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
jane14832 jayneejay
Posted
francella02633 jane14832
Posted
My feet don't hurt but my knee my shoulders sometime my lower back is a vicious cycle ugh. 😑
kjvands jane14832
Posted
Jane, I wonder that too! I hope post menopause they subside. I too have the joint pain including my feet like you and low back like Francella. Got worse last Nov with longer and shorter cycles, heavy and lighter flow - it’s a mixed bag! I started all this late 30’s with “mild” symptoms and now severe in last year at age 49. Sigh.
Wishing you well and hopefully relief in the near future for you 😌
lisa95354 jane14832
Posted
lisa95354 jane14832
Posted
sonya1968 jayneejay
Posted
I turned 50 in March and it’s been all down hill from there.
My lower back, nausea when eating, itchy skin, sore joints and list goes on. And then this morning I woke to the feeling like my feet were broken! Like I’ve done a marathon and they are just so sore.
My period has been whenever it seems to feel like it but the last one was only some dark spotting for about a week and then it stopped. Not sure if that’s the end of them or not but I hope so.
I have made an appt to see my gp in a couple of weeks and see if there is anything I can take to help with all these symptoms. I would prefer to go natural.
I’ve heard evening primrose oilnis good.
Can any of you lovely ladies recommend something from a health food store or chemist that I could take also.
Look forward to chatting with you all and hopefully get a few of these symptoms under control.
Regards
Sonya
maria_03422 sonya1968
Posted
Hi Sonya,
You are in the right place, i've been suffering with this for the past 8 years!!
what helped some was illiminating sugar, caffeine and alcohol!!! walking and exercising is a big plus!!! i walk 40 minutes a day and i feel so much better and helps with my sleep.. Also, try to avoid stress!!
welcome again, and we are here for you!!
Maria
kjvands sonya1968
Posted
Hi Sonya,
Sorry you have to go through this too! Similar to you I googled in June (age 48) all my symptoms and found this group. It has saved me from so much worry and the help from this community is amazing.
I first visited my gp but she wasn’t helpful, dismissed my symptoms and wanted to put me on antidepressants. I’ve seen in other posts here this is quite common. I went to some specialists like a neurologist (gp didn’t want to send me but I pushed) to rule out diseases and ease my mind (I have lots of muscle, nerve, and joint pain) and then found a naturopathic doctor who specializes in women’s health. She sent me for tests to check my hormones and extensive thyroid and both came back way out of range or at the cusp (thyroid). She is working with me through supplements, etc to treat my symptoms. For example, I’m taking a product called Healthy Hormones (would only take this under care of ND). I like this practitioner as she works out of a pharmacy that also compounds and they will make specific products for your situation. I still need certain meds for pain at times and she hasn’t dismissed that like another naturopath I first saw.
Long story
short in my opinion most gps aren’t helpful in our situations, specialists won’t acknowledge that perimenopause could be the culprit, and if you go the route of a naturopathic doctor to choose one that’s balanced (e.g. doesn’t dismiss meds) and is knowledgeable on women’s health/ issues.
Personally I am overhauling my life. Some things.. trying to cut out coffee and sugar (like Maria said), have a regular sleep schedule, taking psyllium husk twice daily (with lots of water is important!) to help alleviate constipation and promote A+ bowel movements
which helps reduce low back pain, and reduce stress to lower cortisol hormone (I get stressed a lot!) which competes with our feel good hormone progesterone.
Hope this (lengthy
post is helpful in some way! Wishing you all the best 😌
Karen
sonya1968 kjvands
Posted
Hi Karen. Appreciate the reply. I think I am going to try a women’s health doctor after your comments. I was seeing a naturopath but he retired so I will search for another.
I have got so much pain in my lower abdomen this morning I can’t even wear my usual pants. I’m resorting to stretch pants 🙁
My period was due a week or so ago and nothing. Def not pregnant lol but I know this isn’t nice but I have been getting a yellow discharge instead and it’s worrying me a little. I don’t have any thrush symptoms of being itchy and when I get it, it feels like I’m getting my period 🤔🤔🤔
Thanks again and I will keep you posted.
