Any advice for perimenopause symptoms?

[Lovetoread123]

I’m late forties and work full time with two children and a partner who is great- life is busy with little downtime. I’m feeling generally worn out and finding myself getting frustrated by small things more than usual, have had increasingly heavy periods until this month when I’ve had no period which is unusual. Hip, knee and shoulder joints ache (feels like start of arthritis which runs in the family), noticing focus and brain fog/memory difficulties. Any advice from others who have been through similar? Thanks

Oh and difficulty sleeping- regularly wake at 3am and can’t get back to sleep due to brain whirring at 100mph.

Hi I have no real advice I'm sorry but just wanted to reply in the hope of bumping your post. I'm 43 and have wondered if in peri, I've had a few of the symptoms you describe. In also considering a 2nd baby so yes I'm a bit messed up !! How old are your children? I don't know if I could face menopause with a toddler/young child. Life is busy now with a 10 year old !

A friend of mine started taking Star Power meno balance and says they have improved all her symptoms. She got them in Holland and Barrett.

Hrt. I didn't realise how bad it had got and how normal feeling like that become. Actually waking up feeling like I'd slept properly was amazing. I'd tried everything I could think of to try and stay on an even keel.

That’s so helpful, thank you. Mine are 11 and 13. Having two is amazing but equally exhausting! I hadn’t expected it to start yet but maybe it has. When I write the post it helped me realise all the symptoms I have! Thanks again and I hope you get through it ok.

Thank you @gamerchick. That sounds like good advice. Writing the post made me realise it’s actually happening. I also feel like being permanently tired, feeling snappy and physically 20 years older has become the norm. Maybe it doesn’t need to be. Thanks again.

HRT. Can't recommend it enough. Read through the perimenopause symptoms and maybe discuss with your GP. Ask for a menopause specialist.

Perimenopause can last a good few years before menopause actually occurs. I’m 45 and i’ve been gathering symptoms for about three years. Sleep/anxiety is one of my biggest ones. Early wake ups and mind racing, even palpations sometimes.

I take menopace which helped my achy joints, vit d and magnesium. I try and eat lots of food with good nutrition, get out in nature and lots of exercise to help me manage it. Alcohol is not my friend so that is minimised. No issues with HRT if things become worse down the line.

There are lots of guidance/symptom checkers online too. Things like the balance app.

HRT has been a lifesaver for me, although I've just had to have mine adjusted because my uterus decided to start flooding. Speak to your doctor, there's patches and pills and gels to help.

I think it would be worth a trip to the drs. I felt almost exactly the same early last year and went to the gp and after blood tests found my iron/ferritin levels were really low. I wasn't anaemic but had horrible symptoms. As I took supplements all the problems I had experienced improved. I've just been back again as started feeling simular and this time iron and vitamin d was low.

Sorry for waffling! My point is that yes it could be perimenopause. But maybe worth asking for some blood tests to help rule out anything that might be easily improved 🙂

Thanks @zeddybrek I’ll do that.

HRT

gamechanger

Thanks @PrioritisePleasure24 that’s all really helpful. The vitamins sound good and the waking at 2.30/3.00am on a daily basis with panics and feelings of helplessness to deal with problems is leaving me tired thro the day. In daylight they’re all surmountable but at 3am they don’t always feel it! Sorry to hear you’ve had the same.

Thanks @violentovulation i had no idea there are patches and gels. I assumed only tablets. That’s really good to know.

i was told glucosamine (prescription not otc), vitamin d and excercise for joints etc (early onset arthritis). Was told use it or use it!! Seeds-sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds are a good pick me up, as are walnuts as a snack but maybe get checked out to see if you’re deficient in anything in terms of iron or b vitamins.

Thanks so much @Anawi. I’ve had low iron and low vitamin d before so definitely worth the trip to the doctor’s that you and others have suggested. Thanks for replying.

Thanks @stayathomer. Great idea about the nuts and seeds especially. I’ll get myself checked for vitamin deficiency too. Thanks again.

Best of luck!

Hello! I was exactly the same as you. Exact symptoms but really struggled with concentration and memory. I listened to a few podcasts about menopause and then listed my symptoms. I had been struggling with far more than I had realized, like sleep, joint pain, low libido.
Soya Isoflavones ( https://amzn.eu/d/cLdCwnO) have really helped - there is a growing evidence base for this. As did exercise (weight training with a personal trainer) and massively reducing alcohol.
My GP did hundreds of tests and despite everything coming back normal/healthy, she still refused to prescribe HRT.
I made a private GP appt at a local bupa/nuffield hospital and was prescribed HRT after a 30 minute consultation. I've only been on it for two weeks (gel in the AM which I rub into my thighs and 2 oral progesterone tablets for 14 days each month which I take before bed) but I already feel like I can concentrate better and have more energy. The slightly on edge/anxious feeling before a big work event has also disappeared.
After 4 days of using HRT, I slept through the night for the first time in months.
I suggest starting with soya isoflavones and listening to menopause podcasts. The Midlife with Gaby Logan is great and Davina's book is free if you are a Spotify subscriber. Good luck!

Thanks so much @GertrudeGarbo thats really reassuring to hear. I’m awake as usual in the early hours reading this so definitely a sign! Thanks again.

Can I ask, how long did it take on HRT to make you start feeling better? I've been on it for 3 months, and don't feel much different...

I have all these symptoms decided to go to doctors to speak about hrt.

I felt like you OP, at 44, then I started taking a lot of supplements and I regained my energy and resilience and started sleeping better.

It might only be one of them that makes the difference or it's just a placebo effect but I have felt a real change.

My Vitamins Collagen gummy
Propolis
Starpowa Meno Balance gummy (just one)
Vitamin D
Evening Primrose
Heights probiotic
Ashwagandha (For Jugglers by Beauty Pie)

I'm trying to eat a more balanced diet too thanks to middle age spread!

(I did also go to the doctor's for a blood test but no unusual results. Back again in 3 months).

2 weeks in and I feel noticeably better. If you aren't feeling any different after 3 months then it sounds like your dose needs adjusting or perhaps you need to try a different product.

I’m on day 3 of HRT having had most of the symptoms you describe OP. Really hoping I start to feel a difference soon as I’ve just lost my mojo and everything feels like an effort.