If you are on HRT, what symptoms did you have before?

[RedPandaWanda]

I’m trying to work out if all the health issues I have are actually intertwined and maybe related to my hormones/peri menopause.
I am coming up for 49 and have had some of these symptoms for years but all have become so much worse since around the age of 45.

Awful, ongoing, almost daily digestive issues: gurgling/growling guts (these often wake me in the middle of the night), sometimes constipated other times much looser, bloating and gas especially in the evenings, awful acid and nausea especially mid cycle and these symptoms worse before and during my periods. Have had endless gastro tests and seen 5 gastroenterologist but all say just IBS.

Gynae issues: years of very heavy periods which have become worse in my 40’s, for the last 10 years I have recurring uterine polyps which I have removed but grown back, I have a constant thick uterine lining (thinest 11mm, thickest 21mm), recurring ovarian cysts. Last few years I have a deep pelvic ache through to back a week before period. I also have pelvic pain a week mid cycle (have had this for 20years +), I also get aura migraines on day 1-3. Very hot at night before period. Awful sore breasts a full week before period and recently mid cycle too. Absolutely dread my period now.

As a result of heavy periods I have HB levels of 9 and ferritin. 4, can not tolerate iron due to gut issues but iron infusions have been refused as HB not too bad. I am worn out, tired yet can’t sleep, achy and breathless upon the lowest levels of exertion.

My moods are all over the place, I am on an emotional and physical rollercoaster, one day not too bad the next feel dreadful/awful.

I have zero libido, itchy, dry skin, very, very bad anxiety and to put it bluntly, I feel like shit yet GP just doesn’t take me seriously and say I’m not in peri as I don’t have daytime hot sweats and my (awful) periods are regular.

I wonder if it’s worth paying to see a menopause specialist privately, I can’t really afford it but the GP’s at my surgery are not listening, I see no other option.

Does anyone recognise any of these symptoms as Perimenopausal ones? I am desperate, really at an all time low and it’s impacting my relationship with dh and family life. I am really scared to go on HRT (I know the scary headlines have been discredited but it still sticks in an anxious mind!) but frightened that this may be my life for ever more.

Should add that I am under gynae and due to have an ablation for the heavy periods but this could be up to a years wait.

I didn't have the gastric symptoms but I did have the heavy, painful, flooding periods, low mood, anxiety, insomnia, aching joints, dry skin and hair, zero libido (that hasn't returned to be fair), and the odd night sweat.
I would go back to your GP with your list of symptoms. Have a look at the Balance website.

I’m 47, have never had hot flushes/sweats and my periods are regular. What I do/did have (for the last 2+ years):

Insomnia (having always slept very well previously)
Anxiety
Mood swings - some really awful low moods
Joint pains

And overall a feeling of less and less joy in my life. This preceded Covid so wasn’t caused by the pandemic, and otherwise I have a very comfortable and good life.

The penny dropped a few months ago, I contacted my GP who did blood tests and was then happy to prescribe me HRT. I started a few weeks ago and already feel steadier and more like my old self.

Please don’t be fobbed off, ask to see a different GP if necessary or try and go private. I hope you can get a better result.

I had most of your symptoms especially the heavy periods and anxiety. I would absolutely see another dr. Ive been on HRT for almost a year and I feel so much better.

JuneFromBethesda yes, I totally get that feeling of less joy in my life and like you this was pre Covid, not quite a depression but something else which is hard to put your finger on to explain fully.
Does anyone know if HRT can lessen heavy periods? I don’t want the Mirena which they keep pushing but wonder if the progesterone side of hrt would help with the heavy bleeding?

Crap skin and a vicious temper.

I have had a hysterectomy so don't have gynae issues any more.

My main symptoms were :

insomnia - either not being able to get to sleep in the first place, waking in the night, or being wide awake at 4.30am.

Hot flushes / night sweats - unbearable, and contribute to the bad sleep as you're chucking the duvet off because you're roasting, and then awake 10 minutes later freezing cold.

Vaginal dryness/UTIs - three UTIs in 6 months.

Anxiety - I am not an anxious person, but have not been able to cope with life's ups and downs as I would have done 5 or 6 years ago.

I'm sorry that all sounds dreadful.

Your gasteo symptoms sounds a lot like mine, which I've been told are due to endometriosis and adenomyosis. It was quite a marathon to get this diagnosis though. You say you're being seen by gynea and presumably have had scans that spotted your fibroids and cysts etc. I had ultrasound scans that picked up cysts (so painful, couldn't be missed anyway), but apparently they tend not to pick up endometriosis issues. That only came out when I was referred for a CT scan, and they said I had tons of scar tissue inside uterine walls and around, and they thought that some had gone on to the bowels. I'm now on the progesterone only pill which makes most of these symptoms less bad, though how sustainable this is I don't know.

So, if your gastro issues are linked to your menstrual cycle I'd say it's worth ruling out endometriosis. Unfortunately most doctors, including gynaecologists (and GPs in particular) seem really shit at diagnosing this.

But, as a little ray of light: they told me that post-menopause my symptoms would mostly disappear.

I hope you find a good doctor and a way forward.

I still have fairly regular periods and I only very rarely had sweats. That seems like a poorly conceived set of criteria for ruling you out, at least based on the NICE guidelines.

I had joint pains, irritability, ovarian pain after sex, and a general feeling of being drained/not right.

