Perimenopause Moans #3

[petitspois]

Has anyone paid privately to see a menopause specialist. Is it worth doing.

You shouldn't need to. I know some GPs are still in the dark ages plus please persevere.

NICE guidelines: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng...opping-hormone-replacement-therapy-for-anyone

If you google 'menopause symptoms checklist' you can download and print off a list of symptoms so if you tick the ones affecting you then you can demonstrate to the GP.

 

[dee_mc]

Just took my first Lion's Mane supplement. I got the Irish Botanica brand as I saw it in the health food section of the supermarket but I've just realised i have to take 4 to 6 capsules per day I'll be rattling walking around for the next couple of weeks!
Also picked up the Modern Chemistry brand one in Boots as it was on offer and is a one-a-day which feels more sensible.
Hoping it will help with my concentration as I'm feeling a bit out of control at work sometimes, paranoid about checking I've locked doors and set alarms etc because my short-term memory is shot.

 

[really_whythough]

It's not irresponsible at all. It's a fact and I'm in that group too. It's why women who have had breast cancer can't take HRT and why it's not given out without restrictions. There are many natural carcinogens in life. It doesn't mean they will cause cancer at all it just means they increase the risk. My point was there are risks with HRT (as we all know). The risks are likely to be much lower than all the scaremongering that was common 10-plus years ago and there are likely many other benefits of HRT. It's just not a win-win so a complex area.

That’s was the further context I was hoping for!

I do think we have to be careful about labelling things a ‘natural carcinogen’ without that extra information. Thanks for expanding as people could just read your first post and react to that without fully understanding.

 

[CarmenGhia]

Before HRT, these are some of mine…
Husband made me a sandwich
Saw a newborn in Tesco (total stranger) & wanted to hold it 🫤
Realised the cat won’t live forever
Ran out of pegs and had a few items still to go out.
Bought wrong kitchen cleaner and didn’t like the smell.
Cleaner at work moved my second screen and coasters
And yes, I get they are bonkers but the tears just came out of no where! I had 1 episode where the neighbours cut his conifers and I was livid! Tried send my husband over to say he had done a rubbish job, it was ridiculous & I was almost hysterical

I almost burst into tears over Whiskas Kitten food. I have a healthy cat at home! The weirdest one was seeing a beautiful little bantam rooster at a garden centre and being completely overcome, for no real reason.

 

[humansreallysuck]

Has anyone had anaemia caused by flooding periods?

Mine are absolutely wild at the moment and I’ve sort of been managing them with Tranexamic acid. However with my last period I started being permanently dizzy and light headed and it hasn’t gone away. I’ve got blood tests next week to check what’s going on.

My ferritin was 16 in summer last year so maybe I’ve just run out.

I have life long anemia my ferritin was 4!
it’s better now think it was up to 15 last month I I have to take iron tablets every day to feel like I’m not dying!

 

[ginkypig]

Oh I see! Thankfully I don’t have any gut or reflux issues.. thanks

to combat issues with damage/irritation to the lining of your stomach and reflux you can line your stomach with milk before you take it. It being an alkaline balances the acid and the protein gives the stomach digestion something to work on like when you take tablets with food.

just for anyone who thinks this might be helpful.

 

[really_whythough]

Is anyone struggling to lose weight? I’ve put a stone on since October, I’m trying really hard to lose weight, going walking 3/4 times a week, doing weights 2/3 times a week in the house, really trying to cut back and have even cut down on my wine, it’s really getting me down

I hate to sound preachy but giving up alcohol (probably just as I entered perimenopause at 39) was the best thing I’ve done for my all round health. I’d highly recommend giving it a try, start with This Naked Mind by Annie Grace book/podcast/online courses.

 

[Louby@21]

I’m defo more sensistive allergy wise which i know can be a peri symptom. Always had hayfever but it seems to be more plants/trees so from now onwards. Dust irritates me easily. I do get a bit itchy from the sun. But then i’m just itchy anyway!

My symptoms are quite manageable for now and im grateful for that. I do anticipate trying HRT before i’m 50. Im not a fan of taking long term meds but absolutley won’t be living life feeling like shite as it progresses. Also the bone health thing…do take some very basic supplements. Menopace and magnesium, vit d spray which we should all have anyway.

My sister needed it for her emotions/moods which mine aren’t too bad really… but more erratic but ok. But for now about 5/6 years since my anxiety kicked in. Nutrition and exercise are holding me firm Lots of walks outside and’s in nature helps my mood

 

[Stillwater]

Solidarity one and all

47, 2 years perimenopausal - mad cycle, bit of hot flushing. It’s menopausal-belly I am currently contemplating, just settle in and accept it or…..? I walk a lot, decent diet, like a drink now and then but nothing excessive. Been reading what meno belly’s all about and how hard it can be to shift. So just wondering how common it is and if anyone’s taken a policy of accepting themselves?

Band of chub just under my (not insubstantial) boobs - which actually do me a favour for once as they create a sort of shelf over the fat and its not massively visible in lose clothing.

 

[IndominusRex]

I look in the mirror and see my mum now.
I’ve also realised why she always used to buy me clothes she wanted to wear but couldn’t.

 

[maytoseptember]

This is on me but a friend was referred and it caused a hole which then never healed and I am terrified of that happening.

Oh god, how awful.

I still think it’s worth a referral to discuss your options though. You don’t have to go ahead with anything if you feel the risks are too high, but a consultant might be able to reassure you. You certainly don’t have to live with this forever.

 

[veronica71]

Yes, I'm on the mini pill and continuous HRT. I get awful periods, so my gp opted for this method for me.

