Perimenopause advice needed

[CHOCOLATEPEANUT]

I have been feeling like I am loosing my mind but after a bit of reading up realise I am in perimenopause cycle

i am 42 and had my last child 22 months ago.I have always had periods every 28 days that last 4 days bit last month and this they lasted 2 days

my mood has been awful,very stressed,anxious depressed (severe this month) and this month i have felt palpitations and dizzyness.I am over heating too

i am a bit worried as I have felt quite ill and i hate the mood swings as do my family

anyone in same position that can offer any advice?

[SofiaAmes]

I went in to each one of these parade of doctors I saw in the beginning and kept telling them that my symptoms seems to be cyclical and many of them seemed to be worse the week before my period...not a single one paid any attention until I got to the hormone specialists..... Nowadays, I realize that many of my friends who are of a similar age (48) have exactly the same issues and I have should maybe look into getting a birth control pill company to pay me royalties ;)

[Robinbsn99]

I had the same problem of irregular periods. My GYN said I was peri menopausal. He put me on provera for 3 months and tricked my body into being regular. The symptoms stopped and that was over a year ago. I do have other symptoms that seem thyroid related. I cannot stay warm, I have gained weight, I am tired, my hair is thinning, my nails won,t grow, and recently I am having hearing problems. My TSH was borderline, so she (FP doctor) said I am depressed. WTH?? Irritated, yes, depressed, no. Is there something else I can do? I want further testing, but don't know about such things.

[MissBoPeep]

Hi If you had HRT for 3 months and it helped, why were you taken off it?
The answer is to go back on HRT. You need to see someone who knows the basics about meno and prescribing- not these idiots.

[MissBoPeep]

Sorry Provera is progesterone not HRT.

But advice as above- you might find HRT helps.

[mumzy]

Had similar symptoms to you and tried this in desperation www.amazon.co.uk/LADYCARE-DISCREET-MEDICAL-DEVICE-MENOPAUSE/dp/B0053X8WDQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1355514101&sr=8-1&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21 worked really well and feel a lot calmer

[baahhumbug]

Thank goodness for threads like this! Struggling too - I am forgetful, anxious, feel unwell, irritated, have aches and pains, lots of light bleeding between periods, heavy periods, feel I can't cope, lack of libido, uncomfortable "down below"!

I have been to my doctor and go back tuesday for the result of tests but am worried that because my periods are still regular she won't prescribe hrt. I'm 48 and definitely things got worse over the past couple of years.

[jen127]

Oh My god ! Thank goodness I have found this thread ! I thought I was/am going bonkers.
Periods every 21 days and very heavy. Psycho moods. Noise rushing in my ears. Insomnia and therefore exhaustion at work.
I have to sleep with the bedroom window open even now during the snow. I cannot abide the heat!
I am 43 and have a gorgeous DS of 10, I have not been using contraceptive for many years but did not fall pregnant. I would assume my fertility is at close to zero now.
I am booking an appointment with a gynae to try and find out if I am peri menopausal. Meanwhile another helpful poster suggested getting a multivitamin with selenium ( sp) and zinc to help with the mood swings.
How long does this last and how do you get it under control ?

[Moominsarehippos]

Oh god, this thread is comforting but frightening!

Just got bollocked by mil for being moody (thought I was being my charming self)! Definately put in weight, lack of sleep/always tired, hair all frizzy, belly ache for a week the period like The Shining! Yuk.

[shrimponastick]

I think i am in your gang too now. ):

Have been denying it, but things are/have definitely changed.

Periods used to be regular as clockwork - every 28 days. Now seem to be getting more like 3 weekly, with pmt symptoms most of the month. spotting and heavier bleeding for over a week beforehand. Sigh.

Am 45 next month, but still feel like a young chick. I doubt that I will ever be able to take HRT due to blood clotting disorder.

[Jordster]

This site has made me feel so much better - there are so many of us going through this. I am nearly 45 and have had irregular periods (like every 5 months) for the past 2 years - had my egg reserve checked and have none left and my FSH is extremely high so no children for me! Having hot flushes but not sweating, anxious all the time and so emotional it's embarrasing at times. My doctor wants me to take HRT but I am scared but I don't know why exactly. Maybe I need to come to terms with not having children and accepting this massive change in my life - not easy! Am getting back into regular exercise and watching what I eat but I guess taking HRT is innevitable in the end. My doctor said if you go through early menapause (i.e. before aged 45) your bones will be OK until you are about 70 so hence it's best to take HRT to see you through to your 90's (there's a thought living to that age). It is a very scary time of life, but I am really trying to stay positive and look at what good things I have in my life. xx

[Catmint]

What a comforting thread- explains alot!

[Rooble]

Does anyone know how long it's likely to last?
I'm 43 and have been having totally random periods for about 3 years, appall

[Rooble]

Gah, fat fingers typing on phone -> posting before I've finished!
So, yes, random periods, hideous mood swings (have heard my DS whispering to DH about it in v concerned way, the poor thing is only 5); assume I've no eggs left as I've not been using contraception since DS was born but to no avail.
Went to GP about mood swings, she suggested ADs which I really do not want to take; a big part of me wants to manage this with diet and exercise which would be fine for maybe a year or two - but if it's likely to go on 10 years, I'm not so sure!
Am v wary of natural remedies as I have epilepsy so definitely can't take evening primrose, but also worry about implications of any other herbal remedies.
So. Basically - is this something indeterminate, where you just have to wait and see, or does anyone know if there's a common kind of timeframe?
I borrowed a book from the library but returned it immediately as it was going on about children leaving home (as I said, DS is only 5!), and women suddenly feeling empowered to leave their husbands, neither of these is in my plans for the immediate future!!!

