Perimenopause

misc2013

Looking for a discussion about Perimenopause related symptoms.

I seem to have a range of new annoyances of late and it would appear pretty much all of them could be related. I'm 49. For the past year I've definitely had the night sweats, ugh.

My newish symptoms this past couple of months include fatigue, occasional migraine (never had this before), occasional heartburn at night ( never had this before) constant thirst and /or increased muscle /back aches.

Anyone having similar joy?

Caranica

Big Bag of Chips

Thread moved to The Ladies Lounge. More appropriate in this forum.

Daisy78

Have had symptoms for the best part of three years, chronic fatigue, night sweats and lately mood issues. I'm early forties, getting a diagnosis was so difficult due to my age, which probably delayed me seeking help for it for a good while. Have tried everything including medication and unfortunately nothing has alleviated my symptoms. Wish I knew what I was in for, it's not been a happy time for me.

fits

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118985160#Comment_118985160

There can be trial and error with medication. I was recommended to go on contraceptive pill rather than hrt due to my younger age. It seems to work well but symptoms return very quickly if I miss a day or two.

Sardonicat

51 here and have been perimenopausal for a number of years. Migraine is my greatest scourge. Always had a premenstrual migraine since menarche. I didn't even know it was migraine, I used to call it my 'period headache'. It was normally fairly moderate pain that responded rapidly to over the counter pain relief and within 24 hours of onset my period would arrive. The exhaustion that followed I used to put down to my period. It wasn't til my 40s and they started to strike randomly and aggressively that I realised these were migraines all along but now they are completely debilitating. Loss of vision, shaking, vomiting, fainting, excruciating pain that responds to nothing and can last for days.

Extremely heavy periods that can last a fortnight is another gift of this phase if life. I had itchy skin for a while but that seems to have resolved now. No night sweats (yet) but do get hot flushes, particularly around the time if my period. No HRT yet, I have yet to skip two full cycles so GP reckons my oestrogen is still too high to use it safely. Honestly didn't think I'd be dealing with this hassle at my age and definitely think there needs to be more education about it. I'd never even heard of perimenopause til my GP mentioned it to me in my mid 40s and I thought I was very well informed.

I'll be starting Black Cohosh soon to help with the flushes, GP recommended but it's not available in Ireland! Thankfully, I've a neighbour who travels back and forth from UK frequently and she got it fir me. I'll report back how I get on. Any other recommendations of herbal supplements that work would be greatly appreciated.

fits

If I were you I’d find a different gp. I had a consultation with Deirdre Lundy who is a specialist gp.

seenitall

I’m 48, dealing with peri for many years now; still haven’t skipped a single cycle, regular as ever, but that could be down to all the supplementing I’ve been doing since a thousand symptoms started showing up one by one, to deal with them.

I always say, the first line of defence should be Agnus Castus; it balances the hormones like magic and I’ve found it so useful and helpful, while being a mild, herbal supplement. It might take a few weeks til ye see the full effects.

Other than that, I take my multivit every morning, also Apple cider vinegar, and maca root in capsule form for energy. Ginger in capsules for the menstrual migraines (they are a right pain, aren’t they?! Excuse the pun. Never used to have them til they started showing up a few years ago - ginger is a blessing though! And go swimming, if possible! Migraines go whoosh, they’re gone! IME) Turmeric for low moods. Evening Primrose oil and Raspberry Leaf and fish oils for aching breasts and generally reducing breast density. Sage for hot flushes etc. CoQ10 for vitality, energy, fighting fatigue and for general wellbeing.

Do your own research, There’s loads of useful info out there. Herbs and supplements can help us a lot with dealing with different symptoms and I’ve long decided to go that route and stick with it before I’d touch HRT or anti-depressants. It’s a normal stage of life after all (if sometimes unpleasant and annoying).

Also, a lot of supplementing is about timing, knowing your cycle and what happens when. For example, I start taking some turmeric here and there a few days before my period, it keeps my mood on an even keel because PMS depression is real (it rhymes! :D). Same with ginger, really, I always have it to hand and have a capsule if I feel like a migraine could be starting. Helps amazingly, like 90% of the time.

The best thing about the above stuff is that it’s just spices which we would be eating in great quantities anyway, were we living in India or somewhere like that. Oh and green tea is very good for you - antioxidants blah-de-blah but I also really enjoy the taste!

ETA: Sardonicat, poor you with those migraines! :( But, I’ve just thought, if they are that bad, a bit of ginger may not help. Mine are not really pleasant, oh god that throbbing inside the temples ugh, but not that bad either. Do please let us know how you progress with the black cohosh but also if you find anything effective against migraines, I’d be interested to know.

