Perimenopause #4 post your woes

[Latetotheparty]

You’re very welcome!
ADHD is negatively impacted by menopause etc so if you’re not neurodivergent, then I guess it still could be affecting your concentration and dopamine. What I have to do is literally tell myself out loud “no, close the loop”, if I try and hop to something else and finish before the next thing.
The only time I hop from one to another is if I am doing sorting or decluttering in one place for a while, and can’t focus but I can go and focus in another room, so I procrastinate by doing the other job. This works okay because tasks like this aren’t done in ten minutes, so I close the loop with jobs that have an end and short time frame. It does help, but I wonder what it’s like to do things more effortlessly.

This is so helpful thank you! I need to give myself a stern talking to when I start to spiral, I haven’t been diagnosed with adhd but I think it’s definitely something that has come upon me lately, for example, a fortnight ago we had a leak in the bathroom that came through the ceiling in a room downstairs. The ceiling then had to be taken down to fix the leak and we had to have a new ceiling. So the room needed painting/redecorating. Then I decided my hallway could do with a refresh, so while in the middle of putting paneling up, I stopped, decided my living room could do with a refresh too and pulled out paint to start that while my hallway is half done, and that’s not all! My living room is halfway done and yesterday morning I decided my downstairs loo also needs a refresh so I painted that instead! I also stripped my bedding yesterday (I do this every fortnight) and while putting my bedding back on, between coats of paint in my loo, a hallway half decorated and a living room now in disarray, I noticed my bedroom light fitting was looking quite dusty (it’s a chandelier, lots of fiddly bits) so I got the ladder and started meticulously cleaning that while the quilt was half in half out of the bedding! My god woman! What am I thinking! I am sane enough to actually finish jobs at the end of the day and put rooms back into some sort of order so we don’t live in a rit tip, but crikey Moses I’m non stop! I never used to be like this, I’ve always been task oriented where I start one thing & give it my full attention and finish it before moving on to something else, now I’m everything at once and its overwhelming. It’s started to creep into my job role now too, I’ve been lucky enough to be able to pull my focus back to task in hand at the moment but I’m scared I’m losing grip.
Oh the fun of being a woman eh! 🫣

 

[Trauma Frotters]

I can really relate to that Latetotheparty, except I don't finish the tasks and we do live in a tit tip

 

[griftalo]

This is so helpful thank you! I need to give myself a stern talking to when I start to spiral, I haven’t been diagnosed with adhd but I think it’s definitely something that has come upon me lately, for example, a fortnight ago we had a leak in the bathroom that came through the ceiling in a room downstairs. The ceiling then had to be taken down to fix the leak and we had to have a new ceiling. So the room needed painting/redecorating. Then I decided my hallway could do with a refresh, so while in the middle of putting paneling up, I stopped, decided my living room could do with a refresh too and pulled out paint to start that while my hallway is half done, and that’s not all! My living room is halfway done and yesterday morning I decided my downstairs loo also needs a refresh so I painted that instead! I also stripped my bedding yesterday (I do this every fortnight) and while putting my bedding back on, between coats of paint in my loo, a hallway half decorated and a living room now in disarray, I noticed my bedroom light fitting was looking quite dusty (it’s a chandelier, lots of fiddly bits) so I got the ladder and started meticulously cleaning that while the quilt was half in half out of the bedding! My god woman! What am I thinking! I am sane enough to actually finish jobs at the end of the day and put rooms back into some sort of order so we don’t live in a rit tip, but crikey Moses I’m non stop! I never used to be like this, I’ve always been task oriented where I start one thing & give it my full attention and finish it before moving on to something else, now I’m everything at once and its overwhelming. It’s started to creep into my job role now too, I’ve been lucky enough to be able to pull my focus back to task in hand at the moment but I’m scared I’m losing grip.
Oh the fun of being a woman eh! 🫣

I totally relate to all of this! Maybe we need a cross stitch sampler on the wall! One Thing At A Time!

 

[Smell_my_cheese]

I’ve come to this thread and even just reading the last two pages I can see I’ve found my people.
I’ve been struggling with all the usual peri symptoms the last 6 months or so I’d say, but I’m really finding the absolute rage, extreme fatigue, and weight gain the worst parts. I’m on the progesterone only pill so don’t have periods.

This weekend I’ve been so tired I’ve struggled to get off the sofa. Anything I have done has been such an effort. I’ve felt like I’m trying to walk through treacle.

I also hate how I look these days. I am dull in every way. Wear the same clothes to hide my belly and huge breasts, hair looks dull and flat all the time (except when it’s greasy…) and my face just looks old. I’m depressed by it all. I’m also a single parent with a teenager with SEN so am constantly in fight or flight.
Apologies for the offload but sometimes it just helps to write it all down and get it out there. I didn’t expect my 40s to be this tit tbh.

