Can I attribute most of these symptoms to perimenopause or is it something else?

[Afternoonsnooze]

Or a combination of everything going on in my life?

I am literally at breaking point with my physical and mental health and am really not sure if perimenopause is to blame for the majority of this or not but I not longer know what to do or who to seek help from (and apologies in advanced if this may be a little long winded).

I have not long turned 51 and for the last 6 years my physical and mental health has been really affecting me and it is getting worse by the day.

I have always suffered from anxiety and depression but have now escalated to the point that I no longer no what to do, I’m in such turmoil every day. I dread getting up.
None of this is helped by the fact I help look after my elderly mum who has Alzheimer’s and has recently been diagnosed with advanced breast cancer and having to constantly battle with my dad who is a tight-arsed awkward old man at times and fails to see the stress I am under (I had a meltdown a few weeks ago which I started a thread about and due to the lovely advice given I have organised more help etc so hopefully that will help somewhat).

The physical issues are really getting me down. After decades of gynae issues and endless gynae procedures (including a failed uterine ablation which has left me in so much pain), I have discovered (through my own investigations, no thanks to my gynaecologist) that I have deep endometriosis and diffuse adenomyosis so am looking at the prospect of more procedures and a possible hysterectomy (I have an appointment with an endometriosis gynae tomorrow to find out what the heck is going on).

I have also suffered from gut issues and IBS for decades. To say these issues have exacerbated over the last few years is an understatement.
My digestive system is the bane of my life and completely controls everything right now. I’m having an awful time and despite endless gastro tests, all comes back ok and I’m just left to put up with things. I have tried everything (I mean everything) advised for good gut health/IBS control to no avail. I currently follow a very boring, low fodmap diet and avoid all my known triggers yet still have issues but I could literally eat dust and still have issue. I am certain my out of whack hormones are driving this. I have such unpredictable guts and can have attacks of diarrhoea out of the blue, can be constipated mid cycle, daily gurglings, growling, bloating, excessive gas, feel so nauseous with a gnawing feeling in my gut especially mid cycle, acid, burping, pain. All of this can even wake me during the night or stop me sleeping. There really isn’t a part of my digestive system unaffected and I’m getting to the point of being scared to leave the house.

On top of all the above have a whole host of symptoms these days including,

A red and blotchy face
Itchy skin and last few weeks a very itchy left armpit and all though no redness, dryness, lumps or bumps I am petrified about this since my mums bc diagnosis.
Tinnitus which is driving me to insanity
Smelling cigarette smoke (mainly mid cycle and before period). It worries me that it’s dementia (mum’s first symptom was lose of smell)
TMJ disorder which I’ve had years but has become worse
Sore tongue (but could be related to jaw tension and teeth clenching?)
Blocked right nostril and a lot of catarrh/mucus
Knackered - so so so bloody knackered
Ache all over some days, especially back and legs (no obvious reason for this)
Complete lose of libido (but tbh that’s the last of my worries right now as
feel too crap for sex)
Can go weeks sleeping well then endless broken nights sleep

Weirdly hardly any hot sweats or night sweats unless it’s hot weather!

My mental health is now completely shot to bits. I can’t cope with so much, everything overwhelms me, I’m letting housework build up, bills go unpaid etc. I find work a struggle and would love to leave. I could literally sit and stare at a wall all day doing nothing. I worry about everyone and everything (dc now teens and I worry all the time about them). Worry about my parents and the shit which comes from looking after them etc. My health anxiety is in overdrive. I can not rest or relax and feel as though I have an engine driving me all the time. It’s exhausting. I also have the rage alot everything and everyone angers me.

I appreciate there is a bit going on in my life right now and being a naturally anxious and angsty person is certainly not helping my issues but I wonder how much of this is being made worse by me being in perimenopause?

I don’t know what to do or what to take (currently on no meds other than occasional gut stuff). I have had mixed messages about taking HRT with endometriosis (one gynae said no, another said yes) and have asked on several endo support groups, the general consensus on there was that hrt exacerbated most of their symptoms. I also worry about the bc risk which I know is small but now mum has been diagnosed with bc that really does worry me but I also don’t want the dementia, heart disease and osteoporosis that my poor mum suffers from either - urgh!

My brain is so jumbled and muddled right now that I just can not think straight.

Could most of my issues be made worse by peri? I certainly am beginning to think the endometriosis and gut issues are being driven by my hormones but who really knows? What the hell can I do to try and get back on track?

I so stupidly and naively thought as I have a low bmi, have never smoked or drank and exercise I’d breeze through peri. Well that thought process has well and truly bit me on the arse!

Can anyone with any experience help me….please.

