Recognising the Symptoms of Perimenopause

Perimenopause Can be Confusing

Check this list of signs and symptoms before you panic

A woman I worked with once told me she felt like an over-ripe tomato when she had PMS and was so sensitive to touch that she thought she would explode if anyone touched her.

For me, it’s noise. There are days when the chatter on the train in the morning goes right through my head putting me in a bad mood that can last all day. Noise sensitivity is, in fact, one of the symptoms of PMS although I hadn’t made the connection until I came across an amazing list of PMS symptoms recently. It includes:

• bloating
• abdominal cramping up to 2 weeks before period that may also be felt in the back, thighs, or vaginal area
• poor coordination
• rashes
• breast pain and swelling
• stiff neck
• back/joint pain
• indecisiveness
• slurred speech
• eye problems – dry eyes, difficulty focusing, aching eyes
• tiredness
• hand tingling
• sensitivity to noise, touch or smell
• dizziness / fainting
• pounding or irregular heart
• more – or less – interest in sex
• Not to mention the mood and emotion symptoms that are more commonly connected to PMS.

If you are worried about symptoms like these, then you should of course talk to your doctor. But, if you think that you may be in perimenopause, there are some practical steps that can help alleviate these symptoms like avoiding sugar and alcohol, switching to a healthier diet, and taking regular exercise. It’s not a bad idea to have a little refresher on these techniques because by the time we get to perimenopause when PMS can resurface as a problem, many of us will have forgotten both how wide the symptoms can be and what’s effective in dealing them. The article cited above is a useful starting point. It has certainly opened my eyes.

Staying Power

Darn it. The downside of being 50 is definitely staying power. A modest night out on the town seems to leave way too pronounced a mark on the morning after. I was tempted to try one of those energy drinks this morning until I read the list of ingredients and wondered if my fragile frame could cope with that much caffeine. So, instead, I'm taking it easy, sticking to a more traditional form of caffeine, and mulling on whether I need to put in place another training plan. Remember the trainer heels? Perhaps now is the time to embark on trainer nights on the town?

Commuter Makeup

It's been a while since I blogged about the commuter handbag and I'm pleased to say I've settled into a comfortable pattern of rushing for the train in the morning and slowly climbing the hill back home in the evening. What I haven't managed quite so well is getting out of bed in time to apply the warpaint before heading into the corporate jungle so I've had to adapt to moisturising and making up on the train.

I'm lucky because I'm at the end of the line so I get a seat in the morning and, quite often, I don't have anyone beside me. The moisturizer technique has been perfected. Pump of Origins White Tea Skin Guardian on the back of the hand and then gently applied to the face, followed by Decleor's Hydra floral. Really the moisturiser is too light for me on these winter mornings but it smells so wonderful and the texture is so beautiful that I can't bring myself to abandon it in favour of the more effective and equally pleasant to use Liz Earle Superskin Moisturiser.

Next comes the make up and that is the tricky bit. Please, please, please Bare Escentuals come up with an on the go applicator. So far the versions that I have tried have been hopeless - like the one in the little black purse. They're just too messy. Preloaded retractor brushes also don't work because I forget to preload them.  There's got to be a better model. If it weren't for the fact that the makeup is so good, I'd have given up by now.

Models Prefer for the mascara. Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat for the dark circles under the eyes. Bare Escentuals again for the lips - the buxom babes range.

That's it. Good to go. 15 minutes all told. Sure who wouldn't take the extra few minutes in bed in the morning?

LBD

I found the perfect work dress. It's black. It's fitted. Best of all it's machine washable and you don't have to iron it. Magic knickers help it hang properly but are not essential - a good pair of opaque tights can equally give the smooth look. If you're in Ireland, the link will help you find it. If you're not, I'm not sure where you'd come by one. Me? I've come by 4 of them so far. It's getting to the point where I can't leave home without it :-)

Tattoo Dating

What exactly IS tattoo dating? And why is Google advertising it on my blog? Am I the kind of girl that seems to be in need of a tattooed soul mate? Or am I misunderstanding 'tattoo'? Perhaps we're talking tattoo as in the Edinburgh Castle type spectacular? Whatever. For the record, if I was to look for a replacement for my dearly beloved Menopause Herb, I wouldn't be looking for a tattooed replacement. You got that, Google?

Confusion Reigns

Did I tell you I slipped on the ice, fell flat on my back, and cracked my head on my cobblelock driveway? Such are the hazards of home improvement. It's a worry. Now, like a good hypochondriac, I am fretting that the dizziness (remember Enya?) may come back - after all a knock on the head was all the doctors were interested in at the time. It's been 5 days. You reckon I'm safe yet?

To Serum or Not To Serum, That is the Question

Dry and sensitive skin, particularly during the winter months, can be a bit of a nuisance in perimenopause. Lately every weekend seems to involve a mini facial of one kind or another to repair the damage of a week's commuting. Could serum be the missing ingredient in my skincare routine? I've sampled a few recently and have a preference for natural products so Origins White Tea Skin Guardian which is pleasant to use, but pricey and L'Occitane's new serum have both been on my trial list. The most recent addition is a much, much cheaper option, from Lidl's Suhada range but what I'd really like to know is, do you use a serum? And if so, with what results?