But my most intolerable symptom was very dry/fragile and easily injured vulval skin. My skin seemed to split or break with any friction at all, even while carefully washing myself or wiping. As a result sex was painful and I kept on getting thrush again and again following on from these micro-injuries. It was awful! And I was really missing a normal sex life and feeling emotionally impacted as well as the actual pain.

Estrogen cream immediately sorted it, like magic.

I used to think when people talked about “vaginal dryness” as a menopause symptom they meant specifically internal dryness, a lack of lubrication. I didn’t have that symptom so I didn’t make the connection for ages. I now wonder if some people use it to mean atrophy/dryness externally.

As with so many aspects of women’s health, there is a lot of scope for misunderstanding.

I had 10 months of no periods and terrible night sweats when I was 48. It was on the urge of being unbearable when suddenly my periods returned, the night sweats stopped and in their place was the most terrible agitated angry mood with each period. After three months I went to the doctor and got Ostrogel (I already had the coil for really heavy periods a couple of years earlier).
That was three years ago and the night sweats didn’t return or any other symptoms.

Insomnia, hot flushes, sore vulva, appalling brain fog, couldn't remember anything - I was seriously thinking I had Alzheimers. But what pushed me over the edge was joint and muscle pain, I play a sport and had to take a break as I was struggling so badly.

I'm using sequential patches. They've sorted the joints, memory, flushes (which I kind of miss, as I'm always cold) and insomnia. My vulva has improved, but I might need topical treatment. I've also had the added bonus of much improved night vision and regular periods, I've never been regular, so that's a novelty.

The downside is I've had constant lower back pain since I started the patches, it goes through to my front and feels like period pain. The nurse has prescribed me a different HRT, I'm dithering over trying it. I also had sore breasts for about the first 3 months, but that has settled with evening primrose oil.

Forgot to add constipation was one of my peri symptoms too. That has also cleared up now.

If you cant afford it tgen do not go private. Your GP should work within NICE guidelines. Refer to them when you go back, they are quite clear.
Also, if they will only prescribe based on certain symptoms which are self reported maybe you should just tell them what they want to hear.

Heavy periods that would last up to 14 days
Night seats
Anxiety
Paranoia
No libido
Brain fog
No gastro issues though

I'm 50, periods have almost stopped but were heavy. Irritability, loss of sex drive, hot flushes, night sweats, aching joints. Just started HRT and already feel lots better. I had much better luck when talking to a female middle aged GP.

I am also thinking I am in Peri. Night sweats occasionally. Insomnia, especially wide awake at 2am. Anxiety. Strange panic feelings as I’m taking to sleep. I am so fed up. Really really fed up. I was angry but I feel I’ve now given up. Brain fog too.

Quick question the muscle aches and pains can someone describe what they mean? My neck has always had knots on and off for years. Too much sitting at a desk but the last 6 months it just won’t shift.

I can cope with the heat but the brain fog, sleep issues and neck aren’t fun. (Though I fully appreciate the neck may be something different).

I have a gp appointment booked.

Sorry if I invaded your thread as I’m not on HRT but maybe I should be!

@DoTheyKnowItsLemonJuice yes! I also thought vaginal dryness meant a lack of lubrication, whereas I have/have had dryness and what I think may have been thrush. I agree, it’s listed as a possible (peri)menopause symptom but it’s really unclear.

It’s all rubbish, frankly.

Your GP is an idiot.

Most women in their late forties are being treated as perimenopausal without blood tests.

All of your symptoms could be peri symptoms.

• My moods are all over the place, I am on an emotional and physical rollercoaster, one day not too bad the next feel dreadful/awful.

I have zero libido, itchy, dry skin, very, very bad anxiety and to put it bluntly, I feel like shit *

All peri symptoms to a tee.

@Herbyhippo personally I felt the joint pain in my pelvis. But I guess not everyone feels it in the same place?

Sorry I’m not on hrt I’m 55 with regular periods, my symptoms started a few years ago with worsening anxiety and pmt. I’m waking up every hour every single night and this along with the anxiety is killing me. I have these rages also where I sit and ruminate over something someone’s done and I rage to myself for days on end, I’m hoping this is a symptom of the menopause because if it isn’t there is something seriously wrong with my mind. I’m thoroughly miserable with it.
The doctor refused to help he said we wouldn’t give you hrt because of the cancer risk.
So I was given Prozac. It does not help.

@Herbyhippo

I had pains down the front of my legs that burned, aching hips and knees, struggled to get up off the sofa and creaked into life in a morning. My elbows and finger joints were terrible - I couldn't hold a raquet. Also old injuries flared up. I had muscle aches like I'd dug the garden over.
I will add that the worst of all this started after my first covid jab, which also gave me a period after 5mths without.

nopun I often wonder if I have endo, my sister has it. I did have a ct scan in 2019 though and nothing showed up on that.
Herbyhippo I always seem to wake at 2am also, so annoying.

I'm 49 with very itchy skin, especially at night. Bad gastro problems.
Really suffer with reflux, burping, trapped air type thing. So angry with everyone and everything.
Regular periods up until couple months ago. Also fatigue.
Haven't asked for HRT as still wondering if I'm peri or not.

MondeoFan that’s kind of where I am at the moment, have these symptoms but thinking, am I in peri or not?