66 Peri menopause / Menopause Symptoms you may experience which may help some ladies
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SIXTY-SIX PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS: Part one 1 - 49
These are very real physical changes and conditions. Some symptoms alarm a woman that she may be suffering from a serious disease. Perhaps you know the more common ones related to menopausal symptoms in this list. But many of these may surprise you, as they have not been typically associated with this normal physiological transformation.
1. Change in Menstrual Cycle, Cycles may get closer together or farther apart, lighter and shorter in duration or much heavier, lasting longer than one has been accustomed to. Menses may seem to take forever to begin with dark spotting for days until you actually flow, or you might feel like you have your menses every two weeks.
2. Menstrual Flooding can come on with sudden onset and feel like you may hemorrhage to death. Or it can be a gradual build up just when you think your menses will end and you start gushing for days. Flooding commonly accompanies the woman with uterine fibroids as she transits into menopause.
3. Headaches, Migraines, especially before, during or at the end of your menses debilitate and radically interferes with normal functioning.
4. Decreased Motor Coordination, Clumsiness, almost begins to make the woman who experiences this feel like she is certainly less than graceful during perhaps an already awkward period in her life.
5. Lethargy, a persistent feeling sluggishness physically and mentally, that seems to negate ones ability to do much.
6. Physical Exhaustion , and Crushing Crashing Fatigue that can come on so suddenly and grip you into feeling like you will collapse unless you stop this instant.
7. Exacerbation of any Chronic Illness or Existing Condition transpires as hormones decline or deviate from their normal balance.
8. Insomnia, this includes a new or unusual pattern of either difficulty falling asleep, or dropping off to sleep for a few hours and then awakening with the inability to return to sleep.
9. Sleep Disturbances sometimes are from nightmares, night sweats, or just a vague sense of restlessness keeping you up or disrupting your precious revitalizing retreat from this realm of responsibilities.
10. Night Sweats often begin between a woman?s breasts, initially a night or two before her menses, waking her from sleep, later more profoundly disturbing with up to total body saturation, followed by damp or sweat drenched chills.
11. Interference With Dream Recall interrupts the sense of normal sleep, if you are someone accustomed to vivid or at least some detailed memory of your dreamtime.
12. Muscle Cramps can occur anywhere in the body from legs to back to neck, and sometimes reflects the need for more calcium, or simply that your progesterone levels are too low.
13. Low Backache often worsens before or during menses, but if your hormones remain at low levels, you can experience it on a regular basis.
14. Gall Bladder Symptoms of pain, spasms and discomfort felt in the right upper abdominal quadrant under the ribs, which may be accompanied by belching, bloating, and intolerance to certain foods reflect the increased liver load with declining hormones.
15. Frequent Urination, or sensations that mimic urinary infections is a disturbing symptom often unrelieved by actual urination. It is often experienced as the sensation of needing to urinate all the time, even immediately afterwards.
16. Urinary Incontinence, the uncontrollable and spontaneous loss of urine, or the Urge for Incontinence, can occur suddenly or feel continuous, and not only in response to coughing, sneezing, jumping or running.
17. Hypoglycemic Reactions happen when suddenly your blood sugar crashes and you must have food now.
18. Food Cravings, often for sweets or salty foods, but can include sour or pungent foods.
19. Increased Appetite, especially at night and after dinner contributes to that unusual and unwanted weight gain.
20. Dark Circles Under Eyes can also be caused by adrenal exhaustion and thyroid dysfunctions, but no amount of sleep seems to eliminate it.
21. Joint and Muscle Pain, Achy, Sore Joints, Muscles and Tendons, which sometimes develop into actual carpal tunnel syndrome, or give rise to the questioning of other disease possibilities.
22. Increased Tension in Muscles demonstrates itself in those hunched up shoulders as you work or talk about anything uncomfortable, along with promoting lower back pain and a stiff neck.
23. Increased Hair Loss or Thinning anywhere on body, including your head, armpits, pubic area.
24. Increase in Facial Hair especially under your chin, or along your jaw line. It may be defined by generalized hair growth, or a specific and coarse single strand of hair that pokes out, even curls.
25. Unusually Hair Growth, around Nipples, between Breasts, down your back, places where your hair was finer, less coarse.
26. Acne, quite disturbing to any woman who dealt with this in adolescence and never thought it would recur.
27. Infertility causes grief in the woman who postponed pregnancy in her earlier years and now wishes to conceive, carry to term a healthy baby, and discovers she is unable to do so.
28. Loss of Breast Tissue begins with the decrease of progesterone production. Women often feel as though their breast have become empty sacs devoid of their normal fullness, with or without sagging.
29. Breast Soreness/Tenderness/Pain/ Engorgement and swelling, occurs particularly a few days to one week before bleeding actually begins, which usually potentiates complete relief of any pain or swelling.
30. Painful, or tender nipples have been described as this exquisite localized pain only in the nipples and suggests estrogen excess.
31. Cold Extremities feels quite strange especially in the presence of a hot flash, the combination of which is not impossible.
32. Being Accident Prone, bumping into things, not even realizing it until the bruise reveals itself later and then lacking the ability to recall the causative incident feels perplexing and a little scary at the prospect of something more damaging.
33. Hot flashes initially may be described as mild to severe flushes of heat waves, and for some women these evolve into intense outbreaks of sudden heat with sweating and turning bright red all over.
34. Loss of Sexual Energy, our Libido, can be marked by a gradual or sudden disinterest in sex, to the development of an actual aversion.
