I went to my primary to talk about hormones, I’m 47 and there have been some changes and I believe I’m in Peri. I get my periods still, they suck, but they have always been weird. I also have a lupus like disease, and HEFS which are both really affected by my weird hormones. I’m having weird sleep and increased anxiety. I have started over the counter DHEA which has been great, but my doc told me to try a low dose of B.C. I did for a week, got heart palpitation, leg swelling, emotional and getting rediculus about stuff that dosen’t matter, big time water retention, hip and back pain and increasing period like cramps over the week. I stoped on Saturday, and I already feel significantly better regarding pain and cramps and the swelling and water ration has gone down. My issue with peri is I can’t sleep through the night and I’m getting hot flashes. I need to sleep to function. I also have some dry skin issues and when I do have my period it’s awful, I’m down for a week and a half and there are a lot of digestion issues.

Do I have any other options or things I should ask my doctor to try since basic low dose birth control was a disaster or any suggestions for natural options.

Just wondering if anyone else has experienced/is experiencing this? My skin - face and even chest, neck and upper back are so greasy and oily even just hours after washing. Of course my scalp is, too - and not helping the hair thinning. I know dry skin is often most reported but hoping I'm not alone here?

Please tell me I'm not alone.

Struggling husband here looking to understand.

My wife (50) wakes up every morning completely on edge. She says she wakes up at 4am - hot flushes etc - but doesn’t go back to sleep and it seems like she’s ruminating or something.

When she gets up, after me, it’s like she’s nailed 2 red bulls and can’t function. Shakes, anxiety(?), constant ‘exasperated’ breathing out, she says butterflies etc.

We’ve discussed depression and anxiety - and has been on meds in the past - and even ADHD but shes reluctant to get tested due to the label she thinks it gets.

My q - is that early morning anxiousness common? Perimenopause related? Combined with other undiagnosed issues?

And the big Q - how do I support? At the moment it’s acknowledging it but even she says to just let her do her thing. That’s very hard on me and the kids.

I hate not knowing what I will be like everyday. I'm on edge and always beating myself for how I show up or don't for the people around me. I'm helping my husband recover from open heart surgery. Working full time because we really can't afford me not to at this point. Taking care of 4 dogs and the house and every other thing you can imagine. All whole dealing with my hormonal episodes on what feels like a daily, or even hourly, basis. I can't do it anymore. He has 6 weeks and he's on week 3. I feel really blah today on my off day from work and need to go grocery shopping. Yeah. Not really feeling that one.

I’m about to turn 48, and starting week 3 of estrogen patch. Week 1 was .025 mcg, I’m starting the 2nd week of .037 mcg patch and don’t know if I should ask my dr to increase dosage to .05 mcg? I have the Mirena IUD for progesterone and have had moderate improvements in sleep disruptions, anxiety, and brain fog, and definitely feeling more like myself. I’ve read that too strong of a dosage can come with unwanted side effects.

Hi gang!

I’m in very early peri (39 turning 40 in February) and I’m fairly new to hrt (5 weeks total) and I’ve noticed that for a few days after my bleeding stops I’m getting crazy headaches/migraines. I presume it’s because my natural oestrogen is shooting back up again and combining with my gel it’s all a bit much for my system.

The rest of the month I feel so much better than I did before Hrt but there headaches are AWFUL and painkillers aren’t touching them.

Has anyone spoken to their doctor about this? I’m wondering if it’s possible to skip a few days at the very end of my period, maybe 2 or 3 and see if that stops them getting triggered..

I won’t be seeing my own gp again until January otherwise I’d just ask myself!

I skipped a period in October. Then spotted for 10 days and have been bleeding from mid November and still happening. I am goin out of my mind. It’s a lot of blood. I feel like it’s never going g to stop unless I start hormones or get an iud. Any thoughts?

I have been on estradiol cream for almost three weeks now. Used for two weeks, and 2 days. I’m noticing more discharge. Good thing right? I have been so dry for so many months i forgot what it’s like. I even woke up with a clear water discharge ( I think I’m ovulating) now I still have some burnin but hoping that will get better over time. Did anyone notice discharge (without odor) pretty fast?

Hi everyone, I’m 47 years old and started Testosterone injections in July and within 6 weeks got my levels up and felt like me again. I felt joy for the first time in years! Had the energy to do it all! After this, the next 6 weeks I went back to feeling like I was before even with continued use of the injection. While I have continued with the therapy my relief was short lived. I do have an appt next week but was wondering if anyone has ever had this happen to them. As in it work for a short time then bottom back out. I have cleaned up my diet, take supplements I was suggested and try to stay active. Any advice is appreciated!

I increased my Progesterone to 200 from 100 and my period is 4 days late, which never happens! Could this be the cause? On a side note, I am having an IUD inserted this week to hopefully decrease the blood bath and relieve symptoms from fibroids. My MIDI Dr and I talked about how this could impact how much progesterone I take, but I am not sure what signs to look for to inform that decision.

I am 46 and have a host of symptoms that are doing great on HRT and my period is HEAVY and regular.

I’m two years into peri symptoms when I thought I hurt my elbow with no apparent injury. Dr thought torn rotator cuff but was really confused. After reading on here I can 100% confirm its frozen shoulder.

I’ve read tons of posts mentioning unsuccessful MRIs, physical therapy, etc but wanted to ask my favorite community- what actually did help frozen shoulder before it eventually disappeared?

I’ve rotated Salonpas patches all over it for two days and it’s definitely helped me sleep but not easy for day to day. Any other ideas? I’ve heard of an ibuprofen type cream for inflammation?

