Proving peri symptoms

[needtosort]

Hello,

I'm having trouble in my job with my employer and feel like the (peri)menopause maybe a contribution. My employer apparently does have a menopause policy.

For about 3 years I can sometimes misread things and only when taking a second look it's then clearer what I'm reading (had my eyes checked a year ago and all good just normal ageing and a little Blepharitis in the winter months) so I had largely put the miss-seeing down to being a peri symptom but feel I have no actual evidence to even begin to try prove this to the employer. (For context I'd tried to offer this as a reason when asked to explain about mistakes I'd made)

Whilst I am in denial about peri to some degree, my periods remain regular as clockwork, a horrible fibroid disappeared naturally and I don't wish to take HRT - can I still be included/covered in employer menopause support?

I'm just a smidge under 45 so my GP has never run tests to prove peri just I was told during a private ultrasound internal scan couple of years ago I was heading towards peri whilst checking the fibroid but was then left slightly confused when another scan 6 months later showed I was highly fertile. I must admit I'm on the GLP1 weight loss medication and it had crossed my mind whether that prolongs periods in some way, as daft as that sounds. Also the Eastenders Honey storyline kind of wants to make me query if I should not be thinking peri until I reach the age of 50.

storyline kind of wants to make me query if I should not be thinking peri until I reach the age of 50.

Not sure what you mean. Is a person in a soap saying peri starts at 50?

The average age of menopause is 51. The normal range is 45- 55, with some exceptions at either end.

Peri symptoms can start 10 years before a final period, though for most women it's more like 2-5 years according to medical stats. And symptoms don't end when menopause begins. Many women only start with symptoms then.

Fibroids are fed by estrogen so if yours has shrunk it does point to your own levels falling.

If your only issue is 'mis-reading' things at work that isn't a diagnosis of peri, although it would be called ' brain fog' and it's one symptom for some women.

What do you want to change if your employer accepts you are in peri menopause? They can't demand a written diagnosis from a GP?

If you know that you tend to mis-read something, what does your employer offer that would make that easier?

It's also worth keeping an open mind about HRT. Most women only use it when their symptoms really affect quality of life or they need it to prevent osteoporosis (depending on their symptoms, risks and family history.)

Thank you for the info - really appreciate it. Yes sorry I sound so dumb I mean there is no tests for stress/anxiety/depression.

I'm having a hard time with the employer - manager is a male, younger then myself who seems reluctant to get occupational health involved.
They have apparently left it to me to write a support plan (never heard such a thing) and one where their support plan doesn't lead to dismissal, mores the pity.

I've reached the point where I just want to jump in a lake.

I was offered and on hrt for a little while couple of years ago (which is why I kind of struggle with the EE storyline of a 50 year old being refused it that's time of life and no hrt given) but then I became a blood clot risk and was on thinners, the fibroid symptoms greatly stopped (((touching wood))) which I always thought was the medics way of dealing with it to give me hrt, definitely wouldn't rule it out if/when periods start to go erratic.

What do you need to happen at work?
Do you need more time to complete tasks?
Are there deadlines you're not meeting?
Do you need a quieter space in which to work?

Would you like to explain your blood clot risk? What were you diagnosed with?
That's highly relevant to HRT.
Transdermal HRT does not increase the risk of clots (or strokes) above your normal baseline.

If you are anxious and feeling low, HRT is a recognised treatment. You don't need to have stopped your periods or have flushes etc necessarily.

(which is why I kind of struggle with the EE storyline of a 50 year old being refused it that's time of life and no hrt given)

Is that not meant to be an example of how some GPs are not treating women properly? The days when it was 'It's that time of life, get on with it' , are over. Or should be.

I take a GLP1 and I’m sure it makes my eyesight a bit fuzzy at times. I stopped it for several months and my eyes were better.