Gremlinertia

Ok so in my ignorance i had no idea a doctor could help out or even diagnose perimenopause, thank you for starting this thread

bb12

fyi you can buy black cohosh and red clover from amazon.de and they'll ship to ireland. i had really bad hot flushes...almost every hour of the day but once i started taking these along with st johns wort, i only get maybe 1 or 2 a day now. i also bought a little neck fan from amazon uk that is a life saver for when they hit...after a couple of mins using this everything is back to normal again

fits

Re the herbal supplementation that sounds like an awful lot of work. Medication works very well for many.

bluepeter

I have symptoms and at an age for perimenopause (age 40).

I'm not liking it at all. My period came a week early, two weeks ago. And it hasn't stopped. I've been spotting ever since.

Does anyone know if a doctor will look for other reasons or just diagnose perimenopause?

Sardonicat

40 is a bit early. No harm seeing your DR. I presume you've ruled out pregnancy?

bluepeter

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120398578#Comment_120398578

Definitely not pregnant. Will make an appointment.

apache

Time for me to make a GP appointment. Don't know a lot about it but have symptoms. Spoke to a few women about it and they reckon HRT is the way to go. It has really improved their life. 45 here.

Big Bag of Chips

Does anyone know if a doctor will look for other reasons or just diagnose perimenopause?

A doctor is unlikely to diagnose anything without proof following tests. They may take your bloods to do a hormone profile. Results can indicate whether or not menopause is starting. Repeat hormone profile would probably be done after about 6 months again.

If bleeding has changed you are likely to be referred to a gynaecologist for investigations. A hysteroscopy is an examination of the womb using a tiny camera. 40 is young, but not uncommon. But there might be something else going on that can be treated.

Definitely have a chat with the GP.

Caranica

If anyone is still taking the pill please be careful about supplements, at least one mentioned here interacts with it. Always best to talk to your doctor about supplements if you're on anything prescribed.

My GP said I can stay on my pill until I'm 50 and I'm happy with that. It really suits me.

Leg End Reject

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120398685#Comment_120398685

The new thinking is that it is diagnosed by symptoms alone as blood hormone levels may still be within a normal range for some time after symptoms begin, and many doctors recommend all women start HRT at 40 because of the heart and bone benefits and the prevention of symptoms. Erratic periods are often the first sign.

A lot of GPs aren't up to date on this and on the newer HRTs so some research is required.

Perimenopause can begin for some unlucky women in their 30s, so it's definitely possibly at 40 @bluepeter.

j@utis

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120441586#Comment_120441586

We're most likely listening to the same podcasts because I've just heard the same thing too. I'm experiencing some dramatic shift in my hormones lately, last 6 months or so. I've been training in the gym regularly for the last 6-7 years, and my strength just went there last half year. I checked my training logs and I was still "killing" it in the gym last June-July and now I can barely lift half of what I used too. My sex drive is gone too, I'm fatigued for about two weeks around my periods due disruptions in sleep and inexplainable anxiety. I'm almost 43 yo, some changes can be expected by I didn't expect this, I thought it'd be gradual decline and fading away kinda thing, not like boom and you're old.

Sunrise_Sunset

Glad to have happened upon this thread. Hi ladies!

I am 42 and for the past 6-8 months or so my cycle has reduced to 23 days. I read this can be due to perimenopause but the nurse at my GP surgery told me she didn't think so, and I was too young, and said the cycle gets longer not shorter in perimenopause. But I read it can often get shorter before getting longer. I was getting blood work done at the time and I asked her to check my hormone levels but they didn't!! My cycle has been shorter since having my second child, but like 25-26 days, now it's at 23. Often heavy with clotting for about 2 of those days.

I have lots of other ailments and now I'm wondering could they be perimenopause too.

rubberdungeon

You may notice a change in the normal pattern of your periods. But many people have regular periods.

You may start having either unusually light or heavy periods.

The frequency of your periods may also be affected - you may have them every 2 or 3 weeks. Skipped periods are common - you may not have them for months at a time.

https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/menopause/symptoms/

fits

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120474184#Comment_120474184

A practice nurse won’t be an expert on menopause. Go to someone who has some expertise in it.

Sunrise_Sunset

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120474456#Comment_120474456

I wasn't there to specifically talk about perimenopause. I was getting bloods done and then mentioned it to her and asked re hormones in blood test.

I know I'm not too young for it though, reading the above and hearing what friends have to say too.

Leg End Reject

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120475422#Comment_120475422

You're the only one who knows your own body, if something is not right keep pushing for answers. You will need to find someone with up to date information though, that's not going to be the majority of GPs or practice nurses.

j@utis

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120474184#Comment_120474184

My GP just laughed when I asked for sex hormones checked. He claimed those results can vary wildly and are meaningless for that reason. I'm not so convinced. I see over and over again on facebook, mostly in USA FB groups, ladies are getting their hormones checked and going of HRT if they require it. I'm googling for menopause clinic around and will try to get an appointment some time next month. Bio-identical HRT is what interest me the most.

apache

Keep on putting off ringing the GP for an appointment. Am definitely going to ring this morning. It's important. There's a lot of advertising the gov.ie menopause website at the moment. That and this thread has made me try and do something about it.