Does anyone have tons of flatulence and burping? Cause good lord, I’m about to blow this house away. Even my kids are running from me 😂

Dear gawd someone tell me there is an end in sight for this symptom?!

My stomach bloats significantly as it heads towards my period. My period eliminates this. I’m concerned that when menopause finally arrives and the next period never comes, I will be left with a big bloated stomach forever?

Hello I'm 53 and never missed a period since my youngest was born 11 years ago. But on the day it was due I had a gush of watery discharge and it was gone..nothing more since. ( not even spotting ) I had tender boobs for about 4 days and that has subsided. All year long my anxiety and emotions have been getting worse. I get terribly bloated & ache all over. Im mostly worried about the sudden missed period. Please can someone assure me this is more likely perimenopause than anything else.

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I’ve only just joined but iim finding this sub SO helpful. I’m 50 next month and have been showing signs of PM for years, night sweats and now hot flashes during the day too but my periods are very irregular. I bleed between every 6-9 weeks mostly but I had one recently which was only 4 weeks (very rare and not had that for at least a year) but I’m now on day 61 and I feel like I’ve been stuck in the luteal phase for at least 2 weeks, getting all the symptoms of pms but no bleed, I just want to feel my baseline, usual self and energy levels. Anyone have any tips on managing pms symptoms?

The last week or so I’ve woken up every morning sweating. I’ll be 42 in Jan so I’m just wondering if this is the first song of perimenopause… and what of anything I should do?

The past year or so I just let so many things go that used to bother me. I will be 53 in twelve days and still get my period regularly. I am not on HRT. Mostly this has been a positive, but sometimes I miss my strong emotions. Maybe it's just a byproduct of normal aging?

Hi -- I recently started taking 200mg of Magnesium Glycinate. It has been helping me sleep better and I feel like I dont get random head and body aches.

However, with the deep sleep it gives... there's also the most vivid and weirdest dreams ever. Anyone else experiencing this too?

Is it normal to get some bladder sensitivity/pain when starting vaginal oestrogen? I had stopped taking mine for several months so I have to do the loading dose again. My bladder is feeling weird and I'm wondering if it's the cream? (I did have a bad UTI a couple of weeks ago, treated with nitrofurantoin, could that be coming back instead?)

Started 100mg progesterone on day 11 of my cycle, on 11/21, and overall I’ve already noticed a positive change. Today will be t minus 5 days until my next expected cycle so definitely PMSing. I still have a uterus. For reference, I’ve had an anxiety disorder for many years but since peri begin it has skyrocketed to another level, which led me to try HRT. Last night I had the worst panic attack since starting this HRT journey. Haven’t had one this intense since the beginning of the month and I know I’m still adjusting but I’m a little disappointed. Would this be an indication that I need more progesterone, or begin to initiate estrogen? I’m also not clear on whether I should be doing continuous vs cycling progesterone. I have reached out to my provider, but with the recent holiday haven’t heard back. Thank you all for your support and advice

My periods have gotten so bad in the last year. Still regular but very heavy. Only one small fibroid. I can get Mirena but I had it before and it only helped for a year. Anyone have any suggestions as to what else may help make the bleeding lighter? Or none?? I felt like passing out today it was so bad. Bleeding through super tampons like every two hours

Who knows, they make take everything I say at face value and I won’t need to try to convince them of anything BUT just in case I want to go into this appointment prepared to plead my case. Here are the symptoms I’ve noted. Not sure if they are all peri but I’ll include them.

P.S. I’m 37 going on 38 next summer.

My skin has become drier and more sensitive. It’s also thinner, looser and saggier. Decreased volume in my breasts and butt. Sudden cellulite.

I’m experiencing increased hair loss.

Mood swings + irritability (especially at my partner much to my dismay), easily frustrated, depression, anxiety.

Low/no libido. Decreased sensitivity. Vaginal dryness. Sex hurts.

Occasional hot/cold flashes. Increased sweating especially in the pubic area which is super annoying.

I’ve suddenly developed ovarian cysts which my previous gyn says it’s no big deal.

My sense of smell and taste seem to be a bit wonky or more sensitive.

My period still comes regularly and on time it’s very heavy for 2-3 days where I’m bleeding through a super tampon in like an hour or two. My cramps can be debilitating on heavy days.

Doctor prescribed 100mg progesterone pill and an estrogen patch. Should I start with the progesterone only for a few days to see how that affects me before starting the patch?

I’ll start by saying I’m booking a doctor’s appointment next week, but just wanna see everyone else’s experience.

I’m 49 years old, starting when I was about 46 my periods went from completely regular, 28 days apart, to about 23 to 24 days apart. Then for the last year, they’re all over the place; they’ll be three weeks apart than three months apart, then regular for two months and then nothing for four months. My last pap was September 2023, so I’m not quite due for another one yet, and I’ve had regular bloodwork and a urinalysis for other issues over the last six months or so. Everything has come back fine.

But for the last month or so, I almost always see a tinge of blood when I go to the bathroom- I don’t even know if I’d qualify it as spotting, it’s only when I wipe, never enough to wear a pad or tampon or shoe up in my underwear. My last actual period was back in early September.

Ive read online that spotting can be normal but it’s making me nervous and just wanted to see before my appointment if I should push for a sooner pap or not, if they don’t suggest it. Anyone else experience this?

I don’t need to be crying all the time.

Why do I have to pee so much??? Is that normal?

I had sex yesterday and today I have pressure near the vaginal entrance. Sitting on the toilet relaxes the discomfort. Also when I wipe it feel so sensitive. I am dealing with dryness so I have been using estrodiol cream. What could this be?