Feel like a fraud

[ImpossibleDetails]

Have today been some HRT for the first time (Estrelle??) as I was convinced I was having perimenopause symptoms (no libido, constant night sweats, rage, anger, vaginal dryness, random crying) however chat with nurse has made me question it all.

She gave me HRT but said (after tests) that my FSH is still in normal range and that although my periods have changed regularity/length/flow they are still appearing. So I'm not perimenopausal.

She repeatedly asking if I'm depressed and I said that the constant waking in the night covered in sweat and unable to sleep is getting me down but I wouldn't class it as depression.

Now I feel like a fraud, if she says FSH is within normal range am I making all this up?! Could it actually be depression?

DH says she wouldn't have prescribed HRT if she didn't believe it slightly but I just feel like such a fraud. (I am 39, think this just adds to the feeling). Anyone else felt like this?

Bump

What age are you? Diagnosis is meant to be on symptoms after age 45.

The very nature of peri menopause is that hormones fluctuate hugely from one day to the next.

She doesn’t sound well informed. One reason blood tests are of limited use is that hormone levels fluctuate a lot in perimenopause, so one day’s results are not necessarily representative. Have a look at www.menopausematters.co.uk/menopause.php and www.newsonhealth.co.uk/ if you haven’t already.

What are you night sweats like and in what way have your periods changed?

Thanks for the replies.

I'm 39 and periods have gone from 7 days to 3, very little flow and sometimes 5 weeks between, sometimes 3. Night sweats are insane, waking up drenched in sweat, absolutely drowning in heat.

Thanks for the links, I'm going to check these out!

Don’t doubt your own experiences, OP. If the nurse doesn’t think you are perimenopausal then they should be referring you to GP to investigate night sweats and period changes, as those are not caused by depression. Sounds classical peri to me (not a medic, just had to read lots on this as first GP I saw was clueless).

I now realise my peri started at 41: delayed periods followed by flooding, weeks-long bleeding, worsened anxiety, breast pain. Not picked up by GP. Only realised myself a few years later when hot flushes started and I started reading about the range of symptoms.

Have you watched the Davina program? www.channel4.com/programmes/davina-mccall-sex-myths-and-the-menopause

(Not suggesting you do have depression, but if that is her suggestion it certainly does not explain all your symptoms. Whatever, you are not a fraud in any way!)

I agree. that blood sample would have been a snapshot of what was happening in that moment. An hour later and you might have got a different outcome.

What you describe is what I went through. It wasn't until I hadn't slept for ten nights straight that I got HRT. It was like a miracle. The heat seems to come from the centre of your bones. It's very debilitating.

I find some medics are desperate to prescribe anti depressants for peri symptoms. It’s baffling.

Thanks for the reply. I also have been waking up sweaty at night but I’ve only just turned 35 a couple of weeks ago and I’ve been like this since starting antidepressants aged 32. I’ve since come off the medication and I no longer wake up drenched but my hair is damp around the back of my neck and sometimes feel sweat rolling down between my boobs and thighs. I only get it during my period.

I have been concerned as I’m TTC and my flow feels lighter overall although still bleeding for 5-7 days but with only 2 days of normal bleeding really, the rest is pretty light. I have been so worried about it being perimenopause but I’m not sure if it is just anxiety about trying to conceive now

I probably should add that my period is still pretty consistent at 28-31 days and my FSH has been tested three times at 3.9, 6.3 abs 9.6 so does seem to be creeping up which is scaring me

I don't think you're a fraud, but at 39 I'd expect them to eliminate other potential causes of the changes you describe as well as considering peri.

Being 'within the normal range' is all very well, but it might not be the normal range for you. And were you well within the range, or was the FSH at the higher end?

Given your age they were right to test FSH levels, OP, but it’s the interpretation that may be questioned. See the NICE guidelines: www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng23/ifp/chapter/About-this-information

Correct link: www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng23/ifp/chapter/Menopause

Thank you @SparklingLime that link is really helpful and I appreciate the reminder not to doubt my own experiences, I often do this and I really shouldn't. I have watched the Davina programme and found it great, so funny that the 'offered antidepressants' thing happened there too.

Thanks for the comments everyone, I'm gearing myself up to start the HRT as soon as my next cycle decides it's turning up!

If anyone has any advice on my symptoms and FSH that would be great 😊 thanks

I find some of these medics (dr and nurses) infuriating by their lack of knowledge.

Of course you can be peri menopausal with periods!

These people should really not be allowed to treat women if they aren't educated on the basics of menopause. It is a disgrace.

I am so angry for you @ImpossibleDetails

You have the classic signs of peri- a change in periods (no 1 on the list of symptoms) and night sweats.

HRT comes as 2 main types

1 For women with periods
2 For women without periods

I hope you may have the chance to correct her before other women suffer with her ignorance.

Sorry, @Hoping43, I don’t know anything about fertility side of it all. What does your doctor say when you get your FSH results back?

Maybe post on the conception board if you haven’t already: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/conception

I had massive night sweats in my 30s while on SSRIs, and I also used to get very hot the day before my period.

@SparklingLimeThank you. The GP says normal but the cut off for normal is 10 and my last bloods were 9.6. I turned 35 in Dec. I do get sweaty during the night when on my period but definitely nowhere near drenching as the OP described, my periods are regular except maybe a bit lighter than they used to be. Maybe I’m just reading into it too much. We’ve been trying to conceive for ten months so we will be going to the fertility clinic soon x

It's sounds v peri, did they check thyroid?

When did you last have a period, OP? What is your BMI? High/low BMIs can make periods disappear.

@JinglingHellsBells Thank you so much for the boost, I wish she had told me this, that you can be peri menopausal with periods. Just that one sentence makes me feel like I'm not going crazy.

Thank you.

But she gave you hrt that is a good thing and she wouldn't have if she thought you were a fraud. Health care professionals have to gather as much info as possible and tbh at 39 with regular periods it would seem sensible to question whether it could be depression, that's nothing to be ashamed of if it is.

See how you feel after 3mths, if no improvement then maybe ADs maybe worth a go?

I presume they did full bloods to check for other causes of night sweats.

[quote ImpossibleDetails]@JinglingHellsBells Thank you so much for the boost, I wish she had told me this, that you can be peri menopausal with periods. Just that one sentence makes me feel like I'm not going crazy.

Thank you.[/quote]
Ok :)

And, as you say, your periods aren't regular. They have changed in duration and frequency. This is usually classed as the first 'real' evidence of ovarian decline.

I'm 39 and periods have gone from 7 days to 3, very little flow and sometimes 5 weeks between, sometimes 3.