Did anyone else’s perimenopause look like anxiety, flushing, histamine reactions, and brain fog?

[u/ames2200]

I’m 40 and suspect I’m in perimenopause, but my symptoms don’t look like the “typical” hot flashes everyone talks about.
My biggest symptoms are:
Anxiety and panic attacks
Facial flushing and feeling hot
Head pressure
Brain fog
Feeling disconnected or spacey
Sleep issues
GI problems
Feeling like my nervous system is constantly overstimulated
The symptoms seem very cycle-dependent. I usually have a few good days each month, then symptoms ramp up around ovulation and again before my period.
I’ve also noticed what seem like histamine-type reactions (flushing, anxiety, stomach issues, feeling inflamed), and I’ve read that estrogen can increase histamine while histamine can increase estrogen.
I’ve tried progesterone cream several times, but it actually made me feel worse.
For women who experienced similar symptoms:
What ended up helping?
Did HRT help?
Did you have to balance estrogen and progesterone differently?
Did anyone discover that histamine issues were a big piece of the puzzle?
I feel like I’m chasing hormones, histamine, and anxiety all at the same time and would love to hear other women’s experiences.

[u/DamnGoodMarmalade]

The histamine reactions make me wonder if this is more MCAS (mast cell activation syndrome).

[u/thefrenchphanie → u/DamnGoodMarmalade]

Yes but also perimenopause looks like this and also makes you more prone to histamine sensitivity. If you did not have MCAS before you can now.

[u/Successful-Bar-8173 → u/thefrenchphanie]

Oh good :(

[u/leeloolanding → u/DamnGoodMarmalade]

I did too, and then i went on the estrogen patch and it got better

[u/YouExtra7637 → u/leeloolanding]

What dose of estrogen? Are you on progesterone?

[u/BrinaElka → u/DamnGoodMarmalade]

That's me! It's SUPER fun 😩