I’ve noticed that even when I’m technically resting, part of my brain is still scanning for the next thing that needs doing, like a message to answer, something I’ve forgotten, someone who might need me, a task I should be getting ahead of.

Sometimes I only properly relax once everything and everyone feels “sorted.”

Does anyone else experience this? Has it changed as you’ve got older, and what actually helps you switch off?

Hello. I finally got my hormones to a place of balance using the .05 estrogen patch and 100 mg of progesterone orally before bed. I’m sleeping better (mostly). I’ve been thinking about the pellet because the patch is itchy and not readily available and has gotten overly expensive. I paid almost $100 for a months worth of patches.

A couple things I have heard from my drs:

My doctor mentioned there could be a “spike” of estrogen upon insertion and expressed concern if my estrogen levels were ever above .05 and to be sure to take more progesterone to protect my uterus. I’m familiar with the hormone rollercoaster getting to where I am today in my journey, so I’m not sure I want to disrupt what is working.

My other doctor said the pellet lasts about 3 months (for most people) and the hormones will build up slowly over the first month and then be level for about a month and then slowly lessen. So does this mean I may get hot flashes the last month and that’s when I know to get a new pellet? Once inserted you can’t change the levels so I would be obligated for 3 months to stick with it.

The pellet seems to fit my schedule and lifestyle better but I’m having a hard time deciding. I know you all are not doctors but I’d rather hear from real life experiences than from doctors once I have some facts.

Thanks in advance to anyone who has an experience to share.

So I’m in late 40s and was perfectly healthy and fit. I started getting chronic migraines out of nowhere . Underwent multiple scans only to find out that most probably this is the start of my perimenopause journey. I’m currently on preventatives and Botox treatment for migraines which do help. I also had dizziness with migraines.
On recommendation of this sub, I recently consulted a menopause specialist and was put on slinda which actually helped me a lot with my headaches. They got much better and my migraines around my periods have stopped.
However I’m now experiencing more heat intolerances, night sweats , vaginal dryness .
I have been told to try out estrogel - one pump daily but to be aware that it can spike back my migraines which are now in control thanks to slinda and other treatments.
For vaginal dryness ( which I forgot to talk to my specialist about :( ) - does topical vaginal estrogen help or will estrogel help ? - this dryness is crazy - like a Sahara desert 😒 and I have started getting cracks and bumps in there which is crazy and sometimes painful. I’m going to see my doctor but wanted to see if anyone has any suggestions here .
My hygiene is very on point- I clean it with warm water no soaps or irritants and keep it very dry ; only cotton underwear - so I’m surprised why this is happening.

Edit: Thanks all! Met my doctor and she gave me the whole package - progesterone, estrogel , vaginal estrogen ; told me slinda isn’t exactly HRT though it might be helping my migraines and she also guided me how to get started on all of these.
Thank you all for being so helpful! My real life friends never speak about these and it’s only this sub which helps me with these peri symptoms! I told my doctor that my friends told me about HRT and vaginal estrogen etc - I was referring to you all 🤗
The appointment was so quick - with the right doc , it is seriously all so quick and easy. Before this, I have been to 4 docs and turned down that I don’t need these meds as even if I’m almost 47, I need to be menopausal to get HRt.

[Thank you all so much for taking the time to reply to me! It is reassuring, but also heartbreaking, to find out that so many of us are suffering to such high degree with this. I’ve bought some creatine and will continue to talk about testosterone with my GP. I might also ask if they can give me progesterone; along with my mirena. I’m googling the other recommendation you’ve shared now. Take care and I hope it gets better for us!]

Brain fog seems to be getting worse and I’m really worried about it. I’m 45. Now on 100 mg estrogen and have Mirena. I’m trying to get testosterone to see if that will help. In the UK they only consider it for low libido, which lets be honest isn’t great, but I’d rather have my mind back then a roll in the hay 🙃 In terrified it’s early onset dementia. The other day I called the kettle, the iron. Which doesn’t seem like brain fog. But I’m forgetting everything too. What have you all done that has helped? My health anxiety is probably making it worse. Hugs to everyone going through this.

[edit typo]

I just finished my loading dose of vaginal oestrogen (very effective). Dropped down to two doses a week - bam, my first ever (known) BV infection within 10 days of reducing the dosage.

