So I have my blood test results today and everything is completely normal.
I have been really ill recently. Mostly off balance, light headed, nausea, completely worn out and anxiety. My monthly cycle has also changed to every 23/24 days. I am sure that my symptoms are my hormones. Did anyone struggle in the early days? Don’t want to keep thinking it’s my hormones if it isn’t.
I have had all my bloods done to check everything else, mri, ct scan, ecg - all is fine!
The consulatant has given me the mini pill to help level my hormones.
Was anyone similar very early on. I hear a lot of people talk about symptoms but they seem to be much closer to menopause than I am.
Hi Louise, Not sure of your age. I am 41 and started this mess last year. I had stopped long term BCP use, then all went downhill. Same here, tested in and out, several ER visits, terrible health anxiety. My FSH has tested out in menopause to post menopause several times. But that literally changes every minute of the day. Everything points to hormones for me. TrIed the mini pill, made me very weepy. I may try again with the combined BCP again. I am taking an AD now, thinking of trying both together.
The mini pill is synthetic progesterone (progesterin). The thought is if you are estrogen dominant, it is supposed to level you out. It may do the trick for you. I hope you get some relief...Good luck!
Oh yes, periods all over...sometimes a couple of months nothing, then...every 21 days. Heavy, light, whatever. Never know what to expect. Warning too, I bled heavily, clots, on mini pill. Everybody is different though!
My periods were getting closer together and now they are further apart - every 35 days. Symptoms are pretty horrendous. Extreme anxiety, fatigue, insomnia, dizziness, palpitations, you name it, I've had and still get it!
I'm interested to find out how you get on with the mini pill. I'm currently not taking anything, but seriously need to start considering it.
I'm 43 and been perimenopause around a year and a half. My life has completely changed and I want my old self back!
Hi Dora, I am on 5mg Escitrolopram (lexapro). I’ve been on it 5 wks. Takes a couple of months so I’m told. I am supposed to have gone up to 10mg, but I am chicken. (Took me a year to get on something.) It is helping a little, I think. I am still pretty exhausted. I get the dizziness like walking on a boat...that seems to have subsided. I do not cry constantly either. Honestly, I do not feel any worse...if that makes sense. 😉
I know the mere fact that we read into everything is the handiwork of our anxiety😂. After reading all the side effects, I thought i was going to take 1 and combust 🤣.
All kidding aside though, it is worth a try. The side effects do stink, but I already felt crappy. I am trying to stay positive and stick it out...I do not feel like bouncing around on different AD’s. If this one doesn’t work...I’ll be done with them! Good luck!
Yes those symptoms sound like hormones for sure as I’m going through the same thing . The best thing to do is get everything checked MS LYME etc and if everything came back normal then like many other women on here ..... it’s hormones . My lie changed at 41 with the same symptoms and HAD NO CLUE it was hormones as NOBODY talks about it !
Good idea to go on a low dose pill as the side effects of Peri can limit or literally stop your life!
Sounds like peri to me. During this phase your blood levels will go up and down like a yo-yo.
I'm 43 and started with symptoms 18months ago. Started citalopram (AD), took awhile to settle on them then started HRT last Aug. 3 types later and I feel much better ( still no wonderful). I'm currently on Femoston 2 / 10.
Hi Zoe, did your gyno or regular dr prescribe HRT? Did you have any special circumstances beyond peri? I am 41 in peri, having terrible symptoms the past year, asked my gyno about HRT, she said I have to wait until menopause. I completely disagree! She left the practice anyways, now i have to find another. I have to see my regular dr next week...was going to ask if he can just have him prescribe it. Every dr seems to have their own opinions...while we’re the ones suffering!
My gp prescribed HRT after we discussed my symptoms, missed periods, sweats, anxious, irritable and emotional. He then did a whole batch of blood test to check for other reasons.
I think I am one of the lucky ones who have a great gp. They even referred me to a nurse led menopause clinic for follow up.
Unfortunately with peri everything is trial and error.
If it is peri and you decide to try HRT Unless you have serious contraindications ( and there are very few to be honest) the better it is for you long term.
Thank you Zoe, i will ask my primary dr next week then. I think he is probably my best bet, he is truly trying to help me. He had referred me to an endocrinologist, I waited 6 months for the appointment...only to be told “I don’t deal with women’s hormones “...nice. 🙄
Well I'm 53 and am I am a lot closer but I too have had irregular periods starting at 51 some lightheadedness and out if control anxiety. I was determined that was ill and continuously showed at hospitals only to be told my blood work is normal. I'm pretty sure it is your hormones but nonetheless these symptoms are bothersome as hell and sometimes even embarrassing. I've been trying to remain calm and I cleaned up my diet by eliminating junk food and drinking mostly water ... it helps.
My anxiety was out of control . I also started on lexapro and it took a good 3 months to really start working. I have been on it 6 months now and i stayed at the 5mg. It has really helped mecwith anxiety and panic attacks , which made it easier to deal with other symptoms. Hope that helps. I also was hesitant to try AD after I had a horrible experience with Zoloft.
I absolutely agree with you Lou! I diagnosed a year ago at 42 after e few months struggling with terrible symptoms. My last gyn gave me hrt almost immediately and I found my old self again! We are too young for this nightmare!!! I can work and sleep and function and feel human again!!!
Hi Vicky, that is wonderful that hrt is working for you! I so badly want to get back to work. The AD is helping a bit, but around my period especially things are bad. May I ask what hrt you are on? Patch? Or pill? 😊
Thank God you had a dr who listened to you and got you on the patch. I was going through hell at 41 and thought it was ptsd after a bad accident but now see it’s hormones . It took ages ... years to get back to a sane life but the panic and anxiety never went away. Now at 52 I just got on the patch so glad you didn’t have to go through 10 years of this like I did .