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….

Can I join the club please? 44.5 yrs, periods have always been like clockwork, every 4th week, last 2 went to 7 weeks between and now 12 days! Heavier and more cramps too!
Bloated also but I have IBD so not sure who is to blame! Hoping to gleam some tips and solidarity from you all!

I'm 48 symptoms started around two years ago but ramped up in the last year. Periods became heavy and erratic last year after being as regular as clockwork so was put on mini pill. I have occasions of spotting though. My hair falls out something terrible, my digestive system has become super sensitive and IBS has gotten worse. My already there anxiety has ramped up especially in a morning. I get palpatations and flutters every now and then and my BP has gone up.

You don’t need a blood test to get HRT. Look at the perimenopause section of the NICE guidelines. If you have some of the symptoms then let your gp know. They can prescribe HRT. They will need to check your blood pressure first and previous medical history.
why wouldn’t you not get HRT? It’s safe and effective if used and prescribed correctly. It’s replacing what your body used to produce naturally.

I forgot to add weight gain that won't budge and brain fog. I can't remember simple things some days which is really frustrating.

I'll join! I'm 42 and I've been seeing a ramp up in peri symptoms for about 3-4 years now. I track my cycle with a spreadsheet so I know it's going a bit haywire.

I had a huge onset of symptoms at 39-40 (pure unadulterated rage, night sweats etc) and it seems to have calmed down but clearly I am in for some years of this yet. GP doesn't believe me and sent me for TB testing for the night sweats.

I have gone up half a dress size ish and it's all on my stomach and hips, which is annoying. I am sick to death of being itchy all the time too!

I'd like to explore HRT but I have Crohn's disease and have been actively flaring for about a year, so I want to get that under control before adding something else to the mix.

Solidarity all!

Great post from @slowlyslowlycatchonkey . HRT is nothing to be afraid of. You're replacing your depleting levels of hormones - that's all. No vitamin or supplement can do that for you. There are both short and long term benefits to starting HRT. Mine took a good 8 weeks to kick in but I feel a hundred times better than I did, and have had no side effects all.

There isn't a blood test for perimenopause - the NICE guidelines are to diagnose based on your symptoms if you're over 45

And yes - diet, sleep, exercise and stress are an essential part of the conversation too

I'm in my mid 40s and definitely in peri. I was feeling pretty awful: severely depressed, aches & pains, falls, poor sleep, anxiety, brain fog, low motivation. I am self employed and it was causing huge issues with my earning potential. HRT solved it all, it's been nothing short of miraculous for me. I told my GP he'll have to claw that gel out of my cold, dead, hands.

I also take Mounjaro which effectively made me feel even better. I hesitated over it for so long, and wish I started sooner! With my BMI back to normal and oestrogen protecting my bones and joints, I've started running. I can't claim to like it, but the fact I can do it feels amazing to me. I'm umming and ahhing about having a go at yoga too.

The issues I continue to have are extremely shit hair and a long preamble before each period - loads of spotting. Can't wait for them to stop properly!!

Yes I forgot about the shit hair! My hair is so thin now - I'm using all those shampoos and leave in serums that promise less hair fall but I know it's all bs. I have managed to rescue my brittle nails with biotin and using washing up gloves (which I've always avoided) so that feels like a win for "youth".

I've been adding collagen to my tea - it's done sweet FA! I gave up and cut it into a bob the other week. Anything longer is just no longer sustainable for me.

'I'm umming and ahhing about having a go at yoga too"

I do yoga with Adriene on YouTube 2-3 times a week. I really recommend yoga. I started during the pandemic. My mobility and balance are much better (I strength train 3 times a week and walk several times too). It's a great way to get some movement in if the weather's horrendous or you're feeling below par or whatever. It's good to have a mix of activity that you do regularly

@Lottapianos - that's good to know. I found her earlier when Googling. I'll definitely have a go 🙏

Re HRT - I went with Boots online (so difficult to get a GP appointment) and found them really helpful with answers to questions and giving me some input into what I wanted to try. As I said I did have a few side effects, oral progesterone didn't agree with my stomach. I did feel wildly hormonal for maybe the first week too - reminded me of being a moody 14 year-old! And there was a bit of bleeding the first couple of weeks, but that's all settled down.

I've definitely felt more need for 'calming' activities - yoga, massage, meditation etc. Wearing more natural fabrics and making my bed as comfortable as possible. I read an Instagram post from someone recently who described dealing with peri as a full-time job and I get where they're coming from!

I'm joining you all as an elder perimenopausal (50). My symptoms started at around 45 and have varied. I had hot flashes at first, but haven't had any in about two years. Joint pain comes and goes (currently none, about six months ago my hip was really painful, though). I skipped one period thus far, I think - a 50 day gap - but they now mostly come every 18-25 days.

A few years ago I had a lot of fatigue and brain fog; I think it was a combination of peri and low iron. It turns out my ferritin was at 9 - again - and once I restarted supplements the fatigue and brain fog lifted.

What has been a constant in the past 5 years is insomnia and digestive issues. For insomnia, I now take melatonin + valerian blend tablet about a week before my period is supposed to start (so days 18-25 if I go that long) and that helps a bit. I also take magnesium glycinate every night. This way, I can mostly function.

The other constant problem is increased intestinal gas and gassy bloating. I had a colonoscopy, no findings. I take some simethicone tablets when it gets too uncomfortable and, in the privacy of my own home, let rip. I hope it will have an end.

Otherwise, I started vaginal estrogen for prevention of the urogenital syndrome of menopause once I noticed a bit of dryness. It's fine, no side effects.

