Starting a thread on Perimenopause- join me 🙃

[rainydaysamonday24]

Hi!
starting a thread on Perimenopause in the aim to share stories, tips, experiences and symptoms.

Me: 47 yrs, periods still v regular - 24/25 day cycles. Feel like my peri symptoms began a year ago however. Have had night feelings of heat, rather than sweating as such! Aches and pains, lower back was bad last year.
With periods still regular I’m wondering if HRT is too soon.
i also don’t want to start HRT - rather to keep going with diet and exercise. Have taken up swimming and that has improved joints and general fitness.
However! Feel like I need to get a blood test to see where I stand!

So new to all this…need help!

Please share your stories….

Hi 👋🏻
im a year younger but exactly the same timings of cycle and time I’ve had symptoms as you.

I have had a lot of night sweats and wake up clammy a lot.

I’ve recently bought bamboo shorts and vest tops and still have a summer duvet on and the window open.
if I keep a foot stuck out it’s ok

im also reluctant to start hrt and somethings really stopping me perusing it.

I’ve recently bought menopace plus after recommendations on here and that seems to be eveningme out abit more

fatigue is hard in the month I’m finding and my joints have been sore however I’ve gained two stone fairly quickly I’m guessing due to eastrogen slowing down and depleting so that’s not helping with the joints.

I’ve bought a walking pad I really need to start using again as I can clock up 10,000 steps int hat watching tv in the evenings.

im definitely suddenly feeling different and libido has disappeared

Hi. Please can I join. Im also 47. Feeling very hot at night, but not sweats. Need to find cold patches in the bed for my legs. Have been experiencing weight gain around stomach and awful bloating. Get easily agitated lol.

I am 44. Regular periods that are super heavy. I am anxious and panicky, I get brain fog. No sweats yet. Weight gain and not interested in sex. I have lost feeling there. Impatient and have irrational reactions to things. Earlier today I decided all people were idiots and rude and horrid. This was because I smiled at another parent in politeness and she just looked at me like I had two heads and normally I wouldn’t care but I was furious this time ! 🫣

Welcome all! I have found that I do get moments of calm. Has anyone else found that?
but the rage 😡 offff! I totally get the feeling of thinking everyone or rude and horrible.

are any of you taking vitamins?

Hi going through this too.
I'm 38 though more of a surgical peri menopause then natural.
Got the night sweats, irregular periods (go missing for a month or so) mood swings I don't know how my partner puts up with me somedays lol some brain fog and just feel life is getting crazier and crazier and so much more stress and anxiety some sleepless nights.
Not to mention my migraines I used to get when my period was due are all over the place now.
I've already had 2 hip replacements for a bone dysplasia but my ankles, knees and shoulders are killing me a lot.
I'm scared to take anything for hormones anything as with my migraines I could get a stroke if I take anything with hormones so I feel at the moment best bet is to ride it out then see how I go.

Nearly 52. Period cycle becoming increasingly variable - last two were 55 and then 25 days. Flow has increased though and I’m often flooding, which is something I never used to do.

I had night sweats a couple of years ago but they stopped. My main bugbear was insomnia.

I have been on BHRT for the last year - I take DHEA and a B12 complex in the morning and two different progesterone tablets at night - one to get me to sleep and another to keep me there.

I’m due for a consult and I think I need a tweak. I have itchy skin on my shins and I am frequently rage-y or bursting into tears plus I’m exhibiting some anxiety symptoms. I’m thinking my oestrogen levels are tanking.

No joint aches, and although I’ve never had great skin I suddenly look very much 52. But I’m also at a point where, quite frankly, I don’t give a fuck.

Both my sister and mother didn’t hit menopause until they were 60. I’m not sure I could stomach another eight years!

Gosh so much variation in symptoms. How do we get through the days?
😆Gotta laugh or you’ll cry right?

anyone had any issues with bloated belly? I look like I’m carrying twins one minute, then it’s down and then back again,,, like what the !

what stage did you get a blood test, a confirmation that you needed hrt?
anyone not done hrt and just purely focussed on diet and exercise?