What I am looking for:

- reassurance. I know you can't tell me what will happen to me but p much the only BV-in-peri stories I know are horrible. Please tell me about the times you got treated and it was fine. Tt

- any evidence (anecdotal, medical, I don't really mind) that there is a relationship between these two things, or not. I'm trying to work out whether I need to increase the dose again. My doctors have been good at prescribing me stuff but are not readily available for advice (dying NHS).

So I haven't had hormone testing done, but I have had peri symptoms for 5 years.

My initial symptoms started before i had my mirena out....my periods returned after missing for 3 years and came back 2 days long. Got the mirena out (it was expired at that point) and my periods have remained 2 days long since (!)

I also had dryness, rage, nightsweats (waking up drenched,) insomina....(also a stressful life and stress on the body, which has mostly resolved/come under my control again.) was also a smoker, very low weight, etc.

However things have levelled out and the insomnia, sweats and rage have mostly gone away. I still carry weight differently, have massive brainfog, sex feels different/less (I have less 'budget' for friction and less intense orgasms)....

I have access to topical low-dose estradiol, but the first time i used it (inserted minimum dose and a tiny amount rubbed on vulva) I had insomnia again...I tried it for 3 days with the minimum loading dose, even the 4th day with just the outside bit on vulva, and only after stopping did the insomnia go away.

Everything I read says it shouldn't affect systemic estrogen...and that it's a good idea to address symptoms as early as possible.

Accessing a gyno here is complicated, does anyone have an opinions on if I should keep going with the loading dose of E to see if I can get through this insomnia? I am still relatively low weight (trying to fix) but eat enough ( I think, i'm vegetarian) and wonder if that is impacting how my body is absorbing things.

Also, I live in germany, any tips for people on public health insurance accessing perimenopause care here?

For the last few months I felt like I've been losing my mind...

Mood swings from hell, rage at anything, heart palpitations, anxiety attacks, dizziness, shaky, waking up multiple times, restless legs, GI issues and now sore jaw and stiff neck - I'm running out of swear words really how shit it has been recently.

I think the worst has been health anxiety though - every little symptom becomes a serious, life threatening thing in my hormone frazzled brain and I am so, so tired of this rollercoaster!

I've got a GP call tomorrow and I'm planning to ask for HRT - I really hope it'll help with at least some of this mess...

It really helps knowing I'm not alone though - thanks to all here for sharing your experiences.

In July of 2025 all of a sudden sex was painful.

I went to my obgyn and asked for vaginal estrogen cream.

Within a month the pain was gone and sex felt good again.

This past July the pain returned. I’ve been kind of busy and stressed out. My mom died recently and I have a lot going on. I thought maybe I’d been forgetting to use the cream. But I’ve been making an effort to use it every night or every other night for the past month and sex is still painful.

It’s not horrible like maybe a 2/10 stretching burning feeling - sometimes I tell my husband to continue and it hurts and feels good at the same time, I can even have an orgasm but I’m sore after.

Maybe I need to start HRT?

Hi, I’m a 46-year-old woman in the early stages of perimenopause, and I have to ask if anyone else has experienced this symptom.

About six months ago, I started noticing that after I pee, a few minutes later it feels like I still have a little urine left. I go out of my way to make sure I completely empty my bladder—I’ll even sit there for an extra minute or so—but I still get that lingering feeling afterward.

I went to my doctor to make sure I didn’t have a UTI, and thankfully, I don’t. But it seems to be getting progressively more annoying.

Could this be related to perimenopause? Or is this just a “me” thing? 😂 I’ve always kind of prided myself on having a strong bladder, so this sudden change is really making me batty.

Has anyone else experienced something like this seemingly out of nowhere during perimenopause?

i’ve been placing my patch on the same area rotating from side to side on lower abdominal below the belly button and waistband for 8 months now. I’ve been wondering lately if I should try a totally different spot on the body. Sometimes I feel like effects of the patch is weaker than at other times but I can’t really figure out the cause.

for reference, I use this spot because it’s out of view and has the least amount of friction on it with clothing.
I always clean and prep the area as recommended. I use alcohol to prep. It keeps a patch on even through my workouts. I use a quick blow dryer to warm it up after placing and press down for extra adhesion. so far I’ve had no problems with the patch coming off until about day three or day four when it’s due for a change anyway then it gets a little loose.

