Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Personal Experiences => Topic started by: GypsyRoseLee on September 20, 2015, 09:01:39 AM
-
I have always thought my peri symptoms all started, quite suddenly, in November 2013. Infact I can virtually pin point the exact day.
But now with hindsight and experience I think there were clear warning signs 12-18 months before that.
There was the family holiday in 2012 where I suddenly became convinced that my poor DH didn't love me anymore. I was convinced he was planning to leave me and felt desperately anxious and miserable for several days. Even hid in the loo to cry. Then my period started and I was as right as rain again ::)
Then soon after that I started having to carefully plan my social commitments around my monthly cycle and avoid doing things in the 2nd half of my cycle because I knew I wouldn't be able to remotely enjoy them as I would be feeling so very flat and fed up.
At the time I just sucked it up and got on with it, little realising these were early warning shots across my bows, a taste of the Hell to come.
Anyone else?
-
Mine definitely started when I was 48 ,then took almost a year seeing various gps at my surgery until one agreed with me that it was hormonal changes causing all this s..t ! Hrt was then perscribed at age 49 ,great until 54 when I started missing periods for months at a time even on sequential regime ,so I guess I was by then post ,after seeing a gyne and trying various conti can't get settled ,so I think even after menopause things still aren't any easier for me anyway because my symptogs were exactly the same as when I was 48 !
Have now decided to stop hrt and see what happens.
-
Usual age of around 42/43 I think.
Taz x
-
About the same as Taz 41/42 ish.
Though it has to be said, I had NO idea it was happening at the time, still getting bleeds on BCP.
-
My main symptoms started at age 46, I gave up smoking a week after my birthday and spent the next 3 years complaining about how ill I was from giving up smoking, I had one thing after another, the insomnia was first almost instant, followed by the mystery gum problem that nobody managed to diagnose (I have since found on the forum this was BMS). A good year of major paranoia and constant tears. It was only (yet another) on line search for help to sleep that I found this website and worked out what was wrong with me.
-
Hard to pinpoint, but I would say about a year ago when I was 45. That's when my stomach issues/hemmorhoid problem started gradually. Insomnia, anxiety, sore boobs... Can't say for sure when my periods started changing, but that must be about a couple of years ago. Started becoming shorter and lighter.
-
42/43 I think. Awful mood swings.....my poor family really suffered.
A few years later my periods went for months and I felt great, no flushes no nothing. I really thought if that was meno it was great.
Periods returned and flooding with them.
Periods again went and along came night sweats and flushing all day.
Went on HRT at 49.
All fairly standard stuff
Honeybun
X
-
Have to do some sums: I was born in 1953: BAD periods with pain from age 11: in my mid-30s I had bad PMT and NAPS advised eating 3 hourly which did ease the AWFUL nausea, dizzy feelings: periods began to wax and wane in 2001/02. Big gaps between bleeds, less PMT and nausea; knew it was the start of menopause because of the gaps. For, maybe 12/18 months I would get flushes across my shoulders and down my back to the waist; at night after my bath and after swallowing my BB and AD so didn't know if it was connected to the medication.
As for the itching :o >:( ::) - my insteps first, as soon as I took off my socks to get into the bath. I would wake in the night to find 1 heel scratching the instep on the other foot. For months ::) but never in the day time. Various vague aches and pains in various joints but not at the same time, occasionally requiring Nurofen.
I know I've been lucky. VA began 2 years ago and my GP noted symptoms so advised treatment.
-
I really can't say, think over 5 years ago, then I had a bad spell off ADs and going back on symptoms I thought were peri, that was 2011. Than everything settled and this year I'd say is THE year. Who knows. All I know is I hate it.
-
Looking back with the knowledge I now have, I think I started my peri three or four years before I realised what it was. I put the weird things going on down to something else. Mood swings, depression, anxiety as examples.
It was a relief when I eventually realised what was going on. I had seen various doctors during that time, none mentioned menopause. I was late forties at the time. Duh, is all I can say!! I would have thought it would be obvious to them!
-
My symptoms, especially depression and anxiety, got REALLY bad in November last year when we had to put our dog to sleep :( ... That would have been horrible in any case, but I really think that being in peri (which I didn't even know what it was back then) made it 1000 times worse and so much harder to cope with!
-
I'd say 45 for me, it started with really bad pmt every month (mood swings, anxiety, depression and crying). This got steadily worse until I went on her at the age of 48.
-
Interesting thread!
I think mine kicked off 5 years ago, 44 years old. I was on holiday in August when I had an unusually heavy period for the first time. I was in a water park and had to scuttle with my knees locked together, back to the lockers for another tampon. This continued for the next couple of cycles. By Christmas time, I was flooding through super plus tampons within an hour. I had a hysteroscopy to check everything was ok and they put in a mirena. (I'd had two mirenas after child 2 was born, no trouble at all and no periods) Within a month, I'd lost it. I had a horrific bleed - it fell out wrapped round an huge clot. Cue trip to A&E for massive bleed. Discharged with more progestogen pills to stop the bleeding. I had multiple floodings and was stuck at home with them. So back to the gynae clinic where we decide to go for an ablation.
In all this time, not one doctor mentioned that this might be the start of perimenopause >:( The clues were there... regular light periods turning super-heavy and the cycle becoming erratic.
Since then my major symptoms are more anxiety-related. I rarely have flushes. I get the odd night sweat but I do get palpitations, upset tummy, feelings of dread, extreme health anxiety (I've lost count of the number of times a new symptom was a sign of cancer/imminent death), erratic cycles even on HRT.
I'm off to the doc this morning to have him check out a skin blob (just in case) and to ask him to up my HRT dose as I don't think the current one is working for me any more. As I'm typing this, my stomach is churning, my heart is pounding and my jaw muscles are so tight.
-
My main symptoms started at age 46, I gave up smoking a week after my birthday and spent the next 3 years complaining about how ill I was from giving up smoking, I had one thing after another, the insomnia was first almost instant, followed by the mystery gum problem that nobody managed to diagnose (I have since found on the forum this was BMS). A good year of major paranoia and constant tears. It was only (yet another) on line search for help to sleep that I found this website and worked out what was wrong with me.
This is exactly what happened to me! I gave up smoking in the September, countless visits to the GP as I felt crap, I kept saying something isn't right! I e given up smoking but I don't feel better for it! All I got from the GP was you need to give it time! Went all through Christmas feeling on edge, snappy, moody, miserable etc etc then January had my breakdown! Course I went back on the fags ::) then was given countless AD's to try for months and months! None of them made any difference whatsoever so stuck with the one I was on before the breakdown. First I thought the breakdown was caused by giving up smoking then I thought it was the cerazette I'd been on for 2/3 years prior. Started researching hormones and here I am.