Started peri menopause symptoms at 39. Wasn’t even aware that it could happen in thirties and last up to 10 years before menopause so it was never on my radar. Night sweats, fatigue, acne weight gain.

The thing that sent me to the doc was how frighteningly unnatural my low mood was for me. I love my job, family and life but all of a sudden I had no enthusiasm for anything, I just couldn’t be arsed with anything or anyone, the thought of facing work, meeting and talking to people made me inexplicably cry each day. It was very out of character and there was no single thing that I could pinpoint and say yes that’s the cause.

That seems to have eased for now, the main thing I’m dealing with now is irregular cycles. I’ve never had such heavy periods in my life, accidents are very embarrassing. The thoughts of having to go out and about each month on days 1 & 2 are very unnerving.

apache

Finally had an appointment with my GP today. Getting bloods done next week and will take it from there. This thread made me get up and do something about it.

herbalplants

Wild Yam... The way to go

j@utis

Ok, so I've gone to see the menopause specialist recently. She thinks HRT is the way to go (no blood tests were offered) and I'm due to start my first month on estrogen 2 weeks (patch) followed by progesterone 2wks (oral tablets) shortly and see if it helps with my symptoms. I have 3 months initial prescription, and after that I'm seeing the doctor again for follow up visit. I'm sort of excited and really hoping it's gonna help me because I'm really fed up with my current state, fingers crossed!

Leg End Reject

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120804191#Comment_120804191

Good luck and keep us updated please.

JP Liz V1

How is it diagnosed exactly, blood tests?

herbalplants

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120805156#Comment_120805156

Yes blood tests. They check your hormone levels.

Pistachio19

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120805156#Comment_120805156

Blood tests are not necessarily used for diagnosis, especially over the age of 45. Symptoms should be enough to diagnose. Symptom lists are available online and its best to tick one off and bring it to the gp so you can actually remember what your symptoms are! I ticked the list off but forgot to bring it - forgetfulness being a symptom of mine. In perimenopause your levels of oestrogen fluctuate a lot so you could have a high reading today and a low reading in a few days. Progesterone is the first hormone to deplete and can do so from mid 30's onwards. This can result in heavier periods which a lot of women will experience into their 40's.

If a woman would like to try HRT, the best thing is to start low on oestrogen and work your way up. You will also be prescribed progesterone/progestin alongside the oestrogen, though if you have had a hysterectomy you may not need progesterone. The progesterone/progestin element is primarily to protect the womb lining from thickening. Its a trial and error situation to get the dose of HRT correct for each individual, so while I could use a 25mg oestrogen patch, my friend of the same age could be on a 100mg patch.

Its definitely worth learning about and finding out how the depletion of our hormones can affect us both physically and mentally. HRT is a very individual choice and its not something everyone will want or be able to use, but it can be life changing for many women.

bejeezus

It sounds like pure hell. I’m 39 and in denial that it’ll ever happen to me tbh.

suvigirl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120815634#Comment_120815634

My GP didn't even bother. She said there was no point given that the hormones fluctuate during the month.

I am on the mini pill for years, and don't get periods, so couldn't even judge by that.

She said based on symptoms she would start me on hrt, within 10 days I felt the affects. Great stuff.

No, it’s not pure hell honestly, please don’t anticipate misery. My colitis in my younger days before colectomy/ileostomy was hell, my present Multiple Sclerosis is even worse hell. Menopause causes hot flushes & some issues, but some have very few issues (my late mother being an example) and most symptoms can be ameliorated.

I’m 62 now, been through all that, I put things in perspective, at least some of the time 🤣 For women to write themselves off as brain-fogged and unable to take in anything underplays the fact our brains can be extremely productive. I took up computer coding to keep my brain working, and now I can detect many errors, eg, in a Python script produced by someone else or even Chat GPT, at a glance and can troubleshoot easily. It is just amazing that older women can be especially productive as there have been learning skills quietly accumulated through life.

Re hormone replacement therapy, always make sure your endometrium doesn’t get over-stimulated by estrogen, and that sufficient progesterone is taken, unless one has had ovaries removed. During a recent scan for MS an incidental finding was a pronounced endometrial hyperplasia, and before MS immune suppression I have to be checked for potential carcinoma lying relatively quietly in there. I am on smallest dose Estradot patch with progestogen taken in cycles. I never had children, heightening the risk, also my mother was prescribed a since banned drug during pregnancy called diethylstilbestrol (DES) which greatly raises genital tract cancers in daughters, also somewhat in sone too. So risk factors have to be taken into account, and regular checks made.

bejeezus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120967732#Comment_120967732

I can empathise with you on that. I have crohns disease and at times it was hellish. I just hope I have an easy ride through menopause. I know my mum had an awful time, but that was many moons ago. Best of luck and health .

apache

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120967714#Comment_120967714

My GP just went by the bloodtests and told me my levels were fine.

suvigirl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120967829#Comment_120967829

Yeah, that's the thing, your levels can be fine, so if you have other symptoms what could be causing them?

