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[Maruuna]

Hello community,

once again I would be grateful if some of you could share your experience with me and maybe calm me down a little:'(

I am honestly  desperate and now also afraid because of all the symptoms coming up. I posted here a year ago about my suddenly arriving perimenopause symptoms, and
also had two gyn appointments but both were total fails (see my other topics). The year went on rather quickly and with many things happening (new job, quitting new job because it was a nightmare, our 18-year-old cat died, my mother-in law died... just lots of stuff). So, my formerly described symptoms lasted until around June (particularly the hot flashes and night sweats which I then had about 5-6 weeks in a row, but then they completey vanished for the past five months).

I always had what one would call perfect as in without any problems - digestion, never any issues, just none. I did feel that when my cycle went irregular last year, I felt a little constipatet in the two weeks leading up to the next period, but not constipated as in I couldn't go for days, but as in I still could go every day but it was just tough, took long, was too dry etc. Also this came and went in relation to the cycle.

Now in October/November something new, and strange for me, happened... I had about three full weeks were I felt so good, like really fit and strong and full of energy, I even told my husband I feel like in my 20s, it was just great.

Then about 3 weeks ago now, all of a sudden after a 5-months-break, the hot flashes and night sweats started again, in a row, day and night, no pause. I had hot flashes every day, pretty much all day, every 1-2 hours apart, and I woke up every night several times feeling overheated, taking off the bed cover, until I started feeling too cold, bed cover on, falling asleep, same thing 1-2 hours later, all night. My period is now gone for almost 80 days, so I never had that long of a break between periods. I had normal 30 day cycles, then 60 days, then 30 days again, then almost 70 days, then 30 days again, now it's almost 80 days, more than three full weeks of hot flashes and night sweats, and no period.

It did feel like I had some minor cramping the past 5 days, and the hot flashes totally stopped at the same time, and now I am 'normally' (for me) easily cold again, no feeling of overheating and no night sweats. But, also no period coming despite these signs. Other issues I had for the past three weeks were either twitching muscles (eyelid, upper arm, comes and goes), irregular heartbeats (or it feels like it to me), sometimes pain in my ankles, and feeling all puffy and like some water retention around my ankles, not much but I could see it when I took off my socks.

As a new thing now I experience severe digestive issues I never had before in my life.
My whole belly feels like it's somehow inflamed and hurting, but not all the time. It's ok for some days, then, in a wave, these pains come again, also loud sounds ( I never had), short periods of gassiness (I never had) and since last week I had two awful stints of what I think is called paradox diarrhea. So I can go to the loo normally, no problems, everything looks normal (size, consitency, colour) no pains, everything is ok. But then, about one or two hours later I feel like I have to pass gas and with it a small amount of either clear water or diarrhea comes with it.  This happened once ten days ago, then everything was normal again, now it happend again two times yesterday and today.
I was totally shocked about this and wonder if anyone has experienced this in perimenopause or menopause in my age range (I am almost 46).

I have made some docs appointments but all of them are way in to January and February, so I am rather worried right now.

As mentioned in the topic header I'm not on HRT, or any other medication right now, I got checked for diabetes and thyroid (nothing). I have normal weight and try to do workout once or twice a week at least.

I'd be really grateful if anyone could share their experiences as right now I am really worried and feel like I am severly ill

[DottyD68]

Morning Maruuna,

Sorry to hear you are experiencing so many symptoms - it can be very alarming. Good to hear you have some GP appointments booked (albeit not soon enough to reassure you) which should provide a professional assessment.

In my unprofessional opinion it sounds very much like perimenopause and fluctuating hormones. I think in the past 10 years I have experienced pretty much every symptom listed. They come and go and just when you have forgotten about them, they come back again along with new ones. I am afraid to say that I was totally ignorant on how much hormones affect pretty much every part of our bodies.

I would keep a diary so you can see if there is any pattern and in the meantime (until your appointments) try not to worry (easier said than done, I know!). Take some confidence in that you have had some recent tests and all clear.

Hope you manage to enjoy your Christmas X

[Maruuna]

Hi Dotty,

thank you so much for your reply
I know it doesn't solve my problems right away, but just reading that all this could be in any way 'normal' helps me a lot. I do feel so awful these days that I have moments when it's hard to believe this really can all be donw to hormonal fluctuations.

I do keep a cycle/symptoms diary already, also that helps in a way because I at least can read that this awful ill feeling really has been here for 'only' 3-4 weeks, (and I actually felt quite good before) as it subjectively feels like it's been bad for months at least.

Did you find any help as in medication, herbs, anything that brought you any relief?

Otherwise a very happy Christmas for you too!