This was 2012 so I was 39 ??? I'm now 41 and still suffering. Main symptoms are anxiety, low moods on and off, aches and pains everywhere especially joints, daily headaches, tiredness, feelings of doom and gloom, no energy or enthusiasm for anything, I may as well stay in the bathroom as I'm always in there going to wee ::)
-
My experience was a bit like Galadriel's but the difference being that my GP did not fiddle about with coils and ablation and I had a hysterectomy at 38. Some schools of thought might be that this was unnecessary but I thought it was wonderful as I had my life back free from the calendar and industrial sized sanitary towels. Looking back I think I had hormonal blips from about mid 40s but put it down to my thyroid levels which were not stable at that time. I was offered some HRT and also various ADs but never tolerated them and did not feel bad enough for them. Knew nothing about perimenopause and thought meno was hot flushes (these started aged 53 and that's when I thought 'menopause'). Looking back though and having learned from this forum, things were up and down for quite a long time before then but having no periods I did not join the dots.
-
I think peri symptoms kicked in with me around autumn 2011 (age 44) although my bladder problems started at around age 40 along with menstrual migraines (I am now 48). I seemed to slowly but surely lose the motivation to do the things I used to enjoy (I called it a 'creeping depression'). I went through a stage of my periods being late but having normal flow then, about 4 years ago, they started coming earlier. Around the same time, the bladder problem got worse & I found that my anxiety went through the roof, particularly at work & before social events.
In autumn 2013, the following symptoms started up: flooding during the first two days of my period, occasional spotting midcycle, insomnia, food intolerances (resulting in sore, itchy bumps & tummy troubles), itchy head & skin, dry eyes, hair loss & drier, coarser hair & severe pms. By January 2014, I was feeling depressed enough for it to affect me at work & ended up having a week signed off in Feb. I also started to forget things & felt 'overwhelmed' by everything. In the run-up to Christmas last year, I was totally disorganised, (normally try to start getting organised early), couldn't think straight & finally, during Feb/March 2015, I had a breakdown, resulting in me resigning from my o!d job & having a complete change of direction workwise (which I probably needed to do sooner). It literally has been the 'Change' for me this year. Currently trying to get annoying symptoms sorted out (I know the feeling, Estelle, my bladder is a nightmare!) Just been advised to try Mirena coil instead of endometrial ablation but am terrified of the synthetic progestogen due to previous intolerances & severe pms problem :-\ X
-
Mine started in about 2007-8 (aged 44-45) when my periods became much shorter and lighter. I didn't have a period of heavier ones at all. That was followed by a few other symptoms including occasional morning nausea and tight calf muscles in 2009-10. Periods finally stopped completely 18 months ago after periods of 7-8 months free.
-
Late 30s it all started. Looking back, I was totally unaware of what was happening to me. It has been long (continuing) scary journey.
Periods stopped at 44 and before that (late 30s) there was a lot going on, which I didn't link to meno.
The very first symptom was bladder weakness. And hair loss.
Next up were cold chills: I can recall clearly sitting in a training session, late 30s, and a strange creeping chill passed over me, it was so weird and I couldn't work out what it was, it totally unnerved me - in time the scary chills turned to hot flushes.
After periods stopped then the whole works kicked in - fear, insomnia, depression, flatness, anxiety, jitters, nausea, nervousness, over emotional, over sensitive, rage, loss of confidence, jumbled words, migraines returned, day flushes, night sweats (pools of sweat), hideous night dreads, dry eyes vag and skin, IBS, food/alcohol intolerances, gum disease, tinnitus, more bladder weakness, hair loss etc etc. In fact there is not one part of the body/mind that is not affected.
Many years spoilt by meno - 9 years on - it is like being ill forever.
Does anybody else feel that their life/self has been so distinctly divided - pre meno self / post meno self. (I have friends/acquaintances who say they feel just the same.)
Much preferred the 'before me' who could, amongst other things, function as normal in daily life - make plans and keep them.
-
Interesting thread :)
Age 43 - dizziness - had brain scan and 18 months of other tests and referrals, nothing wrong.
Age 44 - needing to pee frequently in the night - cystoscopy - nothing wrong
Age 45 - episode of emotional anxiety, crying for weeks, due 'apparently' to personal life
Age 46 - sore,stiff, leg and arm muscles - blood tests nothing wrong
Age 47 - plantar fasciitis - physio, fortune spent on inserts, private podiatrist, nothing worked.
Age 48 - last period
Age 49 - overheating in night, started hrt. Stopped overheating but all other symptoms remained until quite recently ....
Age 52 - I think I had a 'surge' of oestrogen and ALL symptoms went away temporarily !!!
I have felt like a hypochondriac all these years but all credit to my GP's they have taken me seriously, given me every test and investigation I have asked for, some that I haven't , and they have never, ever, said "oh it's just your age"
Pollie
-
Aged 40, a month after a miscarriage. Had never been pregnant before (and haven't again after). My hormones went crazy afterwards - never had any issues before this, not even PMS - and my body seems to have spent the three years since then making up for it! Symptoms were initially atypical - neurological issues, numbness and tingling everywhere and random shooting pains/electric shocks. Now just your standard peri 'joys'. BCP has helped a lot, but it has also meant having to accept I will never be a birth mum.
-
Age 26 - came off BCP to try for a family. Periods didn't re-start so 1st 2 kids were conceived (Aged 29 & 32) with help from Assisted Reproduction (Clomid, injecting my stomach daily, daily ultrasound scans). During the years I had no periods, I had the odd quite debilitating hot flush. Had brain scan as they were concerned it might be to do with my pituitary gland but scan came back fine.
Age 34 - periods re-started after a break of 8 years.
Age 35 - unplanned pleasant surprise - child no. 3! Hadn't had any infertility treatment.
Age 43 - Crying for no reason, ramped up anxiety, panic attack, insomnia, hormonal migraines. JIA (a form of rheumatoid arthritis) returned after being in remission for 20+ years.
Age 48 - present. Very heavy periods....still fairly regular, aches & pains, crippling insomnia, bad pms. Getting Coil fitted next Tuesday and (probably stupidly) pinning all hopes on this being a miracle cure!
-
Night-owl, I think I can just about remember the pre-perimeno me, she was a different person :(
-
3 and three quarter years ago, my hot flushes started out of the blue, in January. That was when I really thought, here goes.
-
These stories are all so interesting and quite varied.
I have been feeling so well in myself since I started on my 2nd pack of the Pill, and now I have gone into the 3rd pack I just seem to be getting even better.
It has made me realise that I had actually been feeling pretty low and depressed for most of each month for YEARS before the really nasty peri symptoms surfaced in Nov 2013.
