Perimenopause lasted nearly six years for me. For the first few years, my periods came more often, rather than less, and I had trouble sleeping at night. I'd get a bit crabby from lack of sleep, but I don't remember feeling a lot more emotional than usual. In the last year periods came further and further apart and the hot flashes started.
One year after what I thought was my last period, I got one final one. Then the hot flashes started in earnest and I had a brief disastrous experience with HRT. (Ended up in the emergency ward with stroke-like symptoms.) I got the flashes under control with a ketogenic diet after reading about it in the Brain Trust book. Still get them, but nowhere near as many.
I think what has gotten me through is swimming. On mornings that I'd awaken at 3:00 and stared at the ceiling for hours, I'd eventually get out of bed, put on my suit, and go for a swim. I'd still feel exhausted at work, but much calmer. I couldn't do quite as much cycling due to an old car crash injury, but that also helped.
I don't remember really bad cramps. Biciclista is right, there may be something else going on there.
Dietary changes you can make:
  • More magnesium. It may help with the cramps as well.
  • Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. The North American diet is weak in these and overly abundant in Omega 9. Flax seed and avocado oils can help. You may have to take two tablespoon of each every day for a month to catch up. Eat more oily cold water fish as well.
  • Cut waaaay back on simple carbohydrates. Until your brain relearns how to utilize glycogen without the use of estrogen, you may even want to replace some of your carbohydrates with fat calories.
  • Don't stop exercising. Even if you don't feel like doing a lot, consistant daily efforts will help.