Why the hell did no one warn me about perimenopausal periods?
“I had assumed that when the time came my periods would just graciously bow out. That somewhere around 50, they would quietly wind themselves up & then exit my life in a calm and orderly manner” https://inews.co.uk/opinion/perimenopausal-periods-bad-want-hysterectomy-3291143

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They're absolute bloody bastards. You go happily tootling along for 71 days (why yes I AM using a tracker app), then suddenly there's an absolute tsunami for a day and you can't go anywhere. Oh, and you feel wiped out.
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My wife's in a similar situation, though a year or so older than you. Just got the hormonal coil fitted so we'll see if that helps, but her one blood test do far has said 'nomal' so no hrt yet.
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Apparently you need two blood tests 6 weeks apart to check hormone levels during cycle, but NHS is fucked, so no further test has yet happened
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It shouldn't be on blood tests but on symptoms. I'm on HRT and no blood tests taken, the tests only show your hormones at that moment and as we know hormones fluctuate. I think NICE state this too. 🙂
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Exactly! Hence the clunky 6 weeks between two tests... But as we're finding out, no two months are the same anyway, it's why you need the steadying of hrt I think? This is so new and why the fuck isn't it broadcast with giant flashing lights?
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I bet you if us men had to go through this, you'd see it on every other news program
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There's a wonderful Dr on X Nighat Arif, she gives lots of advice on it. My symptoms are pretty steady with patches and cream, still have the 4am wakeup though.
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Yes to this. Why don't we get told about migraines, mood swings that can bring you to tears, constant hunger, constant exhaustion, memory loss, inability to put together a sentence, exacerbation of mental health problems
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Or that your breasts will grow a full cup size in two weeks, which is painful!
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If you get one 11 months after your last one, the “is it menopause yet” clock gets reset for another year, ask how I know!
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I'm 47, I've NEVER had regular periods, and they've always been awful. I am truly, seriously pissed on your behalf. Fake hormones can be good, or you can suddenly develop an allergy and almost die. (Ask me how I know 😉) Doctors need to start listening to, and believing, women.
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📌
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Wait until you have a period after menopause and your doctor requests an $800 MRI. (Rogue periods are apparently normal but they treat everything as abnormal and you have to pay for all the tests because no one knows shit about menopause.)
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Oh this, my partner had been suffering all manner of debilitating symptoms for 10 years before one doctor finally thought 'menopause' and prescribed HRT. 10 years of gaslighting and misdiagnosis, being prescribed everything (first stop antidepressants) other than what she actually needed.
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I got the mirena and that helped tremendously. No more immens floods, and besides I became more stable myself.
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I compared it to the way they shoot off a whole bunch of fireworks just before the end. Those hormones go out with a bang! Right now I’m at the equivalent of sitting on the blanket, making sure it’s really over.
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Yep. I thought I was going mad. My (female) GP just nodded, told me I was suffering from depression (perhaps I was) and prescribed SSRIs. At no point in the consultation did my age or possible perimenopausal status come up for discussion.
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Just as important: we need to know what *not* to expect. I needed to know that period after period after period coming right on time but continuing for 2-3 weeks was *not* normal perimenopause stuff and warranted a prompt GP visit.
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But if you don't really know what falls within the range of "normal", you just go "mid-forties, periods gone haywire... *tick*" and put up with it for far too long before that little niggle of doubt starts to grow.
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Ugh yes. I’ve had two periods from hell during perimenopause, both beautifully timed for when I was away from home
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Mine did just gradually die away, but my sister ended up having a blood transfusion and a hysterectomy.
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I suppose a lifetime of PMDD for two weeks out of every month, at least gives me a toolbox for handling perimenopause. Even if I am not looking forward to that escalation and destabilisation. I just wish I could take HRT.
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My wife had something similar. Basically, a period with heavy bleeding for about 3 weeks out of every 4. Was constantly looking for where nearest toilet was, to be able to change. Got so bad she became anaemic. A hysterectomy transformed her life for the better. But still hot flushes at 62
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