 

[Choco88]

Hi everyone! Newbie to the thread.
I’m not sure if I’m peri I’m 37, having lots of hot flushes and struggling to stay asleep.
I’m crying a lot and feel like I want to run away from my life. My sex drive feels higher than it’s been in years but my husband doesn’t seem to be doing it for me anymore. My periods come every 3 weeks and are very heavy. I’m also really struggling to lose weight
I went to the gp they have done bloods and offered me talking therapy and a referral to a gynaecologist for the periods.
I also have autistic children so a lot of my stress in life is to do with them but obviously not a lot I can do about that.

 

[Shannon51]

Hi, joining this thread because I had a gp appointment 2 weeks ago and he suggested I'm in perimenopause. Just recently, I've been struggling at work with over-reacting to things and I'm now being pulled up for being unprofessional.

I had my bloods done yesterday, so hoping I get some help soon as my thoughts are getting darker. Aside from my extremely hormonal, angry mood- swings, my worst symptom is the brain fog, followed by night sweats. I'm 43 though so not sure if that's an average age for all of this.

Im 42 and been experiencing this over the last few years got worse this last year now my periods have stopped overnight (not had one in over 4 months now) the flushes are coming thick n fast especially last few months i feel looking back my first symptoms started about in my late 30s its been really challenging especially when bloods are coming bk normal.Trying to navigate this as best i can on my own i feel my gp wont entertain me saying im too young n bloods are normal (that i was depressed which im not) n i need to be 12 months clear of a period dont even know where to start in terms to natural alternatives to ease symptoms so much conflicting info online.

I hope you get some help with your results n find a bit of relief

 

[flap a doodle dandy]

All the products I bought for itching legs and arms earlier in the year have stopped working. Is there anything anyone with the itch can recommend please ?

 

[Jelly Bean]

All the products I bought for itching legs and arms earlier in the year have stopped working. Is there anything anyone with the itch can recommend please ?

What have you tried so I don't repeat them? I've been through so many
Have you tried this? The only one I can actually rely on. I cannot tell you how much it repaired my horribly scratched and scarred limbs and soothed the itch.
If its this and it's stopped working that's a shame - it's a bloody misery I know.
There are others in the range which say they're 'anti scratching cream' and while they're a good moisturiser they didn't work stopping the itch for me.
This is about £7.

 

[flap a doodle dandy]

What have you tried so I don't repeat them? I've been through so many
Have you tried this? The only one I can actually rely on. I cannot tell you how much it repaired my horribly scratched and scarred limbs and soothed the itch.
If its this and it's stopped working that's a shame - it's a bloody misery I know.
There are others in the range which say they're 'anti scratching cream' and while they're a good moisturiser they didn't work stopping the itch for me.
This is about £7.

View attachment 4068779

Amazing thanks - one I haven't tried (although i did try something else in the range). I have tried pretty much anything with itch in the name - Aveeno, HC45, E45, Ameliorate, Salcura, Eucerin etc etc and a lot of medical stuff like Cetraban. Off to order some of this to try. I have also read that Iron deficiency can cause itchiness so ordered some Floradix too. Thank you

 

[griftalo]

May be headed down the wrong path on this but milk thistle helps your liver and I know liver issues can cause itching, so might be worth a try for anyone with skin issues.
I have found a jojoba oil formula immensely helpful with my skin condition on my hand - I have skin that thickens, to the point it restricts my fingers moving and also cracks open horribly. I’ve been using a horribly expensive face oil (now - it wasn’t when I bought it) that I bought years ago and just found again, and the main ingredient is jojoba. I have plain jojoba on order (as I’m not made of money ) and will report back if indeed it is just the jojoba making a massive improvement. Jojoba is very close to skin’s normal oil, so it absorbs amazingly. I accidentally knocked the open face oil onto the carpet the other day and spilled most of the 15ml bottle . It helped with the itching and the skin started healing and the thickened bits peeled off. When I lessened the amount I was using due to running low, the splitting began again.

 

[Jelly Bean]

Amazing thanks - one I haven't tried (although i did try something else in the range). I have tried pretty much anything with itch in the name - Aveeno, HC45, E45, Ameliorate, Salcura, Eucerin etc etc and a lot of medical stuff like Cetraban. Off to order some of this to try. I have also read that Iron deficiency can cause itchiness so ordered some Floradix too. Thank you

I really hope it works
I said elsewhere I tried it more through hope than expectation but the instant relief was like nothing before, and like you I've tried loads. It says it has 'bandage like texture' and that's what it felt like. Plus it's nearly repaired all the awful damage I caused to myself by scratching.
Only downside the tube is smallish for the areas I need it on (50ml) so I buy two at a time.

 

[flap a doodle dandy]

I really hope it works
I said elsewhere I tried it more through hope than expectation but the instant relief was like nothing before, and like you I've tried loads. It says it has 'bandage like texture' and that's what it felt like. Plus it's nearly repaired all the awful damage I caused to myself by scratching.
Only downside the tube is smallish for the areas I need it on (50ml) so I buy two at a time.

Thanks Jelly I have ordered a couple of tubes, and also the 400ml pot of the stuff they have with 10% urea for areas that itch less. Thanks also to @griftalo I will try and see what Jojoba oil I can buy today to try that too.