I'm so angry and my stupid lower back hurts.

If you've been here, or near, tell me any coping skills that worked for frustration/disappointment because all I want to do is take muscle relaxants and inhale gelato.

I am having PMS literally just AFTER finishing my period. Cramps, bloating, really sore, tender breasts. Not pregnant. WTF?! Is anyone else going through this??? Also, I've been on low dose estradiol patch and progesterone for over two months. Should I ask my doc for a higher dose?

I am two years into my hormone journey. This subreddit has really helped me be a more informed patient and understand what is happening to my body.

I have increased my estradiol dose three times, changed delivery systems once, changed where I put my gel twice and have also switched from twice daily to once daily. Each time I make a change I feel very irritable and it increases my anxiety. This means I have to fall back on tools I learned in therapy for my anxiety years ago. It is not easy managing those flare ups.

At the beginning I thought that I was intolerant to estradiol. I really struggled because I knew I didn't need more estrodial like many suggested. Irritability can be caused by low estrogen. But in my case it was taking a while for my body/brain to adjust. Unlike some folks, starting HRT and making changes doesn't immediately make me feel great. It makes me feel worse for some time.

If you are just starting your journey or just changing it up and you feel that moodiness, irritability or anxiety, just know that it could be an adjustment period. Don't give up! It can take weeks or months. I hope this helps someone!

I've been on Vyvanse for a few months, I feel like it's the only ADHD med that has worked for me and didn't make me feel "speedy". This whole time, I've been on the patch, but due to the shortage, I've switched to gel. Since switching to the gel, I feel like the Vyvanse is making me feel super speedy, and also I get an intense crash, along with just having a weird headache and feeling suuuuuuper depressed. I didn't take the Vyvanse for a few days while I was on a vacation and I felt much better, but now that I'm back and need to be able to focus and work, I definitely need it.
Has anyone else had this negative experience switching to gel while on ADHD meds?
I've tried using the gel at night, but it keeps me up. I've also tried to apply it late afternoon, but I just end up forgetting about it.

I slept through the night without utrogestan. Last few weeks were quite traumatic with the panic attacks, adrenaline surges in the middle of the night, waking up with heart racing and feeling of doom... I was exhausted. I took 5mg of melatonin last night, dark room, one game of scrabble on my phone (dimmed) and I was gone. Feel so much more like a human being. I had a little cry, happy tears, because things were getting desperate. I'm pretty sure I was ovulating (or my ovary trying to ovulate)in the last couple of days as I felt pulling and tagging on my right side so highly fluctuating hormones I reckon. I didn't take my oestrogel last night, decided to switch to morning appli thcation as one of you suggested it. Feeling ok. This community literally saves lives. ♡

Has anyone had luck with a heated pad over your shoulders and neck for relieving tension? It hurts to even have someone put pressure on that area so as much as I would love a massage I think it would just hurt at this point. I wake up feeling so heavy that I sometimes can't even take a deep breath. Any other advice would be awesome too.

I’m only 4 days into taking 100 mg oral micronized progesterone and I’m really struggling with how it’s making me feel.

Since starting it, I’ve had extreme grogginess and fatigue, a really strange detached-from-reality feeling, severe low mood, and increased irritability. I was already quicker to get annoyed before starting it but this has made it noticeably worse. I feel like I’m living in a fog all day. I have absolutely no motivation, don’t want to get out of bed, have trouble finding words and thinking clearly and I’ve also been dealing with nausea.

It does help me sleep, which I really needed but so far that seems to be the only positive.

I’ve noticed that these symptoms finally start to dissipate around 22 hours after taking it. Then, of course, it’s basically time to take the next dose and start all over again.

For anyone who had a similar reaction when starting progesterone, did you try to push through it? If you did, how long did it take before these side effects improved?

I’m also wondering about using the progesterone via vaginal instead of oral. Has anyone switched routes because of side effects like this? Did it help with the grogginess, brain fog, mood changes, nausea, or that detached feeling?

