What really works for perimenopause brain fog?

[Biscuitsneeded]

I'm 50 and still having periods. Having occasional hot flushes, but manageably so, and I'm a teacher so I am so bloody knackered by the time I crawl into bed that generally I don't have too much trouble sleeping, although I do wake up in the early hours. Really, though, the only really bothersome symptom so far is the brain fog. It is awful. I have always prided myself on being clever-ish, on being efficient and able to spin plates. And I feel like a walking disaster area currently. I can't remember anything, constantly have to double and triple check everything, can't find the words I need and feel overwhelmed when I have to multi-task. I also get much more anxious about things and I have NEVER been an anxious person. I think it's because I don't feel on top of anything. I don't recognise myself and I hate it. I have read that HRT, whilst great for lots of menopause symptoms, doesn't actually do much for brain fog. Davina McCall seems to be saying that it's testosterone that will help here. Can anyone recommend it? I hardly ever see a GP so don't want to waste their time asking for this if it doesn't help. Thanks.

I was taking b vits and magnesium; they helped joints a little and energy I think but I've taken them for a long time.

It was hrt that made the biggest difference to brain, sleep, temperature and joints.

Worth ruling out other issues such as thyroid or low ferritin.

Again, altering my thyroxine made no difference to brain fog.

@Biscuitsneeded - you deserve to have an appointment at the doctors as much as anyone else! You DO matter. The HRT does help with brain fog, and a whole host of other stuff you’ll have put down to old age.

Get yourself onto their system, and if they’re having to only hand out a months worth at HRT at a time, then surely a month of relief is worth it before you go back for more?

I so wished I’d started HRT several years earlier rather than fannying around (apt phrase, I think) with alternative remedies. Having watched Davina, discovering the Alzheimer’s link, and having seen my DF suffer from it… made me think I should have started HRT earlier.

I have tried three different types of HRT - it is not for me. I'm delighted that it works for most but don't diss all other forms of help which is what the OP is looking for.

I originally tried HRT for hormonal migraines and it didn't help at all. I was still having periods therefore hormones still in place and no-one could coherently explain to me why adding more hormones into the mix would help (remember my body was still producing hormones). Perhaps this would be effective had I been totally menopause and not peri menopause.
After much of my own research and looking into PMDD there was evidence to suggest that PMDD was caused by a reaction to the CHANGE in hormone levels, NOT the hormone levels themselves. This caused me to hypothesise that the same could be said for hormonal migraines and would go some way to explaining why HRT had no positive effect on my migraines. More research needs to be done on this and a nosey old scientist sitting on her laptop in her kitchen ain't going to achieve that.

I take Vit B6, Vit B complex, Magnesium and Vit D plus Evening Primrose/Starflower oil. It all helps and if I run out I notice.
Good luck OP, by all means try everything you can, HRT, Vits, whatever. We are all different.

I am reading Dr Jen Gunter's Menopause book atm. She says that there is no evidence that memory problems are caused by menopause per se, rather aging is the cuase, and that in any case women's memory is still better than men's of the same age when tested.

I feel myself its been a confidence and anxiety issue. I have been suddenly hit by a wave of self doubt. This translates to 'imposter syndrome' at work and in other positions. I tell myself its physical ie direct hormonal cause but perhaps its just this lack of faith in myself as I make the transition.

dr Gunter might be wrong?

twice as many women get dementia as men.

we need drastically more research into this - there isn’t a conclusion either way which is shocking especially when you consider the cost to the NHS for long term care of dementia patients

@Twinsarehardwork what brand of supplements do you use? I take vit d with k2 but would like to look at the ones you mention.

My patches seem to be working although one fell off and I didn’t notice.

HRT but on the highest dose. My brain is now in line with my work colleagues in their 20s.

Combined with: Exercise, Berroca, vitamin D, cod liver oil, sleep, no alcohol, lots of water and blueberries!

I had pretty much closed shop. My brain and joints felt like that of someone in their 80s. I couldn't walk up the stairs as my knees we so painful, the joints in my hands were starting to become arthritic too. All the pain has gone now and I have the energy to spend a couple of hours in the gym a few times a week.

It has without a doubt, given me my life back.

Sadly HRT is unlikely to be an option due to a strong family history of breast cancer, so I'm reading the supplement recommendations with interest

@eurochick please look at balance menopause website for more information. Transdermal oestrogen (patches gel or Spray) is safe with a family history of breast cancer. Please don't suffer under the misconception you can't have HRT.

@Herbyhippo I just mainly use Superdrug own brand

Hi all, I’m in perimenopause, still having periods. I have various symptoms including v heavy periods, bad brain fog, aches & pains. Doc has given me a prescription for Femoston Conti. I’m reading that this is for post menopausal women. I don’t know whether to start it. Anyone on this one? Thanks for any help you can give

@EatAllDay you are correct Femoston conti is for women who have not had a period for 12months. If you take it when you are having periods, you risk very irregular bleeding. Look at the balance menopause website - it will tell you about different types of HRT. Also the advice is to go for transdermal (gel spray or patch) HRT as this is considered safer - not that tablets are dangerous, just TD oestrogen has a better risk profile and is easier to increase the dose if you need more. I would suggest going back to your GP and asking for a different HRT. Just to note though, there is a real shortage of TD (gel and sprays) HRT at the moment particularly in the SE England.

Given that 50% of the population will go through menopause, it amazes me how little GPs know.

Reading this with interest, I'm 43 and my periods are still regular, but they're a lot lighter and shorter in the last 5 years compared to the years preceding. The physical symptoms of pain etc are much better.
But other symptoms are worse, not just around my period itself when some of these symptoms are normal for me for a few days, but now at random times in my cycle, feeling exhausted and sleeping just doesn't help, my hair will look dull, I have a pale and washed out look, feel bloated, wind, the runs followed by constipation, joints ache, hot sweats, increased libido followed by no interest at all, spots on my face or in random areas and dry skin in others, and itching - just random itches everywhere rather than related to dry areas, and the brain fog! I feel like I don't know what's going on half the time, I stop mid sentence because I just cannot formulate or find the words I'm looking for, they're just gone, and I've just started a new job and although not that hard in the grand scheme of things I'm really struggling to learn new things and retain information. And my teeth seem to be disintegrating, I didn't have a filling at all until my mid 30's and always looked after my teeth but they appear to be crumbling, I have cavities and holes and have lost chunks of teeth over the past few years.
I get some of this could be age related but I'm 43 not 83! I have a history of mental health issues too and have had various illnesses fobbed off as that in the past, and had to fight only to be proved right that what I was experiencing was in fact a physical illness, and am worried that I'll just get offered anti depressants again and sent on my way, this feels different though to the depression and anxiety I've felt when diagnosed with depression, I don't feel the hopeless darkness, but all the physical symptoms if that makes sense? I get tearful but not feeling despair tearful, it just happens and I've no idea why, even in my sleep.
I'm looking into some supplements to try and help, but I think I'm going to have to bite the bullet and speak to the GP if I can get near one.

@Maverickess I can't recommend this website enough www.balance-menopause.com/. It has a symptom checker list and everything you need to go armed with to your GP to discuss HRT.

@Blimeyherewegoagain yes there are definitely some GPs who are not up to date with menopause care but don't forget that GPs have to know about absolutely everything from babies to end of life and everything in between. Fortunately there is a lot more information available now to women and doctors alike :-)

@chocolatenutcase thank you I'll check that out.