Pins and needles in hands and feet - is this perimenopause?

[FelicityElectricity]

Hi all. I'm 44 and have had some odd symptoms over three months or so that got worse before Christmas. The main ones are pins and needles in my hands and feet, headaches, exhaustion, brain fog, zero libido, anxiety to the point of what I assume is panic attacks and what feels like constant adrenaline at night. I ended up phoning 111 on Christmas Day as the pins and needles were going crazy and mentally I felt horrendous and so anxious.
Thankfully night times and sleep have improved with less caffeine and my GP has signed me off work for a week with "stress". I mentioned perimenopause but she said my symptoms haven't been going on for a year so she was sceptical. I do have significant work stress and I handed in my notice before Christmas. However these symptoms are still going on. Blood tests to check for anaemia etc were all ok. I've booked a private menopause clinic appointment but I'm at a loss to know what to do until then about work and living my life. I feel like a shell of myself and I have three kids to look after.
I just can't seem to function on a daily basis due to the tiredness and being unable to think clearly. Thanks for reading 😊

Did they check for diabetes when they did bloods?

I don't think they did. At least they weren't fasting bloods. Just things like B12, vitamin D, iron levels and blood cell count

Sorry looks like I did have something tested called HbA1c which seems to relate to diabetes. This was within a normal range.

It might be worth a visit to a Lloyd's pharmacy or your GP to ask if you can be screened, worth ruling it out

Yes, you can definitely have it as a symptom of peri menopause. I had all the symptoms you describe. My former GP was useless and dismissed a hormonal cause despite my age -40 at the time (I ended up having brain scans and seeing a neurologist before being told it was ‘just anxiety’).

Luckily I switched GPs and my current GP is great. She recognised it was peri menopause and was happy to try a range of HRT before I opted for a combined HRT/birth control pill (I couldn’t take the normal pills but this on is less potent as it has natural estrogen) which has made a massive difference. She also said blood tests weren’t necessarily helpful as your hormones can fluctuate on an almost daily basis during peri menopause.

If you haven’t already, have a look at Menopause Matters (website) and the NICE guidelines on menopause and HRT.

I get pins and needles in my hands. It wakes me up at night. It's definitely got worse in recent years so it may well be a peri thing. I also have Raynaud's and wonder if it's a circulation thing. Sorry I don't have any answers. I should talk to my GP about it but I know they're swamped at the moment and I don't want to waste their time.

Thanks all. I'll push for a trial of HRT as I don't feel I can work while feeling like this 😔.

Yes I think that peri caused horrific sensory issues in my hands and feet.

Had lots of investigations, I did take a little extra b12 and b1 and it helped a little (results were on the low side of 'normal' and apparently in Japan would have been treated) but it's hrt that's helped the most.

I assume they tested hypothyroidism? That can also cause tingling

I've had similar symptoms plus heavy 3 weekly periods. I had bloods done plus a scan. Was told it was probably back issues and anxiety and periods are probably normal for me. I agree I think it's some peri menopausal stuff but mine has improved a bit so leaving it for now. I found my doctor really dismissive of anything hormonal or mental health,

I don't understand why your dr thinks you need peri symptoms for a year in order to diagnose peri.

What's that all about?

Mild pins and needles can be a sign of a lack of some minerals- think it's potassium and magnesium. Eating a banana can help!

I think you should push for a trial of hrt.

Definitely check they checked thyroid.

There is a description of similar relating to peri on the Newson website.

I'm a bit tingly as I'm close to period, and I do have long term hypothyroidism.

(Male) Gp said often there's no real answer for these things but They didn't rule everything out before I started hrt.

(Male) Gp did suggest I look at burning foot syndrome (I had burning too) which is mainly caused by thyroid, low b vits and diabetes. Hence why I tried the b vits.

For me it's much better mid cycle when on hrt and my own oestrogen is higher.

Hi, did you find out what this was please?