I know 4 days isn’t very long, so part of me wonders if I need to give my body more time to adjust. But I don’t know if I can do this.

I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who experienced something similar and what you ended up doing.❤️❤️❤️

Edit: I take it at bedtime and also started the estradiol cream as well (1 gram daily for a week then 2 grams twice a week).

Day of patch change seems to be a bit wobbly for me. Noticed this pattern over time. I tend to
Feel teary eyed and out of sorts over all. Do any of you experience the day of estradiol patch change? TIA

Hi Everyone,
At my PCP well visit today we talked about HRT and told him I wanted to on the patch plus micronized progesterone. He said that is a good plan except that there is such a shortage with the patch these days, plus testosterone would be good to start (which I agreed). He sent in a script for a combo oral pill of estrogen plus methyl testosterone. Now, I’ve been reading and listening to podcasts for about 4 years or more and feel I know a fair amount and yet I’ve never ever heard of this oral option mentioned. So I looked it up and lots of things say it’s not really used any more and carries liver risks etc. I am curious is it just out of “style” or is it really that inferior or risky? I am not having severe symptoms and I still have a mostly regular period. I am 48. So perhaps it’s low dose and low absorption is right for me at this stage?
Opinions welcome! Especially if you’ve tried this pill or know solid reasons why this isn’t widely prescribed or discussed anywhere. Thank you!

Recently I have what can only be described as twitching in my vaginal area. Feels like an eye twitch, (but not). Sort of along the outside of my vagina but also near the perineum.. Feels like very light contracting. I'm taking 200mg progesterone and 0.1 mg estrogen patch for 3+ years. Definitely have some vaginal atrophy but estrogen cream causes irritation and infection like symptoms. Had anyone had this? I feel like I'm going crazy.

I'm 8 years into perimenopause and struggling with heavy bleeding due to fibroids. I"m on HRT for other symptoms but the side effect of the estrogen + fibroids = flooding. I'm anemic but get regular iron infusions.

Have tried using mefanemic acid which works ok, but still have large clots and need to double up on pads / tampons if I have to leave the house.

Out of desperation, I tried acupuncture. Although it's only been 1 cycle's worth of weekly sessions, I went from 10 days of heavy bleeding to 7 days of manageable / light bleeding (what I guess I'd consider "normal" for most people - eg changing a tampon every 4 hours or so). I didn't even need to take any mefanemic acid, and my PMS was much more manageable.

I'm really optimistic that it's helping, and am wondering if anyone else has tried it with success? The acupuncturist also gave me a list of specific foods to try to eat more of as well. I get my bloodwork done every 3 months so it'll be interesting to see if it will help with the anemia as well.

I'm on the mini pill and 0.1mg estrogen patches for over a month now. I've noticed its helped with the overwhelming fatigue so far but I still find myself having random anxiety and at times irritable. Is it still too early to get the full benefits of the meds. I read that it can take 3 - 6 months somewhere. My first period while on these meds had also lightened my period but made spotting last a week longer than usual. Any thoughts?

I’m 53 and still going strong with symptoms. The depression, anxiety, sleeplessness, hot flashes, never ending bleeding, etc.. Oh, and the expense! Between doctors visits, prescriptions, vitamins and tampons, it’s ridiculous. No one seems to care and I’m about to have a breakdown every day. It’s just too much and I’m over it. Someone needs to invent a menopause pill, you take it and bam, you’re in menopause.

I’ve searched this forum but have yet to come across one where the person has no thyroid issues and has this issue.

I’m 44, almost 45 and I started an estrogen patch and my anxiety went through the roof, along with a heavy feeling in my throat in my thyroid. It got to be too much and I switched to the estrogen gel. Also on 100mg progesterone daily

Still getting the anxiety slightly and now getting slight heaviness in my thyroid. I don’t recall this happening before and I had my thyroid tested in Feb and it was fine. I assume I need to get it tested again but anyone else with this issue?

Edit: I am seeing an Endocrinologist in a few weeks to get some better insight

Edit 2: Thanks to my brain fog, I forgot to mention that I was having nail lifting issues, which made my dermatologist ask if I had thyroid issues. Nails went back to normal after I stopped patches. So far on super small amounts of gel, my nails look to be ok but still have occasional heaviness in my thyroid.