Menopause is a TSUNAMI: How do you cope with this blank, blank double hockey sticks on Earth?

Hey There, Cass 63...

Regarding post-menopausal, I, too, HONESTLY thought my symptoms would disappear or even subside somewhat, simply because that's what I've been told and read in countless magazines, on-line journals and newspaper articles. The UNADULTERATED truth is: My symptoms got worse in this FINAL stage of HELL on earth, as one poster put it! Sometimes, I feel DEFEATED by this TSNUNAMI, and then, I convince myself, that this too shall pass, and I await with bated breath for it to pass. For the past few months, I've been calling the toll free prayer line for prayer, because many times, we as women don't know where to turn to get RELIEF from this ANOMALY!!! Although it is a natural part of our lives, how I wished.... the womenfolk in my life would have WARNED me about menopause and ALL that it entails. It is absolutely HORRIFIC and debilitating! Anyhoo, be well, my menopausal sistah...

yes... why aren't we warned? and i am perimenopausal (45yo) currently and I hate to think it is gonna get WORSE ... terrifying... I am new to this so I'm sure I'm of no help but I will say the few things that have given me some relief: magnesium glycinate 300mg per day (for blood pressure and anxiety, as well as palpitations) , vitamin E (for breast pain mainly but it is said to help with lots of things. it helps with my breast pain almost 100%), drinking plenty of water (although I'm on the toilet so much now. I remember just a few years ago I could go 6 hours without peeing. I'm lucky to go 2 hours now...)

other things I'm trying are a mushroom complex which includes the lion's mane mushroom (which is anecdotally praised for help with menopause symptoms)... evening primrose oil (although I'm supposed to take 3 of those 3 times a day... that's too much for me to stomach, honestly. I take 2 of them twice a day instead.

I'm also taking a b complex even though niacin makes me flush and I don't like it. so I only take half of the tablet..

who knows if these things will help? I hope and pray for relief for us all.

For a while I thought the burning legs symptom was something else too, so did my mom. She took me to countless doctors, an endocrinologist, you name it.

Everything turned out fine. I was thinking I had some kind of nerve disorder, my mom was thinking fibromyalgia, etc.

Mine started as a cool burn in both legs (tops of thighs)... and then as the months went by, it started feeling like a regular hot, sunburned feeling. Thighs, tops of feet, upper arms, and recently the surface/skin of my stomach. On my worst days, it felt as if someone was ripping my skin off.

One day, the skin on my stomach was burning up so bad, I decided to take one of those thermometers that you just point at the forehead to get a reading. My forehead temp was normal, 98.1. The temp of my stomach was a boiling 100 degrees! 🔥

So it was hot to the touch, too.

Pay attention to when you feel the heat/burning. Mine tends to flare up in the mornings, when I'm super nervous and having a "bad hormone day" anyway, when my OCD/anxiety is bad, and sometimes even when I eat something a little spicy or sweet. That is, when I eat. My appetite is poor.

The burning could be some form of hot flash, just a thought. A few other gals on here have thought the same.

Don't worry, rest easy. God is Here with us.

If you never had the burning sensation until menopausal hormone changes, then it is menopause. Xx

hi stella. thank you for your response. my severe burning pain is constant it does not stop. that is why im inclining towards it being something else. i have been to so many appointments and they cant figure out what it is. the neurologist thinks it could be something with my nerves. he wants me to take a medication ( but im reluctant) to see if it helps. because i want to know whats wrong and the medication would just mask the pain not fix it. im distraught.

Hello,

It sounds like neuropathy.

Are you on statins? This is a relatively common side effect, which doctors don't mention.

Hello Sasical72,

I take two BP medications for about 10 yrs now. Could it be what is causing severe leg burning. I wonder what my doctor would say if I ask. This burning leg pain has been going on for 2 years now and I have been going to appointment after appointment. And there is no answer. I am at the point that I cry everyday. I try and be strong, get my hopes up that in the next appointment I will know what is wrong but nothing. Now they want me to take Gabapentin but I want to know what is wrong instead of masking it. How do I ask my doctor if he thinks it could be the BP. But what about if it could be.

By all means ask your doctor and if he/she says it could be that, ask to change to another BP medication.

My mother was having difficulty walking and breathing, they kept sending her from one specialist to another and doing tests and saying everything seemed fine. One day.I said to her, I have read somewhere that the heart medication you take can cause shortness of breath, she asked the cardiologist and he said: Ooooh yes, could be that. Changed it and she was fine. 1 year of suffering and going from doc to doc and not one of them thought of that!!

This long story is basically to say, ask your doctor but also be your own advocate and do some research yourself.

Good luck! x

Thank you Sasical72.

Hey There, Liihlies...

I understand and sympathize with your pain, ALL forms of it!! I experienced the burning leg syndrome a couple of years ago, and like most symptoms it came and went, IDK where it went, yet I hope it NEVAA returns!! L, it is okay to breakdown and cry! That's a GREAT way to relieve some of the madness you are experiencing! When I have really, really BADDDDD post-menopausal days, I get in my car, drive for a few blocks with the windows up and the music blaring, I cry and scream for a few minutes to personally vent my frustrations with the relentless symptoms of this TSUNAMI. That being said, please find ways to cope, so that you can function. And on that note, be well, my menopausal sistah.

i have it too. or something very similar anyway. maybe you have already tried it but, for me, Epsom salt baths and taking magnesium supplements seems to help. but it doesn't eliminate it... I do get at least several hours of relief after an Epsom salt bath (I use ones that are infused with eucalyptus and mint oils for a nice cooling effect too). my right leg doesn't want to let me sleep sometimes but a bath will at least get me some shut eye!! worth trying if you haven't! I pray for our relief.

SAME! I have anxiety and feel a blood pressure spike and my tummy starts to rumble. once I have a bowel movement I feel almost euphoric for a minute because the anxiety and all other symptoms are gone!