Regards
Sonya
kjvands sonya1968
Posted
Hi Sonya, I’m in stretch pants too today due to lower abdomen pain! My feet really hurt yesterday like you but are fine today. Weird stuff😞
In June I had yellow/brown spotting for a week when I was supposed to have gotten my period. It felt similar like you said but for me the smell was horrible and like someone described on here rotten meat (sorry to be gross!). That freaked me out but then next cycle was back to the usual bleeding and no bad smell and has been that way since. I hope not to get one of the spotting cycles again but who knows! I find myself rating my symptoms and happy when the not so bad ones show up as opposed to the really bad ones lol.
Chat soon,
Karen
lisa95354 kjvands
Posted
Hey Karen, that was good information you gave, it has to be lengthy like mine 😉 in order to get all the good info in there ;-Did I tell you previously about the supplement for the thyroid, it’s kelp and kelp supplies the iodine. Nobody gets enough iodine, that’s why we all have thyroid issues, it’s really bad in my area, did you know that? It works really well for the thyroid. Cutting all that caffeine is just so necessary. I got some fabulous tea at TJ Maxx, it was green tea tropical, it was so good. But I finished the cup and my heart was triple beating, my own fault. I sure do miss a good cuppa coffee and all my teas are decaffeinated as well 🍵 My partner said, just go ahead and have a cup, but I told him, you don’t understand how I will suffer if I do😭 Have a great weekend 🍁
kjvands lisa95354
Posted
Lisa I adore you and your posts! Your lengthy ones 😊 are too packed full of the good stuff. When I write I should be quoting you half the time as you’ve helped me so much🙌
Thank you for the thyroid tip! Is that a pill or powder and purely kelp or a mix of stuff?
Oh I’m loving the green tea too. I have a decaf one that contains I3C, the stuff in liberal brassica veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, etc.) and is supposed to help metabolize estrogen. ND suggested it. Tastes good, not like broccoli thankfully😁
I had an espresso yesterday and today with my partner and am feeling not my best. For a few minutes of pleasure it can be a day of suffering😞 A little cheesed at myself today for succumbing.
You have a great weekend too! I like your fall leaf - today is finally cool here in Toronto and it’s so refreshing 👍
lisa95354 kjvands
Posted
Thank you again for the positive words 😇 And yes, thank God it’s cooling off, it’s been a dreadfully blazing humid summer w/ very little rain. The kelp are small pills. Where do you get that tea, that’s good it doesn’t taste like broccoli 🥦🤮 Do you also get very sore/inflammation when you consume caffeine, I do. You are right, one simple pleasure and it wreaks havoc all day 😔 I would like a scientific explanation on that. I mean, we drank it all our lives and BAM, it kicks us in the a** at this time, strange! Have a great week??
lisa95354 kjvands
Posted
So check this out, great article on our infamous foot pain,
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.firstforwomen.com/posts/aching-feet-141588.amp
Turns out our foot pads get thinner as we age, most women who had pregnancies have permanent foot damage. Due to decreased collagen our feet are no longer supported the way they weee before mean-o-pause...etc Good article, there are exercises in this article that help w/ foot pain. Makes perfect sense of our debilitatingly aching, painful feet!
kjvands lisa95354
Posted
Thanks Lisa for the article! I’ve been doing some reading on collagen as a result. I didn’t realize the benefits related to muscles. Thought it only kept us looking youthful! I may introduce bone broth in my diet.
Thanks too for the kelp info.
Yes when I drink coffee it definitey causes inflammation and soreness. It’s mostly in/ on my arms and legs.
Overall question.. do you have symptoms most of the time? I find I have 95% of the time whether it be one thing and mild or a host of things. I had a symptom free evening last week and it was so great but short-lived.
Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend 😌
kjvands lisa95354
Posted
It’s brassica tea- green tea (decaf for me) and contains truebroc (glucoraphanin from broccoli seeds). I get it from my ND but I see you can order it online.
lisa95354 kjvands
Posted
For some reason I’m getting these notifications late, I just received this from you, sorry about that. As far as symptons, they’re pretty much constant merri-go-round of which one it’s going to be. I do find that when I keep busy they sometimes are all but forgotten, short lived again ! I thought collagen was for beauty alone as well, Who knew, but then again, who knows anything about this ridiculous time in our lives. I do find when I stay away from sugar, caffeine, alcohol and additives, preservatives, everything is much better. This is probably mother nature telling us to purge all the SH… From our systems. I’ve been having the leg pain at night really bad the last several nights, I do use a product called Restless Legs by Natrabio, but I had an extra box, after running out, in the linen cabinet, and forgot, par for the course😭 Hope this finds you doing well.
lisa95354 kjvands
Posted
Oh geeeeze, sorry that happened. I went to a new doctor last week, he’s from the Middle East and very into natural cures. He suggested 5HTP and L –THEANINE before bedtime and he said that the L-THEANINE can be used in the afternoon for anxiety as well. He also suggested a natural sleep product by Olly called, I think, Restful Sleep. If you Google natural sleep product by Olly it’s a purple container. I’ve also started using Danactive natural probiotic mini drinks in the morning, by Dannon, I love them. I’m on a heart monitor now for a month, my doctor thinks I possibly could have bradycardia. I had 2 terrifying episodes, one on May 14 and one on August 14, where I felt like my heart stopped, not like the SVTs at all. He said it sounds like bradycardia, because what I described in the symptoms, sounded like my heart stopping, and starting again, that’s why I had such a rush of blood and felt like I was gonna pass out, actually I felt like I was dying and like I was having a stroke or heart attack. My pharmacist thought it sounded like a fib, but two friends I have that have a fib said that I would know if I had a fib and that is not what they have as a symptom at all. Hope this finds you doing well 😇
kjvands lisa95354
Posted
I'm having issues too with the site. Last eve I could no longer get access through my phone. Kept getting an "uh-oh" screen from this site so now logging in on my computer. Ya you're probably right about mother nature sending us a message. I don't however like her delivery style LOL. I do feel a lot better like you when I stick to the "rules" of no sugar, caffeine, etc and then I start to feel a bit better and I fall off the wagon back to the bad stuff - it's a viscous cycle. Hopefully one of these days I have the willpower to 100% stick to the plan! Battling a cold - first one since late peri meno kicked in and it's got me good. Some of my other syptoms are more pronounced as a result like low back pain. This too shall pass and sunnier days are around the corner. Chat soon my friend 😃
kjvands lisa95354
Posted
That sounds like a great doctor you're seeing. I used 5 HTP for quite a few years in my 30's and it really helped. I had to stop eventually as at the time you could only use for a number of years and then it was no longer effective. Not sure if that's still the case. Thanks for the suggestions on the other products! So sorry to hear about your heart episodes. That sounds very scary. When will your month be up and you get your results from wearing the monitor? I'm hoping it's nothing serious. Please keep me posted. Positive thoughts your way xo
lisa95354 kjvands
Posted
Nobody wants to see an uh -oh screen 😦 yes food is so delicious it is hard to stick to a strict regimen. I had sweeten low in my decaffeinated coffee this morning and my knees are no hurting. Did you know that artificial sweeteners have what’s called cytokines, they set off your nerve endings and cause inflammation. Do you ever try the supplement Tzanck when you have a cold, it’s amazing, it really hit the Tzanck, make sure you eat because it can upset the stomach if you don’t. I also love that Airborne tablet that you put in water. are you into essential oil‘s, I apologize if I recommended them before. If you do not have an essential oil diffuser, they are a must especially during cold season. The best essential oil during illness is called, Thieves. There are a lot of oil’s out there that don’t have that name but they’re the same thing. They contain eucalyptus, cinnamon clove, lemon and rosemary. it looks like the format of the form changed, I’m sorry you have to go to your computer, that’s a pain in the rear end. I keep having this cramping of all places in my glutes, and the restless leg was terrible the last week and a half, if that’s technically what it is. I can’t even sleep on my side for long without my legs aching and feeling like blood clots. and yes it is a Myriad of symptoms. hope this finds you feeling better 😃
lisa95354 kjvands
Posted