I was honestly delighted with my GP

herbalplants

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120967714#Comment_120967714

Interesting. My GP who is a female around my age didn't want to put me on HRT, she asked me to take herbal medicine. I am actually taking ashwagandha in the evening, knocks me out every night, I sleep like a log. She said she will only put me on HRT if I can't function during the day.

suvigirl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120967894#Comment_120967894

If it works for you then that's good, the hrt has been brilliant for me.

Whatever works for us is the important thing ,😊

herbalplants

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120967900#Comment_120967900

Totally agree. I know some older friends were on hrt and it worked really well 😁

JP Liz V1

Is there a good multivitamin supplement for pre peri etc.,?

seenitall

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121019311#Comment_121019311

I take Terra Nova’s “Living Multivitamin - Woman”. Available from health food shops (E.g. evergreen), it is also boosted with helpful spices and herbs. Check it out.

Am 49 now, still regular with my cycles, still taking all my supplements and still steering clear of anything else. I also drink green tea whenever sitting down for a beverage.

I have had so many symptoms for so long, like pre-menstrual fatigue or migraine, sleepiness, low mood, feeling quite warm for some periods of time (in luteal phase), occasional anxiety, sensitive breasts, digestive tract problems, etc, etc. And yet none of them are actually even close to being overwhelming or feel serious, all of them pass after a while and then another one turns up, according to the time in the cycle. They all feel kind of “muted”, for want of a better word. I’m pretty sure That’s due to the supplementation I’m doing.

Yes, @herbalplants, I’ve already read great things about ashwagandha, if I ever start feeling like I want to switch from my spices and herbs for a mood boost or for a calming effect (passionflower/passiflora and lemonbalm are lovely for the latter), I’ll keep it in mind!

YellowLead

Anyone else have spots appear all of a sudden? I’ve always had good skin, never got any spots but 6 months ago a few appeared and now my whole lower face is pretty much covered in them and they don’t go away but just keep building. Googling it and the images for perimenopause acne looks just like my face. Had never really been aware of peri to be honest - 39 and I didn’t think I’d have to worry about menopause stuff for about another decade. I also have heart palpitations which I had no clue were a symptom until recently. These are my only two symptoms really - I’ve always had brain fog on and off but I eat a high sugar diet so have tended to attribute it to that.

My gp isn’t great so I might look for a specialist clinic or something.

Gremlinertia

Depends where you are in the country but there are people attached to gp surgeries and gynae units that are very interested and proactive in the peri area, it's very difficult to have someone listen at times.

misc2013

Hi all. I'm still hoping to start HRT. Finally went to GP but there's blood issues need checking and long story short, i need to see histomology to check am i a suitable candidate. Really hoping.

My earlier symptoms have eased buy replaced by others. Like others have said, symptoms can change and come and go but iy appears there's always some other irritating ones to take over!

Most annoying are the anxiety and palpitations. Never an issue before all this. Also experiencing joint and muscle aches, particularly in my fingers and feet and legs and knees. Very annoying. Someone mentioned swimming so i have been swimming twice a week since July and i think it helps somewhat with the anxiety but still have the aches and pains. Especially at night. Occasional nuisance headaches but migraines have taken a break for now, thankfully. They're the worst.

herbalplants

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121422552#Comment_121422552

I had those symptoms too. Out of nowhere I had palpitations and shortness of breath which scared me. I am happy to report I went through them and they have disappeared. The shortness of breath had me very worried. I had panic attacks actually twice while swimming in the sea. I never had them in my life. They are gone too. Huhhh. The pains in my joints yes too, gone at the moment. I would recommend take omega for that.

I never went on HRT and my GP recommend me not to go on HRT.

I only took herbal supplements.

I would advise to try to bear and you may go through in 6 months.

Sunrise_Sunset

I'm 42, and believe I'm perimenopausal.

The frequency of my cycle is getting shorter and shorter, I'm down to a 22 day cycle some months. I read that this can happen before they start to space out. I've always suffered with oily, blemish prone skin but it's gotten a lot worse, and my hair is visibly oily after 1.5 days. I began suffering with anxiety really badly this year too, to the point that I had to go on meds, which I never thought I'd do.

misc2013

My night sweats had long stopped, I thought.

Back again!

The palpitations, anxiety and muscular and joint aches are my worst symptoms now.