Peri-menopause symptoms - what to expect

[Newmum738]

I've been having problems for the past year or so and wondering if it's peri-menopause. I was having bad anxiety which has improved. I've always been absent minded and I am quite stressed at the minute but I keep forgetting things and get brain fog. The GP hasn't been helpful- first tried to diagnose depression which I was surprised by. They then went straight to HRT but I'm not sure that's the best thing. I decided to go back on the pill and I think that helped but I've been getting headaches that last for days. In the past I've had that and found it was the pill. This time though, I've come off it and still got the headaches. Ultimately, I'm totally confused about what's going on and what to do about it!

Should have said, I'm 42 at the minute. 43 in March.

It could very well be. Do you know what age your mum was when she went through it ?
Have you Googled the symptoms ? There are many !

I had bad anxiety, lots of random aches and pains, inability to control body temperature especially at night, brain fog (lose my thread halfway through a conversation) and very erratic/heavy periods.

I'd recommend looking at the Balance app symptom checker. It's free. I knew my pressure headaches were peri menopause because when I read the symptoms I realised I have over half of them! I'd thought some were down to turning 40, some I'd never imagined were down to lack of estrogen and some had just been so gradual I hadn't noticed.

Watching with interest!

Thanks @Luckycatt , I've just done the Balance questions again and realise it tracks your symptoms so that's handy. I don't have the key physical symptoms yes but many of the psychological ones.

@KangarooKenny that's what the GP asked but my mum is in her 70's so the awareness when she was my age was different and peri menopause not recognised as a condition so difficult to compare.

GPs often miss the mark with advice. Research the symptoms using reputable sources. If you can afford it, a consultation with a specialist adviser at BUPA or Peppy will save you many months of suffering and inappropriate treatments.

If the pill gives you headache is it migraines? Take this seriously and stay off the pill. HRT hormones are slightly different so this doesn't mean you can't have HRT although this used to be the advice.

Everyone is so individual that you'll get limited help from message boards. You need advice for your situation.

HRT has given me my life back. I'm 45 and started 6 months ago

Hi I’ve been on hrt patches 6 months for peri menopause symptoms which gave me a new lease of life, however my skin reacted so badly I had to change to gel which has sent me back to square one. Contacted my gp to be told I need anti depressants when I refused she insisted on referring to gp guidelines so I asked for a referral to menopause clinic which she refused told me I need to try anti depressants first. It’s bad enough having symptoms but so frustrating knowing the gp’s wrong! Anybody else experienced this?

Same here. My dr have me ADs but and didnt run blood tests. My bloods have now come back with borderline overactive and low LH serum, not really sure what that means. I’ve said I want a referral and I’m private but they don’t want to and feel ADs treat symptoms of peri so no need to take further action. Such a frustrating t situation

It really is frustrating I’ve been told there’s not an accurate blood test at the gp but there’s all sorts available if you go private! I hope you get sorted soon!