Is This Perimenopause? HELP!

[Sailawaywithmex]

Around a year ago I noticed my period getting later and later by a week each month. Around three months ago, they began backtracking and getting earlier each month. They are always heavy due to fibroids but clots have been more frequent. I also feel tired all the time, I'm anemic but this is much worse as it is constant.

Around 8 months ago, I found myself having migraines once a month but put it down to the artificial lighting in work. I had tablets from the doctor who took bloods, later sending me iron tablets once results were back. I attended this appointment due to the migraines but also complained of anxiety worsening. I have anxiety anyway but it's becoming much worse, to the point I constantly overthink and ruminate on things that wouldn't have bothered me as much in the past.

I am also finding that I literally cannot be bothered or find the energy to do things, I just feel so tired and worn out all the time. My sleep cycle is also changing, I don't sleep well even though I'm tired. I find at night I begin to overthink, resulting in my heart racing and feelings of I can't do things. I've recently landed a new job and the anxiety I am having is through the roof. I also find alcohol makes this worse. I went for a meal last week and had three glasses of wine, my heart was racing and my anxiety spiked terribly through the night. I don't drink alcohol often so definitely noticed a difference.

I'm so full of self doubt and negativity towards myself that I'm on the verge of sabotaging my career path with the thoughts of 'I can't do this', despite me not being the most confident person in the world, my self doubt is definitely worse than ever. I have really noticed a difference in my mindset and I don't fully feel like I know myself, I just feel different! My sex drive has also begun to drop. I'd happily have sex with my partner in the past however, I'm more than happy to skip it and hope he doesn't instigate anything.

I've been reading up on perimenopause but wanted to speak to those who may have lived in experience, hopefully someone who can relate to how I'm feeling. I'm beginning to feel like I'm going mad. I'm 38 for reference and aside from things noted in my post, a relatively healthy person. Is there any way I can manage these symptoms myself, or should I speak to my doctor again? I don't like this constant feeling of panic.

I hadn’t read far before I said yes!
Had to give up wine, sleep atrocious although magnesium glycinate helps. My periods got closer and heavier so I got the Mirena coil, and wished I’d had it years earlier.
Overthinking and ruminating, yes.
Cant be bothered, yes.
Self doubt, yes.
Loss of libido, yes.
You are under the magic 45, so I’d speak to the GP and say your symptoms, ask for a trial of HRT. If they say no you may have to go private to start.

Yes,.all of that! There are symptom.checkers on line, you might have other symptoms too that you don't associate with perimenopause.

Thank you both so much for commenting. It's not the signs I was expecting, so wasn't sure if I was having a bout of depression. I feel jittery almost all of the time. Almost like how you feel after your adrenaline spikes when you've been scared or something. I will look into magnesium, thank you both again.

Yep similar experience especially the anxiety and confidence, the progesterone part of hrt is amazing for this for me and that’s what declines first and causes anxiety generally.

@ILoveVitaminSea Yes I noted that when reading up, it began to make sense and so that's where the thoughts of peri came from. Sad that we are not educated more on this when in school. Feel like my heart is thudding out of my chest almost constantly.

Get your iron checked as I was having palpatations, which is a symptom of peri, yet they disappeared when I took ferrous Fumarate for low ferritin.
I got the coil for heavy periods but I found it reduced my rage too, then I just added in Oestrogel when I wanted to go full HRT

Defo peri. Focus on progesterone as others have said, it can be calming. Don't assume your estrogen and progesterone are both declining together. For example I had private tests that have consistently shown my estrogen is ok but my progesterone super low. As a result I use only a tiny amount of estrogen gel (much less than my prescription) and take progesterone orally.

I've spent the afternoon doing further research. With that and the comments made here, I already feel so much more reassured. I will definitely go back to the GP next week. The sheer overwhelm and brain fog is a massive factor for me too, not to mention the forgetfulness.

I really appreciate you taking the time to comment and sharing your experiences. It really has helped a great deal, thank you.

@Sailawaywithmex

yep I was the same. If going the GP don’t let them fob you off with anti depressants. I went on HRT and it helped Loads not quite back to my moral self but close enough x

It’s really quite eye opening reading this. I have always felt like this but it has got worse recently. I spoke to the GP and despite being 41 there was no mention of peri menopause at all and I was prescribed sertraline (that I haven’t stayed to take).

@Christine0708 Although I don't wish anyone to feel this unpleasant, it is reassuring to know it's part of a normal process of aging. I really did think something was wrong with my mental health and like I was heading for a breakdown. I will keep that in mind, thank you. I'm glad you're feeling somewhat better and hope over time you are back to full stream.

@pornstarmartinilover I've always had anxiety due to childhood experiences however, I've never felt as I do now. When I went to the doctors last year, they prescribed migraine meds and later iron tablets. That was it, despite what I'd described. I'm glad we are all learning together, we should be better informed of what menopause actually entails however. I hope you feel you can address the topic and receive a better response.

I am the same age and have pretty much the exact same symptoms. I went to the doctor last year and they dismissed me as too young but I’m going to book another appointment after reading this

I’m 39 (40 this year) and haven’t felt the same since turning 38. Palpitations, intolerance to alcohol, insomnia, apathy, hopeless feeling. Oh and absolutely awful PMT, really really low mood. I take medication for ADHD and it does absolutely nothing the week before my period too, which makes everything so so much harder.

I would like to approach my GP about this but they always just try to give me antidepressants.

Are you me?! I’m 39 and feel exactly the same way.

Hi all, sorry for the late reply. I have booked an appointment with the GP but will have to wait until beginning of Feb. It's my period this week and I've found for the last few months I've been heavily emotional and have strong feelings of hopelessness, last nnight I sat there thinking I'm such a terrible mum and my children deserve better. Really beating myself up internally. I don't recall such overwhelming feelings of guilt and shame previously but now I think about it, they have gotten worse over the past few months.

I'm happy for you all to come here and vent about how you're feeling. If we're going through similar things, we can all relate and reassure each other and ourselves. If we can't relate, we can at least offer space and support to one another. Never gets easier being a bloody woman, does it?!