-
Really interesting thread and reassuring to know it's similar for a lot of people but also varies in symptoms,
Looking back my periods changed around 2 years ago possibly longer, I started to suffer with pmt never having it before and went from a cycle of every 6 weeks to around 4 weeks and from a bleed of 7 days to 2/3 days which I never really thought anything of. Last October I had flu, what they put down to a particular nasty virus and was off work for 2 months, never felt so ill, I cried in the doctors in January had full blood tests, which thankfully came back clear, I now think I was suddenly hit during that time with hot flushes, aches and pains, anxiety, palpitations, can't sleep and awful indigestion, when i started to read up about preimenopause it seemed to fit the bill, nicer been the doctors so much think there is a chair with my name on it, I am now trying to accept that's it's just that time of life, started Pilates taking a few natural supplements trying to eat healthier and exercise,
Who'd be a woman!!
-
Usual age of around 42/43 I think.
Taz x
Mine started at 42
I remember getting this real sharp anxiety that I had never had before, even though I was an anxious person.
I was getting sweats around the neck and waking up with wet on both sides of my jama top.
-
Mine started in early 40's with severe sudden headaches.
Went to doc so many times (hate to think of the cost of that had I paid for each session).
AT NO TIME DID DOC EVEN MENTION PERI!!!
When I understood later I was furious.
If I'd stuck with BCP then I'd have avoid all the visits plus expensive tests (and all the worrying) ???
For the sake of continued BCP or HRT at 40p per day I could have saved the NHS thousands!!!
Cost of HRT / BCP over 10 years = £1500~
Cost of Doc/Consultant/Tests over 10 years = £15000+
:-*
-
Its difficult not to sound like you have to blame someone for the waste of time, effort, money and worry Sparkle.
Since peri is far longer than Doc's want to admit its very difficult for some of us to feel we've lost time during these years.
Totally agree with you that they have to be sure, however there does seem to be an ignorance on simple checks on ladies and other people in general.
As an aside, This Morning just had an article on Lyme's disease and how hidden it is. Also how much it can affect people mentally. It just a wonder as so many ladies come to the forum with mental health issues that even HRT struggles to help.
Simple checks at the point when I started getting sudden onset headaches would have confirmed me entering peri.
We could have tried BCP further or HRT to help whilst further investigations occur.
Had we done that then my NHS costs would have been a fraction of the repetitive and redundant process I entered into.
Not to mention the extra appointments I'd have cleared for others :)
I sometimes feel its almost like job protection, as the doc are guaranteed a procession of ladies from late 30's thru to 50's and beyond once the damage is done after the peri symptoms move to the meno problems.
The cost and waste to the NHS must be huge. Surely the NHS and other health provider needs to review and make things better.
Thanks
:-*
-
I suffered pretty bad periods from the time they started (horrible cramps, remain close to the bathroom, etc.), but things started to get a bit erratic around 4-5 years ago, then I got some really heavy bleeds around 3-4 years ago and they've continued. In the last 2 years my periods have got even more erratic with the time between ranging from 14 days to 50+, and I've been sleeping with a low tog duvet year round for a similar period, however it was only a few months ago that I really thought about it and started to research the menopause and discovered peri. I don't have any close (female) friends and I'm just so unbelievably naive about "womens stuff" :-[
-
hi getting_old,
I'll change that to getting_wiser (as we all do when we start our journey when our eyes start to open).
Tbh even my close female friends don't talk about peri/meno.
One friends husband joked about her flushes and you'd have thought someone had switched off the volume suddenly.
I really think thats half the problem with a lot of what we experience in life, periods, pregnancy etc.
All are taboo to talk about the "truth" and get people more aware of the issues :)
The most worrying aspect is the fact most ladies have a 10 year period in their life where quality can suffer at the very least. No surprise that the highest divorce rate is over this same time period.
:-*
-
Can I ask just what are the simple checks that will tell you if you are peri.
Blood tests are notoriously unreliable and most doctors won't do them. Hormone levels can change by the hour, day, time of the month.
I had three sets of bloods done years ago when I started missing periods.....at no time did they show anything amiss. My GP was happy to go with symptoms after having ruled out thyroid for instance.
As for gastric issues....lots of us have them but they need to be investigated. I would be less than pleased if every time I went to my GP with something wrong ....I was dismissed by the words....oh you are peri so we won't bother investigating anything else.
Surely all possibilities have to be explored to rule out any illness before peri can be considered.
Obviously our hormones should be considered and be high on the list of possibilities .....but not the only possibility.
If you could let us know what the simple checks would be I would be very interested.
Honeybun
X
-
Simple checks at the point when I started getting sudden onset headaches would have confirmed me entering peri.
We could have tried BCP further or HRT to help whilst further investigations occur.
With sudden onset headaches presumably Drs would want to check on things like BP and Neurological issues to try and establish the cause. Wouldn't have thought they would contemplate giving the pill or HRT till they knew what the problem was.
-
I think that further investigations into problems are VERY important. But I wish that more doctors would ALSO consider the possibilities of hormones. Many seem to not have a clue, and I don't think it's so weird really. Many doctors are male and have never had a chance of experiencing PMS, cramps, indigestion caused by the hormones during your period, etc...
-
hi getting_old,
I'll change that to getting_wiser (as we all do when we start our journey when our eyes start to open).
Tbh even my close female friends don't talk about peri/meno.
One friends husband joked about her flushes and you'd have thought someone had switched off the volume suddenly.
I really think thats half the problem with a lot of what we experience in life, periods, pregnancy etc.
All are taboo to talk about the "truth" and get people more aware of the issues :)
The most worrying aspect is the fact most ladies have a 10 year period in their life where quality can suffer at the very least. No surprise that the highest divorce rate is over this same time period.
:-*
So very, very true (and also very sad). I've always tried to hide the problems I had with my periods, possibly because I worked in a very male dominated environment, so never knew if the other women did suffer similar, and if they did they were doing a great job of hiding it too.
I'm sure DH was hoping that when I hit menopause things would improve. I'm still trying to work out how I tell him it could get worse!
-
Can I ask just what are the simple checks that will tell you if you are peri.
Blood tests are notoriously unreliable and most doctors won't do them. Hormone levels can change by the hour, day, time of the month.
I had three sets of bloods done years ago when I started missing periods.....at no time did they show anything amiss. My GP was happy to go with symptoms after having ruled out thyroid for instance.
As for gastric issues....lots of us have them but they need to be investigated. I would be less than pleased if every time I went to my GP with something wrong ....I was dismissed by the words....oh you are peri so we won't bother investigating anything else.
Surely all possibilities have to be explored to rule out any illness before peri can be considered.
