quickest "yes," and "what do you want?" Ever!

I'd had blood tests earlier in the year but hadn't been clear re symptoms and cycle. It was pre Davina starting the convo too. At 45 you don't need blood tests it's symptom based.

Thank you Dinodora for sharing this, I’ll keep an eye on mine as the herbalist said it’s not significant at the mo.

I’m pretty sure the dr will prescribe HRT too and only then will I know if my symptoms are hormonal related and not linked to mental health - just a bit nervous about it.

What are you nervous about?

It's made from yams

You can have very low doses.

I also didn't know that hrt is used for some women with post partum depression.

I'm using the progesterone vaginally to avoid any progesterone issues but many women find no issue there orally and some find it helps to calm.

Hi Dinodora

One of my main symptoms is anxiety which I think makes me nervous about it but hearing more and more good things from other women.

Thanks for sharing your experience