Perimenopause? Overwhelming stimulus when it never bothered me before.

[Kathyparr]

Early 40s, definitely experiencing perimenopause symptoms such as broken sleep, itchy skin, aches and pains, word loss, cannot lose weight despite exercise increase and fasting. However a new one and perhaps one of the most difficult is, particularly at night, being overwhelmed by all stimulus such as I cannot stand too much noise, too many people talking but also the feel of my socks, jewellery, the dog lying on my knee, dh lying next to me. I have to get up and walk around, I just cannot tolerate lying/sitting for too long. Sometimes if it's not too late I'll have a quick walk outside which helps me to reset. Anyone else experienced this? Any tips?

I’m less and less tolerant about noise. I find restaurants, public transport etc really tricky now. I wear foam ear plugs at night and I’m about to order some loop ear plugs to wear during the day. The “engage” ones allow you to still have conversations and go about your daily life but help drown out background noise.

I'm having some of this and I think it could be that I have always been high functioning autistic without knowing...so masking is now a noticeable thing I have to do and I don't have energy for it - rather than something I can manage within my energy budget for the day.

I have similar symptoms with fibromyalgia and am now through menopause, so it might not be entirely due to perimenopause.

Yep same here, I often joke I have late onset ADHD or ASD.

I think to be honest, life is louder and more stimulus present

Completely familiar. I can recommend the Loop earplugs that another poster suggested. They help a lot.

I too think it's likely that I no longer have the energy or patience for the masking that I thought was normal up until this delightful stage of life. Apparently there is a surge in women gaining diagnosis of adhd or autism in their late 40s. We've all been very good at managing symptoms until now.

Thank you, I work in a loud environment so have come across those earplugs before. It doesn't seem to be a problem during the day, though I need total silence if I have to concentrate on anything. It is definitely worse when I'm tired.

The ADHD/autism masking is resonating with me. I've always struggled socialising, especially with women and eye contact has always been hard. I find myself forcing myself to do it. I've always wondered if I was on the spectrum but seem to have some symptoms and not others. Interesting to hear about it becoming more frequently diagnosed in middle aged women.

Personally I think the diagnoses of ND in women in menopause, perimenopause is just another example of ignoring the impact of menopause and the impact of hormones and the need to check carefully what is going on.

That is never going to happen, I have no idea what my levels are becuase in order to know properly you have to have such regular checks no one is going to do that. No one checks carefully the impact of waht HRT you are on, or whether you need it, or what type, you're given what you're given half the time.

Its easier to stick a different diagnosis on instead of actually look at what is going on for older women.

There will be plenty of people who always had those traits and symptoms and are perhaps just very late diagnosis but its become common now to ascribe menopause problems down to ND

Yes! 🙌🏼 I am absolutely experiencing this, especially with noise. I can’t stand it if more than one person speak at once & am finding it increasingly difficult to concentrate if there’s any sort of background noise. I’m currently sitting here in baggy shorts & t-shirt because all of my clothes are uncomfortable. I also can’t cope with the TV/radio being too loud and am constantly turning volumes down.

So pleased it's not just me. What with the overstimulation, itchy skin and scalp and poor sleeping....

I had a terrible ccombination about 18 months to 2 years ago of work stress + house moving + what I now realise was peri-menopause. I felt marooned in a sea of stress where I couldn't get a handle on anything.

I also have had, in the back of mind, the thoughts that I may either be autistic or have ADHD. The various online tests suggest I have a high score on masking and high score for autism.

I've been on HRT for about 4 months now and feel more in control. The things that made me question autism or adhd are still there, but I'm not as overwhelmed now my hormones are in the process of being managed.