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[JS79]

Hi, I'm 45 and possibly just been told my symptoms could be perimenopause.
I've been unwell for about 6months with various symptoms including fatigue, loss of appetite, numbess/tingling of left face, left arm and right leg. I also develop stomach issues, i do suffer from acid reflux but these become much worse. I can come over all strange and feel as if I'm going to pass out or vomit, this especially happens in shops and supermarkets., like a vertigo thing. I have a fuzzy head and sometimes struggle to remember simple things or I can want to say something but the words just won't come out.
I was that scared that it was, MS as symptoms match up that I paid privately to see a neuro consult. He did a MRI and luckily no signs but leaves me wondering what it could be.
I've had head ct, 24hr heart tape, and lots of bloods tests and only thing that came back is a vit d deficiency which being scottish isn't a surprise. These symptoms are not 24hr 7 days a week.
I have kept a symptom diary and noticed recently that these seem to be worse just before the start of my period. My period is still every 28days but now I'm much lighter bleeding and may only last 1 or 2 days instead of 5.
I went back to GP this week about my stomach and we discussed my other symptoms, out the blue she says I think it's perimenopause and possibly fibromyalgia. Right away she gave me sertraline and said in a few months can look into HRT patches. I went home and read the leaflet and I don't want to take sertraline as side effects can be awful plus I'm on a stomach med which interacts with it so would need to come off.
I'm so confused. I would love for these symptoms to be perimenopause as it least meams there would be light at end of the tunnel unlike MS,ME OR fibro but I'm now left feeling if I don't take the sertraline then the symptoms will continue.
Any advice welcome.

[CrispyChick]

Hey

I don't really have the answers, but I will say I've been through so many tears, just like you. And I'm now certain all my issues are hormonal. They are not all the same as yours, but sine sound similar. Like the vertigo - especially in places of concentration!

I've not found my solution. But I no longer worry about what is wrong with me. Because mine is peri.

It may well be worth trying the antidepressants. I've been on a low dose a long time and, if it wasn't for an increased dose upsetting my stomach, I'd have upped mine. It's still in my long term plan. Might help me stop fixating and take some of the more trivial symptoms away.

Obvs you need to check if it causes an issue with your stomach meds x

[sheila99]

If she rethinks it's meno (and I agree with her) why has she given you an AD instead of hrt? I would go back and ask for hrt instead.

[CLKD]

Hi.  If you haven't suffered with depression and/or anxiety then your GP should discuss HRT regimes that would suit.  It can take 4-6 months for HRT to kick in.

MayB keep a mood/food/symptom diary to chart progress and to discuss with your GP or Nurse Practitioner.  Decide which symptom U would like to ease first.  If U can give us an idea we may be able to suggest which HRT you could ask for.

Do read 'the bladder issues' and 'vaginal atrophy' threads on the Forum - make notes. 4warned is 4armed.

Let us know how you get on.

[JS79]

Thanks for replying everyone.

The more I'm reading the more boxes I am ticking, however I did tick a lot of boxes for MS which turned out not to be.

I've just installed the balance app so will keep a track on there but I will also keep my written symptom diary going as I put GP contact etc in it and test results.

I think the biggest symptom for me is either fatigue or when I come over funny and I think I'm having a heart attack or I'm going to faint. This time last year I was going to the gym and playing football(more like a step up from walking football) but now I'm going in the shower and needing to lie down.

All my symptoms seems to get worse just before my period which is why they are suspecting peri, plus the lightness of it.

I don't have any bladder issues, although may be something to look forward to.

[CLKD]

Sounds like you get crashing fatigue which can be problematic as hormone levels rise and fall, I remember Mum turning off the cooker at tea time, sitting down and sleeping for hours.

MayB spread your diet over 24 hours, to stop blood sugar dropping.  Eating regularly all month round, gradually adding more fruits and veg , may help even out your hormonal upheaval.  'over all funny' may well be a sudden energy requirement which is why I have bananas regularly as well as dried fruits and nuts to hand to munch.  I would know where every bin was in every shop in our small town, on an 'in case' basis as I felt so sick!

[JS79]

I don't need to sleep but I do need to lie down when fatigue hits.
I just can't imagine feeling the way I have been for yrs to come. Sounds like even with HRT some women still suffer. I couldn't tell you how many times I have called my GP or wrote an Econsult( not sure if you have this but it is a way of communicating with your GP surgery if you can't get and appt, it's like an email). I just feel so alone amd they don't understand my symptoms are effecting my daily life.

[VioletAquarius]

What about looking into acupuncture?

[aj1971]

I don't need to sleep but I do need to lie down when fatigue hits.
I just can't imagine feeling the way I have been for yrs to come. Sounds like even with HRT some women still suffer. I couldn't tell you how many times I have called my GP or wrote an Econsult( not sure if you have this but it is a way of communicating with your GP surgery if you can't get and appt, it's like an email). I just feel so alone amd they don't understand my symptoms are effecting my daily life.

