I just don't feel like me and feel lost ...

[Meltinthemiddle]

I'm tired all the time, experiencing Brian fog, memory loss, headaches, weight gain, black heads and spots along jaw line, hairs on chin and neck. I'm emotional all the time and l have crippling anxiety which really is affecting my daily life. I've quit my job of 9 years and now I'm on my third job but still not happy. I feel like I don't have a purpose. I took a job with less responsibility and less hours but didn't feel happy or satisfied. Now I'm working more hours with more responsibility I feel stressed. I just can't settle. It's like I want something but then I don't want it. I'm 41 and my kids are teenagers so not sure if it's a mid life crisis or if I'm menopausal 😭. Did anyone else feel like this? Im not suicidal but some days I just feel like I'm done, like what's the point or my purpose. I don't even enjoy things that's I used to enjoy anymore either. I have the coil so don't have periods as such so no really changes there but I just don't feel like me.

Why is that?

This all sounds very much like me. I struggled for years but recently have bit the bullet and gone on HRT. Absolutely changed my life, within a week, no more suicidal thoughts or sleepless nights or brain fog. I feel normal again. I actually didn’t realise how utterly crap I was feeling until I felt normal again. It’s been so tricky keeping my head above water but now seems apparent it was just my hormones fucking with me. I had no idea they could be so powerful. I would really recommend getting checked out and seeing if peri menopausal state is the cause for at least some of the way you are feeling. Honestly feel a million dollars now and am so relieved.

@Trixiefirecracker
How old are you if you don't mind me asking?

@warriorN is your thyroid under or over active? Mine underactive and it looks like Tyrosine may help it may increase your own thyroid production so ultimately your may need to alter medication I suppose. I feel its worth a try.

I'm under and zero thyroid function I think, based on pregnancy experiences!

I also think fluctuating female hormones are making me swing as I'm on a "constant" thyroid dose and we need less after menopause. I certainly did after pregnancy but then needed more after periods returned.

I suppose I'm concerned that adding something else into the mix, if there is any function left (doubtful) could make me too hyper which is just as bad tbh!

I suppose it's what it does re thyroid hormones; help with conversion or just help symptoms? If it stimulates the thyroid and you've no function it will
Do nothing etc.

I'm thinking of suggesting to my Gp I actually try a continuous hrt regime despite still having periods to to help consistency with everything!

I've had covid recently and it's definitely fucked my hormones over. I'm reeling from the chaos. Loads of peri symptoms came back and my mh has been bad as a result of horrific pmt.

@AnastasiaRomanov 48 but wish I’d started 2 years ago!

@WarriorN

I'm under and zero thyroid function I think, based on pregnancy experiences!

I also think fluctuating female hormones are making me swing as I'm on a "constant" thyroid dose and we need less after menopause. I certainly did after pregnancy but then needed more after periods returned.

I suppose I'm concerned that adding something else into the mix, if there is any function left (doubtful) could make me too hyper which is just as bad tbh!

I suppose it's what it does re thyroid hormones; help with conversion or just help symptoms? If it stimulates the thyroid and you've no function it will
Do nothing etc.

I'm thinking of suggesting to my Gp I actually try a continuous hrt regime despite still having periods to to help consistency with everything!

I've had covid recently and it's definitely fucked my hormones over. I'm reeling from the chaos. Loads of peri symptoms came back and my mh has been bad as a result of horrific pmt.

Do you need less after menopause? I didn’t know that.

I'm under active (on 100 mg thyroxine) took Tyrosine today and do feel a difference, going to do it every second day and se how I feel.

I'm 47 and so is my best friend and we are suddenly very stiff and achy too. Anyone else had that?

I feel like this OP. Had bloods done recently andviron and thyroid ok. Still having regular periods. Some night sweats. But low mood, no motivation, need to work out what I'm doing with my non-existant career but have zero self confidence and procrastinating endlessly. Permanently tired and grumpy.

Think I will try the supplements....

Anyone know if you can tske L-Tyrosine with SSRIs?

Yes to stiff and achy too!

Do you need less after menopause? I didn’t know that.

I think it can vary as there's various underlying mechanisms around hypothyroidism and oestrogen. Also absorption and weight as we age etc.

There's also an issue I think that they don't like you on too much when older bc bone density and heart; I'm now querying that in relation to hrt. Quite a few thyroid patients query that idea anyway.

I did find I needed less during lactational amenorrhea. But that didn't last. and then caused merry hell and the beginning of peri.

Anecdotally I've read of a woman finding she needed less when on hrt which I can't work out.

You do need more when on oral hrt and the combined oral contraceptive pill. Oestrogen going through the liver causes you to need more (I forget the reason/ mechanism.)

@Picklesandbeans

I'm under active (on 100 mg thyroxine) took Tyrosine today and do feel a difference, going to do it every second day and se how I feel.

Ok that's interesting thanks. I'm on more than that. More than I'm supposed to be for my weight so I'm hesitant!

Well I've just ordered a load of magnesium, b vits and female multivit and mineral. Fingers crossed they help.