THank you for your positive thoughts, I forgot to tell you, my sites driving me crazy too. I try to read ingredients and I’m moving it towards me ...away from me ... like an 'old' person 😉 That’s interesting to know about the 5 HTP, I will ask him about that, it makes sense, I think that has been said about melatonin also. I am supposed to wear this till November 3, I had it put on last Thursday. But if I have one of those serious events all I have to do is capture that and I don’t think I have to wear anymore. Because that’s what he needs captured to see what it is. The bazaar thing is both times I was eating a chocolate malt from Culvers, why would that have anything to do with it, and both incidents were on the 14th of the month, three months apart, there is no way that is coincidental. The second time it happened I had actually had the chocolate malt the day before, at 5 PM, but the incident happened the next day at 5 PM, so strange. Also, The 14th is always when I have ovulated for years and years on end, my period was always regular like clockwork. I don’t get my periods, but I still think that has something to do with my body trying to ovulate. Because my pharmacist said even though your period is gone, your body still tries to make the egg, maddening! I noticed you can’t do the emoji faces on this anymore either, I have an iPhone, it just shows a ? Now when you try to do it 😦
kjvands lisa95354
Posted
Hi Lisa, hope you had a good weekend and the monitor situation is going well. Thinking about you lots. That is interesting about the 14th. If nothing comes back from the monitor I would think there is some correlation. And the malts.. have you cut caffeine otherwise and the malt is a jolt of caffeine? May be grasping at straws here but just a thought.
Re artificial sweeteners I can't have them as they give me an instant intense headache and stomachache so that's interesting what you wrote! Thanks for your cold tips and the essential oils. I bought a kit of roll-on bottles with different mixtures you can carry with you but haven't tried the diffuser as of yet.
Just had 2.5 weeks of little to no symptoms and it was so nice to feel like my old self. Yesterday leg cramps and tingling started during the day along with some hot flashes and a few other symptoms. Been up most of the night with the cramps and sweats. I guess I'm back at it again. Not in the best mental state at the moment as a result. And I have a busy work day ahead of me. How are we supposed to keep going like this? I know I'll have good days again but wow this is really frustrating at times.
ps I miss using the good emojis!
Hope you're well friend,
Karen
lisa95354 kjvands
Posted
Good Morning Karen, hope you had a good weekend as well. Thank you for the thoughts regarding the monitor, I already mailed it back to the company. I’m not wearing that for a month, that’s crazy. The doctor said it was ok because I had it on for almost 2 weeks. I think you’re right about the caffeine in the chocolate from the malt, but I have other things occasionally with chocolate and has never done that, it’s so odd. But I’m Not eating another one of those malts, I’ll tell you that much;) I also with the symptoms was having reoccurring cold sores because of the fluctuation in hormones and yeast infections. That just happened again Monday but I slammed that product called Airborne, it comes in a tube, tablets that dissolve in water. I took one of those every hour or every other hour on Monday and it knocked the start of the cold sore out and the yeast infection. Did I suggest to you before chelated magnesium for the leg cramps, it works very well and it helps with sleep. I take it at bedtime, I know at night it can be relentless. If you could find a meno supplement with soy isoflavone, red clover blossom extract, dong quai, Chastaeberry and licorice, it might help you greatly. That is what’s in my compounded menopause support from my pharmacy along with other vitamins such as D, E, B1, two, six, 12, calcium and magnesium. I would like to find one less expensive online as the one I get from him is $25 a month. I also have a spray bottle that I keep several drops of essential peppermint oil and water in by my bedside, I was just using that this morning and I put it between my breasts, my four arms and my stomach, cools you down quickly. That’s a dream to go 2 weeks symptom free, unfortunately the symptoms start again. Does it seem like the symptoms started at your time of ovulation? I know what you mean it really does affect us mentally:( when I was having hot flashing much worse I would keep a small cooler by my bed at night with those ice gel packs and put them on the core of my chest, between my breasts and that cools you down immediately. i’m having a blood panel done next week and go back to the doctor October 31, interested to see how my thyroid is. Have you had your thyroid checked? A friend of mine just told me recently that’s why she was having heart palpitations so bad. She started taking thyroid medication and it stopped those immediately. I have not been back to work since we took care of my mother when she had a stroke. I would like to find something part time. I will be sending you positive thoughts, realize that we are all in this together and you’re not alone:) I am with you, I miss the emoji‘s. Hope you have a blessed day !