I agree with @osloslow , @rainydaysamonday24 : you don't need any hormone tests at your age.

These are all such interesting insights. Thank you all for sharing. Welcome to all those who have joined…it feels so less daunting knowing others are going through the same.

what I’m keen to know is the experience of those who have come out the other side of menopause as well.
how long did menopause last for you, how long were you on hrt or not at all?

i have some research to do, im 47 now , but periods still regular nothing too odd. 24/25 days…
Weight around tummy - but not gaining weight on weight - scales aren’t going up as such.

also - weird symptom - does anyone have a lot of white watery discharge around the time they would be ovulating? Like what’s that about? Is my body trying to have a one last chance at getting pregnant.
I even did an ovulation stick test a couple of months ago and it came up with the smiley high result!!!

also not on any contraception 😆

'also - weird symptom - does anyone have a lot of white watery discharge around the time they would be ovulating?'

Yes, it's yet another perimenopause symptom ☺️ fits into the genitourinary category. I'm just about to start vaginal oestrogen cream to treat it

So many similar symptoms it's great to be not alone.

Has anyone suddenly developed allergies/suddenly allergic to things.

Start of spring here i now suddenly have hayfever and allergies to new blooming flowers, wood dust fresh cut lawn etc some are mild but the wood dust almost closes my throat up and can hardly breath it's crazy (I just stay out of that section of the hardware shop now).

And yes I get the watery discharge it's suddenly so bizarre what my body is doing.

@RoguesMum25yes I have , well think I have , some hayfever allergies that make my face flush a bit…
it also goes with how stressed I feel.

interesting about the watery discharge…it’s no way my body is still ovulating is it at 47?
the ovulation stick was positive for my most fertile window?!!

Oh I need this group so much right now! 44, cycles got much shorter and more variable.

So tired ALL the time. Feel about 80 years old. Zero sex drive. Just want to be alone all the time. Noise sensitivity. Constant overwhelm. Tinnitus. Irritable. I don’t know if it’s brain fog, but feel like I’m in constant task paralysis and even when I do get started on something I’m so slow. Low mood. Or maybe not even low - just totally flatlined. I’ve got so little energy for anything I just manage to get through the essentials and then can’t be bothered to organise/do anything nice for myself - like see friends! Although I am managing to run 3 x a week (4-5k) and do an outdoor boot camp so I suppose that’s something.

I have a 4 year old (and amazing partner) and stressful job and feel like I’m just surviving.

Been on HRT (2 pumps of gel + progesterone) for about 5 months and recently paid to see a private specialist and they’ve put me on patches and upped my dose to 75 mcg (= 3 pumps) so I hope that helps as so far the only real difference is the progesterone has helped my sleep.

I also think I might be undiagnosed adhd which isn’t helping matters.

The weight gain and bloated stomach is awful. Ive never struggled so much to lose weight, but a bad week of eating and pounds go on. And all I want to do is eat. Oh and I now have constipation too. Ive started having flaxseed on my porridge to try and help with that.

Has anyone changed their diet and seen improvement / especially for their skin during this time?
estrogen rich foods?

Can I please join too?

Symptoms for me started in my late 30s (I am now 44), although it took me a few years to realise it was peri.

Started with very heavy periods and awful PMS. The rage, oh the rage, during the luteal phase. Has been an absolute nightmare.

This year my cycle length has shortened, which I believe is common in early peri. Has anyone else experienced this? Was expecting longer cycles rather than shorter!

My specialist has just given me HRT, so will start that soon. My friends all rate it highly so am feeling hopeful!

@NameChangedForThis2025 I can relate to a lot of what you describe, particularly the overwhelm, task paralysis, flat mood and just managing to get through the essentials. I feel so slow and inefficient compared to how I used to be. I was planning to make an appointment to ask for HRT soon, so it's disheartening to hear it hasn't helped you much with the mood/cognitive symptoms so far. But I hope the increased dose does the trick for you.

I feel I've had to change my diet as the things I could previously eat in moderation (e.g. dairy) really don't agree with me now, and vegetables that used to make me a bit bloated (e.g. cauliflower) now make me really bloated. I also can't seem to deal with a lot of onion, garlic or chilli these days. As well as my digestion, my skin does seem better when I stick to what I know agrees with me - I eat quite a lot of oily fish, salad, berries, rice, chickpeas.

Joining in! Am 48, symptoms only really kicked off in the summer but who knows how long it's been building. Main ones for me are brain fog, restless legs, hip/ joint pain and weight gain, but I do also get palpitations, occasional hot flushes and night sweats. I already have hay fever and my hair is quite thin anyway; and onions and beetroot also now come with 'consequences' 😳
The menopause specialist at the GP ran blood tests to check no other cause for the above (all fine) but has advised not starting HRT yet while periods still regular (approx 24 day cycle, each lasting a week all in but in a series of short unpredictable bursts 🙄)
The brain fog is a bother at work but the restless legs are driving me insane, I'm so tired, being up at least 2 hours in the night. Have tried magnesium but it doesn't seem to be helping. Maddeningly alcohol seems to make this worse. Any other tips welcome!

Well yesterday I could feel the most uncontrollable rage appearing whilst trying to fight round the supermarket with every ma and his dog.

sitting in the car driving home with dh and teen waffling I literally couldn’t join in as I needed to decompress and calm down.
at least I knew the feeling and knew I needed to calm but it was bad. That and the hot flushes all day yesterday.

I’ve come on this morning so that explains it but it’s getting worse each month now