Obviously our hormones should be considered and be high on the list of possibilities .....but not the only possibility.
If you could let us know what the simple checks would be I would be very interested.
Honeybun
X
I think there are some diaries you can download which help track your symptoms with your cycle, which at least give you and your doctor some form of clue. Cant remember which site I saw these on? I've also had (a few) friends who had daily blood tests to track their hormones, but for most people, that's simply not realistic. I also agree with you that it's important to check out other nasties first - especially as there are so many varied symptoms associated with our hormones. My only gripe with my previous GP was that he tested me for just about everything (I think I saw 8 different consultants over two years) yet refused to explore my hormones because I was only 40 at the time. If more doctors would only accept some of the less common symptoms as 'a possibility of something connected to hormones' I am sure they'd save the NHS a lot of money?
-
Simple symptoms, simple checks.
***Hot flashes
*Breast tenderness
*Worse premenstrual syndrome
*Lower sex drive
*Fatigue
**Irregular periods
***Vaginal dryness; discomfort during sex
**Urine leakage when coughing or sneezing
**Urinary urgency (an urgent need to urinate more frequently)
*Mood swings
*Memory issues
**Trouble sleeping
**Bowel issues
These are simple symptoms that can be found on any site that mentions the (hidden) peri.
The ones I've added *'s to were ones I had at the early part of peri arrival :)
The ones I've added **'s were added to the list after a few years
The ones I've added ***'s were those that came later but still at the point the doc was still not saying those magic words!!!
Some of the earlier symptoms like fatigue, memory, sex and breasts tenderness got worse as the peri continued. Its not like I stopped mentioning earlier symptoms either...
"You need some HRT for that!"
So even when I was having urine leaks/urgency and bowel issues, I was sent off for more expensive tests (not to mention pretty unsavoury ones). No peri or HRT solution was mentioned.
When I went with early VA/Dryness symptoms the doc refused me HRT at the first time we spoke and I brought it up.
I think the modern way of saying what doc meant was to "suck it up".
I was then given all the excuses/scare stories to not allow me HRT.
So the my journey began!
So if you'll excuse my list as its not extensive, but these simple checks on symptoms would have saved me years of visits and tests I didn't actually require (not to mention the expense again, did I mention the expense again tsk tsk ???).
Simple and easy if they actually reviewed one's notes on their expensive computers and looked for a very simple pattern. Better still if they knew the actual symptoms or where to get a widely available list of PERI symptoms to check!
This is before we ever get to something as complex as taking blood!
Lets consider where we are and understand what could have been easily achieved to help other ladies get out of this long drawn out conclusion I had to endure (and with countless others no doubt).
Thankfully since I've started my new journey things have been much better.
Hope that's nice and clear for everyone.
:-*
-
No not terribly clear to be honest.
A good few of the symptoms you note can be caused by other things too......therefore if a GP is doing his/her job correctly then other things have to be considered too.
Sweeping statements spring to mind.
Not all GPs are anti HRT at all but if a women walks through a surgery door with for example bowel or stomach issues then they would be very remiss in not investigating those symptoms properly. The same can be said for headaches.
The more important stuff must be ruled out first......surely.
I will give you a prime example......my sister.
Bad headaches....no cycle....feeling awful......Pituitary tumour......go figure. What would you have had her GP do.....oh it's peri.....have some HRT....really don't think that would have helped her.
Best to tick every box in case something is missed.
Honeybun
X
-
Tell me whats not clear and I'll clarify, otherwise please refrain.
*Breast tenderness
*Worse premenstrual syndrome
*Lower sex drive
*Fatigue
*Mood swings
*Memory issues
If a doc see's a lady in their late 30's onward and is not thinking peri after this initial list then we gotta ask our selves two things:
1) what are they not training these guys on
2) is this the right vocation for you ???
Sorry about your sister btw HB. Her symptoms would be more specific and with that type of tumour, growth in hands and feet etc is often another symptom that kick in early in that unless that didnt happen to your sister?
However I really think your missing the wider issue here that's letting down the majority of ladies entering and suffering through peri.
???
-
You haven't included the headaches that you say started off your peri journey......surely they were investigated.
My sisters symptoms were not more specific.....terrible headaches were the first sign. No growth in hands or feet.
Good job her GP investigated.
I stand by my point. If a woman presents with non specific symptoms it's a GPs duty of care to rule out anything more serious than peri.
Then when all has been excluded look to hormonal changes.
Honeybun
-
Age 35 for me. Started to get fluctuations in periods from very heavy to very light and had a lot of 'feverish moments' which I now recognize as hot flushes. I also found myself becoming more anxious and tearful, especially pre-period and was upset that I was smelling however much I washed! I actually went to my GP at that point but was dismissed as having 'normal' PMT and period fluctuations (in spite of the fact that I had never experienced this before!) Five years to get proper diagnosis and help, but I know other ladies have had a much harder journey.
-
"These are simple symptoms that can be found on any site"
"So if you'll excuse my list as its not extensive, but these simple checks on symptoms would have saved me years of visits and tests"
I cut and paste the first simple list I found and stated the list was not extensive?
Thats how easy it should be for a doc. Join the dots or your in the wrong job...
Can't you read the whole post?
If doctors act and think like some on the site do then no wonder we are in a mess with diagnosis and help with our journeys.
>:(
-
PGT - You did say the list wasn't extensive, nobody would expect it to be.
It's just that you said the Drs should have started considering meno when you started getting headaches, so it was surprising that didn't show on the list.
I don't think headaches would indicate that a woman had entered the menopause, I started getting bad headaches when I was 5 ish, a bit before meno!
Perhaps it's not surprising that your GP didn't pick up on it.
-
Search for "headache perimenopause". I said "peri" not "meno" btw :)
Loads of articles :)
Here's a brief quote:
"A new survey confirms what many headache specialists see in their practice: an increase in headache frequency for perimenopausal women.
A new study shows that the risk of having 10 or more headaches a month increases by up to 50% as estrogen levels drop and women enter perimenopause, said Vincent T. Martin, MD, co-director, Headache and Facial Pain Program, and professor, internal medicine, University of Cincinnati, Ohio."
Perhaps its surprising why more gp's don't pick up the small list I picked from the first peri symptoms website I found!
Like HB you've missed my point on simple symptoms = simple tests ???
-
Likewise PGT, include hormones but don't dismiss every symptom as peri or menopause.
Otherwise something serious could very well be overlooked.
-
Or we could just start by avoiding (or not knowing) the obvious. :-\
-
Sorry, you have lost me now.
Honeybun
X
-
Please be so kind and explain where I've lost you now?
???
-
I'm afraid I didn't understand your post that said.....
