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[Annalise]

Hello ladies .
I'm new here and would like some advice and some input.
I'm going to be 43 in a few months time and have been experiencing peri symptoms for around 3/4 years .
I was also diagnosed with an underactive thyroid going back 6 years.
I don't get much night sweats but have had a host of other symptoms including muscle pain ,tiredness ,weight gain, change in periods, spots, sore breasts, constipation, raised anxiety, crying for no reason.
My gp referred me to a thyroid specialist who went through all of my blood tests and in their opinion all the symptoms I was getting was nothing to do with my thyroid.
I have also been diagnosed with fibromyalgia a few months ago.
Iv recently had a normal smear test result and my gynaecologist has checked for cysts and fibroids all was clear.
My gp has prescribed me a prostregon pill which I take every day with no breaks, this was due to last month's petiod which had me heading to my local out of hours gp as day 3 of my period the most awful bleeding started .
It was so Heavy and had large clots it was the worse I have ever experienced.
The gp prescribed me Tranexamic acid tablets to help and they did thankfully as I was drained of energy.
Iv had further blood tests to check iron and vitamin b12 and all were good.
Iv had an fsh test done and that was showing at 14.
I'm at the point now where I'm terrified of my period starting.
I just can't seem to function properly anymore, the least thing will set me of into.floods of tears.
My gp also prescribed me Fluoxetine for my anxiety and depression but I haven't taken any as iv been to afraid to take them.
I'm just hoping that this perimenopause isn't going to go on for a long time I can't cope with it.
Thank you in advance ladies x

[SadLynda]

Hi Annalise, welcome to the forum.

I am no expert, as new here and asking questions myself...

BUT, why not give the fluxotine a try? not ideal I know, but while awaiting my own appointment I have a strong feeling that I will be give some form of AD and HRT, I am happy to take anything that will make me feel better than this.  You dont have to stay on it forever if you dont want too, might just help you through this for a while though?

Others will be along soon with their own experiences to help too.  take care.

[Annalise]

Hello sadlynda 
What I did in regards to the floxetine was I read the side effects and even though I have been having heart palps a few days before my period arrives, the side effects frightened me.
This,has been an ongoing problem of mine for a few years.
Iv tried to do this perimenopause by myself with no medication and I'm.struggling.
I'm nearly 44 not nearly 43 as in my first post sorry. X

[Limpy]

What I did in regards to the floxetine was I read the side effects and even though I have been having heart palps a few days before my period arrives, the side effects frightened me.

Hi Annalise

Welcome to the forum 

A useful thing to remember with side effects for any medication is that all possible side effects have to be listed. This includes the rare ones, just because something is shown as a side effect doesn't mean that it will happen to you, or indeed the vast majority of people.

Like SadLynda says, it may be worth giving the Fluoxetine a try, you don't have to stay on it for ever and it might help you. If it doesn't work then you can come off it and try something else.

[Annalise]

Hello limpy
Its awful I feel as though I'm not ready for this next chapter in my life.
I'm fortunate to have children and grandchildren and I thought that this perimenopause would be a few more years away.
It's a bit like having pms but x10 that's how I feel.
I think I'm going to have a think about the Fluoxetine instead of ignoring it x

[SadLynda]

Annalise - I have been trying to do it myself too, and have a barrage of supplements, vitamins and very healthy diet, but think I am reaching the stage were I need more help now.

I have taken Floxetine in the past, either when I had PND or during my divorce, going back 20+ years now but it did help me at the time, think I took it for about 6/8 months to get me through the rough stuff.  I'm still here

Didnt agree with my husband though, GP put him on it many years ago when he was suffering with work related anxiety.. we were broke at the time too, just managing to live from day to day.. he felt so much better, the world was rosey, he went out and bought a new bl**dy car!!! we laugh about it now, but I was not laughing at the time.  He felt so good he could see no wrong in what he did at all.  Best bit of this (again we can laugh now) 3 weeks later it was stolen from our driveway.

[Limpy]

Don't fret Annalise, life doesn't end with peri or indeed post menopause.
Just feels like it sometimes 
Things do change but they can be helped and managed.

[Annalise]

Thank you hun.
I guess it's not called the change for nothing x

[Annalise]

Sadlynda.
I think what is frightening me mostly is that many Years ago I witnessed a relative passing away from a heart attack .
Over the years I put it to the back of my mind until I started to have heart palps myself.
Iv had ecg,s done and a chest xray all was fine.
It's,like a fixation of mine now that if a side effect says heart palpitations it frightens me.
X

[CLKD]

   I didn't want to take an Anti-depressive but it helped at the time (1990s) . 

Have a browse of the pull-down menus, top of screen. Make notes.  You were given the right medication to ease heavy bleeding.

HORMONES      Maybe keeping a food/mood diary might help for a few months (I keep forgetting to add to mine  ).  How is your diet and exercise regime?  Eating regularly can ease a lot of symptoms.  Regular exercise as well as 'me time' (we have a thread about that too) helps.

