What is this now?

[Ahappymediumlarge]

58, last period 5 years ago. Never been on HRT as symptoms never seemed too bad, and have always been worried about the breast cancer risk due to close family members' experiences.

For the last couple of years the only really troublesome symptoms have been flushes, which start in the evening and wake me up at night (night sweats), and some brain fog, which could be due to the disturbed sleep.

Then, a few weeks ago I went through a short period of having weird other symptoms: nausea, digestive issues, headaches, sudden anxiety attacks, fatigue, palpitations, a marked increase in flushes/night sweats and feeling much more brain foggy. It could have been something else but it did feel hormonal. By the time I'd decided to contact my GP it seemed to wear off, and I was OK for a while.

Now it has returned, same symptoms, and checking my diary I've realised it's exactly 4 weeks since the last time - not sure if that's significant. Pretty racked off with it, tbh. Does it sound hormonal? I'd consider speaking to a female GP (which is extremely difficult to arrange at my surgery) but I'm not sure what else I can do. I'm otherwise healthy, but wondering why these symptoms are suddenly rearing their heads at this stage?

I’ll be keeping an eye on this thread! My circumstances are different to yours (42, still having periods, on HRT) but the symptoms you describe are exactly what has happened with me the last week or so, pretty much all the things you’ve listed.

So no advice from me OP but my sympathies for what that’s worth and hopefully someone more knowledgeable will answer!

I'm otherwise healthy, but wondering why these symptoms are suddenly rearing their heads at this stage?

It's menopause! The lower your estrogen falls, the more symptoms some women get.

Some women are still having those symptoms in their 70s and 80s and stay on HRT for that reason. All those troublesome signs of menopause often only start when periods stop and can go on for years and years.

I appreciate you say it's cyclical but that probably means that although you aren't ovulating your body may still go through a kind of 4-week cycle (I don't know the reasons why but many women in peri do get all the symptoms of PMS but no period- called phantom periods.) I know you aren't in peri, but you take the point?

Either you ride this out- but it could go on for years- or consider HRT .