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[HighlandBluebell]

Hello All. I wonder if those going through or have been through peri can tell me if this sounds like perimenopause please? I'd be so grateful to hear from those with experience!


Two years ago, at 39, after having clear skin pretty much my entire life, I began getting little Cherry Angiomas. Almost carbon copies of my mother (& I believe my grandmother too). Then, that summer of 2023, I got Covid. About 3 months after that my cycle went to pot! I'd also used quite a bit of hair dye around that time as I'd been bleaching it, then decided to go brown, hated it and bleached it again, so don't know if that has any impact. But anyway, 3 months after Covid, I skipped a period, and have continued being messed up ever since. I think there's been anovulatory cycles in between as I have a normal period, a little bit of bleeding just after I'd normally ovulate and then maybe 6 weeks later, another period. I've also had one or two swollen glands under my arm, but they've disappeared. However, I am suffering with dry eye in my left eye, especially when I wake up. But again, it pretty much goes when my hormone levels rise! 

Does any of this sound familiar?! To top it off I've also had a few big life changes during this time!

[CLKD]

    

Have U shown the swollen glands to any1 at the Surgery or R they cyclical? 

My periods waxed and waned for a few years B4 disappearing completely in 2002: regular for months then I would miss several ..... B4 a bleed, then missed  . I knew it was The Change so wasn't particularly worried.

After periods stopped I experienced various itchy areas, usually on the insteps as I removed the socks to get into the bath.  Also across the back of my shoulders with occasional flushing which didn't last long.

As oestrogen levels drop the body may become dry: inside and out; skin, scalp, deep in the ears, nostrils, vagina ..... and muscles may become lax = aches and pains.  Some find that keeping a mood/food/symptom diary of use.

It is known that Covid-19 affected homones.  Women bled after years of no periods. 

I've had to use eye drops in recent nights as they itch. 

Browse round.  Make notes.  Do read the threads about vaginal atrophy: 4warned is 4armed. 

Making sure that you exercise well, make a note of your over all diet which may need tweaking as U age: mine certainly has  .  Life changes can also

is there anything that worries U in particular?  HRT can help heart and bones, however, apart from VA treatment I haven't require it and as far as I know, heart and bones are healthy.

Let us know how you get on.

[Peach8]

It sounds like you've had a lot going on.  Sometimes when you're stressed it can be hard to see the wood for the trees. Hair dye could cause irritation but I'd have expected it to be mainly on the scalp. I got a very bad dose of covid around the time my peri symptoms began and it was difficult to know which had knocked my period out of sync. It was the other symptoms that took me to the gp for hrt (mainly frequent uti's and hair loss). Dry eyes are a common peri symptom. Swollen glands can be caused by your body fighting infection. If you've been stressed and run down you can easily pick up a bug. I'd see a gp if they don't go away or become a regular thing though.

[bombsh3ll]

Certainly at least some of that is likely to be hormone related. There may be a genetic component to your skin condition if your mother has it - did she develop it around the same age?

Anyway if you are now 41, perimenopause is a statistical likelihood irrespective of symptoms.

You do not have to just put up with it however, there are multiple ways to manage perimenopause to both improve your current quality of life and your future health.

My personal favourite is the combined pill taken continuously - I don't experience any of the hormonal chaos or bleeding that untreated perimenopausal women suffer with - however if that's not for you there are plenty of other options.

I would suggest doing some reading and making an initial appointment with your GP.

[HighlandBluebell]

Wow, thank you all! Yes, the swollen glands were definitely cyclical. Usually it was when I skipped a period and things felt very low hormone wise. They've stopped completely now though. It's been the dry eye instead!

I think one reason it's all felt so much of a change is that I've always been very lucky with periods, everything has been pretty textbook! I was always very proud of that!! I've suffered from hormonal migraines since I was 25, but that's been about it!

[CLKD]

There is a 'new' treatment for migraines ...... whether your Surgery are aware though?

That and nose bleeds is something that I dread 

[HighlandBluebell]

I was prescribed triptans for the migraines about 18 months ago. Weirdly though, they've generally been less frequent anyway. Up until a few nights ago. I woke up dizzy, and had managed to bite my tongue to add insult to injury. Then a dire migraine which I stupidly didn't make the connection with until it was in full flow!

[CLKD]

OOUCHHHH 

[HighlandBluebell]

Thinking about it, there were so many life changes in the months up to my first missed period. I had Covid, got married, moved across the country, and went from little exercise to walking around 50 miles a month pushing my elderly mother (who has dementia) in her wheelchair. I've also become her full time carer, so really it seems daft for me to be concerned I triggered peri symptoms with my hair dye overuse, when in truth there are a multitude of circumstances which could have set things in motion!

[CLKD]

It's The Change.  Other than shock I don't think that your life style upheavals would have been the main causation.

        Have U settled into the new area?

[HighlandBluebell]

Thank you! Yes, it's where I grew up, so it was essentially coming home after many, many years! And my husband is an amazing support with everything.

And things like the skin changes happened before any big upheaval, so yes, it would have likely happened regardless!

[CLKD]

Have U read my thread about "My Chin!"  . Fortunately my skin has behaved right the way through .........

[HighlandBluebell]

No, I haven't, not yet. But I shall look it out!! 

[HighlandBluebell]

A new symptom! I've had the occasional itchy patch of skin on my ankle since last summer, barely anything that's necessitated a passing thought, but last night that same area looked red and began to feel on fire for no logical reason at all. I'm sure I've seen this is something others have experienced at some point. Can anyone shed any light please?!?!

[bombsh3ll]

Skin dryness, itching and thinning can be due to loss of both estrogen and testosterone, as the skin loses natural oils and collagen (think of the back of an elderly lady's hands).

This can result in itchy patches in people who have never had eczema before.

Burning sensations can also occur either with or without any visible skin irritation, as the nerve endings are also sensitive to falling hormone levels.

If these things are related to perimenopause they should go away when you get on treatment, however using a good moisturizer won't do any harm as well.