Early Perimenopause

[Emstiel87]

Hey, I'm only 35 but feel I'm experiencing perimenopausal symptoms. GP actually suggested it. Itchy eyes, periods becoming irregular by a week at a time, ache all over especially hips, tiredness is the worst just always tired, and sleeping is a problem, just staying asleep. Dizziness, always getting viruses (I'm a nurse so been pretty immune but the past year I'm catching everything!) Palpitations which ended up in hospital with last year. Sweats which sometimes despite being cold, I can wake up absolutely sweaty, and most of all, highly anxious and down.
Had blood tests done, levels are fine! Waiting for GP to callback next week, as he did say blood tests can show normal levels but symptoms suggest otherwise. Their infact the best they have ever been as I had heaps done about 15yrs ago as had PCOS and issues then.
I'm so young though if start HRT, but I know this can't all be in my head either. Anyone similar??

Hi how did it go? I'm the same at 40, symptoms for two years while they ruled our lymphoma etc etc..just been prescribed hrt but too scared too take it 🤦🏼‍♀️

Hey - so I went back to GP, who wants to rule out any other causes first, got a transvaginal ultrasound next week. Just had a week and a half of the worse symptoms. Found a week or so before my periods due to appear is when the dizziness and symptoms worse. This time I had almost like a flu but it wasn't, really dizzy - period yet to appear but all the aches and pain. So I'm hoping I get an answer soon as cant keep doing this 😕

I'm so sorry you're suffering. Have to say I had all these symptoms about 9 months after my second child at 41. Didn't get hrt till 44 as simply didn't realise till about 42/3. Then spent ages trying to be heard. Periods were relatively regular but I was physically really struggling. About to give up work and only worked part time as it was!

I do think I had some early signs before my second child in my late 30s. Eg heavy periods and mood swings.

Daisy network is a charity for early meno and could be worth contacting.

Worth ruling out thyroid issues too.

Period flu sounds familiar

@WarriorN
How did you find the hrt? After two years I've been prescribed gel and progesterone tablets but weirdly I'm too frightened to take it in case they make any mood swings worse!
This month pre period I've had sore eyes, aching joints, severe rage then tears and mattress soaking stinky night sweats. I have a follow up call from the doctors Monday and a follow up appointment with a private endocrinologist I saw on 9th March. My MIL had oestrogen fed breast cancer so I'm not sure if that is what's making me worry

Oh life changing for me. The whole body pain id been in for years lifted 75% within hours of the first patch.

I had crazy dreams for the first few weeks and early waking but then the sleep kicked in - it was a bit like how antidepressants can start.

Then I felt so much happier and capable.

It lasted about 3 months then I got covid - I had mini long covid and then seemed to go further into meno. (No idea if the two were connected.)

It's taken about 9 months to slowly creep up to much higher doses and feeling better. Just been prescribed testosterone as bloods showed v low levels and libido is pants.

Had thyroid levels checked several times as it sounds like it should be that but their always fine, not even borderline

Did your bloods include ferritin levels and Hb? I've had quite similar symptoms and found my ferritin was extremely low...feeling a bit better since starting iron supplements, so could be worth considering?

I’m older than you at 42 but still earlier than I expected to have to worry about anything menopause related. I went through 6 months of hell before talking to an amazing GP who gave me HRT. I didn’t really have many physical symptoms but the mood swings and anxiety were terrible. Now 8 months into HRT and I’m me again. I am quite evangelical about it!

@Chickoletta
I started my hrt on Monday following another consultation with a menopause specialist and two weeks of intense night sweats and pmt like rage. I'm hoping it works.
Tho someone at work commented today they had managed 15 years without it 🙄

@floodbez1878 I hope it works well for you. I know so many people who have found it transformational. As for the 15 years without it woman - so much for the sisterhood!

I'm 37 and think I might just be starting perimenopause. My mum was 38 my nan was 40 so I guess it's inevitable I'll have it early. Just lots of dizziness, nausea, exhaustion, heart palpitations, the odd hot spell but mainly I'm just feeling so cold when everyone else is warm has anyone else had that cold feeling with it? My periods are all over the place too I'm just charting everything at the moment and looking to go and see the GP in a couple of months after seeing what my periods do. I already know I won't be able to have HRT because I'm High risk for blood clots. Trying to deal with three kids under five whilst having migraines and dizzy spells is interesting!

Hope you are able to get some help and support with symptom management OP from what I have heard and read it can be a hard slog to get through but I keep telling myself women have gone through it since the dawn of time and made it OK the other other side and we live in a time where much more support and understanding is available than the generations before us.

I was the same OP. Started at 37 but took until 40 to get HRT as GP didn't believe me. Very similar to what you describe in terms of symptoms. I'm on the lowest dose of patches which has sorted out my aches and pains, and taken the edge off the mood swings, but am hoping for a higher dose soon.

The HRT really only replaces what we should have had naturally, so it's not like we're taking extra that will do us harm.

Exactly. Just waiting on TV scan right now, then hopefully if rules out other courses, GP might agree for me to try HRT!! Just want my life back and a bit of normality

I've been on hrt a few days now and my ache and pains in my joints have gone instantly, my mood has lifted slightly but no joy with the night sweats yet! I'm seeing a private endocrinologist a week today so I'll be quizzing him thoroughly on hrt too

Joined to reply to this post as I am here with similar circumstances.
My last period was at 35, thought it was stress but it didn't come back so went to see my GP after about 18 months. Had bloods taken twice and referred to an endocrinologist to rule out other hormone disorders.
Still haven't seen the endocrinologist as they keep cancelling on me - it's been 15 months and several appointments that keep getting put back.

I returned to my gp earlier this week as I am having lots of symptoms. They are happy to prescribe HRT off past blood tests but want to triple check with a third next week. So I am looking up all the info I can on it.
Hoping to get some decent sleep, less hot flushes, less brain fog, some actual oomph to do something again, libido to return and for the weight gain to subside but not convinced HRT can do all of that?!

I am hoping it can do a bit though which would certainly help.

Rooting for you as this is my hope to. I know from reading around the subject, it might take awhile for HRT to work, but I just want to try something!

Wondering if I might be also be at the start of peri, did any of you notice period changes prior to this?

Im 41 and a week late for the first time ever in my life and now starting to freak out. My last period last month came extra early and now nothing since 6th of Feb.

My DS have been having flu/covid symptoms these past two weeks and I was also feverish for a day or two. So don't know if a viral infection could throw it off?

Have also had an iron infusion earlier this month due to being anemic and broke out in hives on my arms at the end of the infusion, was abit tired after that. So don't know if also affected my cycle?

But it could also be the beginning of Peri? I've been having a headache these last two days and some on/off spotting so really hoping it will arrive and put me out of my misery.

My periods ever since had covid last summer was when they started becoming a week early, then a week late. And the build up when it does appear, flu like and so so tired, increases in severity each month. Waiting to speak to GP whose consulting gynae, to see if its peri or not and if can start HRT. Just want something. If I had a choice, like men do, I would wish for a hysterectomy as my lady bits have never served me any good, always caused me problems 😕