kjvands lisa95354
Posted
Hi Lisa, how are you doing? Happy to hear you could rid yourself of the monitor. Imagine that's unpleasant.
I hope your thyroid results are good tomorrow. My ND checked four thyroid numbers and one is on the cusp due to perimeno of course. She hasn't specifically addressed it yet as she wants to see if the other supplements she has me on bring it down.
So I had almost three weeks of no pain and now I'm going through one of the worst cycles again. Low back pain where it's hard to get around and also searing burning skin spots. My worst cycles appear to
be when at day 13-14 my body tries to have a period but can't and the time from then to whenever I get it is torture. Two cycles ago the period came at day 13 and I had so much relief after.
Mentally this has me in a dark place the last week as I'm starting to fear these down cycles, how long they'll last and the debilitating low back pain where I can't function well at work/life in general. And too I'm tired of thinking about this stuff and being distracted by for example searing skin. I'm thinking of seeing someone for mental coping strategies (not through medication as that's not the answer for me!). This would be new for me. Have you ever seen someone in this regard?
Hope you're doing well xo
lisa95354 kjvands
Posted
Hey KJ... I am sorry you are having a difficult time, you are correct, it happens when your body is supposed to be having a period And also ovulating, those are the two worst times for me as well. I also know what you mean about being in a dark place as this really can put you there. Ironically in the last month I have tried to see someone. After all the referral BS through my doctor, it has taken weeks. So I’m p****d off as I think I’m being given a hard time due to my insurance. Very frustrating. I don’t blame you for looking for help, this is the most debilitating thing ever! I started using CBD oil, by the company MEDTERRA, did I already mentioned it, sorry if I did, it seems to help with pain. And I know what you mean, this pain is truly debilitating, when I get up in the morning I walk like I’m 80 years old. My husband said it scares him, I’m like well don’t know what to tell you there. Yes I am interested to see how my thyroid is, knock wood hopefully it’s okok. My pharmacist sells a supplement that he Compounds with kelp and iodine, if it’s off I’ll try that. I also go for my yearly to the gynecologist on Thursday and I’m having her test my hormones and I am going to have my pharmacist compound HRT, based off the hormone levels because I’m done with this BS. Please remember you’re not alone, because I know this does make a person feel alone. I hope you can find someone good to talk to, as I know that can be difficult in that field, but I say go for it 😉
kjvands lisa95354
Posted
Thanks Lisa:) Yes agree those are the worst times of the cycle.
How was your thyroid result?
Sorry to hear you're getting the run around trying to see someone. I can get assistance through a confidential work program but not sure they will be what I need. I guess something to look into.
The rheumatologist I saw in Aug prescribed cbd oil so I've been trying it out periodically last few months. It wasn't helping much so I had a check-in last week and a nurse on staff told me to take .3 mls 3x a day so it's always in my system. However as the pain comes and goes I'm not sure I want to be on it all the time. And dang it's expensive! How are you using it?
For HRT will you go the bioidentical
route? I'm using progesterone from the ND at day 14 to the end of my cycle transdermally on my wrist but I wonder how effective transdermal is (?). I've read there is a BHRT option you can have inserted below the skin but my ND's clinic
doesn't have the license for this.
Yes this can be a lonely time and especially when your peers are sailing or have sailed through this part of life and think you're a little "off" or suggest stress is causing the symptoms, etc.
