Could all of this be Perimenopause? - I am so bloody unhappy.

[JustlookingNotbuying]

I have an appointment with a new GP end of next month and am hoping amongst all hope that after 4 years of misery and being fobbed off by other GP’s in 2 other surgeries this GP will take me seriously and agree that I may be in perimenopause.
I am 49 and have felt crap for the last 10 years but really bad the last 4 or 5 years and yet no one has taken me seriously.
Additionally, I have suffered from heavy periods all of my reproductive life but during the last 10 years they started getting very heavy (flooding, clots, anaemia etc). Scans showed thicker than normal uterine lining and polyps.
I have had these polyps removed 5 times over the last 8 years, all via hysteroscopies and each time I am ‘reassured’ they won’t come back. They do (bloody hormones!).
Last summer I had a hysterectomy and Myosure polyps removal procedure.
But it didn’t help and the heavy bleeding became so bad that my ferritin levels dropped to 3 and in February this year I had to have an iron infusion.
Its been so difficult getting a gynaecology consultation during Covid times. In 2020 I had a 10 minute appointment over the phone with a gynaecologist I have never actually seen, he didn’t allow me any time to ask questions etc. In August 2021 I eventually managed to physically see a gynaecologist who couldn’t really help as her interest was in obstetrics. I requested a uterine ablation, she said she didn’t perform these but would refer me to the gynaecologist who did this procedure. The appointment came through for April this year and first time I met him was 5 minutes before the pro procedure. It went well and he said it would reduce and hopefully stop my periods all together.
I didn’t! I have had 4 periods since and each has progressively become heavier and now last 10 days instead of my normal 6.
I have a follow up with him this Friday.
I want to request that I am referred to a menopause clinic. I want to discuss all of my issues with someone who knows about Perimenopause/menopause - can I request this?
I have endless Perimenopause symptoms which are slowly getting worse and slowly chipping away at my soul. I am miserable.
I am constantly anxious (which is beyond awful in the mornings), depressed, crying all the time, have no tolerance to anything, no libido and dryness (my poor dh puts up with a lot), awful daily digestive issues with nausea, disturbed sleep, aura migraines during periods, a sore mouth and tongue, joint and muscle aches, hot feet (weird I know!).
I am sure this is all peri/hormone related but the GPs I have seen so far say I’m not quite there yet and I just get offered bloody antidepressants.
Does anyone recognise these symptoms in themselves? Could this be Perimenopause?

With the average age of menopause (periods stoping altogether) 51 and it being common to have perimenopausal symptoms up to ten years before this, it’s highly likely many of your current symptoms relate to this. But to me, with all the issues you’ve outlined, you seem way beyond basic peer to peer advice on the internet and definitely need expert help! It sounds like a really difficult time and I’m sorry you’ve not had consistent care.

TheOGCCL that’s where my frustrations lay. I really have had no luck with my previous GPs, I am hoping my gynaecologist will be able to refer me to the menopause clinic at my local hospital. If not, I am back to square one!

I have been fobbed off all the time .GPs just don't take it seriously. My hubby knows more about menopause than any GP I've seen . Op I really understand what you're saying . There have been times when I thought I was going insane and that I'd been possessed . Went to the surgery today as I think I have a vaginal infection have to wait 3 wks for a smear.I had my blood pressure checked at the pharmacy after, seems ok but he said my heart rate is high I said yeah I know it's palpatations from perimenopause , he just looked totally embarrassed and said I could go , you'd think I'd just shouted out the word penis or something.

I have all the symptoms you've mentioned and more. The hot feet feel like they're burning from the inside. I feel like my whole body is under attack it's horrible. I ache from head to toe never been in so much pain . I'm an ex gymnast and every injury I've ever had has suddenly started hurting because of high cortisol levels . I take every menopace product there is , I've stopped drinking and I do yoga /walk our dog / work out and I feel like shit . 🤕

Dreadful the way you have been treated by professionals op. I have some of your symptoms and despite being on HRT for the last 4 months, still feel pretty crap. I am strongly considering going to a private menopause clinic (and putting the bill on a bloody credit card, as I don't have spare money to hand) as I want to see someone who knows exactly what they are doing . Sick of seeing student doctors of around 28 or middle aged men who haven't got a clue.

Of course it's peri-menopause. Go privately to a clinic if you can. Well worth it.

I’m seriously considering putting the cost of seeing someone privately on my cc too, can’t afford it but can’t afford to live this half life either.
I have a gynaecologist follow up from my ablation on Friday, I will ask him if he will refer me to the menopause clinic. If it’s a no, then private it will have to be.

Hi @JustlookingNotbuying I sympathise 💐

Have you researched the local menopause clinic? Like, the name and location. Do consider going into this appointment ready to tell the gynae that you want this referral, to this specific place or one identical at the other X clinic, don’t just ask! If you’ve got the name to hand it’ll be simpler for them. If you’re ready to fully indicate that you are a women on the edge you can screech “I’m advocating for myself!!” I did this to get HRT and it worked 😬

Good luck!

How are things with you now @CamoTeaLaLa? Have you been able to finally get listened to & onto HRT?
It’s horrific the way we are failed by the medical profession. Hoping so.

you wrote this "Last summer I had a hysterectomy"

if you had your uterus removed it is not possible to have menses. serious vaginal bleeding after having your womb removed would be cause for immediate investigation.

Have you had an ablation or a hysterectomy? You said you had both but the ablation is the step before a hysterectomy, usually wait a few years after to see if it doesn’t take and then hysterectomy is your final stop. A hysterectomy removes your womb and you automatically go into menopause and will have been started with hrt. If you have and you are still bleeding then you need to go to A&E

@Whycantibetangy a person does not automatically go into meno if all they remove is the uterus. if the ovaries remain in place hormone pattern continues as usual just no bleeding (as no womb to line and no womb lining to shed).

I suspect she meant hysteroscopy which is a procedure guided by camera to remove polyps or take a biopsy..

OP I hope you’re well..

i agree @NOTANUM

@greenspaces4peace my bad, but they would’ve had an in depth meno chat at the time though? I have a very similar medical journey and perimeno and meno has been mentioned at each appointment along with options for managing it via hrt.
perhaps OP has just been unlucky with healthcare providers. I would suggest printing out a copy of the nice guidelines, take them to tie gp and tell them you want hrt

@JustlookingNotbuying hey. Sorry to bother you. I’m due to have a polyp removed via Myosure tomorrow and I’ve read so many horrid stories. Would you be able to share how you found the procedure?