Perimenopause - feel like I'm dying

[Moomin97]

Hi all,

Wondering if anyone can help me with the myriad of symptoms I've been experiencing. Honestly feel like I'm dying, here's the long list!
Anxiety through the roof
Palpitations
Reflux
Upper and lower abdominal pain sometimes so excruciating doesn't pass for hours.
Exhaustion
Dizziness
Headaches
Irregular and heavy periods
Loss of appetite
Nausea
Constipation/diarrhea
Mood swings, rage, at times deep depression.
Absolutely no motivation.

Had some gynae investigations last summer which were OK, GP & consultant persistently telling me I'm too young for perimenopause (I'm 43) and hormonal bloods fine. Now going for gastro & further gynae consult as terrified I'm.seriously ill.
I'm also quite overweight which is proving impossible to shift.
Can perimenopause make you feel this crap?!!! Just to clarify I feel horrendous every day not just around my period. Really need some help.

Have you thought about addressing the anxiety? Note you had a significant bereavement recently and that health anxiety has been an ongoing issue - sometimes unaddressed grief can cause huge anxiety or a spike in anxiety, and anxiety can cause physical manifestations like reflux, gut issues, nerve pain, muscular skeletal pain etc. Wonder also when you say about your health anxiety whether this could be unaddressed grief that’s latching onto health as a possible cause/distraction from feeling painful emotions? See The Wisdom of Anxiety by Sheryl Paul on health anxiety. Obviously the physical aspects are important to rule out with medical doctors but the emotional causes could be just as important.

Thanks legoouch.Yes I recognise my anxiety levels are high but I am also very used to how my HA manifests and this is def different. I am actually a therapist, the irony I know!
, so know anxiety inside out. I just haven't felt well for so long now and just want some answers. Thank you for taking the time to respond.

Op, I find myself nodding away to your post. I too have health anxiety which I usually manage reasonably well. The continual list of symptoms (many of which you have listed) just aggitates the health anxiety and I have literally lurched from one test to another (including gynae appointments).

I am reluctant to take HRT (past family history). I did try it but it didn't agree with me - it caused me more symptoms which tripped my health anxiety. So here we go - a viscious circle.

You are not too young to experience the peri-menopause (mine kicked in around the same time) and I definitely think hormones can affect digestion too.

Watching your thread with interest.

I am wondering why your thyroid levels have not seemingly been checked at all because this is something they should be looking at.

Go back to your gp and tell him he's a fucking wanker. My mum and I were both deep in perimenopause by 43. And I have many friends who were a similar age or younger. Sorry about the language but the number of ill-informed gps fobbing women off with this bullshit has got to stop.

Just read your update. It took me 12 weeks to see an improvement on hrt so hang in there. Also I was better on estrogel rather than patches.

@ladygindiva I totally agree with you,100%

When I very first went to the GP re: my menopause symptoms, he looked at me, and said "It's not a disease you know, you are not going to die from it!"

WTAF!!

Second GP was even worse ( female)

She said " Well I have hot flushes, they aren't that bad"

There are no words to describe the actual crap, some of these so called' professionals' come out with regarding menopause.

Thanks everyone for the replies. It is very challenging to get anywhere with the GP, now I have the HRT most of them are trying to talk me into stopping it! Very mixed signals. Has anyone any specific experience of the sensory issues in feet, legs etc? It's my main concern just now and really worrying me.

I assume you've had your b12 checked? That can cause tingling, exhaustion etc and often does even before you are classed as deficient. You could try taking a supplement of it, but get your bloods done first if you haven't already as supplements will skew the results.

Any family history of autoimmune disease? I think they need to rule out thyroid, coeliac, pernicious anaemia (b12 deficiency) and even Addison's disease.

Hi all I am on Perimenopause coming to the end in July as that's when I've had 12mnths of missed periods, I started Perimenopause in my late 40s ,heavy periods ,feeling unwell, to cut the story short I started taking Hrt 2months ago as I went to my Dr as I was feeling lightheaded and very uneasy in my body this didn't happen all the time I would have 2 or 3 weeks nothing and feel fine then I would get it and it would knock me for six ,I couldn't go out was at home as to worried to go out incase it happened when out. Well as I said I'm taking hrt Gel & tablets ,but I am still feeling the same ,even worse ,I'm having side effects of hrt sore breasts ,nausea .I suffer acid reflux but it seems Tobe worse ,I am tired, loss of appetite.i spoke to my Dr again she sent me to hospital as she said could be my heart ,they tested blood tests x-ray and said all is good and to go back to my Dr , I spoke again to my Dr and explained I still feel unwell and tests were all clear at the hospital.She has said now I need to speak to a cardiologist as I should have a scan.Then if all clear she will send me to visit a Menopause clinic. What upsets me I have read up on Perimenopause and menopause and it says on some sites that my symptoms are related to this. So when visiting my Dr on more than one occasion she couldn't send me to one of these clinics. I am so fed up as I feel so unwell ,I feel like I have a virus or infection ,whatever it is it feels like it has taken over my body,I want to go back to work but because I feel so unwell I can't.

@Summer1968 This might be something very simple like you need your HRT dose adjusting.

How much gel and how much Utrogestan are you using?