 

[Tank Girl]

The Aveeno Dry oil has jojoba and oat. I find this good. I also use the LRP mineral spray water to cool the itch. But I’d be lost with out Telfast 180 mg tbf . Oh the joys.

 

[flap a doodle dandy]

The Aveeno Dry oil has jojoba and oat. I find this good. I also use the LRP mineral spray water to cool the itch. But I’d be lost with out Telfast 180 mg tbf . Oh the joys.

I have taken daily Telfast for over 20 years for allergies but it doesn't seem to make any difference for my itching. I don't think mine is allergy related - might not even be hormone related but either way it is so annoying. I haven't tried the Aveeno oil so I might have to get some of that too as heir apple cider shampoo has massively improved my hair.

 

[Tank Girl]

I have taken daily Telfast for over 20 years for allergies but it doesn't seem to make any difference for my itching. I don't think mine is allergy related - might not even be hormone related but either way it is so annoying. I haven't tried the Aveeno oil so I might have to get some of that too as heir apple cider shampoo has massively improved my hair.

I think mine is basically all the same histamine root , the drop in hormone adding to the allergy and intolerance etc. it’s so so frustrating. We can only keep trying eh.

 

[flap a doodle dandy]

What have you tried so I don't repeat them? I've been through so many
Have you tried this? The only one I can actually rely on. I cannot tell you how much it repaired my horribly scratched and scarred limbs and soothed the itch.
If its this and it's stopped working that's a shame - it's a bloody misery I know.
There are others in the range which say they're 'anti scratching cream' and while they're a good moisturiser they didn't work stopping the itch for me.
This is about £7.

View attachment 4068779

Thank you thank you thank you...... It arrived this morning and I put some straight on an already feeling so much better. It is amazing stuff and I don't have my normal pink tram track scratch marks all over me, so a great recommendation.

 

[Wildrosesez]

This isn’t strictly perimenopause related I guess but for any perimenopausal and/or PMOS sufferers here who like me get ingrown hairs from plucking out thick chin / jawline hairs - I heard lactic acid was good and I happened to have some from a Christmas gift I hadn’t cracked open so I’ve been dabbing a little on the ingrown patches and it really seems to have helped, every time I look more hairs seem to have popped out. Usually they look like blackheads for ages until they eventually either pop out on their own or I scratch them out, which has led to scarring. I do want to look into something permanent but for now this does seem to be helping with the ingrown aspect at least.

 

[Jelly Bean]

Thank you thank you thank you...... It arrived this morning and I put some straight on an already feeling so much better. It is amazing stuff and I don't have my normal pink tram track scratch marks all over me, so a great recommendation.

Oh I'm SO pleased. The first time I put it on my sore itchy arms I could not believe it. Just like a cool comfort blanket. I'd given up all hope of anything working tbh.
I also put it on at night and in the mornings my skin is always better.
Amazing stuff and I'm so happy it works for you.

 

[PinkandTwinkly]

This isn’t strictly perimenopause related I guess but for any perimenopausal and/or PMOS sufferers here who like me get ingrown hairs from plucking out thick chin / jawline hairs - I heard lactic acid was good and I happened to have some from a Christmas gift I hadn’t cracked open so I’ve been dabbing a little on the ingrown patches and it really seems to have helped, every time I look more hairs seem to have popped out. Usually they look like blackheads for ages until they eventually either pop out on their own or I scratch them out, which has led to scarring. I do want to look into something permanent but for now this does seem to be helping with the ingrown aspect at least.

Perimenopause has caused my body hair all over to equally become thicker and more wiry yet no longer tough enough to poke through my skin so have trapped hair all over my leg.
That I end of having to scratch my skin to tweezer out

Never used lactic, but glycolic or salicylic do work for ingrown hair (the glycolic removes the dead skin and exfoliates the top layer and salicylic goes into the hair follicle to clear gunk out)
I have both as face formulas that I swipe over my legs in a cotton pad, but it's a lot of faff

I keep meaning to get a spray bottle and decant

 

[Wildrosesez]

Perimenopause has caused my body hair all over to equally become thicker and more wiry yet no longer tough enough to poke through my skin so have trapped hair all over my leg.
That I end of having to scratch my skin to tweezer out

Never used lactic, but glycolic or salicylic do work for ingrown hair (the glycolic removes the dead skin and exfoliates the top layer and salicylic goes into the hair follicle to clear gunk out)
I have both as face formulas that I swipe over my legs in a cotton pad, but it's a lot of faff

I keep meaning to get a spray bottle and decant

Yeah I also have glycolic which I keep meaning to use on my underarms as I’ve heard it’s also really good for ingrowns, I have some face pads and a bottle of it but it’s too harsh for my face.

I was saying to my friends the other day, I’m sure my inner thighs didn’t used to be so hairy! I used to have to go a bit further down than just my bikini line but now it’s like halfway down my thighs, proper pubey rather than the soft hair I’ve always had on the rest of my thighs. I’m like a hairy little raspberry and I wasn’t exactly a stranger to hairiness before