35. Painful Sex often described as if one?s vagina would tear open at the point of penetration along with feelings of abrasion during intercourse.
36. Vaginal Dryness, Irritation, sometimes accompanied by a consistent unusual discharge - typically odor free, negates a woman?s ability to be sexually active, or able to enjoy or be comfortable in her body.
37. Dizziness, feeling lightheaded and the loss of physical balance, and even a bit wobbling at times, requires pause in movement to prevent falling over or deepening into vertigo or feeling faint.
38. Ringing in the Ears, Tinnitus, can be experienced as a pulsing sensation, a whooshing sound, an almost musical or buzzing sound with a fuzzy sensation.
39. Abdominal Bloating comes on suddenly often after eating, or seems to be all the time, and can be visibly evident making you feel that you look like you are pregnant.
40. Weight Gain disturbs most women, particularly when it seems to happen over a couple of days, settles in the waist, buttocks and thighs, promoting a visceral thickening from the waist down, the classic middle-aged figure.
41. Fluid Retention, Edema, commonly with swelling in the legs and ankles, though not limited to this area and it is unrelieved by urination.
42. Palpitations or Heart Racing usually comes on suddenly, without warning or provocation, and dissipates spontaneously. The experience can be so wild and intense that a woman may become alarmed and wonder if she is having a heart attack.
43. Irregularities in your Heart Rate may feel more like your heart has just done a flip-flop or skipped a beat.
44. Constipation/Diarrhea, intermittent or alternating, results from declining hormone levels, which increase the demands on liver function and alters intestinal motility.
45. Tendency towards Candidiasis can increase, even if you have no prior known history ? and if you do, it may worsen.
46. Gastrointestinal Distress, Increased Flatulence, Unrelieved Gas pains, Indigestion, Nausea all can reflect intestinal changes due to hormonal imbalances.
47. Slow Digestion often goes along with the bloat ? what previously took four to five hours to digest, now seems to take all night. It seems worse in the evenings.
48. Lack of Appetite may be experienced as more of a lack of interest in food, going to the frig and standing there with the door open and staring blankly. Feeling completely uninspired, you busy yourself with something else and forget that you need to eat.
49. Changes in Body Odor especially disturbing when it seems to focus in the groin area, but can be anywhere on the body.
50. Puffy Eyes, not only from sleep disturbances, but also can accompany low progesterone.
51. Facial Pallor alternating with Facial Flushes is often intermittent with hot flashes.
52. Flare up of Arthritis worsens with low progesterone levels and increase sugar intake.
53. Loss of Bone Density, Osteoporosis, is not only an elderly woman?s disease, though it seems to develop over an extended period and is triggered by the decline of hormone production.
54. Dry Hair, Change in Skin Tone, Integrity, and Texture, becomes more wrinkled, and may begin the thinning process.
55. Changes in your Fingernails characterized by easy breakage, bending, cracking and getting softer.
56. Itchy, Crawly Skin with a strange sensation like insects crawling around under the skin ? quite different than the dry skin feeling.
57. Muscle tone seems to slack and sag, and loose its previous response to normal exercise.
58. Pelvic Pain can be random and independent of cycles and may feel continuous for some women.
59. Dry, Itchy Eyes felt in the deep posterior aspect of the eye socket, as well as superficially.
60. Teeth Aching or the experience of a strange sensation in one?s teeth or gums, often accompanied by an increase in bleeding gums.
61. Change in the normal Tongue sensation, which can be accompanied by a feeling of burning in your tongue and roof of mouth, malodorous breath or change in breath odor, and/or a bad taste in your mouth.
62. Memory Loss or Lapses in time, makes one feel disoriented and less focused, especially when you go into another room to get something specific and seconds later cannot remember what you went to retrieve.
63. Feeling Faint for no known reason (this does not include standing up too quickly)
64. Tingling in Extremities not only feels weird and like your hands or feet are falling asleep, but if persistent can be a symptom of diabetes, B12, potassium or calcium deficiency, or a compromise in blood vessel flexibility.
65. Sensation of Electrical Stimulation,or Shock occurring in the tissue under the skin, and may signal you that a hot flash will begin.
66. Increase and worsening of Allergies occurs as hormones become imbalanced, so can our immune system.
153 likes, 3046 replies
Junglechicken jayneejay
Posted
Hi all,
?Looks like I have Interstitial Cystitis ("IC), from my understanding, its an auto-immune illness as IBS is associated with it too.
?Has anyone else had a "cystoscopy" done, what did the urologist tell you about the condition and how to manage it?
Thx,
JC
tina00239 jayneejay
Posted
I was really grateful to see your 66 signs of peri menopause I thought I was going mad with the amount of symptoms I am suffering and to such a severe degree aswell and reading the 66 signs gave me reassurance that I am not mad or alone. Thank you!😁
KikiP jayneejay
Posted
Hello ladies from Colorado...today is NOT a good day. My daughter just left and once again the house is empty. Sometimes I think dealing with my symptoms are easier when others are around. I don't know! I have had the flu feeling in my neck and ears, almost a full feeling, like I'm going to get sick and nothing. Started a few days before my period and its still here. No fever (because I am crazy and check it all the time), my glands dont feel swollen, I can feel them but I don't feel there swollen or enlarged. The weird thing....I'm good when I wake up and a few hours into the day, I can feel it coming on. I have asked an OBGYN if this is a peri symptom and yes, in deed it is but wondering if anyone else is experiencing this, how long it lasted and if it went away.