"Or we could just start by avoiding (or not knowing ) the obvious.
-
The voice of reason.
That's what I have been saying over and over to no avail.
Thank you Grangravy.....and I'm very sorry about your friend.
Honeybun
X
-
Have to agree with HB and Grangravy on this one. If my GP had put my symptoms of tiredness,feeling hot,ltchy skin aches and pains and several others down to hormonal problems(at the time I was not 12 months without a period) and so still peri I would probably not still be here. I had already had these vague symptoms for nearly two years and had myself just thought it was my age. Fortunately my GP sent me for blood tests and then to the hospital and I was diagnosed with lymphoma and had 9months of chemo. Simple things might not always have a simple cause and personally I would prefer tests however unpleasant rather than miss something serious.
Thorn trees
-
Sorry for your illness Thorntrees. All the very best for the future.
Talk about sticking together.
I think ladies are scared to pitch in their thoughts which is sad.
I've had pm's that mention the same too.
Just to be clear. We are talking the majority of ladies here, not a very small number who sadly have much more serious conditions.
The main point your missing is most ladies present these symptoms and don't get help.
The majority of ladies who present in this time of their life will have some level of hormonal flux. However there seems be little awareness, help and even denial on the peri front. Lately posts have mentioned doctors just not allowing that some ladies may start peri/meno much earlier.
Just to make it crystal clear how little is known on peri I did a test.
I went to a "symptom checker" sites to add in the symptoms mentioned.
All bar one site came back with a mention of peri and that was only when I'd put in flushes.
Some sites identified "PMS" ??? from the symptoms excluding Flushes/Sweats. But even on adding that symptom only one identified peri but it didnt mention meno - which is weirder.
Is PMS such a "disease/condition" that it warrants such prominence above peri and meno?
On another site I put in night sweats and got everything (kitchen sink of diseases) but no mention of peri or meno. The same site did not recognise flush as a symptom. Enough said on that one.
Either way these sites are put together based on medical info and knowledge and still don't see either the condition or the symptoms connecting up.
I understand that some have encountered truly awful situations but on the whole most ladies just need a helping hand thru peri, which seems to be hit or miss for a long time.
If your not seeing that then sorry but thats something you have to deal with yourselves ???
:-\
-
What has astounded me is how very little GPs seem to know about hormonal issues! And even less about peri menopause.
I think in an ideal world a woman in her late 30s, or in her 40s, presenting with intermittent depression and anxiety, plus the classic headaches and flushes should be considered as potentially having a hormone issue AT THE SAME TIME as being given the standard raft of tests.
What is appalling is how many GPs simply refuse to acknowledge that peri menopausal symptoms can even exist in a woman who is only in her thirties or early forties. And that even if they do acknowledge it, they are so wary of offering any hormonal help.
-
I can't see how we are sticking together to be honest. A few of us agree and that's it, unfortunately it is not your opinion.
A frank exchange of opinions is surely a good thing and so why would anyone be put off posting :-\
Everyone's thoughts are welcomed surely.
Honeyb
-
Hi
its not frank if your just calling people out as wrong.
Your talking about a small minority and thats colouring your view.
I'm talking about the wider un-served majority and you and the cohort keep saying thats wrong.
I'm all for a frank discussion but you often say things are unclear but fail to elaborate.
Call things out as wrong but fail to put up the most basic of "other side" of the problem.
In this case we've lost sight of the majority of women who struggle for around 5-10 years prior to meno and have nowhere to go to seek help on their problems. When they do try they are left worried and tramatised by "possible conditions" and tests that again for the "majority" are just not required. This is rather than look to the obvious hormonal issues that face us from our 30 to 40's onward.
GypsyRoseLee put that very well also but you seem not to have any grind against that.
I think if our doctors were not so keen to get us off the BCP then we'd see a huge reduction in peri symptoms. There is so many scare stories given to why we should get off BCP but as we can see from others posts there are benefits by even a small change in a doctors view point and long term actions. Even posts about some docs allowing ladies to stay on the pill till meno is very positive. However I feel like some on the forum a lot of doctors have closed their minds to possible options or new thinking.
I hope one day to trawl something out that we can agree on but till then I'll try and look to the majority than the minority.
:-\
-
What is appalling is how many GPs simply refuse to acknowledge that peri menopausal symptoms can even exist in a woman who is only in her thirties or early forties. And that even if they do acknowledge it, they are so wary of offering any hormonal help.
I agree - I have a friend who is the third generation in her family to start at 38 but is getting no help at all from her GP. I can understand that if you are in your 20s or 30s your symptoms are less likely to be caused by peri than if you are in your 40s or 50s, but that doesn't excuse doctors refusing to consider it once they have ruled out all other serious conditions. I know so many women who have started in their 30s - I am wondering if the age is coming down now and it is becoming more common to start earlier.
I even had a comment from my first GP about me 'wanting to think' I had early meno...I can't imagine anyone 'wanting' to start this process early - I can only think that she was so convinced no woman in her 30s could start, that she convinced herself I was making up my symptoms for some bizarre reason of my own. >:(
-
In this case we've lost sight of the majority of women who struggle for around 5-10 years prior to meno and have nowhere to go to seek help on their problems. When they do try they are left worried and tramatised by "possible conditions" and tests that again for the "majority" are just not required. This is rather than look to the obvious hormonal issues that face us from our 30 to 40's onward.
PGT - I'd understood there weren't any simple tests for menopause be it at peri or any other stage, certainly that was the case with blood tests about 3 to 4 years ago.
It isn't good that anybody should be "left worried and tramatised" by anything. But perhaps it's better to try to find the cause of their problems rather than prescribing HRT indiscriminately. You mention that the majority of women's ills can be cured by HRT. That was not the case for Grangravy's friend or Thorntrees, but hey lets give everybody HRT rather than find out what's wrong with them. HRT has helped me enormously but like any other medication it should be used when appropriate not dished out like smarties.
-
Wary of saying anything now to be honest as apparently
" I'm calling people out as wrong "
Hey ho.......can't please at times......unless you agree then you are wrong.
Not how I thought things worked around here. :-\
Honeybun
X
-
Hi
"once they have ruled out all other serious conditions"
Sorry why would we do that for just peri?
Surely we look for simple things first.
That would be like going to doctor with a chest infection from a possible cold / flu and the doctor sends us all for chest xrays, lab tests, chest or tb clinic etc. All totally unnecessary as you probably have a cold (but ooh you could have TB or pneumonia or even lung cancer if the cough last more that a few weeks).
This is similar to me going to the doc with
Worse PMS
Lower sex drive/Libido crash
Fatigue
Headaches
Mood swings
Memory issues
Given what informed ladies now know about Peri/Meno - I'd say it would be pretty obvious to anyone incl docs that someone presenting with those over a year or two is suffering peri/meno depending on their age.
