What was your first perimenopausal symptom?

[Artisanna]

Hello.
At what age did you find out you were perimenopausal, and what were your first symptoms? I found out at 52, My first symptom, which I didn’t know at the time, was heavier than normal menstrual bleeding. Thank you.

@Upfartooearly

Apologies if this is a silly question but how are the early signs of vaginal atrophy usually detected?

Is it something that shows up during a routine test (like a smear) or is it something you can actually feel?

Eczema behind my ears. Erratic cycles after that. Currently have terrible brain fog.

i honestly thought I was on fire!! I was suddenly SO hot… I actually turned round to see if I had ‘caught fire’

Oh, forgot to add…

total revulsion at certain smells. I ditched rapidly all my perfumes except the very lightweight ones and poor DH was not allowed near me if he didn’t “smell right” He ditched many posh aftershaves as they made me retch.
This smell issue applied to foods, people, shop smells, coffee, fag smoke, alcohol… so damn many things. I could however sniff my German Shepherd for hours on end no matter what she smelt like.
We changed cars twice as the smell made me car sick.
Utterly bizarre and I still struggle with certain smells even now.

I can only talk about my own experience where it wasn’t picked up in any internal exam (so I’ve no idea if it can be) but through discussion with my doctor about the symptoms I was experiencing: lack of lubrication during sex, irritation after sex, sensitivity when using tampons, and sudden, desperate urges to pee. These symptoms took some years to develop to an extent that I raised it with my doctor rather than adapting my life to accommodate them - and it was only after being prescribed an estrogen cream that I joined the dots.

In retrospect I’d been having anxiety and headaches (unusual for me) for a couple of years as well as continuing spotting in late 30s but it was a massive flooding episode on holiday that scared me and dh to death that sent me to the GP.

After some trial and error (especially with progesterone because it can take my mood too low for safety on the 200 formulation) this is my regime

Sandrena Gel 1.0 sachets x 2
(tried lower, mood plummeted) alternating left/right side of the body each day.

Micronised Progesterone 100
(shoved up Lady Garden right before bed) 27 days on, 3 days off

Testosterone (male formulation)
Teeny tiny pea sized micro pump most days, various parts of body to avoid fluff growth. So far side effects few bar a return of teenage acne briefly when I first started.

Vagefem (pea shooter style applicator)
Up Lady Garden when I notice I’m having to get up to pee more often, in the morning.

For the ADHD, I’m unmedicated (and staying that way, already too many meds to juggle when you include anti-depressants and thyroid fixer) I joined Focus Revolution over 18 months ago. Pretty much that has eliminated the worst aspects of my ADHD. I’ve learned to work with it, not against it IYSWIM. And I don’t feel like a crap “broken”human anymore.

@Upfartooearly

Really helpful to hear your experience. Thanks so much for sharing!

Are you looking for help with some part of this @Artisanna
You've mentioned being aware of peri at 52, but your other posts say you still have periods.

How old are you now?
I do have other symptoms too. Periods and my gut are my main concerns.

Are you looking into what can help, such as maybe HRT?

@BlooomUnleashed thank you so much for taking the time to reply. Really helpful 💐

@JinglingSpringbells Hello again.
I’m 54. I considered HRT last year, but I had some irregular blood test results, and several doctors wanted to determine the root cause. There were health symptoms that I should not ignore. Additionally, I have an autoimmune disease, so I’m uncertain whether I can take HRT.
I experience heavy bleeding with clots for a few days each month. Most mornings, my bowel movements can be irritating, and I am becoming more sensitive to certain foods.

My GP practice only has a menopause nurse who is not regularly available. I have discussed HRT with my husband in the past, and if the time is right. I may consider going private and would like advice on how to seek guidance, as well as whether it is best to find a menopause specialist through 'thebms.org.uk'

There are some women here who know what to take and what benefits them. Hopefully I can come here often. I'm not a regular user, so I apologise if I make any mistakes here. xx

How did you find out? My doctor won’t give me a blood test as apparently they are unreliable, I’m sure I am perimenopausal I’m nearly 50, my first symptoms at 48 was really heavy periods too, soaking through my towel and I had a tampon too, they have stopped now but I think that’s because I went back on the mini pill, I couldn’t cope. My annoying symptom now is itchy ears they drive me crazy! I’ve looked it up it is a symptom apparently.

