Does this collection of symptoms sound like perimenopause?

[thinkfast]

Recently, I've had numerous trips to the GP for the varying and horrible symptoms I've been developing over the last 3 years. Each time, I've asked could this be perimenopause and do I need HRT, and each time I've been told no as I'm not having hot flushes and blood tests have been fine.

I'm 45 and the symptoms are:

• anxiety. I now take beta blockers for this.
• seborrheic dermatitis or possible eczema, mainly on my face, neck and ears. I use protopic ointment for this when it flares up and thick moisturisers overnight. If I miss one night of moisturising, the skin by mouth, nose and behind my ears will start to split and crack.
• unable to tolerate alcohol
• loss of libido
• exhaustion
• insomnia
• aching joints and general all over aches, which can be bad enough to wake me up.

I now have thrush like symptoms on my vulva and one nipple. OTC thrush treatments haven't helped. My nipple is red, itchy and flaky. My vulva is swollen, red and burning. I have lots of watery discharge. No bad smell. I'm so uncomfortable I can't bear it.

I have a GP appointment tomorrow. Could this be vaginal atrophy? Something else?

I feel like every couple of months a get a new symptom to add to the collection, and no improvement.

I'd like to push the GP to prescribe HRT, but only if that's the best treatment for me...

I have a lot of the same symptoms and my GP agreed that it sounds a lot like perimenopause but I’m having tests to check my FSH levels as I’m only 40. I struggle to have blood taken as I’ve got small veins and I’ve had 3 attempts now and another appointment this week but my GP said they will prescribe hormones even if the tests as inconclusive as a trial.

I started my period at 8 and my mum started perimenopause at 40 and was done before she was 50 so it’s very likely that I’ll be similar.

My symptoms started with a huge loss of libido and apart from alcohol intolerance I have the same as you but I also get hot flashes, my periods are less regular and very heavy and I have also gained a lot of weight despite not changing my diet and exercising more. It’s had a huge affect on my relationship and I’m really hoping that HRT will help.

I would suggest getting your hormone levels checked and also looking at a trial of HRT, it’s better to get on top of it early because some women really struggle with menopause. I’m finding it hard to come to terms with symptoms starting when I was in my thirties.

Thanks for your comments. I've had my hormone levels checked, which came back as fine.

Each time I've asked for HRT, I've been told that it's not needed yet as I'm not having hot flushes. As mentioned, I've been given separate treatments for anxiety and for my skin conditions, which kind of work.

My vulva has been getting worse and worse over the past 3 weeks, to the point where DH offered to take me to an and e this morning. I really really hope that the GP can give me something to help with it tomorrow, and that it works quickly.

I read that only 80% of women get hot flushes, so the lack of them doesn't necessarily mean you're not perimenopausal. The NiCE guidelines recommend HRT if 45 or over if you have symptoms even if the bloods are inconclusive. I'd go in armed with the NICE guidelines and very clearly say "I think this is perimenopause and this is what I want to happen".

I am in a very similar situation; esp the vaginal symptoms and fatigue, itchy flaky nipple and insomnia. I am seeing a doctor this week (privately through work): I will report back.

I got the same except for thrush. And was wondering the same. However i stopped sugar for a week and feel amazing! So if you're a sugar junkie like me, it might explain it. Maybe tolerance is lower as you get older...

I had many of the same symptoms, starting around 43. Ran through the with doc, who said I was a good candidate for HRT.
She also said no point doing bloods, as might not show anything at my age. But to give HRT a go and see if it helped. It did help a lot.
Not a magic answer to everything, as I still get skin problems and cystitis too easily if I have sex (always been a bit prone, but this is different level).
Never had hot flushes, but did get some night sweat/terror type things, and HRT has helped with my sleep and anxiety. Wouldn't want to be without it now.

Did HRT help with the vaginal issues? I'm lying in bed wondering how on earth I will be able to sleep tonight. It's absolutely burning. I have no idea if this is thrush, in which case it's the worst one I've ever had, some other condition or vaginal atrophy.

It sounds like vaginal atrophy to me. I was treated for thrush a couple of times even though I said it wasn't and I never had a discharge, until the time I presented at the GP's with the skin of my vulva so dry the GP refused to touch it because it looked so sore. Then she finally agreed it could be VA. I now have Estriol 1mg/g cream that I use twice a week and it has made a huge difference (as well as hrt)

Are you leaking urine at all?

After six months of GP giving me various useless emollients thanks to Mumsnet I kept pushing for estriol cream. GP finally caved and gave it to me. The difference after a couple of weeks was amazing. Urine incontinence virtually gone. I still get the odd leaky day which leaves me very sore. So as advised on Google. I wipe very gently with a cold water flannel then apply sudocreme which works it's magic overnight

I don't leak urine. I will see what GP thinks tomorrow.

I think I'd lie about the hot flushes. I didn't have one until my periods stopped and then only occasionally during the night.

Well, the GP swabbed for different infections and prescribed me some estriol cream, assuming the swabs show no jnfection. No HRT yet. Will report back

I held off on estriol for 11 years. But eventually I really needed it.

I'm glad you had some help this morning

I just realised I forgot to ask the GP this morning, assuming I haven't got an infection, and the estriol works, can I have sex while using it? We use condoms for contraception. What about oral sex?

FFS this makes me SO FUCKING CROSS. So many useless GPs who wouldn't spot a menopausal woman if she slapped them. Hot flushes are not the only menopause symptom, and it is not the correct procedure to run blood tests on women over 45.

Your burning and sore vulva sounds very much ike vaginal atrophy which is incredibly uncomfortable and yes, Estriol cream helps a lot. My GP told me to use it every day for 2 weeks, then twice a week. I use it on the same day I change my patch. It is absorbed fairly quickly, if you apply it in the morning I can see no reason you couldn't have sex in the evening, or vice versa. I have read 12 hours - whatever sort of sex.

I heard somewhere that medical students spend very little time on the menopause. Which is down to the syllabus.

I absolutely fucking despair over the utter shit most GP's spew out of their mouths regarding peri-menopause. They are so willfully stupid it's embarrassing.

Op, the symptoms you have are classic for peri-menopause, and you not having hot flushes and your hormone level results don't mean a bloody thing. Blood tests for hormone levels are not how peri-menopause is diagnosed. At 45, every woman is in peri-menopause, at some stage, but there are some woman who don't experience bothersome symptoms.

Please, stop wasting your time with these useless GP's and go to a clinic if you can.

I think what pisses me off more is that those useless GPs don't have the self-awareness to know what they don't know. I mean, nobody can be an expert in everything and their very title is GENERAL practitioner. But it's like someone who's a house painter and is really great at slapping on emulsion, painting radiators, glossing the woodwork, hanging wallpaper. When someone comes to them asking them to whitewash the outside of the house, something they know nothing about, they don't just have a bash and hope for the best. They are self-aware enough to say that actually exterior stuff isn't their bag, but they recommend their mate Dave. GPs don't do that, they just bumble along with the blood tests and obsession with hot flushes, or in my case, just keep dishing out antidepressants and randomly, folic acid.

Yep I have been through most of your symptoms and more but over a long period of time and I’ve never had a hot flush. The itching got so bad I developed severe eczema and am now on immunosuppressants. The nipple thing too! I’m on patches and vagifem (ovestin actually irritates my vulva).

I didn't realise yesterday that estriol is a type of localised HRT.
One more question, do I still apply estriol during my period?