Hi - I’m 41. I suffer from two autoimmune conditions - Addisons’s (which has wiped out adrenal function) and Hashimoto’s (wiping out thyroid) meaning I have been on steroid and thyroxine replacement since 33. As a result I have very regular endocrine screening. My endocrinologist has picked up a steady march upwards in my FSH over the last 6 months from c.4 in January until today on Day 2 at 9.3 with my oestradiol <100. I know this all means I am rapidly approaching menopause. It’s all happened faster than expected. I have suffered with some breast tenderness and PMS moods but my cycles have been pretty regular between 25-28 days since I finished breastfeeding my last child four years ago. I haven’t had hot flushes. I honestly wouldn’t have felt I needed to go to the doctor about perimenopause or menopause if I wasn’t having the reality spelled out to me in blood tests. I have been really stressed since starting a new job in January. I wonder if this tipped things over the edge. I feel really tearful about it all - it’s all an earlier than expected and seems to be moving so suddenly. I feel like in a few months I have gone from being still young and vaguely attractive to suddenly an unattractive barren husk and past my useful purpose. I know there are far worse things to get but also the prospect of another condition to manage just seems so overwhelming and a little unfair. No other member of my mother’s family or my sisters have had an early menopause. Just looking for some handholding, and like I can handle this and maybe feel better. We have a strong history of osteoporosis and so I’m obviously worried about that. I have a history of eating disorders so really worried about what HRT
will do to my weight. Not sure if I’m
making any sense.