I have a headache, my neck just aches, I am crying as I write this. I haven't left my house in a few days and have absolutely no desire to. OMG......how in the world do we get through this???
amy341731 KikiP
Posted
Oh Kiki, I’m so sorry you’re feeing this way..it is truly awful. I also feel better when people are around and I also feel better (usually) when I’m out of the house. I go through times when I feel horrible..headaches, body aches, feel like I’m getting sick, stuffy head/ears..I try to stay hydrated, check this board a lot and realize it is “ JUST” perimenopause 😕 I really can’t say what helps bc I’m up and down at this point but just knowing I’m not alone and not crazy helps a lot! Stay in touch! 😊
KikiP amy341731
Posted
Hello Amy,
Thank you so much for responding. So I did get out of bed today and I just started cleaning. Washing rugs, cleaning bathrooms, kitchen, rearranging drawers, going through closets just to keep my mind busy. I did take ALL of my bedding off my bed so I couldn't go back to bed and washed all of it (comforter is still in the dryer). I made myself take a shower and went to the "little clinic" in King Soopers to check my throat and ear stuff out. As it turns out, my eustachian tube is inflamed due to my nose running and dripping in the back of my throat. Just started on flonase, so let's wait and see,
I just got home and am having stomach pains, kind of all over, so I am going to drink some tea and relax. for a bit to see if it wasn't just the stress of today. Thank you again for responding.
amy341731 KikiP
Posted
jacqueline06286 jayneejay
Posted
Hi I know what you're feeling I've been having this right side pain in my head ears behind my neck for the past month I don't know what to do anymore I'm going crazy I schedule an ENT appointment and then I also scheduled a neurologist appointment hopefully somebody can shed some light
KikiP jacqueline06286
Posted
Hello Jacqueline,
Just checking in on you. How did your ENT and neurologist appts go? My symptoms of my my ear and throat come and go, my nose is runny and I feel congested but nothing ever comes of it. Let us know how you're doing.
My OBGYN appt is tomorrow, I will check back in.
Take care,
jacqueline06286 KikiP
Posted
Hi kiki
My ent appointment is on Friday and my neurologist appointment is next week I had a little relief for 2 days but as I'm sitting here it hurts.this morning wasn't to bad I will definitely let you know
KikiP jacqueline06286
Posted
Hello all,
I just left my OBGYN appt and for everyone on this thread she told me to start taking Magnesium Sulphate, 400MG. She said it's just an overall good supplement to take for pain, anxiety, keeping your bowels moving, etc.. she also referred me to an acupuncturist for anxiety, menopausal symptoms. They are running bloodwork to check my hormone levels, my thyroid and a CBC. HOWEVER, all of my symptoms (I swear I have 50 out of the 66) she said were normal peri/menopause symptoms. She did a pelvic exam, she said I am dry on the outside but everything looks good on the inside (pink). SOOOO.....now I will wait on the blood work and report back.
Jacqueline, Will wait to hear about your appts.
Have a great day everyone.
loujord jayneejay
Edited
Im 46 and have been experiencing no end of awful symptoms over the last few years. I went 10 mths without a period, then they started again but very irregular and light thankfully. My latest is aching joints and I was going to make an appointment at the Docs until I read this as I was starting to worry a bit. Its like everything has come to a head, my knees, thumb?? elbows and now my hip hurt so much, I feel like an old woman! I am so so emotional, filling up at pretty much anything. I have awful acne, never suffered as a teenager. I had ECG and scan on my heart a few months ago as I keep getting the palpertations, skipped beats and dizziness but everything came back fine, I didnt realise this was a symptom too!
The hardest thing for me is because I have had depression and anxiety in the past, the Docs just seem to say its anxiety, it has such a stigma to it
jacqueline06286 loujord
Posted
Hi
I know what you're feeling I started perimenapause about 3 months ago and I feel horrible aches pains I started getting this pain about a month ago on my right side of the head behind my ear sometimes on my shoulder I scheduled an ent appointment and a neorologist appointment did not have this pain before and the crazy thing is when your in perimenapause dr won't tell that because bloodwork don't always show because your hormones are up and down I just pray every day.
loujord jacqueline06286
Edited
Its awful isnt it, I'd never even heard of PeriMenopause until I googled my symptoms a few years back. I was tested when I was 41 and was told I was borderline, although I realise it all depends on when you are tested so not accurate. The male doc I had then said he could give me HRT. I declined, I just wanted to know there was a reason for the way I was feeling, so I try to just get on wth it but its so hard at times.
Thank you for replying, wishing you all the best with your appointments.
elaine16907 loujord
Posted
A sudden and unexpectant visitor has gate crashed into my life at 44 years but I am now finding out the hard way all these awful symptoms add up to being periemenopausal!! I feel stupid to have been so naive. I had been battling with Costochondritis so pretty much the muscokeletual issues have been effecting me daily over the last 6 months joint pains and fatigue featuring all too well. My periods have always been a light flow of 3-days and pretty much no change but started crashing with such bad fatigue that consuming coffee, energy drinks and even berocca (supplements) could'nt push my energy up!
I didnt even give thought that my dreaded heart palpitations and headaches and anixety could well be linked to priemenopause.
The beginning of the 2018 I had a UTI never had one in about 30 years and today another UTI has appeared??? (apparently these can be common also due to low and fluctuating estrogen levels - who knew? CT Scan appointment this afternoon.
Yes my body has been removed and replaced with an older and fragile one; muscle weakness; pains, mood and character changes; eye vision changed; neck, ear and shoulder pain all left side so many of the 66 symptoms beginning or already full steam ahead. I feel dreadful.
