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[Stresshead]

Hi

I am so glad that I've found this group as apart from my husband I have no support from anyone else with regards to this area. I'm 46 years old and I think started peri about 5 years ago when my period became less dependable and heavier  Things changed a few weeks ago when I missed my 2nd period in a row and I got hit, like a 10 tonne truck, with a whole load of symptoms that I've never had before................is this normal ? It started with nausea and going off food a bit (not a bad thing as I'm overweight) haven't had a tea or coffee in 3 weeks as the smell turns my stomach, bone achingly tired and just want to sleep, shakey like my blood sugar levels have dropped and instantly need something sugary to pick me before I pass out, anxious and weepy and overwhelmed by everything, brain fog (not good when you have just started a new job). I get bloated really quickly and have been sick twice from horrible acid reflux. I don't feel like myself anymore and feel completely out of sorts.

Is this normal? Has anyone else been hit really quickly like this? Can anyone recommend anything to make me feel normal again? Sorry for rambling on just feel so low......sitting here blubbing whilst typing as all I want to do is go back to bed, pull the curtains and shut the world out. X

[Dotty]

Yes, yes and yes. Nausea was one of my worst meno symptoms. And exhaustion and loss of appetite and feeling shaky. Docs said it couldn't be menopause, but it was. HRT was the only thing that worked for me. Go and see your GP and ask to trial a low dose hrt. X

[Tiddles]

Hi

Yes, my peri was gradual over 3 years.  I started getting hot flushes, then a few cluster headaches as my periods become more and more irregular, various other symproms crept in and then Bam!  Last September the sky fell in with horrible physical, mental and emotional symptoms that sent me to the edge.  I tried various 'natural' remedies and approaches but nothing touched it.  So I started the long winded process of getting HRT.  Long winded because the GP wanted me to have a number of tests to eliminate anything else first and of course there is the wait between each test and then results and then another wait for the next test etc etc.  I finally started HRT in January this year and the improvement was immediate and dramatic.  7 months later and I feel so well, it's like a miracle.

So I'm with Dotty.  Get yourself to the docs. If you look at the Treatments tab on here it will take you through what's appropriate for your particular physical circumstances. If you are confused about what to ask the doc for, there are several very well informed women on here who will, I know, come along and advise you. Make sure you know what you want before you go the doc.  Many of us have found GPs to be very poorly informed.

Let us know what you decide to do.  There is hope, a lot of hope for a much better day than you are having today xxx

[Taz2]

Hi Stresshead - yes the symptoms you describe do fit with peri unless there is any chance you could have missed two periods due to pregnancy? Wouldn't be the first time that's happened on here so I just thought I'd check 

Taz x 

[AgathaC]

Hello. I'm 46 too and a new joiner to the forum. I have been in perimenopause for about 3 years. All your symptoms have been suffered by me to some degree (apart from actually missing a period, still having those with a vengeance!). Anxiety, brain fog, tiredness, you name it. And interestingly my journey started with bad acid reflux and digestive issues and weight gain. I've got on top of those (erm - not the weight gain actually!) but the others are a daily struggle. Go and look and what I wrote on the new members forum to introduce myself last week. I do empathise with everything you've written and I'm so sorry. Do what these lovely ladies have said and go to the doctor. I'm trying to hold off any HRT help for now. Particularly as my GP does not appear to be behind it. I'm finding looking on this forum once a day a great help on this menopause journey (more like a holiday that I've been forced to go on against my will!).

[sheila99]

I had those symptoms when I was pregnant. Perhaps a pregnancy test if there's any possibility? Lady near me conceived naturally aged 52 so at your age it's unlikely but not impossible.

[Bradenton69]

Ditto to above.  Been like this for over 2 years and now going back to Docs.  Need to seriously look at help as it is affecting my daily mood.

[jillydoll]

Yes ladies,go and try hrt off your gps.
Try it, you can always stop it if you don't like it, or try another one.
Your quality of life is worth so much more,

Hope you start to feel better soon, keep us informed, we like to know
how your getting on......or just come on to sound off, someone's always
on here to listen......
Good luck ladies.

Jd x

[Stresshead]

Thank you all for your replies I really appreciate it ......it helps to know you're not on your own !!

I really don't think I'm pregnant, although I haven't done a test. My husband had a rigorous bout of chemo 17 years ago and we were told that we wouldn't be able to conceive naturally so I would be really shocked to find that at my age and after not using protection in all that time that I would find myself expecting now !!

I have seen my doctor to get my hormones checked and they are showing that I'm perimenopausal however I find that my doctors aren't the best at listening and there isn't a female doctor who can chat and relate to me.  Also, I'm not sure I would be a candidate for HRT due to a family history of breast cancer.

It's just good to be able to talk to people and know that you're not alone. I knew very little about the menopause and just thought it was all about hot flushes so when all these other symptoms arrived it took me a while to realise that they were all caused by my fluctuating hormones.

I think this forum will be my lifeline going forward................thanks again for your help and support xx

[Dotty]

Hi it depends on the type of breast cancer in the family and how close the relative was to you. A lot of ladies with breast cancer in the family have now found that they can take hrt.

Hrt is the only treatment that will relieve your symptoms. I tried everything and didn’t realise that my horrendous symptoms were due to menopause for many years . The risks of taking hrt are minimal . X

[Taz2]

Loss of male fertility after chemo can often be temporary. It can sometimes take years to return but then fertility is normal. Also, as we get closer to Meno the female body can make a last ditch atempt to become pregnant so it may be worth taking a pregnancy test. Let us know!

If you have two close female relatives with breast cancer such as mum and sister then HRT might be a concern but it also depends on whether the cancers were hormone receptive or not so please don't suffer needlessly.

Taz x

[thegregs52]

I keep saying it but please remember to make sure you get checked for Hypothyroidism (under active thyroid) as well as it gives all the same symptoms!

[Stresshead]

Hi Again

I've just rang my surgery as i had some bloods done a little while ago so wanted to check the results. Thyroid is normal but FSH and LH both came back as abnormal at 35 for both. Got an appointment on Monday for A Well Women's Clinic as can't go on like this. Can't believe how under the weather i feel and now also have a face full of spots !!
I'll have a look at the questions that I need to ask section so i go in prepared.

Thanks again for your advice and support xx

[Taz2]

Hope you get some answers soon although an FSH of 35 would appear to be normal for your age? I'm not sure on LH 

Taz x

[Toodle Pips]

Yes! I am up early after a rather sleepless night because I feel nauseous, and do most mornings at the moment. I am definitely not pregnant as my husband had the snip years ago. I figure that if hormone fluctuations can cause nausea in a pregnant woman, then they can cause it in a peri menopausal woman.

I normally start to feel a bit better after some breakfast.