Thanks as always for your replies. Wishing you much relief xo
lisa95354 kjvands
Posted
KJ... yes that’s what I don’t like about the CBD oil, you have to take it consistently and you have to get the dosage down right because it’s different for everybody. I didn’t think it was working either until I started taking the right dosage for me. But I am like you, it was expensive and I can’t spend $50-$75 every two weeks for that oil. I need to be very thankful, my blood tests were all very good, white blood cell count was a little low but my pharmacist said that that’s actually good because it means that I am pretty healthy and my body is not fighting off anything. He said I had too much B 12 which my pharmacist who does all the compounding said he found that to be very strange because my doctor sends people to him to get high doses of B 12. I’m only taking 100 MGs the day. I think what we need is a really good Shaman:) I have been through counseling before and it is very difficult to find a good counselor. I’m sure you can pay out the wah zoo and find an excellent psychiatrist but no one has that kind of money, not me. what I find very interesting is he said my blood panel showed no inflammation which my jaw dropped and I told him that’s impossible and he said why I said because I can barely walk some days. My pharmacist reviews blood profiles so he wants me to bring it in to go over it with him. My gynecologist doesn’t have the P.E.T. hormone replacement either, that’s what it’s called, it’s progesterone, estrogen, testosterone, I think that goes in the glutes. I watch the reality show housewives of Beverly Hills and Yolanda Foster was using it and it made her hormones perfect. Who knows what the answer is, my brain feels like a Ferris wheel. what’s insane is we basically have to navigate this on our own. my doctor told me yesterday that the gynecologist never gives HRT anymore I think because it was causing cancer, but that’s a myth, they obviously weren’t doing the correct amount. He said that they prefer to give people and anti depressants, that’s nuts! like my pharmacist has said before, we’re not short of Effexor wenare short of hormones so why would we go on that or anything else! thanks for the chitchat, it really helps us !
kjvands lisa95354
Posted
Happy weekend Lisa:) So glad your bloodwork came back normal. I get you on the inflammation as mine also came back normal yet I feel inflamed most of the time. One of my whites was a little low too but apparently no cause for concern.
Had a follow-up visit with the rheumatologist post Aug appt at her request and she noticed some symptoms this round in addition to some of my others for scleroderma so waiting for blood results on that. I hope I don't have that as it looks to be a terrible disease.
I've started a new symptom of nausea. It's usually after I eat. Do you get this? I can't recall seeing it on this forum.
I'm 2.5 weeks of a really bad bout of symptoms and it's wearing me down. Waiting on my ND to see if she can advise a mental health practitioner. Like you anti-depressants aren't the answer for me. It's strategies and techniques to cope mentally and physically. That pill won't fix my sore muscles, joints, nausea, cramps etc etc. My former GP in June her only answer was a pill and when I challenged her she said "well you look good, you must feel good". Wow.
I must watch the Housewives to see PET in the derriere in action;) Is PET HRT or BHRT?
Hope you're having a restful weekend xo
lisa95354 kjvands
Posted
HEY KJ...... First and foremost, shame on your old doctor for even saying you look good so you must feel good, what an a-hole. Some of these doctors ...the things that come out of their mouths are ridiculous. And the scleroderma...I have two friends that have that. The one has what was cold 'inside scleroderma' where it affected I believe her organs and she’s doing fine. My other friend had the one where the skin tightens up and she takes medication and is doing very well also. She also had 2 children after the diagnosis and to my knowledge, and is still doing well. I think they have come leaps and bounds with that disease. I was always fascinated about that disease, The actress Dana Plato, her mother had it, and I believe the Dad from the show, full house, his sister had it. I just found it so interesting. I did read years ago where it said that silica could be causing that in some people. My one friend who has it, her father did work at a sand plant. But I believe silica comes in many different forms, as it can also be a filler for vitamins. What I do find very ironic is that both my friends that have it ", we all worked for the same company. It was nothing industrial, we worked as account managers/customer service in an office environment. But I thought, there’s no way that’s a coincidence it had to be something in the building. I do remember a lot of people getting sick in that building now that I’m thinking of it. I also hope that is not what you have, I would think that would be fairly easy to rule out though, isn’t it? Hey I was thinking of you and some others on this site, and I was thinking have you ever tried bone broth, it is supposed to be very healing for the stomach and all of our health comes from our gut. it also heals gastritis, I had a terrible bout with that a few years back and it did work very well. I made homemade bone broth a couple years ago and I made it on and off. I did find it to be very nourishing and comforting and it did help with all my inflammation. And isn’t it strange that we have all kinds of inflammation but yet on both of our blood test came back that there was none, give me a break. I need to make an appointment to go over my blood profile with my pharmacist, who is a genius. He told me that your blood test can show that there’s no inflammation but you can still have a lot of inflammation. He was going to explain it to me at our appointment. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers, thanks for getting back to me:)
kjvands lisa95354
Posted
Happy weekend Lisa! Hope it's a restful, symptom free one for you 😃
Yes my old gp did my head in with her attitude. This is a difficult time in our lives and when your doctor doesn't believe your symptoms it's very troubling and worrisome.
