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[Paz23]

The first time I went to my gp with weird symptoms I mentioned menopause and that my mum was the age I am now when she started with symptoms.
I had a blood test, although I've no idea what hormones she tested for (I should have asked). When the results came back she said I wasn't menopausal but could be peri but she didn't think it was at the stage for HRT yet.
Not sure what I'm asking here, but if any hormone blood tests come back normal what is that saying? That it's all in my head?
I'm going back to see her in a few weeks with a list as long as my arm with peri symptoms. I'm really worried that I'm going to get fobbed off again.

[sheila99]

You can ask for the results but they are unreliable as it depends where you are in your cycle. Take the Nice guidelines that say they should go on symptoms and be prepared to be assertive. What are your symptoms? Age? Periods? I had a similar problem, seemed like every peri symptom except flushes and irregular periods which are the only ones some GPS recognise (bad temper was one so I'm afraid I told them what I thought  ). Take a list of symptoms too. Some surgeries have a 'specialist' so might be worth asking.

[Paz23]

Hi,
I'm 40, young I know 😟 but my mum was my age. I've no idea about my cycle as I've had a merina coil fitted for the last 7 years so things come and go at random. Before that I'd had ivf because apparently I wasn't ovulating (no idea why).

[Hurdity]

Hi Paz23

Just to add to sheila99's points - what are the symptoms that led you to think you might be peri-menopausal? Also if you are that young and in the absence of a cycle then you are on the cusp of premature menopause (if you had actually gone through). That being the case you should have a second blood tests 4-6 weeks after the first. You can't actually tell from the blood tests whether or not you have gone through menopausal but if you are peri-menopausal then your FSH would be raised - this is what would be measured as well as LH. Ask for the results I would.... Have your periods actually stopped for some time with the Mirena? If you are still bleeding from time to time then you are definitely not yet through menopause, although occasionally bleeding can be due to overthin uterus lining in post-menopausal women with a Mirena. How long has your current one been in place?

Hurdity x

[Paz23]

Some of my symptoms started a year ago and I had no idea what was going on until my mum said she started at my age, went in HRT and was all done and dusted and out the other side by 47. The symptoms don't all happen at once, they come and go and take it in turns. Here's the list:

Hot flushes,
Night sweats,
Finger numbness,
Itchy skin (no dryness, more like the skin crawling itching),
Heart palpitations when I'm trying to get to sleep,
Painful armpits (no swollen glands),
Achy joints and tendons,
Headaches,
Horrendous health anxiety (I've suffered from anxiety for years but this is another level!)
Crappy broken sleep for no good reason.
Painful breasts.
Worsening of allergies
Prolapse
Brain fog/poor short term memory
No sex drive
Spotty
Back ache
Tender skin in groin/pubic area
Gum disease - bone loss in jaw
Jaw ache

I had no periods at all with my first merina then had my 2nd fitted 2 years ago (it was horrendous) and then last year I had about 8 periods, although they weren't heavy enough to use a towel or tampon. Then since November all have had is a day of pink discharge.

[Hurdity]

With that list I would ask for a trial of low dose HRT. There is no such thing as too young. Ask for your blood test results  (in my surgery I can look them up online) and if your doc thinks they are normal ie not peri-menopausal then ask for another blood tests. Have they carried out any other general blood tests (than the menopause ones) to determine possible other causes for your symptoms? This should be done too. Don't be fobbed off! If you need any further info or help please ask! Good luck.

Hurdity x

[Paz23]

Thanks, yep I've been tested for loads of other stuff, all come back normal.
I?ll ask if I can have another one to measure my oestrogen levels. What is normal by the way? I have no idea.