[Missbopeep]

If you want a book then "Your change your choice" is v good- by a gynae Michael Dooley who is very patient centred. The book is dividied into half conventional ( drugs) and half complementary. Easy to read nad goes into the biology too.

You are actually quite young for all of this- so has your dr suggested blood tests- or have you asked?:)

Average age is last period is 51-52 so you really should be checked out- there could be other reasons for all your symptoms. If not and you are peri then you might want HRT?

You also need to think about contraception- unless you really want another DC because sometimes the ovaries go into overdrive as they are shutting down.

[Rooble]

Hi will check out the book thanks. I've been to the GP several times. First time I was hypo-thyroid and although some of those symptoms have normalised I still have mad moods and periods. New GP said I could take ADs for the moods, (am doing lots of cardio exercise instead), consider going on pill to regulate periods (don't want this as we really didn't want to deliberately be a one-child family).
I know I'm quite young, but my mum was about 45, so I'm expecting I'll follow a similar kind of pattern. So I'm kind of assuming we'll accidentally be a one-child family :-( but such is life .

[Missbopeep]

Women do tend to be the same as their mums. It looks as if your peri started at 40 and you might be all done by 45. If this is the case then you MUST take HRT until your are 50 at least.

See the Daisy network site for advice on premature meno ( now considered under 47) and also //www.menopausematters.com

[naturelover]

Thank you for this thread!

So far I only have a few symptoms: irregular cycle, worsening PMS, but all the signs point to early peri-menopause as it does run in the family.

I'm only 38 and while I've always expected it to be early - and thank goodness I had my children while I was able to - I am a bit alarmed about the implications for osteoporosis etc.

I am keen to avoid HRT and go the natural route. Can anyone recommend any books to read? Is it worth going to my GP for any kind of blood test?

[Missbopeep]

You'd be a little unwise to avoid HRT if you have a premature meno- also called premature ovarian failure. It is not the same as taking HRT after the age of 50- it's totally different. You would have a similar risk to someone anorexic whose periods had stopped, or an athlete whose periods had stopped due to low body weight or too much exercise. It's a medical condition- not a lifestyle choice.

I've posted this a lot before- see the Daisy network for advice.

[naturelover]

Thanks for the info Missbopeep. I need to do a lot of reading I think, this is all new to me.

But how do I know I have definitely started perimenopause? Is there a definitive test?

[Missbopeep]

Go to GP and discuss.
They can do blood tests but make sure they do 2 in a month- one around day 3 of your cycle and another around day 14-16. One test is not enough.

[lirael]

This thread is very reassuring! I'm 52 and up until November I hadn't had a period for 9 months - was feeling pretty smug that I was sailing through the menopause and actually feeling a lot calmer than I had in years (I had my children at 40 and 42 which seemed to bring on a wild fluctuation of hormones). But the damned things have come back and with them some symptoms too - mainly anxiety and digestive problems (heartburn and nausea) with crashing tiredness at times and murderous rage at others. My children are 10 and 11, but the youngest has autism and is at the developmental level of a much younger child. He was asking me to play with him tonight and I honestly felt unable to drag myself off the sofa. Is it worth a visit to the GP - I can't be old yet, I really can't!

[Missbopeep]

What would you hope to achieve if you saw your GP?

The most likely outcome is some HRT if they "approve"- many drs seem not to still. Would you want this?

They might do some blood test to rule out anemia etc but as you are 52 they are not going to be alarmed that you have these symptoms.

Have you thought about trying OTC products such as Menopace or Menolieve?

[lirael]

Yes Missopeep - that's my feelings about the GP - when I've been in the past they've just sat back and more or less said ' well what do you expect?'HRT has never been mentioned and I'm not sure how I feel about it. My symptoms are pretty intermittent - some days I feel fine and those days I think 'HRT?- pah!'. On other days I'm ready to take whatever is offered. Have taken magnesium and Vit B complex on and off - didn't see much difference. Might have a go with Menopace - at least I'd only have to remember to take one pill!

My MIL has been on HRT for 20 years (!), has loads of energy and looks amazing at 78. Not sure why she's still on it, but it's obviously doing something good!

[Supermim]

I suffered for about a year with VERY heavy bleeding for the first day of my period - so bad I was scared to leave the house and even contemplated going to A & E. Passing big clots as well. I had a scan which was perfectly normal, so got the feeling that I wasn't being taken seriously by my female but much younger doctor. She prescribed me Tranexamic acid - but I never took this. I have a fear of medication anyway, and when she explained that it helped your blood to clot I got scared as my mum had died of a thrombosis. So anyway I then read about taking Ibuprofen for the first three days of your period - and bloody hell it worked brilliantly! It's best to start taking it as soon as you start bleeding, and then take it regularly for the first three days. It reduced the bleeding by at least two thirds, no more clots. I still go out over protected for the first day, just in case, but I would definitely take it if you can i.e. if you are not asthmatic and can tolerate anti-inflammatory drugs.

[Horsemad]

Same Supermim! Didn't want to risk tranexamic acid so use ibuprofen now and it definitely helps