Perimenopause?

[Namechange2468109]

42 and feeling like I’m going to ruin my life. Doctor tells me I’m too young, bloods all normal except low testosterone and FSH very up and down. GP essentially saying it’s all in my head.

absolutely crushing fatigue, irritability, no sex drive, ‘ hate’ my long suffering supportive boyfriend. I and NOT depressed, my life on the face of it is the best it’s ever been. I want to run out of bed and live my life but I can’t.

Iron, B12, ferritin all OK. Is it worth trying to continue to battle with the Docs? I honestly feel like I’m losing the plot and I hate it

Some doctors seem to ignore peri-menopause until a woman is 45+. I wonder if your doctor is one of those.

What would you like from your gp as a result? Are you pursuing hrt , or do you want to try and make sense of your feelings? Irritability is a biggie for me too. Would you find talking about in therapeutic, even if it's on here , on on a peri Facebook group?

I’m 41 and have very similar symptoms. The fatigue is killing me. I know I’m horrible to be around right now. Been to GP gave me the pill to try, basically said my periods shortening is not a sign, and gave me the pill, which has not helped. I feel like I’m going crazy.

Is there a different GP at the practice? Many doctors are utterly useless with this. You might have better luck with another one.

Might be worth asking older female relatives on your mum's side, because starting menopausal symptoms early tends to be inherited.

Thanks for the replies and sorry to hear you’re all experiencing similar- it’s crap. I’ve decided I can’t continue to live like this so I’m paying to go private and seeing someone tomorrow- if it’s any good I’m happy to share the details.

I need to get on top of this or I will lose my job and my partner.

Sadly I only had my mum and she died recently, I can’t remember what age she started the menopause but I remember her having an absolutely rotten time of it. I feel bad no for thinking she was crazy……

I would bet my bottom dollar that it's peri. I'm 44 and been on hrt for 6 months but have had symptoms for years. Funnily enough it was the horrifically dry scalp that was the step too far for me and made me go to the docs.

@Getoverit1965 how have you found HRT? Have the symptoms improved?!

Ive got my appointment at 8.30 tomorrow- I will report back!!

My GP accepted the diagnosis from a private scan and started saying he could put it in my medical records need not do a blood test or at least it wasn’t priority then. I personally think he was blindsided.

The gynaecologist more known as ‘menopause expert’ at the hospital for other issues was the most weird; my Dad said his eyes nearly popped out saying he hoped that wasn’t the case, (no woman exempt from it I’d thought where I’m 42 or 46) the next 10 years would be awful and talking very fast I could have estrogen patches.

When I looked this up, I couldn’t determine if ladies got on this once lost their periods for 12 months but a recent support group online indicated this wasn’t so.

I booked an appointment with the lady doctor in her 50s as I (rightly as it turned out) figured if she’d recently been through it she’d be the best educated option at my surgery. She was very helpful and sent a bunch of links to more info so I could tell her what approach Id be most comfortable with.

HRT solved several symptoms I didn’t know were symptoms. Not everything but definitely better.

Just been to a clinic in Oxford- they were brilliant- they also do online appointments if anyone wants the details inbox me- feeling taken seriously and a lot more hopeful