Perimenopause Moans #3

[50sGirl]

New thread to discuss anything related to the perimenopause.
I’m posting all previous thread links too because I think they’re useful for cross reference.

Previous thread links:

Thread 1: https://tattle.life/threads/peri-menopause-moans.32650/

Thread 2: https://tattle.life/threads/perimenopause-moans-2.44805/

 

[veronica71]

Thread recap

aaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhwhatisthisrandomsymptomwhyamIcryingfuckoffeveryoneffswhydontgpsgettraingingareanyoneelsesearsitchingsuckstobefemale

 

[Missmopps]

I’ve been on the patches a week now and it might be a coincidence but I’ve not had the running hot feelings so much. I never was getting to the full body sweats but the feeling periodically hot was really bothering me and disturbing my sleep. I’m now just about warm enough in bed with a flat sheet and a velvety quilt on top, before I would have kicked off the sheet in the night as that combo was too hot

 

[Foxvint]

Hello wims, for those of you on HRT, what age did you start? I'm just coming up to 45 and my periods have gone haywire the last few months- long distance between or only 2 weeks between. No other symptoms apart from hot and sweaty of a night. Everything I've read recommends getting a grip of things hormonally before you suffer too much so I'm thinking of going to see about HRT over the next few weeks. Would be helpful to know what age you all started.

 

[Blonde_moment]

Hello wims, for those of you on HRT, what age did you start? I'm just coming up to 45 and my periods have gone haywire the last few months- long distance between or only 2 weeks between. No other symptoms apart from hot and sweaty of a night. Everything I've read recommends getting a grip of things hormonally before you suffer too much so I'm thinking of going to see about HRT over the next few weeks. Would be helpful to know what age you all started.

I started at 41 and am 42 now. It has helped a lot. I would recommend speaking to your GP and give it a go to see if it helps you.

 

[dillychopgirl]

Has anyone used to a grounding bed sheet to help with the aches & pains

 

[really_whythough]

I had never heard of them but saw they’ve been discussed here…

BBC Radio 4 - Sliced Bread, Sliced Bread - Series 11, Grounding Sheets

Grounding Sheets - do they really work?

www.bbc.co.uk

That program usually says if something if effective or not without bias. Have a listen?

 

[Retro80s]

Has anyone used to a grounding bed sheet to help with the aches & pains

Had never heard of them till you posted but it’s something I’ll definitely be looking into, thanks for sharing!

 

[really_whythough]

I’ve had like 3 separate periods in the last 28 days and currently it’s so painful I pretty much passed out yesterday between doses of mefanimic acid (what they put me on when naproxen wasn’t touching it). Is anyone having severe cramps and pain while on HRT?

I’ve been feeling like there must be something to diagnose other than just ‘painful periods’ but haven’t really pushed for anything. Ultrasound didn’t show endometriosis. Can they even treat that if it IS diagnosed?

I have a copper coil which maybe I could switch out for a mirena if that would make a difference? I’m just wary of synthetic hormones.

It’s pretty debilitating basically needing to sleep 12+ hours a day and have a constant hot water bottle. Any advice appreciated!

 

[Blonde_moment]

I’ve had like 3 separate periods in the last 28 days and currently it’s so painful I pretty much passed out yesterday between doses of mefanimic acid (what they put me on when naproxen wasn’t touching it). Is anyone having severe cramps and pain while on HRT?

I’ve been feeling like there must be something to diagnose other than just ‘painful periods’ but haven’t really pushed for anything. Ultrasound didn’t show endometriosis. Can they even treat that if it IS diagnosed?

I have a copper coil which maybe I could switch out for a mirena if that would make a difference? I’m just wary of synthetic hormones.

It’s pretty debilitating basically needing to sleep 12+ hours a day and have a constant hot water bottle. Any advice appreciated!

My periods are definitely heavier and more painful since going on HRT - I guess the extra hormones are to thank for that as more womb lining is built up. My estrogen was quite low before starting HRT so my periods were light and not that painful. I am on patches.

They don’t sound as debilitating or frequent as yours though. I really feel for you as I suffered badly during my teens and 20s, so I know how much it can affect your life.

It might be worth you considering the Mirena coil, as I’ve heard it can lighten / stop periods completely. Maybe also take topical estrogen alongside it, if you are in need of that. Have a chat with your GP. You shouldn’t need to suffer like you are doing at the moment.

 

[AlwaysSummer]

I’ve had like 3 separate periods in the last 28 days and currently it’s so painful I pretty much passed out yesterday between doses of mefanimic acid (what they put me on when naproxen wasn’t touching it). Is anyone having severe cramps and pain while on HRT?