I have recently had a full blood panel taken as I was concerned about possible thyroid issues. My grandad had hyperthyroidism as does my mum. My sister has hypothyroidism and parathyroid disease and I’d heard thyroid issues can run in families but GP says it has come back within range. She also said everything else was within range. I’ve checked on my online GP records and although they are within NHS range some are a little low but because they are still classed as ‘in range’ they won’t do anything about it.

I have an appointment with the Endo gynae this afternoon. If he agrees that I can try hrt I will give it a go.

Under the guidance of my dietician I try to get as much naturally occurring calcium sources in me. I also take vitamin d and k2. And weight train.

I did the lactose test years ago and was positive hence the reason I’ve been dairy free for so long.

I was advised to have a Dexa scan as soon as I reached 50 due to mum having osteoporosis. It is ok atm so thankfully that’s good.

I’m currently trying a more natural type so fingers crossed on that one.

Do you mind me asking what the side effects were on sertraline?

Thank you DailyFailstinks I have noticed that a lot of ladies on the endo support groups have gut issues too. Just hoping the endo hasn’t attached itself to my bowel area.

Can I ask if you take hrt? If so does it affect your endo at all?

It could be hormones or endo, but all of your symptoms can also be caused by stress and anxiety. I have a whole host of physical symptoms that are caused by anxiety.

Thanks for your update @Afternoonsnooze You're getting a lot more help than I appreciated (ie the diet and gut health via UCLH).

I know you say you don't eat dairy but natural Greek yoghurt is low in lactose and a lot of people with IBS and doing the FODMAP can tolerate it.

Can you tolerate it?

You should definitely ask for a DEXA scan as bowel issues can cause malabsorption and this can affect calcium uptake.

Have you ever been tested for coeliac?

TBH if you are spending £50 a time at acupuncture or reflexology ( 1 session isn't going to do much - they often suggest weekly for 6 weeks) you could put that cost towards private meno care.

Ah okay :)

Looks as if you have had all the tests available.
You're getting a lot of help and support medically.

Sorry- x-d posts.

I think with hrt you've just got to suck it and see.
It's not a one-way street.
You can try 3 months and come off it it if makes things worse.
AND it's also your choice- the dr can advise but if you say 'I want to give this a go' they shouldn't refuse. Yes you may feel a bit worse, but it's not a case of 'do no harm' in the sense you'd be seriously ill.

Afternoonsnooze I know that insoluble fibre can cause IBS ppl a lot of trouble. Have you tried things like soup to up your intake of different veg? If you purée it, the insoluble fibre is not stressing out the lining of your gut.

I also have success eating earlier in the day, do you consider timing in your diary?

Sorry if you've tried these things already.

@RosieAway mine were terrible terrible nightmares and random feelings of fear during daylight. I only lasted four days before I went back to the GP. It was many years ago now but looking back I would probably have been OK if I had tapered up to the prescribed dosage.

Boombatty I’m certain the stress is having a massive impact.

Sorry JinglingSpringbells I should try experimenting with a little Greek yogurt, maybe a spoonful at a time, will definitely try this.

I’ve had a host of gastro tests including colonoscopies, scans and a gastroscope with biopsies for coeliac, was all clear.

The acupuncture was gifted to me by my dear friend for my birthday, it’s in voucher form.

I do think it is going to have to be a case of trying some hrt and see how I am with it. At the end of the day I just won’t know unless I try will I? Just wish I wasn’t so apprehensive about it all!

@Afternoonsnooze I'm sending you a PM if that's okay.

@Afternoonsnooze I take Clomiperamine. One of the side effects is constipation!

Thank you Hoglet70 I’ve not come across that med before. I’ll look into that.

Wondering how your appointment went OP?

Thank you for asking.

Ok (ish)I suppose?

He wouldn’t entertain the idea that my gut issues could possibly be connected to my endometriosis and/or the adenomyosis and so didn’t want to discuss that at all which was rather disappointing but I have my gastro follow up appointment next month so will ask her advice on that one.

He also didn’t appear overly clued up on HRT/endo either and wasn’t overly interested in discussing that either so looks as though I’m going to have to find the money somehow and pay to see a specialist in hrt and hopefully someone who is equally knowledgeable on gynae issues with hrt also.

He offered to do a laparoscopy but it will be over 12 months wait on the NHS, so I’ve asked to be out on the list and will just have to wait. In the meantime it’s a toss up of the mini pill which he said may or may not have any impact or Zoladex injections which will put me straight into menopause and can also weaken my bones. As my mum and other family members have osteoporosis this out me off a bit so I’m going to have to plump for the mini pill and will see him in 4 months to see how things are going.