Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Menopause

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Anyone else in their early 40’s battling peri-menopause?

7 replies

TerribleImagination · 02/12/2024 21:23

I’m 42 and have just been prescribed HRT for a long list of what the GP said are clearly symptoms of peri-menopause (which I had suspected, hence the GP visit). I am going for blood tests to check general health (including thyroid function) but have been prescribed HRT (estrogen gel and progesterone tablets for 2 weeks of the month).

From the first dose of the gel I woke up feeling AWFUL the next day. Banging headache, super low energy (like I was walking through treacle), spaced out (like I was moving in slow motion), dizziness, nausea, extreme bloating and a very very low mood. These all appeared overnight after that one dose.

It eased off a bit the next day, but the headaches have persisted every day, I’m exhausted every day and still so bloated and retaining water - I feel physically much worse than before I started the HRT. Mood wise I feel fine, but I was taking ashwagandha before and think it was making me feel flat, so haves perked up since stopping that.

Anyway the point of my ramblings is to try and connect with others going through similar, so we can support each other through this wild journey. I have a 3 year old, am planning my wedding for next year and know no one else going through this, so it feels very lonely and also worrying wondering if it’ll look and feel myself on my wedding day, that I’ve waited so many years to get to have.

So if anyone has got to the end of my ramblings and wants to get a thread going to support each other, shout and let’s ramble away to each other!

OP posts:
pompey38 · 02/12/2024 23:13

What symptoms you had ? I think I am as well but after all the tests apparently I’m not , wasn’t offered HRT but even if I would have I’ll probably pass and try to ride it out if it doesn’t get much worst than this

TerribleImagination · 03/12/2024 09:00

I had so many… brain fog, rage before period, heightened PMS, night sweats, water retention, headaches, pressure in my head, trouble sleeping, fatigue, zero sex drive, hormonal spots… the list goes on!

They didn’t test my hormones levels - said they don’t do that cos of levels fluctuating. Just prescribed me HRT based on symptoms alone. Although I took it for 8 days and stopped last night, cos I can’t cope with the side effects of it - they’re worse than what I was dealing with before!

What symptoms have you been having?

OP posts:
bidon · 03/12/2024 15:13

Tests for peri are pointless. That is no longer NICE guidance as they are recognised as pointless. In peri hormones fluctuate drastically so could look 'normal' one minute and not the next.

Guidance is if under 45 to rule out other causes eg thyroid issue via blood tests. Then offer HRT if other causes are ruled out.

OP sounds like you need to go back. That sounds grotty. Getting HRT dose and type correct is huge trial and error unfortunately. So persistence is key. When your hormones have been wildly fluctuating it'll also take a while to get things on a more even keel when you first start HRT. It's why they suggest 3 months then review. In practice I returned after a few weeks. Swapped from combined patch to patch and utro. It's worked a treat. I've just recently been back and had patch dose increased as I was getting a return of some symptoms.

I'm 43. Started peri symptoms 40. Started HRT just before 43rd birthday. Was suffering with night sweats. I didn't see why I should have to put up with disturbed sleep. Patches helped more or less instantly. They helped a whole host of other issues I'd not even connected with peri. Including joint aches and insomnia. It's all just crept up on me and become normal. Getting the correct dose/ type of HRT has been a game changer. Feel like me again. All free via NHS GP

TerribleImagination · 05/12/2024 09:44

@bidon Thanks so much for this, that’s ace to know you managed to get the right HRT. Did you have to battle through any side effects to start with?

I think I’ll hang on for the other blood tests (thyroid etc) and see if anything comes back from them and if all ok I might try the patches. Just taking that esteogen for that week felt like it was too much 🙈 (but it was only 1 pump).

Did your periods change too at the start of this? So far that’s the only thing (hormone wise) that hasn’t changed!

OP posts:
unconditionalpurelove · 05/12/2024 09:54

I am 43 and definitely in Peri. Lot's of similar symptoms. Big one for me was anxiety though and I'm currently taking Sertraline at the minute but no HRT.

butterflysandrobins · 05/12/2024 11:42

@unconditionalpurelove is the sertraline helping? I'm on the everol sequi patches and they are causing me such bad anxiety and panic attacks. But it's even worse when I'm not on them. I've been given sertraline 50mg and it's been sat in my drawer for over a month because I'm scared to take it because of any side effects. I'm already at my limit with the amount of anxiety I can cope with and heard that sertraline can make it worse at first

unconditionalpurelove · 05/12/2024 13:53

I didn't feel great at the start taking it and it did take a while but I do feel a lot better now. It definitely helps stop the panic attacks.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread