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Menopause / perimenopause / ??

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barbara4093
barbara4093

I'm sorry I don't mean to sound stupid but can you explain the difference between the stages of menopause I was told in 2021 I was perimenopause but now I seem to be falling g apart with arm bit pains , sharp leg pain , throat pain , weird chest pains , and headaches all that come and go and general not feeling well at times to be told nothings wrong , I feel like I'm going nuts and I think my Dr thinks I'm a hypochondriac now because I freak out over everything which makes me feel horrible because I should have faith in God and trust him , but I'm just so stressed out I don't sleep well anymore , bladder leakage , keep gas a lot , hear swishing in my left ear off and on thought I had a blood clot or something , leg pain so sharp I thought same thing but comes and goes , vision changed gets blurry sometimes , sad but I get on my own nerves at times lol because I hate this , just feel tired of it all just turned 48 but so over all this

2 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • Cass63
    Cass63 barbara4093

    Posted

    Hello Barbara,

    So sorry that you are getting to experience this journey that so many other women are also experiencing. The symptoms that you describe are the same as the ones so many of us ladies in this group have experienced. The following is something I found online to help explain and break down the different phases of menopause. Continue to put your faith in GOD and draw your strength from Him. JESUS had definitely been my constant stronghold through this journey. He will see you through. Praying for brighter days for you.

    GOD Bless

    •	Perimenopause is the time leading up to menopause. It describes a time when hormones start to decline and menstrual cycles become erratic and irregular. You may start to experience side effects of menopause, like hot flashes or vaginal dryness.
•	Menopause occurs when you’ve stopped producing the hormones that cause your menstrual period and have gone without a period for 12 months in a row. Once this has occurred, you enter postmenopause.
•	Postmenopause is the time after menopause has occurred. Once this happens, you're in postmenopause for the rest of your life. People in postmenopause are at an increased risk for certain health conditions like osteoporosis and heart disease.
  • Cass63
    Cass63 barbara4093

    Posted

    Hello Barbara,

    So sorry that you are getting to experience this journey that so many other women are also experiencing. The symptoms that you describe are the same as the ones so many of us ladies in this group have experienced. The following is something I found online to help explain and break down the different phases of menopause. Continue to put your faith in GOD and draw your strength from Him. JESUS had definitely been my constant stronghold through this journey. He will see you through. Praying for brighter days for you.

    GOD Bless

    •	Perimenopause is the time leading up to menopause. It describes a time when hormones start to decline and menstrual cycles become erratic and irregular. You may start to experience side effects of menopause, like hot flashes or vaginal dryness.
•	Menopause occurs when you’ve stopped producing the hormones that cause your menstrual period and have gone without a period for 12 months in a row. Once this has occurred, you enter postmenopause.
•	Postmenopause is the time after menopause has occurred. Once this happens, you're in postmenopause for the rest of your life. People in postmenopause are at an increased risk for certain health conditions like osteoporosis and heart disease.
  • Cass63
    Cass63 barbara4093

    Posted 

    •	Perimenopause is the time leading up to menopause. It describes a time when hormones start to decline and menstrual cycles become erratic and irregular. You may start to experience side effects of menopause, like hot flashes or vaginal dryness.
•	Menopause occurs when you’ve stopped producing the hormones that cause your menstrual period and have gone without a period for 12 months in a row. Once this has occurred, you enter postmenopause.
•	Postmenopause is the time after menopause has occurred. Once this happens, you're in postmenopause for the rest of your life. People in postmenopause are at an increased risk for certain health conditions like osteoporosis and heart disease.
  • Cass63
    Cass63 barbara4093

    Edited

    Don't know why it won't show the whole article. I have attempted 3 times. You can go online and see the 3 phases of menopause. Hope this helps you.

    GOD Bless

  • barbara4093
    barbara4093

    Edited

    ty i just feel like I'm going crazy anymore all these weird pains and my throat burns and then hurts stays red a lot , dry mouth comes and goes weird body pains , weird Che t pains I've never felt to ask a Dr if it's menopause they act like I'm crazy . just so stressed

  • cassandra98033
    cassandra98033 barbara4093

    Edited

    Hi Barbara - I've had many of these symptoms, too. I saw the following as symptoms of perimenopause on the University of Washington medical center's website (this university is in the US not far from where I live - it's a reputable place):

    Breast tenderness

    Hot flashes and night sweats

    Vaginal dryness

    Urinary incontinence

    Higher risk for UTIs

    Changes in sexual function and desire

    Fatigue and sleep problems

    Mood changes, such as anxiety or depression

    Worsening PMS symptoms: cramps, IBS, bloating, etc.

    Weight gain

    Hair loss

    Heart palpitations

    Dry eyes and skin

    Headaches

    Brain fog or trouble with memory or concentration

    Dry mouth or changes in taste

    Tingling in hands or feet or electric shock feelings

    Muscle aches or joint pain

    Worsening allergies

    Dizziness

    What gives me hope is that it lists "electric shock" feelings, which I've had on my chest, headaches (though mine are sharp/acute pains in the head), tingling, muscle/joint pain, heart palpitations, dry and itchy skin, etc. So it seems like some reputable medical institutions are recognizing some of the more strange symptoms as being related to perimenopause. At the same time, I think it's prudent for all of us to get checked out by our doctors - at a minimum blood tests, which I've had, and I've also had brain and spin MRI. Nothing on the MRIs shows what's causing this, though I did have an "abnormal diffuse cord signaling" on my spine, which caused them to tell me to get a spinal tap, which I did, but that revealed nothing. I just got more blood work done today to check my hormones...so we'll see if that reveals anything. I literally feel your pain and hope you are feeling better!

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