I'm 47 and feel : lost, demotivated, can't be bothered with anything (ordered new trainers for work and they are still on the bed unpacked as can't be bothered) am stiff and achy and feel like I've lost physical confidence in being able to trust my knees when crouching etc. Have had a shocking year of losses , also covid etc so have been thinking it could be depression or covid. It's all so amorphous I can't pin it down but sometimes I feel so bleak

@WarriorN

Do you need less after menopause? I didn’t know that.

I think it can vary as there's various underlying mechanisms around hypothyroidism and oestrogen. Also absorption and weight as we age etc.

There's also an issue I think that they don't like you on too much when older bc bone density and heart; I'm now querying that in relation to hrt. Quite a few thyroid patients query that idea anyway.

I did find I needed less during lactational amenorrhea. But that didn't last. and then caused merry hell and the beginning of peri.

Anecdotally I've read of a woman finding she needed less when on hrt which I can't work out.

You do need more when on oral hrt and the combined oral contraceptive pill. Oestrogen going through the liver causes you to need more (I forget the reason/ mechanism.)

Bloody minefield isn’t it? I’m in 125mg and post menopausal. How much L Tyrosine should I take do people think? The doctor is completely disinterested in my thyroxine. Gives no advice and seem very uninformed. Last few tests have come back with me taking slightly too much thyroxine but the doctor has no advice! I insisted on being referred to a specialist a few years ago and they said I was in the right dose. I am upset that no one explains anything. I only found out by fluke that gluten and iron inhibit absorption.

sympathies crochetmonkey 💐 you could be describing me. It's seriously rubbish.

@colouringindoors

sympathies crochetmonkey 💐 you could be describing me. It's seriously rubbish.

It makes me feel better knowing others feel the same, it just seems to have been so quick as well.

Did this start in your 30s for anyone? I'm only 35 so feels a bit young for menopause but this is all resonating very strongly with how I have been feeling over the last six months.

I only found out by fluke that gluten and iron inhibit absorption.

Calcium, magnesium and I think possibly zinc do too. Too much fibre and also grapefruit can affect the way it's processed in the liver.

Care for those on thyroxine isn't always great. A Gp actually told me this! There's individual variation. Eg Davina Mc is only on 100.

Routine for taking meds is always the key.

Gluten doesn't unless you're intolerant or coeliac.

@WarriorN

Gluten doesn't unless you're intolerant or coeliac.

That's not true.

I could of wrote this!

I'm 43 and I think peri, although blood tests seem ok.

My friends tell me 'this is what life is' not sure I agree.

I don't have any answers, but you are not alone.

I'm all over the place at the moment too. Never sure day-to-day if I'll be up or down - today feeling very distracted and low, and on the edge of tears (not like me, I'm quite stony usually) although this might have been triggered by a rare and pretty minor disagreement with DH this morning which has sent my thoughts spiralling all over the shop. I have a good job and sometimes feel so energised and excited about it, other days like today it's almost impossible to focus. Though it's not brain fog - more like an overactive, busy brain, I'm hopping from thought to thought, frequently checking social media, can't settle and concentrate on one thing.

I'm irritable, especially with DH, and especially when he's being an arse like today, although I usually keep it to myself rather than going on a rampage - not sure if it's worse to suppress the rage though...

Headaches - frequently at the moment, tension or hormones I'm not sure. I've had a stiff/sore shoulder for weeks but can't tell if it's a weird peri symptom or just something that I've tweaked, but it's not getting any better and is starting to affect my sleep, when I'm not already randomly waking in the early hours.

Like others I do wonder if it's a midlife crisis/pandemic thing, but if it is, I'm confident it's mixed up with perimenopause as my periods are becoming much more erratic too - this one arrived this morning 12 days late!

Everything just feels a bit shit too often at the moment, when on paper it shouldn't. I don't know if all that adds up to a visit to the GP yet or not - I don't really feel like I'd 'qualify' for HRT yet, although I might try some of the supplements suggested on here. It's got to be worth a try to see if I can get some balance back...

@Trixiefirecracker

This all sounds very much like me. I struggled for years but recently have bit the bullet and gone on HRT. Absolutely changed my life, within a week, no more suicidal thoughts or sleepless nights or brain fog. I feel normal again. I actually didn’t realise how utterly crap I was feeling until I felt normal again. It’s been so tricky keeping my head above water but now seems apparent it was just my hormones fucking with me. I had no idea they could be so powerful. I would really recommend getting checked out and seeing if peri menopausal state is the cause for at least some of the way you are feeling. Honestly feel a million dollars now and am so relieved.

@Trixiefirecracker this is so reassuring to read. I have been feeling how you describe. I suffer with depression too but the last couple of weeks have been almost unbearable, just struggling to get through the day without wanting to curl up and just disappear. I’m just not liking anything about life at the moment. My anti depressants are not helping and I’ve tried so many supplements that I really can’t be bothered to try anymore so like you, bit the bullet and picked up my first prescription of HRT today. I’m 49 and haven’t had a period since October so definitely peri menopause related. I so hope this is the answer for me too.