Peri at 44?

[TTCNO2AT44]

I don't know if I'm being paranoid. I have been under a lot of stress for over 12 months, with some very difficult episodes over the last 3 years. I don't know if what I'm experiencing is linked to high cortisol or am I starting peri or something even worse.

Forgetfulness is a big issue. I'm just not as organised as I once was. Struggling to find words, waking during the night and forgetting what day it is, lack of motivation, don't want to cook, clean, food shop, go to work, everything is just a chore and not enjoyable. I'm not depressed, I do get enjoyment out of most days, but life just feels hard. I am married, have a 10 year old and work 4 days a week. Husband works 12 hour shifts so I am alone a lot of the time getting these things done.

Other symptoms are;
tiredness, struggling to get to sleep and stay asleep.
Night sweats or feeling really hot
Lighter periods
Anxiety
Overthinking
Mood swings/high emotions
Digestive issues

I've been back and forth to the GP over many different issues the last 18 months, this just feels like something else I'll be fobbed off with so I've not booked an appointment.

Does any of this sound similar, to peri or anything else?

X

Have you actually said I think I'm peri to the doctors? Have you had your hormone levels checked?

Have you had your thyroid checked or hormone levels?

I absolutely was peri at 44 and wish I had gone to the gp. I just assumed I was horribly anxious due to pressures of life. My god, the difference hrt made for me when I did go on it.

Hope you get a good outcome 😀

Hormones fluctuate over 40 so yes, you'll be in peri. When your periods actually end could be years away but expect erratic cycles and all the things you've listed going forward.

Imo the thing to do is really prioritise health and self care. So lots of physical activity to promote sleep and good mood, doesn't have to be gym sessions just walk everywhere possible instead of driving for starters. Limit or actually omit caffeine and booze, again to promote sleep and stable mood. Calming apps and yoga/meditation for anxiety and stress. Cool bedroom, fan and light duvet for overheating.

Obviously Google HRT, do you research and go prepared with NICE info to your GP if you want to try it but do focus on proactive measures to optimise your health and wellbeing first.

I'm nearly 46 and have been experiencing the things you are for around 18 months, having a history of mental illness I've had various antidepressants prescribed, none of which do much for the symptoms except they piss me off less 😂.

I've had my hormone levels checked once, and they were within normal range - but I have read that it's not accurate because hormone levels fluctuate anyway and you'd have to have them done a lot to establish any issues. I don't know how true that is.

My periods have changed to lighter, with longer in between, skipping the odd one, it doesn't seem to be a set cycle but I do know when it's going to arrive usually by the symptoms, but then sometimes it doesn't arrive at all, I have all the symptoms but then nothing. Those ones seem to be worse for the strange sensations, memory problems and emotional problems, and stiffness.

It's a strange time, one thing I've found though is many women my age and older being patient and encouraging when my brain disengages mid sentence and I lose words or my memory fails to register something, especially in a work situation.

My biggest thing is the itching though, my God, it drives me mad. It's just lots of little itches on random areas of my body for seemingly no reason at all, there's no pattern, no patches of dry skin, just little insistent itches everywhere for a couple of hours at a time.

It all sounds perimenopausal to me. I ll be 46 in April and I think I ve stopped ovulating and am at end stage perimenopause. You are not too young to be experiencing those changes.

I hit the menopause at 47 and was peri at 37 so you're well within the range.

Most likely it is peri. I started last year at 44 with a list of similar symptoms. I had to see a private specialist to get anywhere but HRT has made a huge difference to me.

Ask if your GP surgery has a menopause specialist and book an appointment. They should be diagnosing based on your symptoms, not doing hormonal blood tests. They may well want to do blood tests to check your thyroid, iron levels, b12 etc

The Balance app is really useful for tracking your symptoms and other lifestyle stuff like sleep and mood

Yep, could well be. I am your age with a lot of your symptoms (plus RAGE, my god, the rage!) and was fobbed off by my GP on multiple occasions. Had an appointment today actually at a private clinic and have been prescribed HRT. Having tried everything else (supplements, increased activity, limiting caffeine and alcohol, meditation, calm app etc) I am hoping it helps - I am not myself. I cannot concentrate on anything and its getting on my wick!!

Thank you for all the replies, they are all really helpful. Ive had hormone and thyroid levels checked in the last 6 months and all "within range" only thing I was low on was vitamin D.

I will speak with my GP again, thanks x

Hi lovlies I'm 44 and definitely noticing changes too. The ladies above who say hrt has been amazing. May I ask what you are taking? I've been given sequential patches, so apprehensive to try but know I need too xx

Yeah sounds like how I started. Doctors told me I was super stressed and needed to learn how to relax and do yoga!!! I found my phone in the fridge and really bonkers stuff like that - scary!
it’s was start of peri - started HRT as 45 my god what a difference
over 42 you don’t need to have any tests as started in the NICE guidelines
get reading up and following Louise Newson as she’s amazing for educating ourselves and also as a doctor, what we are entitled too

Hi @margot25 May I ask what hrt your taking please?
So much out there..
My doctor has given me sequential patches to try

I take progesterone day 15-28 and Oestrogel 3 pumps everyday - was 2 pumps to start-
I went from huge brain fog, crying at TV adverts, walking like a penguin due to sore bones/ muscles, to 2 weeks later feeling so much better.
I’m now 51 and realise I started peri at 40 straight after my last baby! I had to arm myself massively with information to fight for HRT as had been fobbed off previously. But there are loads of great Facebook groups out there for help

Aww thank you so much for youre reply and replying. Means alot
So many different hrt out there

Thank you - that's really useful to know. I'm turning 42 this month and plenty of peri symptoms cropping up from 38.

I've been on HRT since 43, had to push for it but worth it to calm down the crazy Peri symptoms.

@EveryDayisFriday what hrt are you on if you dont mind me asking x

I've been on Evorel Sequi patches for a year and they've been a godsend to stop the night sweats, insomnia, rage, hot flushes, brain fog.

Although they work excellently, I'm about to switch to Femoston tablets because the patches itch and don't always stay on because I swim every few days.

Hi @EveryDayisFriday this is what I've been prescribed the seq patches. May I ask have they made youre periods any worse? For me mine are now around 25ish days but are not very heavy & only last a few days. So scared the patches will make them heavier? My symptoms are awful pmt, dizziness and higher anxiety & brain fog x