Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Gizmarelda]

I've just turned 43.

At 40 I had a period of migraines and crippling anxiety. I suspected it may be peri so went to the GP. He said I was too young and prescribed Sertraline. I had a terrible reaction and it took months to recover (not on it now). My FSH was around 9.5 so not particularly high but above the norm for my (then) age.

There was no reason for the anxiety and I've never had any MH issues before. I never suffered PMT and have always been very mentally stable so it was very discombobulating.

Since then I started to track my moods/headaches and found it was worse in the 4 day run up to my period. Just seeing this link makes the anxiety more bearable. I had 2 further v bad patches of anxiety which lasted weeks triggered by homeschooling in the pandemic.

I have endometriosis and had surgery 10 years ago to remove chocolate cysts from both ovaries (and other work). I recently read a study which found that those with surgery on ovaries go through menopause early - 10 years on average where both ovaries are operated on!

I've started noticing other potential peri symptoms and putting 2 and 2 together (again!) so I went to a different GP who has said it may be peri but referred me to a gynaecologist to check into the possible cause of breakthrough bleeding/spotting I've had for years now. Everything is fine and the gynae thinks it's low progesterone and has offered to prescribe cyclical progesterone which I'll start soon.

I've read about only using utrogestan to treat early peri when possibly only progesterone is low and I thought this might sort everything, but then I read lots of threads on here about that being wrong and you need both hormones.

What I'm hoping your collective wisdom can help with is whether I am in peri and whether patches etc would also help or if I'm not there yet.

I have tried to get my FSH tested again but my periods have not been regular enough to fit in a day 3 appointment at my GP surgery.

So my symptoms are...
- Anxiety, fatigue and headaches for a few days before periods, whereas nothing before age 40. Fatigue is becoming more crippling.
- Length of cycle reduced by average of 5 days. Now variable, including 1 period after 15 days and 1 skipped period (both these in last 6 months). 
- Spotting 5 days before period - this has been for 5 years but getting worse.
- Heavier and lighter flows.
Migraines. Infrequent but never had these before 40.
- Too hot at night, mainly before period.
- Poor sleep - much lighter and I wake early.
- Low sex drive - never been great but now non existent.
- I feel generally stupider - my brain has slowed down.
- I have less energy overall. I used to love cooking but I can't be bothered so much anymore. I'm not depressed though.
-Itchy skin. Pin **** feelings on face.
-Dryer secretions, dry eyes.
-Achey elbow joints in morning.
-Tinnitus.

I don't get hot flushes, which seems to be the first question both GPs asked. This and the fact my periods are closer together not further apart is what is making me think I may not need estrogen yet.

Thank you!

[Dotty]

Hi they all sound like peri menopausal symptoms. X

[CLKD]

No lady is ever 'too young' to go into menopause.  Some girls never have a period, which is rare: some have a few then stop.  Also rare.

Some find that keeping a mood/food/symptom diary of use to chart progress. 

If U look at the Daisy web-site which is specifically for 'early' menopause. 

Browse round, make notes.      As oestrogen levels drop the body may become dry: inside and out; scalp, skin, vagina, eyes, deep in the ears ........ as well as muscles may become lax = aches and pains.

[sheila99]

Definitely peri imo. I was similar, most of your symptoms, no flushes, periods that had always been variable and around 6 weeks now regular and 28 days (for the first time in my life). Gp says no hot flushes and regular periods, can't possibly be meno symptoms - even though I was 56.Of course it was, a year later I worked it out for myself. There is a theory that early on you only need prog but even if it's true I think you're beyond that point. Given the endometriosis it may be advisable to see a meno specialist as oestrogen may restart it, that might be why your gp is reluctant to prescribe.

[Gizmarelda]

Thanks everyone. I actually already asked the endo specialist whether there would be a problem with HRT exacerbating endo and he said no. I just need to go back to GP and ask for it I guess. I think they will be OK with prescribing if I choose the right doctor! It's just the FSH test which is a potential hurdle. I can't get in because of my variability and I don't know if they will prescribe without as I'm under 45.

[CLKD]

Hormone blood tests are reliably unreliable 

[Gizmarelda]

Thanks all.

So I had a follow up with my gynae and focused on the peri symptoms not just endo related stuff.

He said it certainly sounds like peri and suggested HRT rather than just progesterone.

He's now prescribed a low dose of Kliovance to be taken continuously. He said continuous ​is preferable over cyclical since my endometriosis could be stimulated during the break from progesterone. He said if I didn't get on with Kliovance just to ask the GP for another type and take continuously (i.e. he wasn't wedded to Kliovance for any particular reason).

I was actually referred to the gynae as part of a (paid for) bupa menopause offering under which I'm due a follow up - since I've now seen the gynae and that's all fine.

Having done some reading about HRT types I haven't collected my prescription for Kliovance as I would prefer body identical to bio identical medication. My preference would be for a prescription of Utrogestan plus estrogel or similar.

Am I being too fussy or, given that I think the bupa GP will be amendable to prescribing me what I want, should I wait for that appointment?

[CLKD]

Swings and roundabouts.  It may be a while B4 you find an HRT to suit anywhere so what's to lose if you try Kliovance ?  If it works, stick with it?  If you need continual HRT you may require regular scans, did he make that suggestion? 

[Denise Didi]

Or Pmdd. If its cyclical it could be premenstrual,  my peri was mixed up as couldn't decide if it was either. Suffered from pmt for a long time and peri just made it worse.  NICE do guidelines on Pmdd, might be worth having a look
Didi