Did your pharmacist talk to you about inflammation yet? Would be curious to hear what he has to say.
I'm still in full flare-up. Losing track of the weeks now. My low back pain started Sat morn and have been on the couch laid up since then. The tears were rolling a few hours ago and my poor bf once again had to find a way to console me. He's great but I worry the pressure this puts on him.
One of my issues is I haven't had a bowel movement in three days. I missed a few of my twice daily taking psyllium husk and now the SH** has hit the fan (or well quite the opposite!). Think it's partly contributing to the low back pain and the other culprit is the 13 years of my once 21 day cycle means my body is trying to have a period but no success. Ugh;(
As for scleroderma, sorry to hear some of your friends have it but happy they are doing well. My bloodwork had to be sent to a special lab in another province to be tested so it takes 2-3 weeks. Tues is two weeks so I will call the rheuma then. If I don't have this, I will ask about eosinophilic fasciitis as when I was researching scleroderma this popped up and I have 95% of the symptoms unlike scleroderma. It is diagnosed typically through a muscle biopsy. I had accepted fully a few months back this was all perimenopause but wondering again what else is going on because it's hard
to believe all my muscle and nerve pain is fully perimeno related. But then not too long ago I had almost three weeks of no symptoms so is that in line with these rheuma diseases and disorders? Not sure about that based on the reading I have done. Strange stuff.
Re the bone broth, I see scleroderma has an overproduction of collagen component to it so as much as I'm itching to try it, I'm waiting to see my results. Not sure there's any issue there but will wait to see and then investigate if need be.
I've seen a lot lately about liver health and if there's e.g. copper toxicity then a host of symptoms can result from this. I've been toying with the idea of a liver cleanse "diet" or different way of eating to see if it helps the inflammation.
Hope you are well and as always thank you for listening and sharing you're amazing knowledge and tips xo
lisa95354 kjvands
Posted
Hey there Karen/KJ… Do you live in London? when you say Province I wasn’t sure 😃 I would’ve thought an abundance of collagen would be a good thing, that’s what makes our skin look great 😉 For some reason this website messes up when I dictate into my iPhone, it duplicates sentences, if you ever see that it’s an error, people probably think I’m drunk LOL. Have you tried milk thistle, I do the milk thistle supplement that is liquid, and I absolutely love it. After my friend lost her mother several years ago, she was in so much physical pain, they thought she had fibromyalgia, it was depression. Depression and mourning/grieving can give us terrible physical symptoms. I know what you mean about your body trying to have a period. I think the symptoms are actually worse than actually having a period, because our bodies are so confused. I actually have had terrible problems with my feet for a long time now. Do you remember my one post where I did some investigating and found out that collagen breaks down at this time of our life in our feet, and that is what we need for structure for our feet and the padding on our feet thins out. I still think I’m going to the foot doctor, cause I’m not sure if my arches are not dropping 😦 Obviously the collagen breaks down everywhere, because my face is looking very aged, I hate it, the estrogen makes us look younger and is the natural pain fighter, when that decreases, oh boy look out. I have not made the appointment with my pharmacist yet, I will let you know when I do. That’s one of the symptoms also with this stage of life, I don’t want to go anywhere or doing anything, only if necessary. I forgot, did I tell you to try the supplement, flaxseed oil for your bowels, it might help. Sending you smiles, hope you had a good weekend.
kjvands lisa95354
Posted
Good morn Lisa! I'm north of you:) in Toronto and my blood had to be sent to Calgary. What state are you in?