My emotional status can be distressing at times so tearful and fearful when at home and when o out in about im finding i start to panic. I have worked fulltime all of my adult life and in the last 6 months I feel less confident and shadow of my former self. I have a 9 year daughter who is aware that her mum is not herself - this I find hard to cope with as I dont want her to suffer due to how I feel.
I've started taking supplements for menopause symptoms with the hope these may start to provide some benefits (only this week) so too early too know. I just want to get on with my life again but I feel this is going to be a journey.
I am glad to have found this forum to share and receive suggestions from ladies going through this stage of their lives.
Best.
ImagineOneDay elaine16907
Edited
Dear Elaine, you certainly are not alone I have a n 8 year old daughter. Like you said I do not want her to suffer just because I suffer. She is happy enough but if I was a bit more energetic to be able take her out perhaps she could discover more but. I just can't face the world. Almost like disabled, partially paralysed. (I don't want to be unfair to anyone nor do I want to insult anyone with true disability)
I lost my job due to funding cuts and redundancies about 2 years ago. Since then I lost more confident finding a job. I am so scared.
I bought £65 worth of herbal suppliments & vitamins hoping they might give me more energy. Take care and GOOD LUCK with your journey. Let's stay here and share. It is the safest place to be.?
jacqueline06286 elaine16907
Posted
Hi Elaine
I started perimenapause about 3 months ago started with fatigue then dizzy about a month ago I started having pain behind my right ear head shoulder but it radiate to my left side I'm not sleeping much heart palpitations if can you please let me know what supplements your taking.
elaine16907 jacqueline06286
Posted
Hi Jacqueline
MenoSerene advance multivitamin wiht natural plant oestrogen. I've only just started taking them a week so I think alittle more time is needed to see whether they are assisting.
Hoping we can share any suggestions and tips in the future.
Best.
elaine16907 ImagineOneDay
Posted
I completely understand how your feeling and thank you for sharing similar about your lovely daughter. Its hard. Please keep faith about finding a new career you are good person and I am sure you (me and all) will come through this journey. Do you have a good support network? Unfortunately I am single parent and my only parent (my beautiful mother) had a stroke a year ago so now difficult. I struggle and am also scared just trying to carry on the best I can.
What supplements are you using and are you in discussion with your GP? I hope you see some improve with these as time goes on. Are you London based?
I agree sharing on this forum is a lifeline.
Best
jacqueline06286 elaine16907
Posted
elaine16907 jacqueline06286
Posted
What have you been trying so far?
Best
jacqueline06286 elaine16907
Posted
tina00239 elaine16907
Posted
elaine16907 tina00239
Posted
Thank you Tina for your words of sharing and support they are appreciated as are all posts I have been reading with women sharing experiences and words of support to others too. GP's are a essential component to guiding women through best treatment. You right a sensitive ear of listening and gentle kindness and support is priceless at this time. I hope that my new GP will foster these skills (male gp). My daughter is aware of how I am feeling to some degree and I will always want to keep an open dialouge with her at the right pace. I will continue to visit this forum its been wonderful to find and connect too.
Sending Soothing {{hugs}}} and encouragement through all our transistions x
maria_03422 jacqueline06286
Posted
i use to have horrible headaches in the beginning when all this started, and continued for about 7 years. Its been about a year now that they stopped, i do get them sometimes but nothing like before.
i stopped caffeine, alcohol and sugar and that helped.
Feel better.
marianna64139 loujord
Posted
Hi loujord,
?I'm sorry to hear that you are having a tough time. But rest assured, when I tell you I experienced the same thing. I am now about to be 56. My menopause transition started in full force about 3 month after I turned 52. I honestly thought I was dying. I had found a tick on me a few months before, but after going to a LLMD, two naturopaths and conventional medicine and having 8 separate tests (different kinds as well - PCR DNA, urine, Western Blot along with the co-infection tests and having a test sent to the Labs in CA which are the most sensitive, nothing showed up as positive. I still went on antibiotics for 10 months with a LOAD of supplements and herbs and still much not relief. Suffice it to say, I now know that it was all due to this transition. A lot of symptoms overlap.
??I was an emotional wreck! I had heart palps, racing heart just at the very beginning and major anxiety. I also had the heart EEG and all was fine .I was having blood drawn every 3 months to monitor all my numbers. My white blood cells would go down a little then they'd come back up, then they'd go down a few times in a row and then go back up. Because of that I was referred to a specialist to check my bone marrow - test was fine. I'm ok. Everyone was puzzled. So, I looked back at the times that those numbers started to drop and it was during times that I was really stressed. I was actually affecting my immune system by my thoughts!
I too, have struggled with anxiety for decades so this wasn't fun. I cried a lot! I had insomnia. But the one thing that I never really had much of was hot flashes. I few heated minutes here and there (one time it lasted for an hour - but that was the exception). I had bloating, pain around my gall bladder, lack of appetite. I had some wonderful tests for that! LOL. Nothing. All was fine.
So fast forward to almost 4 years later. I still, believe it or not, have some knee pain. But it's much more manageable (in the beginning I couldn't stand for more than 5 minutes without crying, the pain was so bad). It took a few years to get to this point before my pain got more manageable. I still have occasional hip pain and my neck, back and shoulders do act up as well. You mention you had pain in your elbows (although for me, it wasn't so much pain as it was a "tightness" that also affects my ankles and wrists at times too. It feels like I have carpal tunnel sometimes. I've done some alternative things, which I believe have helped with the little hot flashes I've gotten from time to time- recently I went a few months with none. I am 8 months post menopausal now. I don't have insomnia anymore, an occasional hot flash, especially if I get super stressed. My wrists still feel tight from time to time, as do my ankles. So, it's gotten better, but not where I'd like it to be. I do progesterone cream, acupuncture and meditation. I eat very well and take magnesium supplements along with Vit D3.