[DottyD68]

I tried to manage it myself for 7 years but finally decided to try HRT when I was 53 and still perimenopausal. HRT has helped but hasn't been the magic bullet I expected it to be. I have never managed to get the dosage  right alongside my own fluctuating hormones and have tried twice to stop without success. I am currently ticking over on a very low dose of HRT along with various supplements (which include Evening Primrose, Sea Buckthorn Oil, Magnesium). I also take antihistamines and nasal spray for rhinitis which started during this "phase". I have always exercised regularly and I also have acupuncture both of which make me feel better. I am hoping to completely stop HRT in the near future just to see what my own hormones are doing but I need to psych myself up for that.

I have periods of time where things feel settled for a while but various symptoms reappear quite frequently. I have become used to this (even though I don't like it and can get stressed/down) but I just think "It will pass" and it does. I have learnt to take one day at a time. This forum has been a great support especially on bad days.

I hope you feel better for the Christmas festivities and have a satisfactory outcome when you speak to your GP.

[Maruuna]

thanks for sharing your experience Dotty. It just seems to be a difficult phase if the perimeno/menopause symptoms hit you hard =/

I was lucky and had a gyn appointment yesterday. The doctor was very nice and knowledgable, and I felt really well treated by her, which was great fter my two bad experiences at the beginning of the year.
So now the doctor did an unltrasound and found what she thinks to be a small polyp in my uterus. I haven't had my period or any kind of bleeding or spotting for 81 days now, but I do have all these symptoms I described in the first post.
I posted about this in the 'polyps'-topic too but I want to ask here as well if anyone had a polyp without any heavy bleeding as most women describe? Also most other women here said they did take HRT and thought that was the cause for the polyp - which I do not take. The doctor said she thinks my heavy clumping in my period (when it is there) is coming from the polyp, so I don't see it as heavy bleeding but it is in fact a lot of blood that clumped up. Has anyone had a similar experience and can tell me about it?

[SundayGirl]

Hi Maruuna

The digestive issues you mention sound like you're eating something that no longer agrees with you. We can develop all sorts of food related intolerances as we get older 

CLKD always recommends a diary to track various things. It's well worth doing.

[Dandelion]

I can share my digestive experiences, so long as you don't mind the graphic nature.
In peri, I started my morning poo changed from a normal bowel movement to 3 or 4 squitty type curry sauce deposits, and I had to wait in until I was "emptied"
Someone on here suggested it was hormonal related IBS and surely enough, when I got on the right dose of oestrogen I was ok.
Then about 3 years ago, stools got looser, not like before, but wiping was nowhere near as easy, and I got sulphuric hot wind emanating from my bum, so, again, I needed to empty myself before going out.
It was embarrassing to fart involuntarily in front of friends.
I still have this, but my GP upped my oestrogen and I started on testosterone which I am told by Dr Louie Newson, can often help.
Lack of hormones can be inflammatory, and it can affect different body parts, in our cases our digestive system.

[Maruuna]

Hello SundayGirl & Dandelion,

it took a bit of time to answer as, fitting to everything else I got a really severe version of lumbago on December 23rd and wasn't able to move (at all in the beginning) or sit anywhere the past few days. So first of thank you for answering, I really appreciate it!

@SundayGirl

yes, I am aware of the food intolerace issues that might show up. I do keep a sort of food diary and am rather sure at the moment my digestive troubles are not caused by new intolerances...They appear totally random, like I eat two cookies and have a cup of tea and feel fine, I do the same thing the next day and start cramping up two hours later. I do the same thing the third day and everything is fine again. I really do suspect meanwhile it's strong hormone imbalances causing it and my new gyn is aware and will address this at our next appointment.

@Dandelion

thank you so much for sharing your experience. I am aware it's not the greatest fun topic as I feel like that myself too =/ But yes, reading this helps me understand that is really can all be cause by hormones. It's tough to menatlly 'digest' still for me, as I simply never had any trouble with anything and now all of a sudden I have so many issues all the time and I feel so physically miserable most of the time that I have this unwell and 'being sick' feeling as a default mindset and that really bothers me and isn't helpful for a good mood either of course.
After I had the lumbago some days ago I needed to take high doses of pain meds and anti inflamatory meds, combined with pantoprazol, which indeed totally stopped my digestive issues all of a sudden right now. I do wonder if it was all due to acid problems in the stomach/gastritis. I'll have that checked in January when I am fit enough for it.
May I ask how you are doing now with oestrogen and testosterone?

[Aubrey]

Hi Maruuna, and a happy new year.

Digestive problems that don't follow a pattern have been my experience, too, having had a fab' digestive system and fast metabolism before Peri-menopause. HRT helped with this to some degree. I still react badly to random foods, especially healthy ones like beans, pulses, vegetables and fruit. Bread, potatoes, rice also prove difficult to digest. Actually, now I think about it, the only thing I can eat without consequence is Pringles and marshmallows. 
It's like my guts have forgotten what to do with real food.

I haven't kept a diary, but I think it's a good new years resolution.