Perimenopause Pain & Hormone Havoc
Hormone havoc has been in full swing (pun intended).
At 53 I’m still in perimenopause, but while my periods are regular, the symptoms are slowly escalating. I’ve been on HRT for just under two years and after some sleepless and sweaty nights and an increase in inconvenient fainting, I’ve changed to a higher strength HRT (this is the third time I’ve increased it).
The first month on a new course of HRT can be quite difficult and this one was the worst one yet. Weight gain, increased appetite, sugar cravings, extreme irritability, horrendously heavy period, excessive cramping, bloating, mood swings, lethargy and tiredness. I went from being sleepless to oversleeping. The month culminated in nose bleeds and frontal lobe hormonal migraines.
Hormone havoc has been in full swing (pun intended).
As with my last two HRT dose changes, by the end of the first month it has started to settle. It will probably be another month until I’m balanced but it has stopped the fainting (which was getting beyond inconvenient – it was getting dangerous especially during exercise). My appetite is settling and I’m still moody, but less so. The headaches are also slowly easing.
As well as HRT, I use my diet to help with the symptoms. Intermittent fasting (16/8), avoiding refined sugars (easier said that done when hormones are racing) and ensuring I have my green juice every day. I find I need heavier style comfort food so instead of unhealthy options I opt for hearty cauliflower soup, pumpkin lentil curry, oats and loads of broccoli. Protein is my priority, but my sugar cravings are high, so I try and sate them with fruits and nuts.
Intense exercise is more difficult due to the cramping and bloating but I ensure I show up and do the best I can. I focus on where I have made improvements and congratulate myself. I did manage to increase the depth of my push ups and was delighted with an extra-long plank hold. Small gains but when you focus on your improvements it helps with mindset.
It has been a difficult month but showing up, focusing on my routine and sticking to it and being present and conscious of where my body is at has helped tremendously. I also had to go easy on myself and cut myself some slack. This was not the month to increase weights or go for big gains. Some days it was hard enough to get out of bed. Instead of beating myself up when the moods took over, I tried to verbalise what I was feeling with my loved ones and sought solace in my comfort routines. Baths, meditation, reading, yoga – using the tools I have developed on the shine journey.
While HRT has been a good choice for me, I definitely need this whole suite of tools to help me. Building habits and maintaining my routine has been the key to managing the symptoms as they escalate.
I see so much joy in the growth I am experiencing in middle age and the returning to and evolution of me – but I am feeling the growth pains. Perimenopausal symptoms can be extremely challenging, and I have absolutely no time for the “just deal with, it’s a natural part of life” school of thought. You’re not more of a woman if you suffer more. We have tools we can use, natural and pharmaceutical. The most important thing is that you are educated on your options, and you do what is best for you. It’s also great if you share your stories. It shouldn’t be secret women’s business. We help other women when we share our stories.