I'm 48 and I started HRT 2 years ago. It has definitely helped with my temper (according to my OH) but I still suffer from anxiety, night sweats and other symptoms like itchy skin, ringing in my ears and a constantly brain fog. I am trying other things to help like a peri supplement, trying to exercise when I can etc. but I'm finding things really hard. I freelance and my job has all but fallen off a cliff because of AI, my kids are ND so present some issues and my OH is always at work (and has his own stresses as his mum has dementia). So I do think midlife is harder anyway.I am still trying to find the right balance of hormones but it's a challenge. I do wonder if testosterone would help, but this isn't currently available on the NHS. I would love to go private but it's just not affordable right now.

Oh yes the itching inside my ears at times drives me absolutely insane.

im def more bloated. I have a hideous round face right now and yes I look pregnant most of the time that’s the worst but for me as all I want to wear is comfy loose fitting clothes but then I feel so grumpy and shit about myself. It’s dreadful

so to feel better of course I eat more shit which isn’t really helping.l but getting the motivation to sort my shit out has disappeared along with my sex drive and sparkly eyes 🙈

I’m 48 and have the mirena coil so no periods at all which is bliss. I’m not on HRT, not sure when to start taking it. Since the summer have been overheating in bed which is waking me up and disturbing my sleep. I’m not soaked in sweat but get very hot/clammy. I was probably awake for about 2 hours last night but I seem to get by on interrupted sleep. For now. No other symptoms really, minor joint stiffness which I do yoga for. Maybe a bit emotional on occasion, get terrible hangovers and can’t wear a thong all day anymore!

Hello, please can I join. 👋❤️

42, started getting symptoms at 39 but thought they were post viral issues. Diagnosed as perimenopause on symptoms at 41 (now on HRT) after much toing and froing to the GP. Would love to share tips/vent etc. I have found it so isolating and like living on a rollercoaster!!

My first tip is tencel bedding really helps my sweats and overheating!!

47.5 years old, periods went erratic and very heavy - flooding etc until I had the mirena fitted a year ago. Bleeding almost non existent now but put on 1 stone and it’s flattened my mood.

my symptoms come and go but I have been hot at night, anxious, depressed, heart palpitations, dry and sore vulva, hearing issues, brain fog, aching joints, crepey skin, cystic acne to name most of them.

lifestyle changes have helped a lot and I function really well but it can all go to pot sometimes for no reason.
I protect my sleep, and now so do my family because they’ve seen how everyone suffers when I’m tired. Magnesium cream at night, in the spare bed next to an open window with a glass of ice on the bedside table. I manage to get 6-8 hours uninterrupted most nights.

pilates.

mushroom coffee with ashwanghanda in the morning.

slowing down and allowing extra time for things helps keep me calm and focussed.

also just admitting that I need extra help and that my tolerance thresholds for tiredness, bullshit, commitments, helping out etc have lowered considerably.

but I’m expecting things to get worse before they get better so let’s see. Looking forward to reading others’ experiences and what is helping them.

I'll join -- I'm 48 and have just recently been thinking about going on HRT. I have a Mirena so don't really have periods anymore.

My main symptoms are broken sleep and difficulty focusing. I have recently found myself feeling very overwhelmed by a to-do list that wouldn't have seemed like a big deal in the past. I struggle to finish tasks, everything just seems to be taking longer and I just feel a bit at sea. I also have bouts of rage and anxiety. My tolerance for caffeine has gone way down and I seem to have developed a wool allergy on my chest!

I'm about to start taking magnesium glycinate so I'll report back if that helps with the sleep. I take a B-vitamin supplement. A friend suggested creatine when I described my symptoms -- she said it has helped her cognitive function. But she also does a lot of sport. I am active - jogging, weights, pilates - which helps me a lot but I don't do as much as her. So I'm not sure if creatine is for me.

My understanding is that a blood test can't necessarily give you an accurate indication of whether you need HRT as these hormones fluctuate all the time. Testosterone may be the exception to this.

By the way @Firefly2021 , a friend has recently been prescribed testosterone on the NHS. The GP said they only prescribe it for women who complain of low libido, but if you say you have this you can get it. She is hoping it will help with her energy levels.

