Menopause

hi jan - i just had a similar situation, i have been suffering from really achy/sore knees with extreme discomfort in my right knee - chalked it up to "menopause aches & pains". Finally when the right knee pain was keeping me up @ night i decided to pay for an MRi out of pocket since my insurance wouldnt cover it. The radiologists interpretation seemed reasonable...ligament sprain, meniscus fraying, modererate size Bakers cyst etc. i deceided to go to an orthopedic dr & when he walked into the room he said"so do you know whats causing your knee pain?" & i proudly told him what the MRi interpretation said & he said those are the least of your worries, you have almost bone on bone with just a sliver of cartledge left - so i guess the moral to the story is we cant self diagnose - good luck!

I am 50 and I also have been period free for 16 months. I am so sorry about your health issues.

You are right not everything can not be chalked up to menopause. That is why I go to the ER, Dr, or/and Gyno. One should never discount major discomfort. ESPECIALLY if it is severe or last for an extended period of time. I had bad aches in my right breast and even in my left. But the right breast has bothered me for the better part of a week and a half. It worried me so much that I went to the ER. They ran blood test and chest xrays and and EKG and found nothing amiss. I had an appointment with my Dr.s RN Practitioner to get a referral for my annual mammogram. She did a breast exam and didn't find any lumps, (I didn't either with my self exam). So Monday I have a 3D mammogram appt with an ultrasound afterwards. My breast pain has lightened to almost gone. I am suspect it is hormones, but I am still getting it checked out to be sure.

I think that most of us on here realize that our bodies are telling us something, and when we go for testing and they don't find anything that is what is disturbing. I think that most of us do not just "self diagnose" But we look for reassurance from others to calm our fears until we can find out what is going on.

As we age we are susceptible to arthritis, diabetes, osteoporosis, etc. because of hormone depletion and age. But also genetics and life choices play a factor too. We would like to think it only happens to the elderly but it doesn't.

Anything odd, pain or otherwise that last two weeks, I make an appt with my Dr.

I have gone in because of severe dizziness and nausea in the past I couldn't function let alone drive.

My doctor said it was BVVP after examination. Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo and it is pretty common. It lasted about about three weeks for me. I went in to see what was causing it after two days.

I was hospitalized with CHF about 6 years ago. My ignoring my body's signals and my health nearly cost me my life. But just the same I don't think MOST of us simply just chalk our symptoms up to menopause.

I do want to say it is a good lesson for all of us if our current Dr isn't listening to our issues then we need to find someone who will. I was lucky to go to get the new NP instead of my Dr who may have dismissed my issue.

I am glad you got someone who was able to get the test that led to your diagnosis. Now you can hopefully get the help you need.

Good luck and speedy recovery.