@pinenuts75 You are perimenopausal. Have a look at the NHS website on menopause.
I have had different symptoms in the past(40s) but didn’t recognise them as symptoms of perimenpause. I had to browse and read about women’s health. I went to ‘patient.info’ first before researching and going to other sites and chat forums. They have been helpful.

My periods became heavier, and I experienced palpitations and tiredness frequently, which prompted me to visit my doctor. I hadn’t seen any doctors for over six years. Blood tests can't diagnose peri due to fluctuations, but I found out I was anaemic and deficient in certain vitamins.
The majority of doctors will say that blood tests can't confirm perimenopause; it is diagnosed primarily by symptoms and clinical history. I asked about hormonal tests, but my GP said that hormone levels fluctuate during this phase of peri. I think she will do the tests when I reach menopause.
Take care.

Night sweats

I’m 47, quite subtle for me but over last three years hair loss, anxiety, loss of focus, more unpredictable periods (though they have never been predictable)

not experienced the joys of hot flushes yet though am looking forward to that because all the women in my family have had them

started hrt this year, not sure it’s helped a lot other than periods are a bit more predictable

38
its taken 6 years to get hrt.
Excruciating sex, irritability, depression, anxiety, brain fog, aching bones. Then night sweats kicked in and I realised what it was. I also had problems with bladder and bowel control.
One gp had a look and could see I had vaginal atrophy and still did nothing.
got hrt last month. It’s been a revelation! I basically camped in the doctors surgery, had a private appointment, saw 5-6 different gps at 2 surgeries (not including private)
sat crying at every appointment begging for help. until eventually one young gp referred my notes to a gynaecologist. Who said no problem put her on it.

I finally feel like a human and like I might have a future.

Hi girls. for those taking HRT, it takes time to see improvements and to get the dosage right. If it doesn't work, there are alternatives.
Take care all. xx

Vaginal atrophy since I was 43, yep straight in with the worst symptom! Followed by anxiety and my eczema going off the scale to the point where I was permanently itchy and now have to take autoimmune meds to keep it at bay. Now battling brain fog. Still haven’t had a hot flush.

Thank you all for your responses.

I’m 46 now. When I was 44 I went to the pharmacy and asked for “something for the mental”. Thankfully, the pharmacist was a middle aged woman who totally got it and tried to help.

No peri symptoms for me.

Brain fog, anxiety, eczema behind my ears

I am 46 now. I started having night sweats at 43 which lasted about 6 months. They settled down but then I started not sleeping well, having terrible brain fog, feeling achy at times, not having much appetite. I missed a period and then had one that lasted 8 weeks.

Other than the brain fog, I feel ok at the moment and everything seems to have settled. My periods are still relatively regular but much lighter so that’s a plus. Who knows how long til they stop.

44 - sudden heavy night sweats just before and around my period.
45/46 - random twitching and body jolts added in.
46 onwards - awful digestive issues, loose stool, urgency and at times uncontrollable diarrhoea (I had a few accidents). Terrible, crippling anxiety due to this.
Over the past few years periods have become very heavy, closer together. The highs and lows of my cycle are awful with incredibly sore breasts, spots, headaches, twitches, jitters, internal tremors, dry eyes, joint pain, tinnitus, TMJ, sore feet bones. The list goes on and on. I’m 52 and there seems no end in sight. HRT (oestrogen) makes me feel awful and exaggerates most of my symptoms

Age 35

Weight gain on stomach
Aching joints
Energy depletion

Pms symptoms before period as usual, but also before ovulation was a new one.

Brain fog
Hairy chin

Sleep zaps when I'm falling asleep during ovulation

I just feel like I've aged about 10-15 years in the past 2 years.