The logic of going to worst case first can't be ok for peri/meno but not for a chest complaint in the examples above.
Surely you can see that?
All I'm saying is look at the simple symptoms in the context of peri/meno rather than "Ignore" them altogether as some of your are saying already happens.
But I guess I'm never going to convince some.
So next time you goto a doc lets hope they don't send you for extensive, intrusive tests first before seeing if its a cold first.
:o
-
I'm new to all of this and finding the debate quite interesting. The original question really clarifies the point that most woman enter peri without an inkling that it is the case and usually persevere with half a dozen troubling symptoms which do not seem to even raise the question of being remotely linked to the menopause. I think that is of concern, especially when I reflect on the number of people I have seen who have been female :o
With hindsight my first symptoms which started about 6 years ago (age 44 ish) were intolerance to alcohol especially wine (so discovered gin ;D), palpitations (had an ECG as Mum has heart issues), very heavy and painful periods (prescribed tranexamic/mefanamic), insomnia (read trashy books in the wee hours ::)), spells of fatigue (thankfully I don't work FT), brain fog/muddled words (early onset dementia concern :'() very warm night flush (rather than hot), and recently what caused me to visit my GP with a request for HRT was the increasingly low libido - I felt too young to be giving up on a sex life!
It was actually doing my own research and finding this site which made me realise what was happening - the first time I'd heard the term peri-menopause and it's been a steep learning curve. I'm just so grateful because it enabled me to go to the Docs to request HRT. Thankfully she is one of the better ones and she suggested MM and to give some thought to which preparation I wanted whilst tests were done for thyroid/memory function and FSH.
A male friend recently declared he was surrounded by menopausal woman and in our conversation I asked if his wife was taking anything and perhaps HRT might help. He said he didn't like that idea as there were a lot of risks and that it was just the odd hot flush after all ::). Thankfully I'm married to a man who is a little more understanding :)
One of the problems I think is that it seems the symptoms don't all arrive at the same time. I do think though things are changing - albeit slowly. I'm just so grateful for the help and advice I have received and it is my mission to let friends in their early 40s know what may be on the horizon ???
-
A male friend recently declared he was surrounded by menopausal woman and in our conversation I asked if his wife was taking anything and perhaps HRT might help. He said he didn't like that idea as there were a lot of risks and that it was just the odd hot flush after all ::). Thankfully I'm married to a man who is a little more understanding :)
You said what the husband said? What did the wife say? Or was he one of these AH's who speak for their wife? (AH= awful husband in case anyones imagination takes off - opposite of DH).
???
-
A male friend recently declared he was surrounded by menopausal women and in our conversation I asked if his wife was taking anything and perhaps HRT might help. He said he didn't like that idea as there were a lot of risks and that it was just the odd hot flush after all ::). Thankfully I'm married to a man who is a little more understanding :)
You said what the husband said? What did the wife say? Or was he one of these AH's who speak for their wife? (AH= awful husband in case anyones imagination takes off - opposite of DH).
???
Yes that was what he said - I honestly don't think he's an AH, but like many of us woman don't realise we're in the line up (when we are), I think a lot of men don't understand the full complexities either. I've not yet spoken to the wife. And it has to be said there is so much misinformation about women never mind HRT :bang:
-
Try explaining to your husband then would be my suggestion. They can be surprisingly understanding given half a chance.
If we dont tell them then how on earth are they expected to even understand even a little bit.
It's like pregnancy.....they can't experience it but they can support and empathise.....even suggest things if they are interested enough.
Honeybun
-
Hi
"once they have ruled out all other serious conditions"
Sorry why would we do that for just peri?
Sorry, peegeetip, I didn't mean to upset you by that comment and I certainly wasn't suggesting putting women through months of 'extensive, intrustive tests'. I am just going by my own experience, where my GP asked me a lot of questions and ran blood tests to rule out some other possibilities, rather than just assuming hot flushes = menopause. I felt much happier knowing she had listened to all my symptoms and then said 'well it does sound like early menopause, but let's just run a blood test to make sure it's not...'
Obviously it would be daft to test for something that 1 in a million people get before treating for menopause. I just think it's nice to have a GP that doesn't either assume every woman with 'problems' needs HRT or assume that someone in her 30s or 40s is too young for the menopause.
-
It's funny how quite a lot of us agree that we actually like the fact that GPs will rule out other things first.
Excluding of course the tests for TB and pneumonia ::)
I think that some GPs are given a really hard time. They are supposed to know a little about a miriad of illnesses. I really don't think they can be expert in everything.
Mind you I have a great deal of admiration of the medical profession rather than thinking they are useless.
I do think more emphasis should be on the hormonal difficulties that some...but not all women ...suffer from.
Yet again I will state my point.....I'm sure it's getting hard reading though ::)
Rule out the life threatening things....or maybe just thyroid things before handing out HRT....like Limpy said......oh like sweeties .
If just one woman's life in say 100, is saved by a GP doing "unnecessary tests " then that is good enough for me.
Honeybun
X
-
I agree, Dorothy. Checking for the nasties is really vital, obviously, but a broader understanding of hormonal issues is important too. My new (female, 40 something) GP immediately saw tingling. the chills, nausea, pains, fatigue etc as potential peri signs, despite my younger age. My previous GP refused to explore a hormonal cause as I was too young and not having hot flushes. He did agree to lots of other tests, which I am grateful for (including a finger where I didnt want it on my 40th birthday of all days ???) but I do regret that he didn't look more closely at my hormones too. Once everything else was clear, he basically said, 'so it's all in your head; take some ADs'. These GP practices are a few miles apart - yet so different in the way they handled me.
That said - I do fully accept the pressures GPs are under, especially with training budgets and crazy targets and dont criticise them per se. It's more 'the system', I guess?
-
Hi HB
I think your maybe a doc in disguise ;) but handing out HRT like sweeties where ? If you read the stats docs spend far more and dispense AD's like sweeties. I agree with you though "more emphasis on hormonal side". ;D
I don't think they get a hard time, most of our GP's are all part time as they are being paid so much these days.
Back in the late 80's and 90's we could get a GP on a saturday and in the early evening where I lived. Now you can't see them for dust much later that 6pm and mostly just half the day. If they don't know medicine then perhaps they shouldnt have taken it up. I think a lot of posts say how doc's seem to be constantly on some web search, I've seen that myself and find that worrying as I could have done that myself. Perhaps we'd all have more time with the doc's if the resources were used better in the first place.