I’m 50 and picked up my first prescription for HRT today….eek!
I’ve been putting it off as I have epilepsy and it can affect my meds but I can’t cope with the anxiety any longer. My sleep has got even worse than it has and as that can be a cause of my seizures I feel like I’ve just got to the stage where I have to risk it. I’m really scared of starting it though!

What about skin changes? I think I may have rosacea…my face can flush some days but when I take an antihistamine- it doesn’t feel so hot. I don’t know.
it also looks less elastic smooth on my cheeks - like the skin is getting old. Urgh this is rubbish 😣🙃

however I went swimming yesterday for a whole hour - gentle lane swimming 25 meters - up and down.
i felt amazing in the afternoon!!!

I keep getting bouts of eczema around my eyes, which is new. I'm trying not to wear any eye makeup or the glowy foundations as they seem to irritate it further.

Thanks @manateeandcake I'll try that - not that I give two hoots about my sex drives to be honest, it's more my mood is so flat it's awful, but I suppose it's all linked.

Thank you for this thread!

Im 46, periods are ok/regular but not especially heavy and don’t last as long as they did.

bloating, weight gain, brain fog, generally CBA with stuff, forgetful,

im another who’s reluctant to explore HRT

x

Well done on the swimming @rainydaysamonday24 - an hour in the pool is a long time! I went for a jog and a dog walk this morning, briefly felt amazing and now feel absolutely knackered.

Hi, can I join please? I’m late 30s and doctor thinks I’m perimenopausal, it’s very common on my mums side of the family to start earlier.
my periods go from spotting and very light to more recently lasting 10 days (long time for me) not massively heavy but just drags on!
brain fog and anxiety ramped up more recently but not sure if it’s all connected!

49 Regular periods but cycle getting shorter!

Struggling with emotions and heavy spotting which I am waiting for a scan.

Been to GP whom is happy for her once scan rules anything else out but I am reluctant and I am not sure why.

Hello, thanks for starting this! I'm 45 and had symptoms for about a year - anxiety, memory lapses, anger, dry and itchy skin, weight very much sticking around my middle and ridiculously hot at night. I've not had a proper period for years as am on the mini pill.

I've been on HRT for about four months now - three months on oestrogen gel and progesterone capsules but the side effects were miserable (mainly digestive 🤢). Swapped to Evorel patches and feel much better - no more overheating and I generally sleep better. I do feel like I'm slowly dehydrating though - I always had quite oily but generally decent skin and now everything is gradually going crinkly!

47 and a half, cycle time has shortened, period heavier at start. But shortened......... Terrible anxiety

Hi all,
46 and been having peri symptoms for a few months. I began listening to Louise Newson and Dr. Naomi Potter podcasts. I have learnt a huge amount about Body identical HRT.

You honestly do not need to be fearful.
the ‘side effects’ are cut and pasted from the old synthetic HRT that used to be prescribed.

I have been using Lenzetto spray in the morning and 200mg progesterone at night.

I have found improvement with my mood, aches, and sleep. And I am glad I am investing in my future brain, heart and bone health.

I am also taking vaginal estrogen to guard against UTI’s and also plump up my vulva. When I go back for a 3 month check up Inwill be asking about testosterone.

Please, before you dismiss HRT, do some research. Listen to some podcasts with doctors that are up to date on current findings.

I'm 45 and I have been having perimenopause symptoms that have crept up on me for a couple of years. I had been trying supplements and I lost 15kg since May to try and help myself, which has been hard work, but most recently it's all come to a head with anxiety and low mood. I get headaches/migraines, night sweats, hot flushes, pins and needles, but it's the mood symptoms that have impacted me the most. Oh and poor DH, I never want to even look at a man at the moment.

Work is also really difficult, a lot of people look to me for a lot of things, and honestly I just wish they would all fuck off. I'm not sure if I can keep going in the role, I swing from hopeless/pointless, to pure anxiety, to rage, all internally of course.

I was prescribed HRT yesterday afternoon, I am picking it up today - Evorel patch and progesterone. I'm nervous but hopeful. I'm going to put it on and then spend most of the weekend under a blanket watching stranger things. I feel for those of you who still have younger DC!