?I'm telling you all this, because we are all so different and we can really work ourselves up sometimes over nothing. Since you struggle with anxiety, getting it checked out will probably put your mind at ease, as it did for me to some extent. Funny thing is, that even though I had all those tests, there were times where I thought that perhaps they missed something or I had some rare illness they knew nothing about. LOL. But, I'm still here and don't have any health issues that I'm aware of.
?Man, hormones can make you crazy that's for sure! LOL
[b]Moderator comment: I have removed reference to individual private clinics which are not supported by UK doctors[b]
jacqueline06286 maria_03422
Posted
Maria
What did you take hor you're headaches, I am on my period now and it seems that the head ache is much more pain full now that I started perimenapause.
maria_03422 jacqueline06286
Posted
Same here, when my period was coming that's when it was the worst, all night and day none stop pain..
I take Advil or Motrin, but sometimes doesn't do anything, just lay down and try not to move..its horrible.
my doctor told me to try Aleve, but they upset my stomach...
jacqueline06286 maria_03422
Posted
Maria
I feel horrible are you taking hrt,I can't take this anymore
maria_03422 jacqueline06286
Posted
I'm not taking HRT. I start feeling better about a year ago after 7 years of misery
Right now i'm dealing with my left side of my neck, shoulder and ear a burning sensation and pain, on and off .
for 3 months i missed my period and i felt great and out of nowhere it came again last month and everything started again..
jacqueline06286 maria_03422
Posted
Sorry to hear that, maria may I ask where do you live I'm in florida and thank you for sharing your thoughts with me god bless you
maria_03422 jacqueline06286
Posted
i live in Venice about 70 miles north of Naples. i use to live in Ft Lauderdale for 26 years and we are going to be moving back there as soon as our son is done with high school this summer.
where are you if you don't mind me asking..
jacqueline06286 maria_03422
Posted
I live in miramar it's closer to miami about 30 minutes from fort Lauderdale.
maria_03422 jacqueline06286
Posted
When I move there we should start a support group😘
jacqueline06286 maria_03422
Posted
ImagineOneDay elaine16907
Posted
Sorry to hear about your lovely mother. I hope she makes progress and recovers well.
I haven't got any network. I kept myself to myself and to my daughter and husband. It is up&down with my husband.
I had mini stroke in the past so HRT is not an option for me. I am only trying different vitamins, B, D, magnesium, selenium... I have ordered some new ones. I will try well women energy tablets soon. I am not happy with my GP. They don't understand or help. They are very keen to give antidepressants. But NO I do not want them. But there are times I feel I will give in and accept taking them. Thank you for being kind. Please take care. X
loujord ImagineOneDay
Posted
elaine16907 ImagineOneDay
Posted
Dear Imagine
Thanks for replying.
I have understanding and can relate to some of your feelings. I do hope you are able to get some help in supporting you, your family and relationship (this forum is just what we need). Sorry to hear about your previous health x hoping your recovery has been positive?
I am exploring and trying to implement lifestyle changes but its challanging when you in the thick of things. Currently I am taking vit D2 and MenoSeren multivitamin supplements these are made up 2 tablets 1 multi vit and the other made of natural oestrogens these i have taking for just shy of a week so still needing time to see if any benifits.
Totally agree that taking antidepressants I did not want to be my first point of call. My previous gp wanted to prescribe these for my costochondritis (inflammation of cartilage ribs & chest) condition but just did not want to go down that route.
I have a new gp now and have just had an appointment with them this morning so fingers crossed they will support.
Please do keep posting your experiences and progress with your transistion x
Best xx
My daughter and I are close and although she does have regular and weekly contact with her father when at home and I have not been great its hard to shield away from her my mood and character changes. I do try to keep at up beat around her as possible (its hard work) Talking with my close girlfriends helps .
loujord marianna64139
Posted
Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. Poor you, you sound like you have been through the mill with these awful hormones! So pleased you have come out the other side!!
Ive had/get the hot flashes too. I remember one of the earlier ones being that intense, my husband asked if we should go to the hospital, I was blood red, roasting hot and at the time didnt know what was happenning to me. It passed after about 15 mins. Mine seem to happen mainly during the night, between 1.30am and 3am and I can feel them coming on but thankfully they havent lasted long and apart from them being a nuissance I can cope with thow they are at the moment. I should really start taking Vit D2 and B12 again. Im apparantly lacking slightly in both.
Ive always been active, horse riding and a manual job so Ive had aches and pains for years but the joint aches are more of a recent thing. Ive previously read the 34 symptoms of Menopause but the 66 peri list has made me realise 'yep this is whats happening to me!' Its been so helpful reading everyone elses experiences and quite comforting we are not alone.
Once again, thank you for replying and take care x
sangs1992 marianna64139
Posted
u assured me and gave me hopes that this wlil end
m 47 now..started with this wierdness 3-4 years back...
anxiety is craxy....any small thing and u feel u have an disease
also assuring is to know that u sleep well now
for me latest addition is feet pain and feet finger joint pain especially after walk
god bless all the girls here
jacqueline06286
Posted
Hi maria hope you're feeling better today .
I have a sister and her name is maria are you Hispanic we are.
maria_03422 jacqueline06286
Posted
Hi Jaqueline.
