Can perimenopause make you feel this bad?

[Underroad]

I’ve been feeling horrible for over 2 years. I’ve put it down to Long Covid as I have had Covid three times. Some of it (e.g. shortness of breath) is almost certainly down to that.

however, things have accelerated over the past few months. My eyes suddenly went dry and painful all the time, the skin all over my body itches so much that I could rip it off especially over my nipples/breasts. Everything aches and hurts. I wake up every morning and just turning over in bed is so sore and painful everywhere. And the fatigue is crushing. I am barely functioning, my house is an utter tip and I struggle to cook meals. I fall asleep a lot. My GP has been useless and just fobs me off.

I googled the itchy breasts the other day and perimenopause came up as the top cause. I looked at the other symptoms and they matched some of mine. I’m 44 - could perimenopause be making me feel this bad? Is that even possible? I genuinely feel like I’m slowly dying.

Yea absolutely - itching and fatigue are classic symptoms. Can you see a different GP?

All of those symptoms suggest perimenopause.

Dry eyes, itchy skin, unexplained aches and pains, insomnia, brain fog etc are very much symptoms of Peri.

In my experience, absolutely yes. I was about 44/46 when it all started kicking in for me, the painful joints were probably the worst part for me, but I recognise a lot of what you’ve said. The good news is that once I got onto HRT, and got the right method and dosage for me, it really improves things. (I’m not allowed to take it anymore and I’m gutted because all my symptoms are coming back 😭) I recommend you keep on hassling there the GP…good luck!

Yes, and the shortness of breath could be anaemia.

Thanks all. That’s actually very reassuring as it means it’s less likely to be cancer or something equally concerning. What are my chances of being prescribed HRT? I’m only 44 and although my periods have got closer together, I spent my teens, 20s and 30s having completely random cycles of up to 70 days with the off 35 day cycle thrown in for good luck. So I now get a period every 28-34 days which is normal for anyone who isn’t me but abnormal for me.

Definitely don’t have anaemia though - a recent blood test showed that everything is optimal there. Vitamin D is optimal too (which was a shame as I pinned my hopes on that being the cause about 6 months ago and it wasn’t).

Hi OP, my GP ignored me when I went to her with fatigue, brain fog, difficulty concentrating etc. Refused me any investigation and told me to come back once I hadn’t had a period for two years... I was 46 and still have regular periods. I went and got blood tests done privately which showed very low testosterone. Managed to get that prescribed privately as a gel and it helps a lot. My own GP changed her attitude when I could show her the private blood results. It’s so frustrating but persevere.

Thank you @Calminacrisis thats really helpful to know.

should I be pushing for blood tests? I’m reading conflicting info about how helpful they are re: perimenopause because the levels are likely to be fluctuating all the time so they can only show the hormone levels at that particular time.

I had three years of peri menopausal breasts. Horrible, ultra sensitive and itchy.

Im menopausal now with normal breasts and it's bliss. I'm on HRT but HRT is such a small dose compared to natural hormones.

Regarding blood tests - I know the tests can only show a snapshot of the hormones however my GP repeated the testosterone one when shown evidence that it was so low. The NHS test confirmed how incredibly low it was and then I could get referred for a private doctor to prescribe the testosterone. I don’t have any other form of HRT. I just felt fobbed off and invisible until I could prove there was a reason I felt the way I did. Good luck!

If you can afford it you could have blood tests to see what your hormones are up to. I felt shite with peri-menopause and went way too long before going on HRT. The effects of HRT are truly magical.

It's my favourite thing in the world. I didn't realise quite how shite I felt until I started HRT

Yes!

Whilst you wait for GP support, Health & Her Mind + Peri-Menopause supplements are brilliant

Hi. I appreciate this is an old thread, but wondered how you are doing now Underroad? Kindest regards x