Peri and menopause - how are we all doing? Chat thread.

[Slavica]

I keep reading the threads in the menopause topic and think we might profit from a general chat thread. A lot of the questions get asked, in different ways, in separate threads - maybe it would be useful to have a general chat thread?

I am 48, in perimenopause, started taking 200mg utrogestan this cycle. My symptoms are mood swings, low mood, hot flashes and night sweats - but the latter two don't really bother me, it's the mood and lack of motivation that really concern me. Currently on cd35 (my cycles have been 21-24 days during the last three years), I guess maybe I'm missing my first ever period.

Anyone else getting a lot of skin tags? My mother's family all have them, I had some since pregnancy, but now I am developing a lot of them (including the really tiny annoying ones). I might be turning into a hag, for some reason the skin tags really, really bug me even though I've never been much into looks.

How are you doing? Stable? Still looking for a solution? Please share.

How is everyone?
I've been stable on Utrogestan 12 days/28. Recently had a blood test and my ferritin is 9 (again). When it was this low last time, I felt awful and took prescription-strength iron until it went up to 50, at which point I took over the counter supplements (still containing 35g elemental iron). This was six or seven years ago, yet my iron stores are still depleted.
I'll have a colonoscopy next week and am on prescription iron again. My doctor is open to me having an infusion if the tablets don't work well or fast enough. This time, I don't feel so awful, I have some energy and very occasional palpitation - maybe the depletion was more gradual.

All of this did make me wonder if part of why Utrogestan has helped me is due to lengthening my cycle (28-29 days now instead of 21-23, as it's been the case for the last three years or so).

I’m still struggling with mood swings and seem to be having hot flushes again when I thought I was taking enough oestrogen to stop them. But I do think taking testosterone has been a bit helpful with lesser anxiety. I think it’s been worth the stressful begging and pleading with the GP to get to try it.

I'm new to all this just started sequi patches. I think my sleep is much better and I feel less anxious than before. I guess time will tell.

Kicking myself today for leaving a bag with some birthday presents in a shop’s changing room and only realising 36 hours later.
my memory is shot, unfortunately at work I’m paid to be the responsible, organised one and the cracks are starting to show.
im on HRT but it doesn’t seem to be helping with the fog.

Bumping this thread.

I've just had to face the music that I may be in Perimenopause at the ripe age of 37, after another night of hot flushes, extremely itchy skin and incontinence.

Have a number of other obviously peri symptoms, like brain fog, extreme anger and a total lack of libido - the drop from an extremely high sex drive is very noticeable!

Checking in with a cup of tea in hand.

Sorry about your symptoms, @MerryGrimaceShake . Do you have an appointment scheduled?

I've had some hard life events on top of peri so I might be heading to another depressive episode. I hope I manage to evade it this time, but I'm dreading it.

Hello all, hope your day has started well.

I m 45, my last period was May 12th and I appear to be passing a small amount of blood this morning.

Sorry for the TMI, but i passed some blood from my anus yesterday morning and thought it was either a pile or an anal fissure, and wasn't sure if there was any menstrual bleeding. It appears this morning that there is some menstrual bleeding. I just want to be sure for tracking purposes. I guess our immune systems dip as well (explaining my other issue).

Stay well ladies, self care, we need to be kind to ourselves at this time.

Oh, was going to start a new thread in the topic but will pop question on here.

Bern on HRT for a few years & it keeps me sane but last few weeks I the murderous rage has flared up and i’m tense, anxious and feel like I want to stab something

Anything recommended to take the edge of this?

@HairyFarnbarn I tried twice to make tea at my mums last week. Twice I totally forgot to put the tea bags in. Honestly. I am forgetting stuff all the time. And oh my goodness the itching of the ears. Not inside. But on the outside

I have joined a gym. Actually liking it. Had a test done and my bone density is good. So will be keeping a check on that. Doing things there that will help with the menopause. Also cleaned up my diet massively.

I’ve just weaned myself off HRT this last couple of months. I’m 54 and only been on Estrogel as I had a hysterectomy 12yrs ago but have a history of breast cancer in the family and I’ve been on it 4-5 years so the time felt right. Not feeling too bad so far, not many hot flushes at all and the only symptoms seem to be a lot more tired and slightly more achey. I’ve put on a bit of weight recently so decided to start swimming again, get back to yoga and also clean up my diet. Hoping the health kick will counteract the symptoms of coming off the HRT.

May I join? I started hrt last week and am six years post partial hysterectomy.
I'm 45 next week and had a real fight to get hrt ending with a private GP!

How is everyone doing this week?

Thank you @Slavica, I am still waiting for the doctor to get back to me. I had a semi-auto response saying I would hear in the next 6 weeks (!!) so I am sorely tempted to go private. I am so sorry you are struggling with other life events. Have you seen your GP for help with that?

@CreationNat1on It's true about the immune system dip, for sure. Since last year I have had every cold going and it takes a LONG time to recover. I have been sick on average every other month. Most recently I got what I think was Covid halfway through September, lost my voice, recovered after 2 weeks, instantly caught a minor cold, recovered after 2 weeks, instantly developed a bad cough, bronchitis and walking pneumonia which I am still coughing from weeks after antibiotics. DH is now sick with a cough so looking forward to that coming my way.

@Eve I've not found any solution to this outside of going to the GP for more meds! I was on short term anxiety medication after 4 bereavements in quick succession but you can't stay on Valium long term and the other ones don't work for me.

@Sleeplessinseattle234 The itching is driving me mad! I have scraped my ears to bits sometimes. It's not helped that we keep getting headlice but even when we are treated the itching persists.I am glad you have found some routine with the gym. I've tried to keep up with gym on top of all the walking I do every day (long nursery run is an hour, plus school runs on top) but I am so tired. I nearly fell asleep in the team meeting the other day and had to turn off my camera. It's embarrasing!

@LaidBackLettice I hope the symptoms aren't too severe for you coming off 💐

@socks1107 Welcome 💐I am so sorry you had to fight to get HRT. I have heard such good things from other people who have approached their GP about them being far more clued up now on womens health generally but especially Meno and Perimeno. It's shocking to hear some women are still fighting to get it prescribed fairly while others seem to have it dished out at the first mention of a hot flush.

I keep looking at myself in the mirror and feeling like the symptoms are showing a physical toll on me. Tired eyes, Jowels, Wrinkles, and i'm not even into my 40's yet. I drink plenty water, don't drink alcohol and caffeine anymore and get in more than the average amount of exercise a week according to guidelines. Just feeling exhausted. I am doing everything "right" and still feel like crap and can't sleep.