At 2 months in, it's normal to do a bit of trial and error to get the estrogen dose right.

It's also best to start with 1 pump and work upwards.

Are you using utrogestan on a cycle, or daily?

Gastric issues can very much be caused by perimenopause. Oestrogen and progesterone help regulate metabolism. As it slows down, it can cause all sorts of digestive problems. I'm actually booked into a dietician to help control GI symptoms brought about by perimenopause.

Hi jinglinghellsbells
I use 2 doses of gel on each upper arm and I take 2 Ustrogestan pills for 2 weeks and 2 weeks off

Watching with interest too, I have gastric symptoms too but have suffered with ibs for years. I'm 48 so wonder if mine could be perimenopause. I have terrible health anxiety though so am terrified to go to the GP. My sister died six years of stomach cancer so this makes me even more anxious.

I can so relate to ALL of these symptoms, I'm in the U.S. and the GP doctors are the same. I'm 42 and they say I'm too young for peri symptoms yet I started getting unexplained anxiety a couple years ago with super heavy bleeding and shortened cycles. I have more bad days than good and I've had enough. I read a book called "Period Repair Manual" by Lara Briden and it truly opened my eyes, I would suggest the read to anyone suffering. I'm currently waiting to see a naturopath to get my progesterone tested since estrogen goes on a crazy ride in peri and progesterone which balances it takes a dive. My GP wouldn't test my levels since she said it's "not standard practice and won't tell anything". Super frustrating. I told her I acknowledge hormones change all the time, but testing progesterone and estradiol mid luteal phase can help show a glimpse of levels. She dismissed me so I've got my appt with naturopath to test me, I'll do or try anything at this point!

Hi all, as we have been talking about gastro problems ,I recently have had a endoscopy and a conoloscopy they found inflammation and I have bile acid too ,I have had a bad upset for the past two weeks and have to watch what I eat and at a minimal. I am really trying to eat plain and healthy but still I am getting the upset tummy. I am speaking to my Dr tomorrow and I am going to explain what is happening ..I have also started 3 mnths ago hrt Gel and progesterone tables 2wks on and 2 wks off but I have for the first time in 11 months had a period ,with cramps in my tummy and I am heavy ,3 days now. Wasn't expecting that really ,but apparently you can while using hrt. Also I am going to mention my Dr refers me to a menopause clinic as I really need to talk to someone about my symptoms ,another one being lightheadiness.
I don't know if anyone is going through the same .I am getting concerned now as I have had an upset stomache for about 2 or 3 I have been taking cholyistermine a bile acid binder but not working as yet it's been a few weeks now this problem.and I getting so fed with it all.
Bye all

ive just turned 39 and been having symptoms for about 6 months, its probably longer but thats when I noticed they seemed to be linked to my cycle. I have so many symptoms,many that you have described. I started hrt 2 months ago evorel sequi, which seemed to really help initially with most of the symptoms apart from my now daily anxiety, which now has no rhyme or reason it seems.Im writing on here because I too feel like im slowly dying, that there is something else wrong and maybe this isnt peri. I have no idea if its something else and im scared. I dont really know where to start or what to do next and I feel like wsurely this shouldnt be how women should be left feeling. Also I've not had a period in 6 weeks( i dont know why) my periods before were changing but I always had them. the last few days some of the symptoms are kicking back in, disturbed sleep, a fresh and hightened level of anxiety, sore breasts, ive had a yeast infection in my mouth and also think I have one down stairs. Tingling all over, I just feel weird, tired, crazy acid that doesnt go, and sore neck and headaches again. I am sat here writing this at 3 in the morning because ive woken up feeling so crappy. I guess um questioning it all because of my age too, is this really peri? my gp has been ok, put me on hrt and is referring me to gynea to check if its premiture ovarian failure or to just give us a better idea but god knows how long that will take. Ive had my children and dont wish to have anymore thankfully so on that front im ok , I just feel very lost and very alone with all of this and im scared, I feel like there isnt anyone I can turn to face to face, who is having similar experiences.

@Moomin97
Hi Moomin
I was wondering how you are getting on now?

Like you, I started getting weird neuro symptoms after going on HRT, including the wet foot. After 18 months, a host of blood tests and MRI scans I was still without answers so stopped the HRT 2 months ago as it seemed to be the only way to know if it was the cause.

My symptoms have improved massively so it does appear to be the answer, but of course I am now dealing with a huge increase in menopausal symptoms so feel stuck between a rock and a hard place.

I'd be really interested to know how you've got on.

Incidentally I was on gel not patches and tried 2 different forms of progesterone, so I don't think the neuro symptoms are tied to a specific product.

I am 53 years old and I am now 2 years without a period. I have the usual hot flushes night sweats,low mood but I came back from a holiday in Majorca 2 weeks ago and I have every symptom under the sun. Aches and pains, heartburn, abdominal pain, feeling hot then cold, insomnia, hot feeling in my leg's even though they don't feel hot, itchy skin. I assume I am post menopause I thought symptoms would be limited. I feel lonely complete dread feeling

Hi. I’m 54 not had a period for two years. I think my symptoms have gone then bang they come back, it is so frustrating. Today symptoms include itching and bloating. Let’s see what tomorrow brings……