I've just turned 45, got my first HRT prescription this week. 1-2 pumps of gel daily and progesterone 100mg for 2 weeks of the month.
What should I expect? Any tips?
Even though I've had symptoms for the last 2.5 years I have been repeatedly told it wasn't perimenopause. Turn 45 and suddenly it is and I can get help 🤦♀️.
Background:
2.5 years ago I started getting awful anxiety and palpitations (sometimes heart racing for no reason, other times just thumping really heavily at normal speed, particularly at night). I was given an ECG and referred for counselling for stress.
Went back three months later as palpitations continued and were making me more and more anxious. I'd even gone to a&e one night as I was too scared to sleep in case I had a heart attack. They told me to relax. So the GP referred me to a cardiologist which took a year for a holter monitor and then an appointment. Told yes, we can see what's happening but it's benign and I should drink more water. When I asked about the cause and if they could be related to hormones as they're worse before and during my period, he said absolutely not, just relax more. There's no connection....
As time went on I realised I was waking up more and more during the night/broken sleep and whereas I used to have maybe one or two night sweats before my period, I was getting them much more regularly.
I was more tired than usual, brain fog and forgetting words, everything just felt like so much more effort.
Once I got through work and the gym I didn't have the energy for housework, chores, wanting to do anything fun. But I've always been someone with lots of energy and very mentally alert. I have a complicated job and sometimes feel like I can't say things the way I want to say them.
I also noticed I was breathless more quickly with exercise. I'm asthmatic so I was using my inhaler a bit more than usual and starting to wake up feeling a bit short of breath/wheezy. I didn't know this could be peri. I was told it was allergies.
Also have dry eyes, sometimes it's like all the moisture has gone from my nose mouth and throat. Weird.
Still getting regular periods but they're lighter and a few days closer together. Before them I have more dizziness, headaches, just feeling weak and weird.
I love to travel but last year while I was in the Med I found the heat triggered off the racing heart and anxiety even more. I usually love hot weather so that was definitely new. And now I'm scared to travel.
Basically I've become more and more of a hermit and I feel like I've aged suddenly both mentally and physically. And no one seemed to really care why.
Until I turned 45 and really pushed for investigations. Turns out I'm slightly anemic as well so also being treated for that.
I just want to feel alive and interested in life again, and safe in my own body. Like it's not going to go haywire on me.
Does this sound like usual perimenopause?