Hello. I am pretty sure I am perimenopausal - I'm 45, it's been creeping up for a while and I feel like shite. Up until my last period I could track my hormone levels pretty accurately but this month things have gone totally bonkers. I've lived with erratic PMT for many years - I'd get 'quarterly rage' where every 3 months I'd have PMT that would have been best used by MI5 cos I could have been an awesome assassin, but I was aware of it and knew how to control it.
This month my emotional state is crazily erratic. I lose the plot very quickly and I am a super calm person normally. I have also been getting hot surges... I'm calling them that because I don't get sweaty (but do get night sweats), and hubby hasn't noticed my face getting red. I just get really, really hot but not in a flash - it's more a gentle swell of heat which lasts for a while and then gently subsides once I've stripped off. It's quite odd cos normally I am very sensitive to the cold. Now I can go outside without a coat on and enjoy the cool air in my face where previously I would be practically wrapped in 20 layers wishing that balaclava's were trendy.
I know the GP won't do a hormone test on me because I am 45 and they aren't always accurate anyway so no point there. I'm unlikely to do HRT either - just delaying the inevitable really so I will see how this plays out as it's so new at this point. I am quite healthy, a veggie, don't smoke and rarely drink, and am a naturopath (of sorts) so am very aware of the impact of food on my general well-being. I currently feel very let down by my body cos it's doing all sorts of things that I don't want it to... and not doing some things that I do want it to (goodbye libido, it was nice knowing you). I really feel like I have lost control - someone else is driving this meat suit.
What I do know is that there are so many differing medical views out there and I really just want to speak to people who know. My mum had a full hysterectomy at 35 and went through hell over 15 years of HRT so she can't really help (although she is super supportive, as is my hubby).
Anyone's views on whether I am peri or just insane would be appreciated