Something more going on?

[nodneat]

I'm 47, have briefly taken HRT but not got to a stage I've been on it long term. Previously I have been diagnosed with anxiety/depression however work full time, single parent, worked hard for a lovely home. Decent enough job. I've been single 14.5 years and live with DS.
My issue is memory and confusion. Slow processing where I think it is becoming noticible at work. I'm worried about dementia. I know others ie Davina McColl thought this too. I'm losing my confidence. I do things twice eg I'll make a coffee put it down then make another and think wtf? I can't seem to retain information. Other symptoms, extreme tiredness, felt breathless, tinnitus, apathy. Does anyone else feel this way as a result of peri? I haven't had a period since I had coil fitted 2 years ago. I'm getting blood tests I think for low iron next week. I'm really worried 😟

You're wildly unlikely to have dementia with that full picture of symptoms, at your age, and not being on HRT. Why are they only testing you for low iron? They should be running a full set of blood tests to get to the bottom of it. There's just no way of knowing if it's perimenopause, or something else, or a combination, until they actually check you out properly. Your thyroid, for example, clearly needs looking at, and not just TSH.

Make sure you get your ferritin number if they're checking iron and don't accept an answer of 'it's normal'. They generally go by lab reference values to diagnose (or usually not diagnose...) iron deficiency, which is completely wrong. Dr. Google will literally give you better information than most GPs on whether you are or aren't iron deficient.

But why did you come off the HRT?

@Pollyputhekettleon to be honest I don't know what they're testing me for. I've been given Folic Acid tablets before, 5mg, 1 per day. I've also had Sertraline. I came off the HRT as I'm scared of it 😣

Don't take this the wrong way but you need to take a bit more responsibility for your healthcare. Unfortunately you can't rely on the medical profession to sort you out with something like this, at all. Ask when you go in what they're testing for. They should be doing all the basic blood tests including especially thyroid, iron, ferritin, Vitamin D, B12 and B9.

Get copies of your blood test results including the past ones where you must have been deficient in B9 because they prescribed folic acid. Also ask why they gave you folic acid instead of methyfolate which is more easily absorbed. You don't even need a prescription for it, you can get it in a chemist or health food shop. Here's one kind: Folate Vs Folic Acid: What's the Difference ❓ - Active Iron

You're scared of HRT because you have all kinds of false beliefs about it as a result of an absolutely disgraceful study in 2002. Watch this for a place to start

@nodneat All your symptoms sound very much like peri.

I agree that you should do some reading around about HRT and the risks as you say you are scared of it.

The 'scare stories' are now over 20 years old. It's very safe and the breast cancer risk doesn't even apply for women under 52 using it. That's the average age of menopause when your own hormones would fall, but at 47 you are simply replacing the estrogen that should be there.

Therefore you could take HRT for at least 5 years without worrying. You already have the Mirena coil so all you need is estrogen as a patch or gel to rub on your skin.

Maybe go and ask your dr for this?

The current rate of risk (and some specialists think it may be even lower with some sorts of HRT) is 4 extra cases per 1000 women over 5 years. And that's a much lower risk than being overweight or drinking 2 units a day.

[[https://www.womens-health-concern.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/WHC-UnderstandingRisksofBreastCancer-MARCH2017.pdf

I have been having some very horrible symptoms recently, some of which you describe, and finally decided to go to the doctors. Their concern was Ovarian Cancer initially.
However, one result shows that my ferritin is low, only borderline low but enough that it’s giving me plenty of issues. I am finding I need to be my own advocate as it seems I’m expected to just get on with it but I would like to support myself and my body through this change. I asked for my results and the ranges from the doctors so I could see for myself. I used to work in a laboratory and I know how good my ferritin used to be as my blood was used as a guinea pig sample on the analysers.
I am now taking Floradix whilst I wait for the rest of my results (hormone profile and CA 125) and since taking it, I am mentally sharper and I have more energy. It was just the little boost I needed but I wasn’t going to get that from the doctors!

I'd recommend listening to 28ish days on bbcpodcast. It explains how hormones (or lack of) affects our cycles. I stumbled across it by accident on radio 4 having had a mental sat nav brain block driving home (leaving radio on for dogs, getting lost and arriving home thinking what just happened with my brain) with this podcast on the radio. Basically after your period your oestrogen levels are low and that can make you forgetful. You can skip the some of the more highbrow episodes but I found most quite insightful and I'm no nerd.