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Please need sympathy and your top tips

Posted , 6 users are following.

eloise2021
eloise2021

Am new to forum and reading loads of threads but also just need to offload myself. I am in early menopause - as in early stages but also younger than 97% of women when they start it - which is itself isolating and weirdly shameful (whenever I mention the topic, people, even doctors, don't initially believe me because of my age - and then it becomes this jokesy thing where I am having to laugh it off) and bringing up some other crap because my mother had early meno too but didn't tell me - so some background stuff there because I struggled to conceive and had to work out myself that I was already in ovarian failure).

Anyway, here is my cocktail of symptoms:

Exhaustion - to point of feeling like I've been in a brawl or had a really aggressive massage

All over muscle cramps and aches, sometimes sharp pains, sometimes stiffness

Plantar fasciitis to point that I sometimes feel I can't walk on feet

Anxiety especially in the middle of the night - and I jump at loud noises etc

Itchy, spider-crawly skin

Low libido/ dryness

Weight gain around middle

Hair loss

Lower control over temper (we really are just turning into old men, aren't we?!)

Less joy, less confidence than normal

I read someone saying that getting hormones back in balance should be treated by workplaces like pregnancy. Agree! Adding to the low mood is that I am very likely going to have to unpaid leave to deal with this.

I am someone who typically doesn't take medication and gets nervous about having to experiment on myself (with HRT). Anyway, I will need to get over this, but not helping.

Meanwhile, I feel like even my very professional and good-hearted GP thinks I am bonkers. When I mention my symptoms as probably hormone related, she says comments to effect of most women don't go through this. But then when I say, 'well, do you think we should check for other things?' (eg arthritis, MS etc), she says I am being anxious/catastrophising.

Anyway, just can't really talk about it with family (like many of you, my mother says she barely noticed menopause and she quickly changes subject) or friends (none has yet experienced this) and my husband is lovely and well-meaning but obviously can't relate and can't really advise.

Would appreciate sympathy (even of the tough sort) and any tips/recommendations on HRT or other treatment from here. Will continue reading - the threads and links etc. Seeing doctor tomorrow. She wants me to go on HRT where fertility not wiped out completely but I think I should just go on what's healthiest and most effective...

Thank you!

1 like, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • rachel54558
    rachel54558 eloise2021

    Edited

    Hi . i am 29 and have premature ovarian insufficiency basically early menopause. if your under the age of 40 then you really need to see a specialist doctor as you need to be on HRT other wise you could have serious problems with your heart and osteoporosis in your 40 to 50. I was diagnosed in my early 20's because period very irregular. I had 3 blood test with a month in between each. to check average hormone levels all were high including FSH . I also had a internal ultrasound to check my womb and ovaries.

    i believe if in your in 40 it quite normal for preimenopause to start around about then.

    Hope this helps.

    Rachel

  • sara97862
    sara97862 eloise2021

    Posted

    Hi Eloise,

    I can relate, for sure. You can vent here anytime, and I'm so sorry you're having to go through this.

    I had an entire year with the same symptoms you mention in your post...

    Crushing fatigue

    Pain everywhere...every tendon in my body felt like it was getting shorter and tighter, pulling on every muscle relentlessly

    Little to no sleep

    Constant tension/anxiety

    Dry everything

    Headaches

    Nausea

    Burning sensations on skin and in muscles

    ...that all I got done was visit dr's, looking for some reason why I felt like death warmed over so often. ER visit for pelvic pain

    Urgent care visit for low back spasm

    Physical Therapy

    Neurologist Eval

    Digestive specialist Eval

    ER visit for nerve pain and accompanying anxiety

    Between that and work, everything else suffered. Zero confidence.

    I can say that now, my periods are super light to just spotting, and I'm going longer between. I feel like death less often too, so there is hope, it won't last forever.

    Hang in there,

    Sara

  • sara97862
    sara97862 eloise2021

    Posted

    Hi Eloise,

    I can relate, for sure. You can vent here anytime, and I'm so sorry you're having to go through this.

    I had an entire year with the same symptoms you mention in your post...

    Crushing fatigue

    Pain everywhere...every tendon in my body felt like it was getting shorter and tighter, pulling on every muscle relentlessly

    Little to no sleep

    Constant tension/anxiety

    Dry everything

    Headaches

    Nausea

    Burning sensations on skin and in muscles

    ...that all I got done was visit dr's, looking for some reason why I felt like death warmed over so often. ER visit for pelvic pain

    Urgent care visit for low back spasm

    Physical Therapy

    Neurologist Eval

    Digestive specialist Eval

    ER visit for nerve pain and accompanying anxiety

    Between that and work, everything else suffered. Zero confidence.

    I can say that now, my periods are super light to just spotting, and I'm going longer between. I feel like death less often too, so there is hope, it won't last forever.

    Hang in there,

    Sara

  • Sw62355
    Sw62355 eloise2021

    Posted

    Hi, have you seen the video on early menopause and POI on the menopause doctor website? Highly recommend it x

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