Hi Toodle Pips
I'm not sure if I've said
on another thread as I'm so busy and not on here much and can't remember who I've welcomed!
Anyway just to say if your periods are regular then you are not yet peri-menopausal. This is defined as starting once there is a difference in your cycle length by around 1 week between cycles ie starting to become pretty irregular.
That being the case HRT is probably not appropriate at this point although some women do say it has helped them. Not sure why you would be getting night sweats but i presume you have been checked out for other causes by the doc ( blood sugar problems, thyroid function etc?) to rule out other explanations? Unfortunately even before peri-menopause, some unlucky women do find that some menopausal symptoms such as night sweats do begin - because there are some hormonal changes before periods become irregular. Many women find in this last stage before peri - that PMS begins to worsen. In younger women the CCP can help especially the gentler ones that are similar to HRT but over 50 you wouldn't be prescribed this.
Not sure what else I can suggest apart from the general advice re sweats - if you're overweight ( ie too much fat rather than muscle) then try to lose some, take more exercise, reduce caffeine, spicy foods, and alcohol, wear natural fabrics etc....once your periods go wonky then you will benefit from HRT if no medical reason why not.
Re the iron - I swear by Floradix liquid - it's a natural herbal forumlation and very gentle on the stomach. You can get it from H & B. Athough I am not iron deficient - due to my age ( 65) and the fact that I still have a cycle on HRT (ie a bleed!) - about once a week I try to remember to take a dose to ensure I don't become deficient!
Not sure why you're taking magnesium? I would ditch any supplements like that - as you say they're probably affecting your digestive system and you are excreting most of them.
re anxiety - try mental strategies to cope for the time being and look at sites like nomorepanic. Great that you've been using mindfulness and meditation (rather than medication!).
If you are fed up with bleeding then have you thought of a Mirena coil? This will very quickly reduce the severe bleeding thereby reducing your need for iron and then if your night sweats do not have another cause - you could try a low dose oestrogen patch (eg 25 mcg Estradot) and see if it helped.
Hope this helps
Hurdity x