I've been having horrible nightmares the past few nights, i'm scared to go back to sleep!!
How are you feeling?
No, i'm from Greece.
Please keep in touch
xxxx
jacqueline06286 maria_03422
Posted
I was also having bad dreams about 2 weeks ago, I'm having bad back pain also I been having pain in my right side of ear head neck some day's are worst then others
maria_03422 jacqueline06286
Posted
i had the back pain while back and lasted for about 6 months i had every test possible and nothing wrong just went away but it self... as far as the neck and ear, i'm going through that for the past 3 years off and on but mine is on the left side. I remember gone to a doctor and scared me so badly telling me that very common for tumors to grow behind the ear and neck and i needed an MRI, I was so upset..then i did that and nothing. i've been to the ENT 3 times and he couldn't find nothing either..
So, it's been 3 years and still get it..now i'm keep thinking they missing something, i have to go for my mammogram i'm late and i'm so scared!!
i'm not sure what brings on the nightmares, i go to bed not feeling stressed or anything. My daughter is so upset with me right now because i'm driving her crazy! she was going to have dinner with friends in Miami and i was keep calling her to make sure she is ok lol !! dreaming all those horrible things i was worried something bad would happen.
i'm not sure when all this would be over, i started thinking this is my life going forward! its 8 long years and i can tell you it hasn't stopped even in good days there is always something...
Sorry, i keep going on and on!!! this side saved me!!! my husband is a great guy but he start getting tired to hear me all the time!! he is so excited for us to start leaving our lives since all the kids are gone and the only thing i do is dealing with this craziness !!!!
xxxxxx
Kadija1966 jacqueline06286
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elaine16907 Kadija1966
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Tearfulness features daily now for me its like I taken on the world and its family!
Lately I worry too of something happening to me and being on my own or even when with my daughter I worry about her worrying about me! crazy I know.
I know commonly women say weight gain is part of peri-symptoms but I wondered if any ladies here are suffering with weight loss alongide there symptoms?
Hope will all have better days to come x
serene5866 marianna64139
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lorie06115 Kadija1966
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I feel the same way I'm afraid to be alone this is so out of character for me. My symptoms also go away when I have a period! Nights and early mornings are the worse for me when it comes to the anxiety. I also have internal shaking that I feel more at night when I lay down to sleep! I hope someday we all feel somewhat normal again!
lorie06115 elaine16907
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maria_03422 jacqueline06286
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Just checking how the ENT appt went?
Have a wonderful day
Xxx
jacqueline06286 maria_03422
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Maria
After waiting so long to see him when he did finally saw me he checked my ears told me nothing was wrong and to put warm compressor on every 15 min 3 times a day even though I told him I was on perimenapause, I told him how ct scan he said to try warm compressor first then he said se you in a month,I am definitely going on hrt I can't take this I really had a rough night with my ear head shoulder pain.
maisie05 jacqueline06286
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jacqueline06286 maisie05
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No not yet did you have symptoms like this I just started perimenopause 4 months ago and I really need to know if this is all related, I'm going to schedule an appointment with my obg to see if she can put me on low dose of the patch I really had a rough night my pain right now is mild but my shoulders hurt
maria_03422 jacqueline06286
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The same thing happened with me and when i had the MRI went back, everything came back ok..
so he got so tired of me, he give me an ear cleaning and told me to go home and enjoy my life LOL..
Take Advil 2-3 times a day for a few days, that's what my other dr had told me. it helps me.
you know what i had noticed the more anxious i was, the worst the pain was getting.. Try to relax, believe me i went through this and now how you feel
Take a walk really helps, even for 15 minutes..
have a wonderful weekend xxxxxx
jacqueline06286 maria_03422
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maria_03422 jacqueline06286
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jacqueline06286 maria_03422
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Do you remember what other symptoms you have or had with perimenapause, I heard women can also get gallbladder pain without even having gallbladder stones.
maisie05 jacqueline06286
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Yes Jacqueline I have suffered with neck and shoulder pain over the last 10 years if I think back. I've tried the Alexander Technique, physio, Pilates and massage. All helped but what helped most and still does is seeing a Chiropractor. The adjustments they do to the spine help align and help the body heal itself. Read about it first.
I go to a Pilates class, for older women, and this helps me stay stronger and has greatly improved my posture which takes pressure away from the neck and shoulders.
HRT will help many of your symptoms but it won't be overnight. I'm a great believer in making/taking the time to help yourself. You will feel better mentally if you are doing something just for you. Like Maria says, go for a walk, you may be surprised. Take care x
elaine16907 lorie06115
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I have found it hard to separate out other health conditions vs perimenopausal symptoms as they seem to cross over all the time. I notice my anxiety crept up on me around mid-November whilst commuting and has picked up since needing to get out of packed places surrounding me and the constant worry of all elements and health complaints are something serious. My weight has been quite static around 62 kg up to September but has fallen between then to date to 55 kg. I think your right the constant worrying, anxiety blend has left me without any appetite or desire to eat normally. I have recently had a UTI that has reoccurred I understand these can crop up during this transition (great) that has heightened my anxieties. I have asked my GP for all types of referrals ENT, Ultrasounds for various health issues Its become my second occupation.
I’ve now been on MenoSerene multivitamin for the last 10 days and have recently introduced a combined Starflower and Evening primrose oil table. Hoping for some of my symptoms to clam down and will post an update of their effectiveness!
This is truly a game of thrones to conquer these dreadful symptoms that just attack you from every corner.
Wish you and all on this site.
