Thanks all for the advice - lots to think about!
My cycle fluctuates between 3 and 4 weeks - a few months they're every 3 weeks and then a few months at every 4 then repeat the cycle. Hot flushes - not that many thankfully, just when I get myself completely stressed out over something and then I feel like I'm burning up, the back of my head is totally soaked (this is why I keep my hair short now) and I feel light-headed. The night sweats seem to kick in around a week before my period is due and they are full on to the stage where I have to change the bed etc. I hate those the most - yak.
Tiredness is pretty much all the time and my internal thermostat is broken and has been for a couple of years now. It's very rare I stick the central heating on, regardless of how cold it is. I'm fine with it but hubby and kids complain. My answer is that they can always stick a jumper on whereas I can't run around naked to cool down! If it gets too bad I take myself off to bed and lay there with the fan on. I generally sleep with the fan on at night too. We have a summer quilt on but hubby piles blankets on top of his side to compensate! Oddly enough, I can go on holiday to hot places and I cope fine, it's just here where it all goes Pete Tong!
I know about the lifestyle changes and I did take steps towards this a few years ago (before being diagnosed with RA) I lost 7 stones in weight, had a really healthy diet, was a regular at the gym 4/5 times per week etc. I was then diagnosed with RA in my hands and feet and it all fell by the wayside. Trying to get my med regime on an even keel took a good 18 months, coupled with being completely at a loss and bloody angry generally. Needless to say, I've put on almost everything I lost and have struggled trying to get back on a diet ever since. On a more positive note, my RA is now under control and isn't getting any worse. I have a full set of blood tests for my RA every 3 months and everything comes back to show I'm maintaining as I should.
Again, this is where my GP came in to his own as he pushed for me to get seen at the hospital after my initial blood tests came back fine. I have the negative version of RA that doesn't appear on the bog-standard tests. It is just this one thing where I feel I'm not getting anywhere with him.
I'm actually quite happy to go back on the pill (I did research this initially after being refused HRT) I can pretty much cope with all the symptoms at the moment but not the lack of libido. I am feeling down and have been for a long while but I'm not interested in anti-depressants (a personal thing) That does seem to come in cycles but things at home contribute to that which are making life difficult to deal with generally.
I go to the pub once a week and I do smoke (please don't advise me to stop, I know all the dangers but it really isn't going to happen right now!) My diet is shocking, I know. But, regardless of whether I was making healthy life-style changes or not, my peri symptoms have remained just the same.
Oh, TOM is time of the month