If I can take collagen I will ingest by the gallons as my body is turning into a saggy mess lol. I work with mostly 20 and 30 year olds and some days I envy their youth.
Haha re the drinks/typos. I thought maybe you were drinking your way through menopause - just kidding 😉
I think my job has contributed to more severe symptoms as it has been very stressful the last three years and has made me very anxious. It's calmed down somewhat the last few months but I constantly fear it ramping up again. So definitely your depression (anxiety for me) comment make sense to me.
I'm happy to say I finally had a big bowel movement this morn after three days! and my back is already starting to feel better. Why I was so backed up is a mystery. Thank you for the flaxseed tip.
You know what? I also no longer care to go out much. I always had FOMO and attended lots of things but now love to put on my onesie flannels and putter around the house or watch youtube travel food channels.
Smiles your way too xo
lisa95354 kjvands
Posted
hey KG/Karen… I’m sorry... I asked you that before because I told you how gorgeous I think Canada is. I love seeing it in movies, its such beautiful scenery. What do you do for a living, that would be difficult to be going through this and working with younger people. But when I find myself feeling that way if I see young girls at the store etc... or young women, I think ...they’re going to be my age and going through what we’re going through and we were their age once ... honestly makes you feel better. You must be spying on me, I am kind of drinking my way through menopause LOL Have you found that wearing certain materials makes u hot Flash more? Glad to hear you got your plumbing to work 😉 this forUm is becoming very annoying I can’t dictate any longer because it duplicates everything or says something completely different. I understand what you mean about stress, it makes everything 100 times worse. Hope you have a beautiful evening, I almost forgot, I am in Illinois 😃
kjvands lisa95354
Posted
Hi Lisa, hope you had a lovely thanksgiving! Fingers crossed it was symptom free and maybe some food indulgences in there 😮)
Yes Canada does have some beautiful spots especially the east and west coasts. Ontario, where I am, north is really pretty.
I have never been to Illinois but Chicago is on my bucket list!
I work in sales and marketing falls within our group. It's quite large but again a younger crowd. You're right they will hit this stage one day too. I was chatting with a few of them the other day and told them some symptoms and they said "isn't it over in a year?" and I said "no gals this can be like 5-10 or more years!" It's really interesting how after decades of this crap us women really have no clue until it happens! Shame on the medical community.
Yes certain materials are a killer now. I donated all my wool items a few weeks ago. Too darn hot. Tight synthetic is going too being replaced by cooler natural fibres and if synthetic it's soft and loose. Flat shoes too now whereas a year ago I was wearing heels still. What's your wardrobe these days?
How are you doing overall?
A week ago Sat I woke up with debilitating low back pain. I was flat on my back with a heating pad until Wed at 5 pm when I got my period and 95% of my pain went away. I jumped off the couch and almost did cartwheels! I have some residual pain as my back was wrenched for so long. This is the 3rd time since June when the SH** really hit the fan for me. First time the back was 10 days, Sept 2 days, and this 5. Needless to say my work is suffering so it's back to the GP on Monday to ask her how I manage work and chronic pain. PS no results yet on the scleroderma. I have an appt next week with the rheumatologist for a compression socks fitting for my leg muscle pain (turning into my late grandmother!) and will ask again then.
I'm starting a gluten free diet to see if it helps my muscle and nerve pain. I'm on day 2. My sister has one third of my muscle symptoms and is getting good results as she started about 6 months ago. Have you tried any diets? I will post a general question to the group too as curious what ppl have tried.
Hope all is well on your end xo