Whoever designed the female body was a jerk.
That’s a heck of an opening, I know, but I have well and truly entered my perimenopause era, and it sucks.
Towards the end of last year, I started sleeping terribly. Like, 3 am-wake-up-like-clockwork kinda terribly. Waking feeling more exhausted than when I went to bed.
And the brain fog. I thought I was losing my mind. I started forgetting things, getting more confused…at one point, I stressed out that it was early-onset dementia. Then I worried it could have been from the Mounjaro GLP-1 injections I’ve been taking. I spiralled a bit.
Next came the joint pain, which I assumed I’d been eating too much sugar and was causing more inflammation. My knee had a couple of days of unexpected achiness. There was discomfort in places I have no business talking about on my blog without getting an R-rating. I was getting way more facial hair than I remember. And I’m pretty sure I could solve the world’s fuel crisis just from the oil on my face.
Turning 42 this year, I wondered if this was it. I’m on a downward spiral now.
Nope.
Turns out it was bloody perimenopause.
And what really cemented it?
That good ol’ period thing strikes again.
Sometimes I had one week between periods, sometimes it was three. Another time, five (not pregnant, phew).
When I first talked to my GP last year, and all I was dealing with was crap sleep, we decided not to jump straight back onto the pill and estrogen until we knew it was perimenopause for sure. There’s a cancer risk in my family, and we didn’t want to take unnecessary precautions. She sent me the form to get genetic testing done (I’m on the waitlist), and prescribed some low-dose sleep meds (lifesavers, honestly, I’ve been getting a full night of sleep ever since).
On my latest visit, I mentioned all the other symptoms and generally feeling crazy, and after a stern “make sure you get your mammograms done every year”, she prescribed the estrogen gel and progesterone pills.
Holy. Shit.
The difference, you guys.
I’M BACK, BABY.
The first week, I didn’t know if anything was happening, until suddenly I realised I felt “normal” again. Who would have thought that rubbing gel into your arm (then avoiding the dog so he doesn’t lick it) and a pill would be so damn helpful?
Well, my doctor obviously.
I no longer feel like I’m walking a tight rope of wanting to cry or scream. I’m more stable, focused, and my brain function has returned. I still get the odd hot flush here and there, and my period still insists on coming at exactly the 28-day mark – I was trying to be a smart ass and use the pill to push it out one week longer, but that failed.
I remember things again.
Maybe.
My joints don’t hurt (as much…I still have a shitty knee).
My sleep still sucks, but I’m keeping up with those meds and getting what I can. It would probably help if I went to sleep earlier…but…I wanna read my book, so nope.
The Google algorithm has me worked out, or someone at news.com.au is going through it as well, and is on a campaign to write as many articles about perimenopause as they can. Here’s a link to all the perimenopause symptoms, just in case anyone else feels like sympathising with me.
My husband and I have been sending a lot of Instagram reels back and forth, usually along the lines of a man trying to cope with his wife going through perimenopause. The men are usually fearing for their lives or walking on eggshells.
Or….I dunno, I can’t remember. It must be the ‘pause.
Actually, can I use this to my advantage? Can I just blame everything on it?
If I’m irrationally pissed off, instead of admitting I was being a jerk, can I just say it was “the ‘pause” and not my fault?
Honestly, what good is this milestone in our lives if we can’t laugh at it?
Which brings me to this, and yes, my eye twitched at their spelling of “interpreted”, but the clip was too funny not to share. Kitty is a rockstar.
@alisondailey1265 Kitty is my sprit animal! #kittyforman #spritanimal #perimenopause #menopause #genx #genxtiktokers #genxcrew #humor #jokes #comedy #positivevibes #that70sshow #momsoftiktok #momsontiktok #fyp #fypシ #fypシ゚viral ♬ original sound – Alison Dailey 🌟❌
Anyways, I guess I’m writing this post just for a bit of solidarity for anyone else going through it. And if you’re not old enough yet, so you can prepare for this shitshow.
Oh, and don’t forget to go get your boobs squashed and a doctor scrape. Sorry, I mean, a mammogram and a pap smear.
Anyone else been down this rabbit hole? I’d love to know if you’re going through it too, or what your GP said when you first brought it up. Even just a “same” in the comments will make me feel less like a weirdo (which, I am, but for other reasons).
Such a great post ! Lots of familiar feels, not quite the “same” but similar.
Not sure I’d cope with the gel, re the dogs🤣🤣🤣🤣, oh my that’s hilarious!
Hilariously, a friend of mine (an incredible vet) was telling me how they have to ask women if they use the gel because of some dogs that have ingested it! The stories that she has…my goodness…that’s not even close to scratching the surface.
Good luck Kelly. I remember the hot flushes which could be embarrassing when they occurred while I was teaching classes at that same time. Bending over to do things would often be the trigger for me.
The emotional ups and downs were another problem – were they related to this stage of life or were my work or the fact that my husband’s work schedule was so erratic that there was very little standard times to start or finish a daily shift or if he would be in town or away for up to 10 days at a time
I got through without any medical intervention (probably partly denial and negative information about HRT back then) and can say that after those years have not really looked back.
Bone density is now my concern as I am recovering from a minor broken bone from a recent fall, torn tenons in the right ankle (again from minor falls) and with the cooler weather here in Townsville my replaced right knee gives me curry at times. Steps are my big problem.
You are strong and are willing to seem expert advice so here is to this next phase of your life. You do have many female aunts and cousins as a sounding board to rely on.
Sorry to hear about your fall and the injuries, I hope you feel better soon! And thanks for the heads up on what’s coming for me, thankfully no hot flushes yet.
I’ve been in this era for a while now! I don’t remember when it started, honestly. Sometime in my forties, I guess. I should have noted it down! But I will be 51 in a couple of weeks and I’m still getting my period. I thought I would be done by now but no, after years of having it come every 6-10 weeks, and then years of having it every 3 weeks, now it is every 28 days, just like a young woman. I don’t know what is happening. I get hot flashes and night sweats every so often, and lately I have noticed fatigue when I didn’t before. Also – perimenopause tummy is a real thing. That started for me when I was around 47-48. But I don’t think my symptoms have been that troublesome, honestly. I haven’t suffered (YET, it could still happen) much from them. I mean, night sweats are gross. But meh. I’m fine! The body is indeed a wonderland.
It feels like it creeps up on you though doesn’t it, like suddenly you realise how much can be attributed to it. Glad it hasn’t been bothering you though. Is it wrong to look forward to not having my period? That was one of my favourite parts of pregnancy haha
The wonders of being a woman. I’ve been taking pre-perimenopause supplements. I’m not sure if they make a difference, but I feel good that I’m doing something. It’s fab the treatment works for you, I know in some cases it can take a while to adjust. This is such an annoying part of our lives.
Ooh, what supplements are you taking? Honestly I feel like if it can’t hurt then why not take them and feel a bit more prepared?