It's fabulous, no more periods and no more feeling up and down emotionally. I prefer the stability of continuous meditation and do still need contraception

Same here - the menopause lady asked if I’d like to come off it and go back to having periods and I was like fuck no!!!! I was only having half a good week every 3.5 weeks - the mini pill was a lifeline.

 

[IndominusRex]

I forgot how to spell orange the other day.

 

[Kittylover2019]

Why don't you tell him what you've just told us and see what he says? Once he realises how you feel, he'll probably be happy to keep letting you know he loves you.

I did tell him between the tears a couple of weeks ago. I said I think I need a bit more touchy feely and a bit more input from him and it would make me feel better.

To be fair he has been more attentive, like I say he’s given me absolutely no reason to think otherwise. I have these intrusive thoughts that I’m going to be left on my own or he’s thinking about divorce or that he may be attracted to someone younger. I feel a bit unhinged at times. I’ve not told him that bit though

 

[katz2022]

Can anyone help with the blood tests and timing through cycle? Gunna get booked in this week as I can’t take the crushing anxiety, hot flushes and no sleep any more.

Have zero energy or motivation and I could easily stay in bed all day and lie in a trance. Sex drive has completely gone over the last 10 months. No interest what so ever.

Feel in panic mode or shattered all the time.

And my armpit BO is off the chart

Just feel such a different person, like I have no personality or that my personality is anger, tiredness or rejection

My GP said that blood tests aren’t helpful and prescribed me HRT based on my age and symptoms being experienced. I hope you have a supportive GP

 

[zetta buttons]

My OH has been on it for 25 years and has no issues whatsoever. She didn’t suit the combined and I can’t have it because of cluster headaches.

I totally agree with you, if our bodies suddenly change their reaction to a medication that they previously tolerated, it should be investigated. It never is, it’s just brushed off as “hormones, women etc etc.” Because our hormones change daily, it’s nigh on impossible for them to investigate properly without it costing £££. It’s so unfair. We are left to suffer, be in pain worry about flooding and have our bodies change constantly. It’s so unfair.

 

[melisnusty]

Omg I was coming to moan that my 8 day period was hell this month, I’ll just shut up! Poor you.

Any amount of days with a period is fecking awful. For almost 40 years I used to bleed for 2 days then have a break of 24 days, I could set my watch by it. Now it’s so unpredictable I could cry and actually often do! X

 

[neverbeeninfluenced]

I thought the HRT would help with the itchy skin but I’m 3 months in and I really want to claw my skin off
It’s mainly around my boobs/body/legs doesn’t help that I’m fat so my stomach flab is itching like mad

Urgh the itching!
I’ve been on HRT for over 2 years and it gets better for a little while then flares up again.
I think I’m developing allergies as when I find a cause and eliminate it they clear up for a little while until my body decides to become allergic to something else that has often been used daily for years!
I find the Allevia brand of antihistamine to work best for me sorry can’t spell the generic name.
I also get on top of the itch by using over the counter hydrocortisone cream as it seems to be the only thing that breaks the itch / scratch cycle.
Hopefully coming out the other side of a reaction to a real Christmas tree but it’s left my skin damaged so trying to keep on top of moisturising to help it heal. Sadly the E45 CICA soothe and repair cream seemed to irritate my skin and I find Aveeno the best for my skin.
I also can’t use regular E45 due to the lanolin

 

[Crumpet41]

Oh @Crumpet41, I am so sorry this is the experience you've had - and my god, you're most certainly not moaning. I've had similar problems with my GP refusing to consider I'm in peri - even with me providing detailed evidence of all the changes to my cycle, problems with mood/anxiety, and other hormonal symptoms. "You're too young; we won't consider you until you're 46". This was 3 years ago, when I was 42 - things are exactly the same for me now, at 45, although worse in some ways.

I was fobbed off with anti-depressants - they wanted me on Sertraline to help with my PMDD, but wouldn't consider any hormone therapy even though it's quite clear my symptoms are all cycle-related. (Not dissing anti-d's by the way, but I've had bad reactions to the ones I've tried in the past).

This is so unjust and unfair for you - and for all of us.

Just as a general recommendation - I've recently finished reading Naga Munchetty's new book: 'It's Probably Nothing', about the rise of medial misogyny, and it's well written though absolutely rage inducing to see the number of women in the same position as many of us are... things shouldn't be like this, but they are and it absolutely sucks donkey balls.

I am sorry that you have also had a similar crappy experience with trying to get proper help. The GP i saw last year was the final straw for me - i could not beleive that was what she offered to me and completely dismissed what i was saying to her. Infact she was outraged that the previos GP had given me HRT ( this was when i was 44/ maybe 45? ) and after me trying to get someone to listen for the previous 18 months.

The idiot GP categorically told me that the previous GP was wrong to prescribe me HRT at 44 because i was "too young". This is after i had also pointed out that i had tracked and logged symptoms. She was just not interested and basically said that peri tends to start when women hit 50. she then handed me a prescription for lithium. I was so stunned at the time that i just took the prescription and walked out. Went home and ripped it up. I have not (and will not ever) go back to that GP again.

In hindsight i should have complained about my experience at the time but i was very angry/upset about it and then put it out of my mind.

re - naga munchetty;s book. I have seen this thanks ( and also heard her discussing this on radio 4 womens hour). I meant to look for the book but its slipped my mind . I will definatly look for it though.

 

[neverbeeninfluenced]

And apparently I’m now allergic to Christmas trees. I’ve had really irritated skin around my neck, face and scalp. Got rid of the tree on NYE and the itching has now stopped.
I kind of thought it was connected but I wasn’t going to get rid of the tree even if it was just a little potted one in the dining room!

I’m so sick of developing new allergies and the guessing game that then follows.