My heart goes out to you. It is an incredibly lonely experience and not all women (never mind men!) understand. Your period will be lighter because you are producing less oestrogen. And, of course, oestrogen is lower pre-period. Ovulation/menstruation times of the month can be the worst for symptoms during perimenopause.

I agree with what sheila99 has said - if it is perimenopause, and it sure sounds like it is, I don't know why she has begun with an AD. The first port of call should be HRT, and I am pretty sure the NICE Guidance says that.

The Balance App is really helpful.

I would speak to your GP again and say that you would rather begin on HRT and see if that helps. Bear in mind that perimenopause is a time of real ups and downs. My advice would be to start on a low dose of HRT and build it up. Either a patch or gel, so it is transdermal. The gel is more adaptable - you could start one one pump and if you tolerate that, then move up to two.

Above all, I hope you have an informed and sympathetic GP. If you don't, there might be another GP that is better in the practice. And I would always recommend going to a private menopause specialist if you can afford it. Then they can write to your GP with recommendations, which most GPs are happy to follow, from what I can tell.

[bombsh3ll]

Nothing about your symptoms suggests depression, and if I were in your shoes I would would politely decline the antidepressant prescription and ask for perimenopause treatment in accordance with NICE guidelines.

At 45 with altered periods you are by definition perimenopausal.

Whether some or all of your symptoms will be improved with HRT, the only way to know is to try it, at a therapeutic dose for at least 3 months.

You say that you are afraid of the symptoms continuing if you don't take the sertraline, but that's illogical - I would turn that on it's head and ask what reason do you have to believe an antidepressant will help any of the issues you've listed?

[JS79]

Thanks everyone.
I paid privately to get MRI for what I thought was MS and the same clinic do offer menopausal reviews and treatment appt.
I'm going to contact GP on Monday and ask for an appt with a certain GP who held a virtual patient event last year on menopause but I felt too young to go. Stupid me.

[aj1971]

Please don't ever feel stupid! This is such a learning curve for all of us. I had no clue about menopause until I was 50, and then had to get with the programme rather quickly! Quite an unexpected education, given that the rest of my reproductive life had been a walk in the park in comparison.

And, as we know, many GPs are just not up to date despite all the excellent training tools out there, e.g. from Newson Health and others.

When I look back on visits to my doctor in my forties, there was a massive missed opportunity to tell me about menopause and my options. Any issues I raised were now, on reflection, perimenopause related. For example, recurrent UTIs were obliterated once I got onto Vagifem. I could probably have avoided 6 years' worth of antibiotics and a damaged sex life (now restored) if some GP had had the gumption to put two and two together before I did!

So no, never stupid, just having to adapt to a new thing. This site and the Balance app are so helpful. Wishing you all the best with your GP appointment. X

[Jules]

JS79. I have ME. I know the fatigue you describe.  It's not one that sleep solves. My ME was triggered by a viral illness. You haven't had a virus have you? There are some nasty viruses that can leave lasting symptoms. It took 18 months for someone to identify my problem. It can be quite severe though. I was also checked for fibromyalgia. I had muscle pain though. Regarding sertraline, my son has used it for years. He had severe anxiety and anxiety attacks, very debilitating, and impacting his life and job. It was the turning point for him along with other help. He didn't have side effects. But if your symptoms are relating to your stage of life I wouldn't want to use them either. I hope you get answers soon. I know what it's like wondering what the hell is wrong with you.

[JS79]

Thanks Jules, I first took these symptoms 3yrs ago and it happened very suddenly 5 days after my 1st Covid jab. I was off work 7wks. Moat symptoms disappeared after a few months except the reflux and fatigue.
I've posted another thread as went to A&E last night. I'm just so over feeling like this.

[Jules]

Thanks Jules, I first took these symptoms 3yrs ago and it happened very suddenly 5 days after my 1st Covid jab. I was off work 7wks. Moat symptoms disappeared after a few months except the reflux and fatigue.
I've posted another thread as went to A&E last night. I'm just so over feeling like this.

I've just read that. I'm not a doctor so don't know but I'm sure nit all our symptoms are due to our stage of life so it's important to tell your doctor the whole story. I had awful sensations when I became ill. Pain in my quad muscles and hideous fatigue, I couldn't bear the sensation of my own breathing. Something to bear in mind, we can get physical symptoms through anxiety or our symptoms can be increased when we focus on them. I'm aware of every physical sensation,  things that others wouldn't notice, because I worry about things going south and I know that makes my symptoms worse. If I'm distracted and involved, my symptoms aren't as noticable.  It's not that you're making it up, it's just that anxiety uses precious energy.