Peri menopause symptoms

[Newmum738]

I'm 42 and I would say I have all the physiological symptoms of peri menopause. I struggle to remember things, I'm tired all the time, irritable/angry with mood swings. Anxiety is really bad and I've never really suffered with this before. Struggle to concentrate and generally feel like I'm losing my mind. I'm also having a lot of headaches. Physical symptoms would be lighter periods and urinary incontinence so far. External factors are senior role, 3 year old, given up alcohol (43 days so far). I still don't think that the external factors are enough to be creating this given the level of self care. It's been going on for about a year. Hoping for some advice from those who have been through this.

I experience similar including the urinary incontinence. A bit older than you op but with young children. I work p/t (very few hours). I would struggle to work full-time with the horrendous brain fog etc. I feel like I've lost momentum in parenting too and unfortunately crave alone time more and more which is not great given I have primary school age childen. I would say my issues started around 44, noticeably. I am unable to take HRT so trying to concentrate on self care (excercise, diet, hobbies etc.) and I'm keeping things as low key as possible. Not a lot to suggest op other than the possibility of HRT.

If advise you both to list your symptoms, your cycle and to approach your GP.

Do an advanced search here on MN - there are a few really good threads and between us all, we realised that the catalogue of symptoms is huge. You may be putting up with niggles that you're not even registering.

Also remember, should you go down the blood test route (your GP will definitely send you for bloods) is that your hormone levels fluctuate constantly, so they're not often a true snapshot of the state of things. Mine were 'borderline' but my huge list of symptoms helped my GP decide to start me on Oestrogel and a progesterone tablet. It's helped me no end.