Your thoughts? Symptom list

[FridayNighFeeling]

Dear ladies of Mumsnet, I will be making an appointment with my GP for the new year because I am struggling, but thought I'd get some insight here in the meanwhile.

I'm mid 40s and have been having issues with my cycles for 6 years - first very short cycles, then very long, PCOS was ruled out during the covid years but no alternative offered and I didn't have the energy to push at the time.

For full disclosure I have an underactive thyroid and I am medicated very well for it currently after a long battle with that too.

Cut to now and these are my symptoms:
Irregular cycle - currently very light
Dry skin
Twitching eye
Joint and muscle pain
Disrupted sleep
Burning mouth/tongue
Tinnitus
Vitamin deficiencies with no apparent cause ( folate, iron, B12)
Clumsy
Intimate life - no drive, itching, lots of clear discharge during the day, but needing lube during intercourse, change in orgasm
Brain fog
Anxiety especially around driving
Irritated/no patience

Sounds like peri doesn't it????

You are mid forties so without a doubt it will be peri. Hormones fluctuate and deplete once over 40. Some GPs seem to only call it peri once you mention the magic box ticking term 'hot flush' so throw that one in.

Read up on peri and hrt if you do want to go down that route, be clear with your gp 'I'm struggling with peri symptoms and want to try micronised hrt with a 6 mth review please'. Don't list every twinge as it can get complicated for the hcp to work out what the main issues are.

Vitamin deficiencies are usually without cause but supplements sort that.

Ask for topical vaginal topical oestrogen for the vaginal issues (or buy otc in a pharnacy) if you don't go for full hrt.

As you know you are deficient in some things I presume a full screen has been done to rule out other issues like hypothyroid etc.

In the meantime focus on self care so avoid booze and caffeine to promote good mood and sleep, lots of physical activity again to promote good mood and sleep. Good luck!

Yep. High chance the GP will disregard all that though and say you're depressed.

Would make sure you get blood pressure tested too...
"Twitching eye
Joint and muscle pain
Disrupted sleep
<>
Tinnitus
<>
Brain fog"
Can be symptoms of high blood pressure, and high cortisol. Don't let thoughts of menopause steer the conversation away from diagnostics. Until you know it is peri, don't rule anything out.
I did, late 40s. And had heart issues.
My menopause was not until 59!

Sounds like tanking estrogen to me.

I can't have HRT so what has helped me is eating more carb (hormone synthesis requires energy) and getting more sleep and low dose 10mg antidepressant and eating greens every day.

I also take vitamin D all year round. Low folate will make you feel awful - green spinach etc is a good source.

I’m in peri and I had 7 of those symptoms

Thanks all, some mixed feedback - which is obviously why I will be talking to a professional, but they do seem very disinterested in treating anything that isn't here are some antibiotics because you have a chest infection...

@Janiie I do supplement having done a lot of my own research. I don't drink alcohol or tea/coffee and I'm already on Levothyroxine for my thyroid - that level is finally very good after a long time fighting... and I've recently started overhauling lifestyle to include more exercise/self care and lost a good bit of weight too.

@RescueMeFromThisSilliness I have a strong suspicion I may be fobbed off with the offer of CBT or ADs (or both)

Thanks @firstofallimadelight

See above @PinkSkies2026 re supplementation. I do Vit D in addition to what I posted above - see memory issues I do eat carbs, I definitely couldn't survive without them!

Thanks @ChubbyPuffling for the input, my BP was a bit elevated last time I was in there but they'd kept me waiting for ages with a preschooler so I was feeling stressed for obvious reasons. Will ask them to redo.