Also, are your mistakes at work new? Is it something you used to do well and now don’t? That would be an indicator that it is caused by an external factor, whether that be peri or your GLP1. Seeing this from an employers point of view, it is your responsibility to do what you can to reduce your inability to fulfill the requirements of your job, not just on the employer to make changes or create a support plan. I have direct experience of this as an employer and found myself having to reduce duties for an employee while maintaining full pay, but it meant my own workload significantly increased to pick up the slack and this felt incredibly unfair. I did end up employing someone else to pick up the slack which a significant financial hit. This is a difficult situation from both sides. Maybe considering stopping and/or starting some medications is a conversation to have with your GP. You also really need to push for Occ Health or else you could just be painted as incompetent. Depends on the kind of company you work for and whether you have decent HR I think.

No HR doesn't exist, it all seems very much at mercy of line manager lead.

I'm on antidepressant as well as the glp1 and I wonder if they are not working after the dose got put up as I'm feeling worse, but I just don't know if I'm feeling stressed as well as last week I had heartburn which I didn't know if is stress or the weight loss medication.

Yes that is my concern I'm badly tainted here with the employer, I was golden girl last summer, even netted an award for a high level of service before the horrid job turned permanent, but now I'm not sure and when I try to ask how have we got to this stage, I just now informed only a proportion of my work was monitored to receive the award.

I've tried to leave and am desperate to go but they do have something over me which I'll deeply regret for now.

I'm on antidepressant as well as the glp1 and I wonder if they are not working after the dose got put up as I'm feeling worse, but I just don't know if I'm feeling stressed as well as last week

Medical guidance (NICE) is to use HRT as first line treatment for menopause symptoms, including anxiety and mood. Not ADs which often don't work.

Forgive me, I have been on antid's for trauma AFTER HRT, I had surgery a year ago, in the summer of 2025 I could not sleep and to this anniversary I have no idea (people tell me PALS will have answers but that isn't true, I have a deformed foot/limb that was facing amputation I'll live with it)

I bleed monthly on time, I ovulate half way through the month. My periods are as normal approaching 45 as they were at 10 years old.

I attended a menopause meeting yesterday as I'd hate to be accused of accepting my dear disgusting employer to do all the work and all I'm met with is I might be adhd.

Employees have the right to request referral to Occupational Health, so you might just need to be more formal/direct about it.

You also have the right to contact OH independently to consult with them.

My HR dept referred me to OH when I went back to work after a period of health problems, I had a few meetings with them where they suggested practical things people sometimes do (flexible working, new office equipment, taking breaks etc) which make up a support plan. But the plan was mine to devise, then it was signed off by my line manager, me, HR and OH.

I work for a large organisation though, so they've have very standardised procedures.

I had a formal diagnosis letter from a hospital I vaguely recall providing - perhaps that's the bit your struggling with when you say evidence of menopause symptoms?

I'm not sure I would really expect OH to be involved for menopause symptoms, but I'm far from an expert, that's just an impression I have.

I guess that would be because menopause isn't really considered a disease, as such you wouldn't get something to diagnose it and provide evidence. I think even if you did have some blood tests from the GP, some women don't get symptoms which interfere in their working life, so it wouldn't mean anything on it's own.

Perhaps what you need is to discuss it with your GP and request a sick note or something to support your OH referral? Not based on a diagnosis of menopause, but based on your symptoms which are causing you difficulties. Focusing on symptoms rather than diagnosis would be the thing. OH plans are really about how to adapt the workplace to your specific symptoms rather than diagnosing medical problems anyway.

It's inappropriate for your workplace to say you have ADHD. They're not a medical practitioner, there seems to be some blurring of lines here.

PS - anxiety and depression are something you can have a medical diagnosis of, you might have an easier time evidencing this.

They're sometimes a symptom of menopause, but they're also a standalone diagnosis of their own.

I think lots of women feel they want evidence of peri just for themselves so they know they're not going crazy and imagining it. It is very hard to 'evidence' though.

Antidepressants can cause brain fog

Thanks, I have began to wonder if antidepressants could be making this situation a ton worse. I feel kind of different on 100mg as opposed to when on the starter dose of 50mg.

Definitely going to try and see someone medical this week.

Many menopause specialists would say that ADs can make things worse and that's why HRT is in the NICE guidance for anxiety etc in peri.