Brain Fog or?

[MissusWeasley]

Would anyone mind sharing their perimenopause brain fog symptoms please? I’m 48 and my doctor thinks I’m not in peri (no hot flushes yet etc) so I’m scared about other causes of the symptoms I’m having. I chronically can’t remember names, forget stupid things, make obvious mistakes. Forget I’ve moved things and think someone else did etc. It’s actually scaring me and I’m worried about dementia.

If your doctor thinks you’re not in peri just because you’re not having hot flushes, you need a new doctor.

Your doctor is wrong.

Your symptoms are classic peri. I have it in spades and I'm on HRT!

You need to ask for a trial of HRT (if that's what you want).

This was me. I genuinely thought I had dementia. But it turned out I had anaemia… Brain fog has gone as my iron levels have improved. Has your GP checked your iron at all?

Look into your iron levels and whether you have suddenly become more sensitive to sugar.

Brain fog is one of my biggest symptoms. I get overwhelmed and confused easily and sometimes I can’t remember the words quickly enough for even simple things. I often ask DC to pass me “the whatsitcalled” and point!!
it causes me lot of anxiety

I'm 47 and haven't had a single hot flush but I'm DEFINETELY peri menopausal, I've had brain fog, anxiety, sleeplessness, tiredness, aching joints (I would say rubbish skin but I've always had eczema so that's probably not a symptom), my menopause nurse put me on HRT..... dear god! What a revelation! Every symptom dialed right down (except the rubbish skin damn it!). Brain fog is crap, can't remember or retain anything, I'm usually v reliable but I started forgetting appointments, meetings, I couldn't get my words right, especially when writing, drove me crazy, I felt like I couldn't do my job any longer and was starting to think about quitting the job I had previously adored. I'm currently listening to 'Menopausing' by Davina McColl, it's worth a read / listen to. See if your G.P. practice has a menopause nurse and make an appointment with them, they are the people in the know. Menopause isn't just about hot flushes. I wouldn't say I'm completely back on track but I'm so much better than I was. I also spoke to my manager at work who has been brilliant.

Thanks everyone. It helps to make me feel I might possibly not be losing my mind or dementia, which is terrifying. The doctor actually did mention that as a possibility, but then said not to worry yet. Of course now I’m analysing absolutely every stupid mistake I’m making and name I’m forgetting.

My doctor is usually pretty good about things and has helped me with other stuff in the past, but for some reason seems to be thinking this is not menopausal, although I’m right in the age category I think. I’ve got friends who see the same doctor that don’t seem to have an issue getting help with menopausal issues, so I suppose I need to figure out why he thinks it’s not that for me.

I also don’t know where I am with my periods because I had an ablation. I had some sporadic changes in my cycle before then, a few early periods, but that was about a year ago that I had the ablation. It’s great that it worked, but it leaves me in the dark on that side of things. A few people have mentioned, anaemia, and I did have that in the past due to heavy periods, but after the ablation it’s been resolved.

I do eat too much sugar, so that’s a consideration.

Part of the problem is the brain fog makes me feel overwhelmed by researching. Are there downsides to taking HRT? If you’re not menopausal is it just that it won’t work and you come off it? I know, I just need to go back to my doctor.

You’ve got two choices. Tell the doctor what he wants to hear, so you get HRT, or print off the NICE guidelines and show him that you have symptoms and you’d like HRT now thank you, as per the guidelines.
When I started with brain fog I started taking magnesium L-threonate which helped, but it doesn’t completely make it better. I’m now on HRT but it’s not completely gone, I think you have to accept a bit of it.

I agree re magnesium threonate and checking to see if you're anaemic

My GP says that starting HRT when under 60 doesn't give indications for breast cancer

Take a look here for more info.
https://www.balance-menopause.com/
There is also a free app to track symptoms.

Best of luck!

My brain fog I consider is forgetting words. Every day for simple things, it's infuriating