I’ve been feeling like there must be something to diagnose other than just ‘painful periods’ but haven’t really pushed for anything. Ultrasound didn’t show endometriosis. Can they even treat that if it IS diagnosed?

I have a copper coil which maybe I could switch out for a mirena if that would make a difference? I’m just wary of synthetic hormones.

It’s pretty debilitating basically needing to sleep 12+ hours a day and have a constant hot water bottle. Any advice appreciated!

Sounds awful! If your periods are less than 20 days apart the NHS guidance is to see your GP. Please don’t accept that the debilitating pain is normal and you need to put up with it.

I went on HRT at 45 specifically because of super heavy and painful periods like yours that left me curled up in a ball on the sofa for 2 days every month, on occasion the pain caused me to throw up. This started from the age of 39 and progressively got worse over 5-6 years. I’m afraid the several forms and strengths of HRT I tried for a year made no difference and eventually I stopped it. I had other side effects from it that outweighed the positives. I think there is something about artificial hormones and how they affect some women as apart from the combined pill, every other hormonal treatment I’ve used (implant, mini pill) have been a complete disaster in the past and I’ve had to discontinue due the side effects.

It may be a complete coincidence and totally anecdotal, but the thing that made a difference was starting intermittent fasting- 14-16 hours a day and making sure my diet was predominantly fresh food which lots of veg, fruit, lean protein and good carbs. Within a month my periods went to medium flow and totally tolerable. This has been the case for 2 years now, I no longer fear the time of the month and can fiction despite clearly going through peri.

Please don’t accept that what you are going through should be tolerated and push for more tests and specialist referrals. Sending hugs x

 

[really_whythough]

Thanks so much both. Hugs are needed!

I think I will speak to my GP this week though when I last did for the same subject last October I was referred and then waited until about 3 weeks ago for my Gynaecology appointment where pain was not really considered, just upped my estrogen patches to 75mg from 50. Then these last weeks have been haywire!

Pain not as bad today but I’m making sure my painkiller doses aren’t too far apart. Can’t have another day like yesterday.

 

[Blonde_moment]

Thanks so much both. Hugs are needed!

I think I will speak to my GP this week though when I last did for the same subject last October I was referred and then waited until about 3 weeks ago for my Gynaecology appointment where pain was not really considered, just upped my estrogen patches to 75mg from 50. Then these last weeks have been haywire!

Pain not as bad today but I’m making sure my painkiller doses aren’t too far apart. Can’t have another day like yesterday.

I didn’t realise you were already taking HRT - why on earth have they upped your estrogen if you have heavy, painful bleeding?! I don’t understand that at all. Definitely go back to the doctor, you shouldn’t be going through this kind of pain.

 

[really_whythough]

I didn’t realise you were already taking HRT - why on earth have they upped your estrogen if you have heavy, painful bleeding?! I don’t understand that at all. Definitely go back to the doctor, you shouldn’t be going through this kind of pain.

I think it was because of my age, I’m ‘only’ 41. They didn’t up the progresterone and I’ve just finished my 14 days on of taking 200mg a night. Pain back now and I’ll definitely call the gp tomorrow. Thank you replying.

 

[Blonde_moment]

I think it was because of my age, I’m ‘only’ 41. They didn’t up the progresterone and I’ve just finished my 14 days on of taking 200mg a night. Pain back now and I’ll definitely call the gp tomorrow. Thank you replying.

I’m 42 and on Everol Sequi, which is 50 micrograms of estrogen. I hope you can get some relief soon

 

[veronica71]

If it helps I’m on HRT and am still on the mini pill so have no periods at all which is a blessed relief to all around

 

[really_whythough]

Thanks all. Going to talk to my GP. Might try removing my copper coil and possibly try something else for contraception that lessens bleeding. It’s so exhausting and I know I’m low on iron too.

 

[veronica71]

Its just mental really isn't it - I had a bit of bleeding when I first started HRT and it just felt so alien. The fact we are bleeding - often heavily and feeling awful and have to carry on as normal is just crazy. My daughter is coming up to the point we need to have the chat and I'm like so I've got to tell her that every month now for the next 40 odd years she will bleed and feel crap but oh you just have to carry on like nothings happening!

Sorry bit of a rant there but it sucks to be a woman!

 

[petitspois]

I saw a piece online (not sure how true it was) that the 12 months after your last period (so first year of actual menopause) is likely to be the worst for symptoms. Does anyone know if that's true?

OMG if it is.....

 

[Cinnabun]

My skin is so intensely itchy at the moment it is driving me crazy. I've got some scratches on my chest that I must have done in my sleep.