Best wishes
Junglechicken elaine16907
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Can completely relate to the disease/peri-meno cross over of symptoms.
?A lot of the time I feel as though I live in a hellish parallel universe to my husband, and that I'm a crazy woman.
No amount of rationalising seems to help explain all these horrible symptoms.
?Have bought 2 books on the peri-meno/menopause, and so I HOPE they will allay my fears somewhat.
Junglechicken
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maria_03422 jacqueline06286
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i start notice little things when i turned 44, mostly dry mouth, eyes burning and feeling so sad and emotional. i had mentioned to my dr and he said drink more fluids. the next symptom was the weirdest once every couple of moths i will get this this rash and every time on a different place of my body..that's when i start paying more attention to things happening with me..followed with itchy skin, my hair texture start changing, weight gain which i never had problem with that before and horrible headaches..4 years later i start seeing more things happening, feeling afraid that something horrible will happen to me or my family my children..at the same time my son had to go through chemo and my mom passed suddenly. That made it even worst, panic attacks land me to the ER sometimes twice a month. that's when i start going from one dr to another try to see why i feel so horrible..i keep thinking they missing something. my family dr had enough of me he pretty much told me not to go back
My OBGYN is great he is in Boca Raton and i've been going to him for the past 26 years.
He doesn't like hormones, so he suggested healthier life style..so i stopped coffee, alochol, sugar and i try to avoid red meat.. and i start walking 30 minutes a day.
the last 3 years things are a bid better, but still having bad days. the ear pain, neck and chest pains are the ones i'm dealing with now. 6 months ago i thought i had a blood clot in my leg so i had all kind of tests. Also, i went to the hospital with Gallbladder pains..they give me some medication for my stomach ..it stopped by it self! Another symptom that i had for a long time is the need to clear my throat all the time!!! my dr gave me omoprazole for the stomach again and it's gone. i think the anxiety causes all these things to pop up!!
I use to travel every week with my job, loved the outdoors and being with friends! for me to leave the house it takes so much!!! i will go but is like to people live inside me, i will be funny and have a good time but on the inside that little voice of fear and worry
I remember being on vacation in italy and walking on the streets of Rome and i was wondering how far is the hospital in case i had to go!!! i pretty much in the past 8 years i had every symptom on this list and some more..
Thank you for listening xxxxxx
jacqueline06286 maria_03422
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Oh you're welcome maria ,
For me it starting ear neck shoulder head gallbladder pain dizzy fatigue brain fog not sleeping much, I really want my life back, can I ask what I can take I know there's hrt but what multi vitamin can I take.
maria_03422 jacqueline06286
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the only vitamins i take is Vitamin D 4000mg, because my levels are very low ( my dr said that's very common when approaching monopause) and a regular women's multi vitamin.Also start taking a fish oil, my cholesterol is up!!
In 8 years i experience dizziness twice, right before my period was do. if you don't mind me asking how old are you?
jacqueline06286 maria_03422
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I'm 51 has women multi vitamin help ,
I just started perimenopause about 4 months ago I'm really feeling this I use be so active but now I'm just so not into doing anything anymore I have 3 beautiful grandkids and I wish I can do more some times I can't even function.
maria_03422 jacqueline06286
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I just turned 52 and i feel the same way..i have a one year old grand daughter and i can't wait to move back there to spend time with her
i think that might take my mind off all this craziness..
elaine16907 Junglechicken
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Hi,
Any literature is worth reading and getting as much tips as possible please do let me know how you get on and if there's anything you can share here.
Never experiencing bladder issues before I felt completely embrassed as people tend to jump to the obvious judgments about your personal hygiene and relationships. My doctor was the one that pointed out how common and prevelient Uti's infections are in women and also through periMens. Interesting I have been prescribed antibotics on 2 occassions and upon 1 of my culture results not bacterical growth found the 2nd one pending.
jacqueline06286 maria_03422
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jacqueline06286
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Now that I'm thinking back I had a bad yeast infection never in my life did I have this may be this was starting slow and it just hit me hard in October and still is I think I can function better if I didn't have this fatigue tired and definitely the one sided neck ear and head pain ,im on protonix for 2 months for my stomach and I was reading that it also can cause you to have neck head ache and fatigue so I'm wondering between the 2 it's probably it.
jacqueline06286 maria_03422
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maria_03422 jacqueline06286
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jacqueline06286 maria_03422
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Guest jacqueline06286
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maria_03422 jacqueline06286
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all the time, but the anxiety is the worst for me. when i was at the hospital, the ER doctor was a woman in her 50's..she knew right away when i start crying and telling her what is going on. she had told me that she was going through it also and the only thing that had helped her was antidepressants..i don't want to take any.. i do drink chamomile tea at nights calms me down a bit.
I read a lots books
Junglechicken elaine16907
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Not the most relaxing read out there!
jacqueline06286 Guest
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jacqueline06286 maria_03422
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jacqueline06286
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maria_03422 jacqueline06286
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jacqueline06286 maria_03422
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maria_03422 jacqueline06286
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Even a commercial that contains any medical condition i will change😊
Do you get emotional yet? I'm getting better but in the beginning i will cry all the time!!
jacqueline06286 maria_03422
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No not yet, I'm still in the fatigue dizzy and this ear neck shoulder pain on my right side I had it really bad yesterday but today it's there not as bad my head feels funny
elaine16907 jacqueline06286
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completely relate this description and just living and coping with on going pain is tirin once I was able watch medical documentaries and film or dramas now I stay clear.