[Annalise]

Thank you clkd .
Iv started dieting again and am careful in what I'm eating.
Exercise wise I'm rubbish to be honest .
I feel that my muscles are hurting a lot when iv been walking for a short while .
A few years ago I used to walk everywhere.
So I'm hoping to get some of that energy back .
I'm hoping to lose two stone in weight but I tend to find that the minute my period is due I need chocolate or bread.
I'm pretty good in the day with my dieting I just seem to hit.this slump around 6.00pm.
Before all of this peri started I could diet and easily lose 2lbs every week without fail.
Now it's a miracle if I lose 1lb every fortnight x

[CLKD]

I have stopped eating chocolate or shop made cakes/pastries.  I tend to look at what the Pro-cyclists eat/drink - I have been buying Jordans 'bars' which have less sugar/salt and are quite filling. I don't like the initial taste due to the lack of sugar but once the 2nd bite I'm OK. 

My thighs seem weaker than years ago but that's because I'm lazier - no  to walk now and the cycle is in the shed at the bottom of the garden  . 

If you get a slump at 6.00 p.m. then have a 'bar' at 4.30 ish which will boost your energy level.  Or eat a Dextrose tablet which will ease those hunger pangs.  You may need to review your eating regime to avoid that slump.

[Limpy]

Now it's a miracle if I lose 1lb every fortnight x

Annalise - Don't knock it, a whole 1lb 

 I don't like the initial taste due to the lack of sugar but once the 2nd bite I'm OK. 

CLKD - I read that as the 2nd bar.
I Think I'm still hungry   

[Hurdity]

Hi Annalise

 

So sorry to hear about your problems and also your inadequate treatment by the medical profession.

First re the thyroid - if you were diagnosed with underactive thyroid - have you been treated for it and do you have other symptoms besides weight gain? What were your blood tests and did they do the whole lot of tests including T3? Many women start to get problems with their thyroid at the same time as becoming peri-menopausal and many of the symptoms overlap.

As for thyroid and fibromyalgia - of you look at thyroid UK site they consider that much of the so-called fibromyalgia diagnoses (ie the syndrome of symptoms called fibromyalgia) are in fact due to untreated underactive thyroid (backed up by trials) - and because of the cut off point with TSH when symptoms are treated, and the reliance on TSH only. The muscle aches and pains, lack of energy, exhaustion etc are typical. A very good friend of mine has this thyroid problem and has T3 problems and also fibro - which comes and goes but the symptoms come and go depending on her thyroid. She put me onto this.

And as for the fluoxetine!! Words fail me - I quite agree - why should you take it if your problems are hormonal? I urge you not to accept either the fibromyalgia diagnosis nor the fluoxetine before all other avenues have been exhuasted and suitable treatment tried. The former is a cop-out by doctors (leading to a medical "there there") and the latter is a way of treating the symptoms and not the likely cause. Other women on here have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia when they have had oestrogen deficiency ie menopause, and the same goes for testosterone.  My doc shrugged her shoulders at my symptoms and was all for sending me down the fibro route but I went privtaely to see a gynae/endocrinologist and I'm now taking testosterone ( another issue entirley). I can't tell properly yet because my execrise classes have mainly stopped for the hols but I am sure there has been an improvement (fingers crossed).

CLKD - I find Jordan's bars to be disgustingly sweet! They are full of sugar albeit fruit sugars! The oats are good though as these fill you up.

I wouldn't use pure Dextrose tablets unless you actually experience proper low blood sugar symptoms ie the sweats and shakes - otherwise a normal slow release snack is fine! It isn't good in the long run as it gives a surge of sugar, stimulates insulin and only lasts a short time.

I would love to lose a pound a fortnight - but then I'm not on a diet - keep cutting down but doesn't seem to make any difference 

Craving for carbs is normal around period time and for me, and many women got much worse during peri-menopause when hormones fluctuate - the progesterone has something to do with it but I'm not clear how - I think the rise causes changes in blood sugar metabolism (probably for pregnancy) and the sudden drop causes a reversal and can lead to carb cravings until it settles (back into first half of cycle).

The peri-symptoms are another matter but I would try to get your thyroid sorted first - and of course if treated this should help re your weight. How are your periods? There are other treatments for seriously heavy bleeding too listed on here: http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/periodtreatments.php

Hope this helps!

Hurdity x

[Annalise]

Hi huridity.
My last tsh test was in may this year and my level was at 0.78.
I was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid in 2009 when I was 37.
I had always been rather slim and one day whilst out walking my dog I had a panic attack.
I had never heard of panic attacks before I thought I was dieing it was terrying.
These attacks continued almost everyday and I have up in going out.
At one stage I didn't leave my house for a year.
The weight piled on I Was cold all the time lacking In energy having skin rashes.
Constipation muscle pains joint pains the list was endless.
My gp eventually ran the thyroid tests and my tsh was 57.
My t3 was tested along with t4 and thyroid antibodies which I Tested positive for.
Iv been on thyroxine since 2009 and have been on.different levels.
This year proved to be a problem as I had these symptoms that I was heading to be underactive again so asked for my bloods to be tested again and the levels came back that I was actually heading towards overactive my tsh was 0.28.
So my gp told me to lower my dosage.
I did this and 6 weeks later my blood test then.showed my tsh level was now 8.
My gp called me in.to see her and told me that I would,have yo go back up to my original dose.
It's a roller coaster at the moment.
I ask for my t3 to be tested and I'm always being told that if my tsh is normal then the labs won't test the t3 level.
I did try and explain normal levels is not normal for everyone.
My periods were strange last year they appeared to be light and more frequent.
Then I had around 6 months of them arriving near enough on time and pretty much quite good.
Last month Was the problem and it really frightened me.
My period has started today I'm having the usual tummy pains and a steady blood flow but iv started on a prostregon pill which I have to take everyday with no breaks x