Starting my pre menopause journey advice needed

[Peanut31]

Hi

I am just after some advice on what action people took when they first started their pre menopause journey, as I think I’ve just started mine.

The symptoms I have been having, I put down to various things, having covid in December 2019 and this May of affected my body. My thyroid and Hashimotos playing up, having periods of stress being several bereavements within a space of 6 months, and my only child going to university.

However, things have settled down for me, but, my cloudy black days are everyday, I am getting very forgetful, spelling I am struggling with, and peoples names, even doing my job, I’ve done for years. I’m having to think about what I am doing, and decided I hate it, but, I’ve discovered I hate my days off too.

In fact if my husband came home and said I’m going to whisk you away on holiday in the sunshine, I would not get happy about it, I would look for reasons why we couldn’t go. Basically Im so negative, I am becoming a person I don’t recognise.

I have constant ringing in my ears, I am tearful, angry and no zest for life. My periods are every 3 weeks now and heavy, I am freezing cold all the time, for over a year now I have bruises that appear on my legs and arms with no reason.

My body shape is changing with no explanation, my breasts are sore and bigger, I am always going to the toilet despite emptying my bladder 10 mins ago, and I haven’t increased my fluids so I can’t explain that. Low lido, constipation, brittle nails.

Now I recognise the above symptoms as when I started my thyroid journey, I had this, so this frightens me as I don’t want to go back to that place again.

Eventually with the help of the thyroid forum on this website, and research of my own I found a happy balance of NDT and levo, and I’ve been fine.

I don’t smoke or drink, stick to mainly freshly prepared foods, no longer have coffee as my body couldn’t tolerate it as causing me tummy pains and bloating, I’m gluten intolerant and I don’t have fizzy drinks.

I’ve got a blood test kit to test my thyroid levels to check it’s not related to that as I know what levels work for me. This will be sent off on Monday.

I also did a blood test to check my hormones levels LH, etc and waiting the results via Medi checks.

I’ve booked to have a telephone call with my GP, they won’t give me a face to face first, but they can’t offer me any sooner other than beginning of June. This is because they originally offered me one at the end of May, but, the same doctor that I went to with my thyroid issues told me it was all in my head and offered my anti depressants, my husband had to take me to that appointment as I could barely dress myself.

Hubby insisted I saw another doctor , and the doctor I am speaking to in June, was the one that immediately did thyroid bloods and phoned me once results were back to start me on thyroid medication. Therefore, I feel they will understand more.

My question is, will they offer me any medication to help as in gel etc, will they take bloods? what will they do, just send me away,

Will they give me some Oestrogen gel to start with.

I was originally ruling out pre menopause as I still have periods, but they are every 3 weeks now and I’m not having hot flashes, I’m cold all the time. However, having started looking into this they also can be related to this.

I’ve ordered a book by Louise Newton and looked on her website and listened to podcasts, but is there anything else I can do.

Many thanks.

[wobblybee Administrator]

I know myself if I’m experiencing unusual symptoms and feeling vulnerable, I can get very emotional trying to explain symptoms to my GP. And I too have been told ‘there’s nothing wrong, I’ve tested for everything’..This sort of attitude isn’t helpful, more empathy could be shown.

Before your telephone appointment, make notes re symptoms..when they started, how often they occur and if anything seems to trigger them. Try to stay logical. Your GP should be able to decide whether these are linked to a current diagnosis, or require investigation, and will likely arrange a blood test.

During my own menopause, I was aware periods were much heavier, and it was exhausting, but they mainly followed the usual routine. Emotionally and mentally I was erratic...unusual symptoms didn’t make sense.

Try and stay calm and rational. That’s the best way to get the most out of an appointment. Best wishes 🙂

[Peanut31 in reply to wobblybee]

Thank you so much for your advice, we make sure I have my list ready.

Best wishes

[lemonbalm]

Hi, have a list of your symptoms for your dr, it does sound like perimenopause. If you do go on HRT, then its some form of estrogen, gel/spray/patch, also progesterone in the form of a soft tablet you need this if you still have a womb. They say the sooner you go on HRT the better as you get the benefit from it. Iam glad I went on it, I spent five years with different symptoms, one after the other. good luck x

[Peanut31 in reply to lemonbalm]

Thank you for your advice.

Best wishes

[Boldgirl45]

Sorry you're going through this and I can definitely relate. I'm actually going to Louise Newson's own clinic ( you can do online appts) but appreciate not everyone will afford this. But I just feel I'm in good hands with her team so decided I'd prefer to spend my money on this. For example, one element of HRT is testosterone - and I believe it's not even available on the NHS.

[Peanut31 in reply to Boldgirl45]

Hi,

I popped myself on the waiting list at weekend to go to this clinic. Had an email back to say they will be in touch in 4 weeks with an appointment, but there is a long wait.

This just shows the demand when we aren’t being heard correctly by our GP’s, or being fobbed of with anti depressants.

I ordered a book she wrote and this has arrived and helped me understand more what I’m experiencing.

Thank you for your advice.

Best wishes

Peanut31