Hi Dorothy
Not upset at all, I think its just having to counter so much disagreement on the simple concept in regard to simple symptoms and simple tests. I certainly didn't think that pointing out that often our docs are left either unaware or wanting on such an important stage of our lives.
Thanks for the response. I see your point and agree that its better to have a doc that listens well. All I'm adding to that is for them to review patients properly over a period of time. I've seen this recently with another member of the family and each time they saw the doc it was like having to start over again. Little reference to previous visit was made. Just an example of how simple checks can go a long way.
Given they use computers they could have a pointer / reminder in front of them to give time vs number of visits and previous symptom/ailments over last years. Given the information held this could be simple and effective way of giving doctors more without them having to review pages and pages of notes for nuggets.
This might help spot other ailments not just peri and meno.
Now that I'm on the HRT path its funny but they seem to want me to see them very regularly. Not sure that this is for good intention or still trying to scare me on the HRT path I've taken. I kind of phase out when they do their speel on the path I've taken.
Perhaps they should lecture me and others on alcohol or tobacco or casual/unsafe sex in same way as I'm sure all of those can do far more harm than my lowly HRT. But lifes often unwise and unfair all at the same time :D
The jury is still out on when they will leave me to a yearly checkup ;)
:o
-
A doctor...I don't think so ;D.
I think you will find I quoted...or perhaps misquoted Limpy when she said HRT should be given appropriately and not dished out like smarties.
I don't think being a GP is such a great job these days....a couple of my friends are full time GPs. We have only one part time GP in our practice. They have two late nights per week and one very early start so I can't complain at all but I live in a quiet part of the country.
It's surely not a case of not knowing medicine. They have a working knowledge of so many things ....that's why they are called General Practitioners
Honeybun
-
I think your maybe a doc in disguise ;) but handing out HRT like sweeties where ?
PGT - Sorry but you did post the following, I think it was in relation to you developing sudden onset headaches.
"If I'd stuck with BCP then I'd have avoid all the visits plus expensive tests (and all the worrying) ???
For the sake of continued BCP or HRT at 40p per day I could have saved the NHS thousands!!"
It did sound like you think hormones, be it the BCP or HRT are the only way forward. They do help massively but they wouldn't have been the first thing any Dr (Phd or MD) would have thought of as the treatment of choice for severe headaches.
Yes HB - I did say smarties ;)
-
Sure it wasn't wine gums Limpy.....now there's a thought....wine on prescription.
I could go for that ;D
Honeybun
X
-
Read my posts again Limpy. If your not seeing my point then your not reading them properly.
I'd rather my ovaries did not pack in half way through my life.
I'd think most people with diabetes think in the same way about their pancreas.
If that means that BCP or HRT would have kept me healthier and happier through my 40's then brilliant. With someone like yourself perhaps we should just keep that to ourselves and just let a few lucky people enjoy it. Perhaps its all just a conspiracy :-\
You certainly seem to be against even a glimmer that docs might have been wrong to pull people off their BCP early.
I'm certainly not HRT pro and would love not to need it if my ovaries broken as they maybe.
But if you don't see how many appointments, tests, cost, resources and worry would be saved from what currently happens then I can't open your eyes to that. The BCP would not have masked any of the problems mentioned by those posting so I really dont understand why its a bad thing to at least let ladies have a choice.
Perhaps the establishment want the status quo as it keeps a steady stream of ladies from their mid 30's on. Funnily enough at the time when most doc's are so keen for us to ditch the BCP. Why would we want to continue having sex ? I'd rather not have had the worry pregnancy or whether I'd gone ectopic (thankfully it wasnt). Had I still been on birth control then this would have been unlikely to have been an issue or worry. Not to mention the awful periods whilst I went through peri once I'd stop the stability of BCP.
I could go on but I believe I'm wasting my time with some on the forum.
>:(
-
Again your talking about a minority of ladies that encounter a hidden loss of fertility whilst on the pill. A minority of ladies encounter blood clots however no correlation to their work or situation is ever tied into that.
Recently a horrible story of a lady starting on BCP was run blaming the pill for her blood clots. However the article also mentioned she'd just returned from a long haul trip. Helllo? long haul DVT anyone!!! Even sitting at a desk at work can cause more blood clot issues that taking the pill. However its all a matter of knowing and understanding rather than just going with scare stories.
You also make its out like everyone needs ivf if they take the pill too.
I've not encountered one friend thats been in the situation you explain.
Again what you have mentioning also is a lack of education of ladies on the bcp.
And a failure of the health profession to take peri seriously.
"I'd love it if all GP's could wave a magic wand and make things right, but that only happens in Utopia."
I'll rephrase your statement to my view.
"I'd love it if all GP's to use the tools and education they have to make things right, and that doesnt need Utopia (just hard work)!"
In terms of the BCP the standard at the moment is to stop ladies who smoke using it after 35.
However docs tend to try and stop all of us after 35. Again an over reaction to what ladies actually need or want.
I remember the spin that put on my relationship with my husband and the worry of unwanted pregnancy, all down to a skewed viewpoint.
I've never smoked and had no problem with the pill for years, like the majority who take them.
Apparently being on it was good for my ovaries from recent studies too? You could not make this up.
Its not just my point of view, its ignoring the facts that there is the problem here with simple diagnosis and recognition.
-
If your not seeing my point then your not reading them properly.
Re - Not seeing your point - It's not "not seeing" it's more not agreeing
Its not just my point of view, its ignoring the facts that there is the problem here with simple diagnosis and recognition.
You are very selective regarding the facts that should be taken into consideration
-
Sorry to be the party-pooper on this occasion, but I think we've kind of gone away from the original gist of this thread?
Given that it's a thread about peri, and without getting involved in either side of the debate that has since ensued, I would not want new members reading this to feel the BCP isnt a viable option during peri menopause. In fact, for many of us (see other threads) it's been significantly more helpful than HRT was, simply because it's more controlling.
Previously, the BCP over 40 was generally seen as a no-no. However, recent guidelines state - assuming there is no other risk such as being a smoker - women can stay on the pill until 50 with no greater risk than aged 40. This is partly due to the newer generation of lower dose pills such as Qlaira, Zoeley, Femodette, Eloine with less than 3.5mg of estrogen (some of these are bio identical too). Eloine is very new and only has 3 blank pill days.
I dont actually like taking the pill and, ironically, refused to take it when I would have been more fertile, but for now, it seems to be the best option for me and many others in my situation. It's definitely worth considering. Yes, there are risks, especially of blood clots, but these risks are lower than those for a pregnant lady (have copied the fsrh notes below - basically it goes from something like five in 10,000 for non pill users to ten in 10,000 for pill users).
Hope this is of use to those ladies in the 35-49 age group who may not have considered the pill as an option.