The ear neck and shoulder pain is grueling plus I've been dealing with auti and up through the night making for a very uunhappy existents.
Appreciate all ladies sharing
elaine16907 ImagineOneDay
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ImagineOneDay elaine16907
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Yes, I have started some of the new ones. A bit nervous if I am doing the right thing by taking too much. So far I take vitamin D, B12, selenium, magnesium, cod liver oil, primrose oil with b6. I also have wellwomen energy. Buy I am keeping it for emergency to give me an energy when I have extreme fatigue.
wishful thinking. Plus I have those menapause combination tablets but not keen on starting that yet. I guessni have to stop my own combibation when i start taking that. Difficult making decision. Let me know how you are when you have a moment. Take care
elaine16907 ImagineOneDay
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Hi Imagine
Sorry for missing your reply. Have started you menopause tablets yet ? I've been taking an simple multi vitamin and a combined Evening Primrose and Starflower oil capsual plus a fortnightly vit D3 but I too wonder is this the best thing to do?
I posted just now about my trip to my GP I just dont get why the heck this process seems so slow and full of obsticals.
Please keep us posted and take care X
ImagineOneDay elaine16907
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GPS are a nightmare and irritatingly slow! Unless absolutely desperate I avoid them. Sad. Take GOOD CARE
KikiP maisie05
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Hello Maisie,
when you experienced your neck pain, was it both sides and did it feel muscular. Like you worked out or even like tension?? I ask because I saw my opthamologist for vision issues and they found an optic nerve hemorrhage which could be caused from Giant cell arteritis which is an autoimmune disorder, treatable, but none the less an autoimmune disease. I don't have any of the symptoms except my neck pain. One of the symptoms is headache but in your temporal area and I guess it's a pretty severe pain. I have a headache, but its dull and I am 3 days into my period. I can't explain what would have caused the optic nerve hemorrhage I guess I am just trying to not FREAK OUT and get some support or reassurance that my neck pain is from peri. UGH!!!!
maisie05 KikiP
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Hi KikiP. I have had the neck pain in both sides but not at the same time. Usually the right side, Over the years I've blamed it on reaching for the mouse at my desk, carrying a bag on my shoulder, peering over the top of my reading glasses which pulls on my neck, carrying my grandchild, strenuous gardening. All down to bad posture habits really. It feels like muscular or tendon strain or like a knot at the top of my shoulder. I think our body needs the hormones to function and as they decline it weakens the muscles and tendons so we feel any strains more.
Your optic nerve hemorrhage sounds scary and I hope you find the answers you are looking for.
elaine16907 ImagineOneDay
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I agree if we ladies werent left to fight through these symptoms alone and given correct advice in the led up maybe we wouldn't need to run around grabbing pills from everywhere trying to slolve our own problems. What I've discovered is that most meno supplements prehaps don't have the required potency and make up for what a women actually requires interms of their hormon replacement?
Mouth ulcers I sem to also have a few too just another bell to our long and winding list!!
Please do keep us posted and of course take GOOD CARE too x
elaine16907 KikiP
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I have had alot of pain in the left side of my neck for months now its really been worrying alot alongside this I have too left eye pain and discomfort almost a feeling that at the top back of my eye ball a grittiness and ache its really scary. I recently had an appointment with my opticians and a full eye test was carried out she felt the health of my eye showed no problems but if this continued I should ask my GP (dear I say it) to refer me to a specialist. Both the neck and eye pain seem to happen together my neck on left side feels strained and pulled and tight on shoulder so could be muscular but also it pain feeling stingy (I know weird right) Headaches do come in also on the left generally symptoms seem interconnected. Wow I so grateful for you sharing this information I will just need go back and insist for specialist for eyes to look a this again and pysiotherapy. Sounds really worrying I know dry eyes are a symptom of peri and read an article on the MayoClinic about this too. I hope you get the treated soon and please do keep us posted on your progress x
elaine16907 Junglechicken
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sangs1992 maria_03422
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uneasy n scary feeling
shaking feeling in the middle of the night too
also any mention of any diesease in a movie or whataspp makes me skip a heart bit kind
i get emotional sometimes even on the emotional drama in a reality show(i dont see the show,,even the ads r enough)
maria_03422 sangs1992
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what do you do when you have the shaking feeling? is so hard to describe it, is like you waiting for something bad to happen!! it's overwhelming!
jacqueline06286 maria_03422
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How are you feeling
maria_03422 jacqueline06286
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hey Jacqueline
i'm not doing that great this week..
one good thing mammogram came back normal, i had it done at the Lynn women's center ?in Boca Raton. i got to see my kids and grand daughter but the whole time i was miserable inside!!
the past week my heart beat it keeps going up without even doing anything..i just get this funny anxious feeling and i will get it.. my son was yelling at me because i've been taking zicam for over a week every 3 hours because i was thinking i was coming down with the flu!!! and he said that one of the side effects is raise heartbeat!! i'm about to get my period in a few days and i think that's what it is!! i'm tired and depressed!!
to top everything else i haven't sleeping good..enough about me how are you doing?
hope you had a good weekend and the ear is getting better.
xxxxxx
jacqueline06286 maria_03422
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Thank God your mama came back fine my ear pain has subsided some still have fatigue every day and the right side of head I feel a little pain also my teeth on that side went to dentist he did a ct scan and everything looks good it's funny it's my upper teeth I'm scheduled for an mri on Tuesday I was reading we have hormone receptors all over are body so that explains it also waiting to get a clear from cardiologist I think I'm going for bioidentical hormone treatment I heard it's good, I'm just tired of this.