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?

I know HRT can help, but I don't think my symptoms are anywhere near a level requiring hormonal intervention.

It was good to see recommendations for supplements, which I shall give a go. And I've now read elsewhere that hot flushes can be cyclical, so I think I'm adequately under control (for now, at least).

And yes, I'm another getting random coarse hairs on chin and sometimes low on cheeks.

I'm 47 and must be perimenopausal. I came off the pill at Christmas as had been noticing withdrawal bleeds were changing - 1 month heavy, then none, then light. I have had no periods since then. I started to get hot flushes in the Spring and very stiff joints in fingers and ankles. Going from sitting to standing is like a rusty hinge but once I'm up I'm fine. Skin is spotty especially on jaw line and they take forever to go. Hair is thinner than I remember . It was my pride and joy once. I had a blood test and will see GP next Monday. He wasn't really interested in my symptoms till I told him arthristic runs in my family. That's all he wanted to test for but I asked for hormone levels to be checked too. In meantime, I am taking multi vits and will see what tests reveal. Have considered going back on pill but don't really want to do that unless I have to. Really great to read this thread .

This saved me,and I noticed a difference in a couple of weeks.
www.hwize.com/hrt/hrt.html?hw

Blood tests for hormones, like MOTs, only tell you what's going on that day, and aren't necessarily that useful (unless you have a series of them).

But I hope your GP will have some useful options for you next week.

Is joint pain definitely associated with perimenopause/menopause? I've got achy finger joint and ankles too. If it was just my ankles I'd assume aging + carrying extra weight but my fingers were puzzling me.

sometimes joint pain is a sign but if you are overweight ( by much?) it's likely to be wear and tear on your joints and perhaps osteoarthritis.

It might be worth posting a new thread in, say, general health about arthritis. It is often (usually?) associated with ageing, so I think it often turns up at the same time as the menopause, without being necessarily associated. (Prepared to be corrected on that, though, as I'm not sure).

Despite taking a daily multivitamin and mineral supplement and a separate high dose of glucosamine, my joint pain was becoming so debilitating that I felt like an elderly rusting gate. I'm 47.

I had a series of blood tests to rule out pretty much anything and everything. I've been having my FSH levels checked over the last 18 months for other gynae issues and now they've hit 82 my GP has finally accepted that my menopause is over and prescribed HRT.

The improvement began within days, and despite irregular bleeds that turn up every 2-3 weeks, I would fight anyone who tried to take my patches away!

The aching joints are 95% gone

Despite the hot being great still struggling with intermittent horrible depression. don't really want to go on anti dep as it is very hormone related. any tips?

Not 'hot' - Sure'hrt' !!

Just a little rant. I've got the start of a huge spot on my chin. AAARRRGGGHHH.

This hasn't happened for years. I assume this is another charming trick of the hormones?

Marking place for later. Off to scour the shelves of Boots. Feeling shit grotty. Morning ladies!

I am perimenopausal and apart from vaginitis, I get joint pain in fingers, wrists, toes ankles, lower back and neck/shoulders (in order of frequency). I keep seeing that these are to do with aging not menopause. No flushes (although I had these on the pill, bizarrely).

Since I had to come off the pill, a year ago, these symptoms, which occurred mildly before, have come on with a vengeance. The sore, stiff feet were a completely new thing, and the lower back pain resulted in sciatica in my hip for a few days.

I am certainly not overweight, do exercise, including ballet, regularly. I have read that it happens to people with breast cancer who have their oestrogen knocked out. I have also read that it could be tendonitis, rather that something like arthritis.

I am worried that my tendons/joints may be getting damaged, and this will result in the 'old age' arthritis , which it gets passed off as, becoming a self fulfilling prophesy.

Have you spoken to anyone medical about this- GO, gynae, physio?
Maybe get a opinion on what's going on if you have mobility problems.

Hot flushes - check
Weight gain - check
Irritability - double check
Weepy -check
Joint pain -check
Exhaustion - check
Mood swings -check
Miss ing period- check

Wonder what it could all mean?
Am 49

I have a mirena coil fitted so don't know if periods are irregular.

I get very hot in bed and at times am absolutely vile to people ( so spiteful that I'm ashamed of myself)

I also get quite teary

Crave carbs too

Should I have the coil removed? Will this make any difference.?

I'm 49

Keep mirena and get oestrogen patches?

Haven't read the whole thread so sorry if I am repeating. I am 48 and definitely in the throws of the menopause.

I did see the doctor and chose not to go for HRT (he suggested I did a bit more research before deciding on this- gave me a website to look at) but I have found a very effective natural treatment. I take sage leaf tablets and also soya flavins tablets(Holland and Barrett) Within a week or so the hot flushes and night sweats stopped and I started to feel alot better.

Might be worth a try.

I guess I'll need a trip to the GP for a blood test. I'm not so bothered about the flushes it's the urge to be nasty to people that I hate!

doin I have this. Too many people are commenting how bad tempered I am. I hate feeling this murderous. I don't like the person I am becoming.

Great thread.

I have posted this elsewhere, but it is a really good webpage for explaining the comings and goings of one's ovaries during perimenopause. I thought this was a good place for people who need it to see it.

www.ion.ac.uk/information/onarchives/perimenopause

I cannot vouch for the rest of the website, but I found the info on this page really helpful, as I have been dropped headlong into a perimenopause state, with no indication of what is happening and how long it will last (and if it has only just started)

I have come to the conclusion that it is just about to end, or has only just started

Thanks for the link Summer, thats a very helpful read:)