Hi Hurdity,
I didn't think to state where I am with menopause!
I'm 49 years old and have definitely been in perimenopause since December 2017 because that's when I started having hot flashes. However, I think I have been in perimenopause going back as far as 2014 because that is when I started having mood swings.
My periods are generally very light. Last year I went through a phase of going three months at a time without a period and then they reverted to normal whilst I was using natural remedies: agnus castus, black cohosh, dong quai, ashwaganda and milk thistle. However, these remedies stopped working this year.
I have generally managed to stave of hot flashes and night sweats due to vigilance with my diet: no sugar, no caffeine, no alcohol (almost). I always know when too much sugar has crept back into my diet as the hot flashes start up again.
I have suffered with many other perimenopausal symptoms on and off too: nausea, insomnia, depression, anxiety, palpitations etc.
Currently, my periods have gone awry again. Not had one for 6 weeks now.