B
http://www.fsrh.org/pdfs/ContraceptionOver40July10.pdf
VTE (including deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism)
The risk of VTE in women of reproductive age is approximately 4–5/10 000 woman-years in
those who do not use oral contraceptives.61 This is higher than figures quoted in previous
Faculty guidance.1 The reasons for the apparent increase in the background prevalence of
VTE over time are referred to in a recent consensus statement on COC and VTE.63 It is
postulated that the increase may be due to a true increase in incidence (perhaps due to
changing demographic trends such as obesity rates), increased clinician awareness and
better diagnostic precision, or a combination of these factors.
The risk of VTE amongst COC users is approximately twice that of non-users [9–10/10 000
woman-years (average across all brands studied)].6
Although use of combined methods has been shown to decrease with age,4 CHC can be
used up until the age of 50 years, providing there are no risk factors that would restrict use.
After the age of 50 years, women are advised to consider an alternative method.26,191 No limit
is given as to the number of years a woman can use a combined hormonal method.
Guidance on stopping hormonal contraception at the menopause is available within the
FSRH guidance entitled Contraception for Women Over 40 Years.191
-
You are correct Briony - Guilty as charged, sorry for going off topic GRL.
Totally agree the BCP can be very helpful for ladies in the 35-49 age group.
I took it till I was 54, on Microgynon till 50 then started on Loestrin 20. I had no idea that I was anywhere near the menopause, I was still getting withdrawal bleeds. When I stopped at 54 a blood test to find my FSH found it to be 103, it seemed that I was already post menopausal! Six months later my FSH came out at 108 confirmed it, well that and having no periods whatsoever after stopping the pill. ::)
It was only when I stopped the pill that meno kicked in for me.
-
Thought this made interesting reading. As my young daughter is on the pill it was relevant to her too.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2550216/Deadly-risk-pill-used-1m-women-Every-GP-Britain-told-warn-threat-popular-contraceptive.html
Honeybun
X
-
HB, I hear what you're saying - and it's something I consider every time I take a pill - but I think the statistics from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists is a better source than the Daily Mail? I've read this article before and it was one of the reasons I delayed agreeing to the pill, but when my GP talked it through with me, I was reassured (especially as Qlaira is bio identical too).
But now it's me who should be apologising as the tone of the above para sounds like what I was criticising earlier ??? - sorry! It's just that there is such a lot of scare-mongering re the pill (Daily Mail being notorious offenders) and it's upsetting to read if, like me, you're one of those people for whom the pill is almost the only option.
-
Gosh - One of the Drs in the article said he preferred the newer generation of the pill as they contained hormones which were described as "lady friendly" - does that mean bio-identical?
Even with the older type pills risks were known about - it was up to the drs and the woman concerned as to whether they felt the benefits outweighed the risks.
-
Limpy, none of those pills quoted are bio identical so sadly, I suspect the doctor is referring to Yasmine as the 'lady friendly' one because the progesterone in it is claime to reduce fluid retention, help acne and is less likely to cause hair loss? (...because athe only thing women care about is their appearance, obviously ::)).
- Ironically, of all the pills available, his'lady friendly' one (Yasmine) is one of the most controversial. People who take it seem to really like it, but it has the highest risk of all BCPs. It's banned in some countries, I believe?
-
Try explaining to your husband then would be my suggestion. They can be surprisingly understanding given half a chance.
If we dont tell them then how on earth are they expected to even understand even a little bit.
It's like pregnancy.....they can't experience it but they can support and empathise.....even suggest things if they are interested enough.
Honeybun
Hey HB, been away and see the topic has again moved off topic... ???
As a newbie I'd hate for peeps on here to misunderstand your response and have a misguided view of me - I had mentioned a MALE FRIEND had made the comments of HIS WIFE. Yes, my dear hubby is very understanding and supportive which is one of the reasons I married him 8)
-
As I have never smoked, am not overweight and rarely drink my GP assured me I was as safe to take the Pill as I had been at 30.
Having chatted with friends, all of whom are well educated ( and a few work in health care roles) types, not a single one knew it was fine to take the Pill after 35. Neither did they know it was much stronger than HRT and therefore more controlling of fluctuating hormones in peri.
They all thought they would have to muddle through from 35-50 without hormones, as they assumed HRT wasn't used until in your 50s.
The level of innocent ignorance is shocking and it really worries me that there are thousands of women suffering through ignorance, when just one little Pill a day could save their sanity. Or even their lives. Locally a woman committed suicide as she had been suffering with severe PND. It haunts me that maybe if she's gone back in the Pill after giving birth she might still be with us? But as she was an older Mum, nearing forty she didn't think of it.
-
Usual age of around 42/43 I think.
Taz x
That age was the same for me, when my flushes started, but I thought that was quite early to start having hot flushes. I have always been an anxious and emotionally easily upset type of person, but the graph suddenly went downwards sharply at age 42.
I got periods right up until age 47 when I started seui hrt, and have had them ever since.
-
April 2012 but thats when the doctor first prescribed me ADs, but i had been having problems coping at work for a long time before that, about a year and a half following my dad ending up in intensive care, hes ok now but it wasnt a great time. My doctor diagnosed depression, i never questioned it, im only now, from reading this website, and thinking perhaps its all peri?
-
Could be LouE - an awful lot of GPs seem to misdiagnose peri as depression. Your problems at work could have been due to stress over your dad's situation, but equally the stress could have caused your peri symptoms to kick in more strongly. I had mild symptoms from 35 but it got a lot worse age 38 following my father's death. My GP says it is quite common for peri symptoms to start/get stronger following a stressful event such as bereavement or serious illness. Makes sense really as if your body is struggling to cope with a crisis, it has less resources available to maintain your reproductive system in good order!
Is your current GP helpful re peri? If not it would be worth changing GP.
-
Hi dorothy, iveonly just mentioned peri to him, he was reluctant to "blame" it on that but i pointed out the numerous tests id had over the last three years that were all normal! He seemed to take it more seriously when i said no interest in sex and uncomfy/dry/painfull down there, have a blood test tomorow to check my hormones, also getting the coil changed early nov at the well woman clinic, hope they help me more tbh
-
Hope you get some help at the well woman clinic. Have you looked at the list of peri symptoms? It might be worth making a list of any you experience to show to your GP.
-
Yep, told him! Tbh hes a good doctor but from reading stuffon here, many doca dont make the link?
-
What your GP said tallies very much with my peri experience Dorothy.
I had already noticed my cycle was changing and that my PMS had got much worse and lasting longer. But I was coping.
Then we had a very stressful few weeks at work, plus my Mum was seriously ill and suddenly I just stopped being able to cope and the anxiety hit with a vengence.