Perimenopause Moans #3

[veronica71]

Sharing in case it helps anyone and so I can find it again if I need it at some point!

 

[veronica71]

I'm really feeling my age this Christmas. We've had a really low key lazy one and I've made no effort at all and omg it shows. Its so unfair that at a time when we have our least energy it takes the most effort to look human and be able to move. We've not eaten that much more than usual and I feel I've put on a ton - it really is true that youth is wasted on the young!!!!

 

[Jelly Bean]

I'd forgotten the painful breasts - but yes that was an early sign. Along with very irregular periods. Irregular in how often (varying from every 6 weeks to then one two weeks later) and how heavy (extremely heavy so I was scared to leave the house, to barely anything).
Anxiety, sadness, fatigue, forgetfulness (I was constantly being told I kept repeating myself. I genuinely suspected dementia) and then hot flushes. I never had night sweats though.
Then there were the wierd things which at the time I didn't think were peri but looking back were - mad itchy skin, painful thumb and big toe joints (so random), inexplicable weight gain and hair just starting to be awful (dry, thinner - much better now though).
I'm sure there are more. I read this thread and somebody mentions a symptom and I'm like 'ah yes of course! That too'.

 

[maytoseptember]

Controversial probably but I don’t think Davina looks great. I think she looks thin and drawn. Like as if shes undereating and over exercising . I’m embracing the belly. I exercise for sure but too thin can make us look unhealthy as well. Be kind to yourselves too ladies it’s all such a lot.

I agree with you. I think it’s fair to say that Davina has an addictive personality and has taken it way too far with exercise and, I expect, food. Her face looks so thin and drawn with sunken cheeks.

 

[veronica71]

I went to the docs yesterday with a sore painful nose and yep you guessed it - hormones

got home and googled dry nose and first search is ‘dry nose menopause’

we are truly blessed. Totally shows that men have the psychical strength cos the way we all feel we should be the ones committing the most violence

 

[50sGirl]

Right, here’s a new symptom for you…
I have had straight hair all my life. Over the past year I’ve noticed it looks wavy when I wash it.
I went to a new hairdresser last month and she said “You’ve got lovely, wavy hair!” I told her it’s always been straight and she said Peri can change it!

 

[littlemissbun]

I'm telling you girls, Wegovy works wonders at helping perimenopause. My night sweats are gone, my stomach pooch is going, I'm thinking clearly again and anxiety is heaps better

 

[melisnusty]

No period now for nearly three months. Feels like it’s going to come every day. Life on the edge eh Sending good vibes to everyone suffering in the heat

Oh shit yes, I know the feeling. My period lasted 39 days with big clots and flooding then nothing for 66 days then it came again. I’d rather just be punched in the head a couple of times rather than worrying every time I leave the house. Meh.

 

[Sour Pickle]

I am almost 42, pretty sure in peri. Went to GP as I am struggling with mood swings, hair thinning and loss and terrible terrible night sweats. He said I am far too young and suggested the pill or Prozac and to come back when I am 51. (I insisted on a referral and I am awaiting an appt).

I did start Prozac and cured night sweats completely, but had rendered me an insomniac. Anyway, I saw no dairy can help, any other suggestions to ease the sweating or hair loss? It’s properly affecting me.

 

[petitspois]

Im just wanting to say hello, I'm so glad to find this thread.

Preparing for my first appointment with my GP to discuss HRT. Got more sympathy from chatGPT than from my partner.

I feel so alone, and sad. My peri has caught me by suprise. My sadness isn’t just about the physical changes— it feels like a loss of control, a shift in identity, and almost a grieving process for my body and life I've known. And as it seems to have come so suddenly, before I felt ready, it’s even more jarring.

I feel like my identity has been taken away.

I don't know how to get back to a place where I feel stable, strong and vibrant.

Sorry for the brain dump.

I know how you feel and it’s shit isn’t it? Some people feel better quickly with HRT but I’d say most of us (HRT or not) feel better by increments. I feel loads better than last year but it’s sort of crept up on me really. There’s no denying it’s crap as an experience though.
When I heard it described as a reverse puberty it made sense. If you think of puberty as blooming then I’ve definitely done the opposite in the last couple of years. Hope you get somewhere with your GP.

 

[zetta buttons]

I dont think she looks that great either, but she works hard at her fitness , and she seems happy with it . But women who her less toned and carry more weight aren't worth any less.

I’m sorry if my comments came across like that. I really didn’t mean them too. I’m really struggling with my body image atm and to see some women do the things that I used to be able to do with ease is affecting me hugely.

 

[veronica71]

I've been talking to some friends who have been through the meno. We decided that you either get brain fog and anxiety, or you get RAGE. I'm getting rage.
I'm also getting semi-permanent thrush. Sorry for the TMI.

I got anxiety, brain fog and the all the rage

 

[SingSong]

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.

If you haven't had an ultrasound it would be worth pestering your GP until you get one. I had a few flooding episodes and was sent for a scan. I've got fibroids that need treatment or I will keep having flooding. So it was definitely worth me getting checked.

Flooding is a nightmare to deal with, sorry you're going through it too.

 

[missaustraliaaddict]

I'm getting pains in my knee, ankle and shoulder.
I nearly put ice cubes in a mug, instead of a glass and orange juice on my daughter's cereal instead of milk.
My skin is so dry and itchy and sore.
Feel so depressed about it all and so old

 

[SingSong]

Does anyone else struggle to hold their pee? I go from not needing a pee to urgently needing to go, really getting me down

Try vaginal estrogen cream. You get it over the counter in Boots, but there are some prescribing rules for it.

Or via an online pharmacy, its called Ovestin or just Estriol 0.1.

It's worked really well for me for the urgency during the daytime and now at night sometimes I sleep all the way through without needing to go to the toilet. It can take a while to work,so persevere.

I'd definitely recommend it

 

[dee_mc]

Being able to set reminders and alarms on my phone and using AI to voice search stuff I really should be able to figure out/remember is a godsend for me. It's got me through the last few months relatively unscathed. Colleagues and clients often say "oh you're so organised! I wish I could be half as on top of things" etc but nope, struggling daily and if I drop my phone down the toilet I'm fucked!

 

[Woolmercardington]

I took a photo of myself at the zoo today and I barely recognised my own face. I look so tired and haggard. I mean I have a chronic illness so I'm always tired, lol, but I look 66 not 46.

I can look in the mirror and think I look quite nice and fairly youthful, then I'll see a photo of me and want to

 

[humansreallysuck]

Anyone else having flu like symptoms every 4 weeks, period or not?

Dr Google says it's another fun benefit of peri

I feel permanently run down like on the verge of a cold at all times but never actually getting sick it’s so weird. I have an appointment at the menopause clinic this week I’m hoping to try HRT

 

[Woolmercardington]

 

[veronica71]

as a permanently cold person having a higher body temp in peri is one of the only vaguely good things about it but of course it has to go far too much the other way at times!!!

I've just booked a physio appointment because without being over dramatic everything hurts. It started with my rib cage and now all my old dodgy joints have joined in. I've been to the GP who've not been wildly helpful so hoping tomorrow helps cos I feel quite miserable about it all - and I bet its bloody peri. Anyone else really achy/inflammed?