There is hope, stay strong
Posted , 23 users are following.
I am now around 1 year post meno give or take. I just would like ladies to know there is light at the end of the tunnel, although you may not feel like that at the moment. Just remember that an unlucky few continue symptoms for eternity, and as time passes they become less bothersome and mild in comparison for the rest gradually disappearing for good. From my research this is normally 2-3 years post meno, fingers crossed.
The symptoms I remember are as follows as far as I can recall. 1 year ago/present day
No appetite – Eat nothing for weeks on end, just sipped water and ice chips. / Eating normally again
Weight loss- lost nearly 2 stone/Back to pre existing weight
Nausea- constant day & night for about 10 months/Now none
Belching- awful indigestion despite not eating/ As before
Insomnia- totally unable to fall or stay asleep got maybe 3 hours a night if lucky/ Sleep well most of the time waking mainly to pee, usually fall back to sleep but awake for a couple of hours occasionally
Night sweats- OMG drenched need I say more/ Still get these but sleep through most of them certainly not as bad or as many.
Heat Intolerance- This was weird I felt warm all the time 24/7normally cold because of my thyroid, couldn’t bear even a warm shower it had to be cold, the hair-dryer was an absolute no no./ Showering and using hair dyrer as before still get some feelings of warmth but in between feel normal again
Flushes- Lasted forever just finish one then start another, either with or without the sweats. No triggers only very sensitive to temperature to surroundings /Gone from around 40-50 to maybe 3-4.
Difficulty Swallowing/Eating- Like a lump stuck in throat even taking meds was hard because of gagging but was only actually sick a couple of times/No problems now
Tiredness/Exhaustion- probably mainly due to lack of sleep/This has passed
Emotional/Depressive- moods were down and very weepy. If I didn’t have such wonderful kids not sure I would bothered trying probably just ended it all ( hate to admit that now)/Still have a few down days but overall much better
Confusion/difficulty focusing- very light headed and dazed feeling/ Dizzy now and again memory still poor
IBS like symptoms- obsessed with keeping diary of BM/Odd episodes nothing serious
Palpitations- happened a lot/ Still get 1 or 2 but not as often
Chest tightness- very uncomfortable of course I had angina and heart disease, this was definitely anxiety/ Only get this now and again
Pounding heart – I could feel my heart pounding in my chest and hear it in my ears/ All gone
tremors/shakes- Shaking externally and internally. The external was like a constant shiver, internal was like an inner bouncing very hard to explain/Completely gone
restlessness- couldn’t relax or sit still very jittery/ Can now relax
anxiety- WOW never been an anxious person but this was just awful I was googling every little symptom, this made every other symptom worse and lots of crossover symptoms of anxiety itself./ This has gone thank goodness
Panic Attacks- Again never had one before very scary, got so I was afraid to go out, talk to anyone or make or receive telephone calls/ None at all now
tachycardia (100-140)- due to anxiety/ Back to normal.
headaches- terrible pounding every day and night/ Just an odd one now and then
head zaps- would happen day and night like a shock in head/ Get one now and again
feeling something wrong- convinced I had something terminal, Feeling detached from reality/Feel ok now do not worry about health anymore
Dry mouth-couldn’t quench thirst no matter how much I drank/Still get dry some days
Feeling of insects crawling over skin/ an odd tickle now and then
Muscle tension mainly neck, shoulders & backache, and joints aching especially hips, knees and legs/ Now all fine
Skin and hair changes dryer and older looking/ hmm just age!!
Hope this helps someone
7 likes, 43 replies
maria76995 bumblebee85
Posted
mauiblue bumblebee85
Posted
I dont know if this will reach you but i just had to comment on the absolutely thorough list you wrote and so detailed and so many of which i have been living and breathing through, now actively trying to tackle, and also gently accept.
weight loss
thirst
aches
major sleep issues
anxiety etc.
depression being by FAR the worst
just wanted to shout out there
kauaiblue
imptsd bumblebee85
Posted
God bless you for this! I needed to know it doesn't all continue forever. I needed this hope. Thank you so much!
Lucertola bumblebee85
Posted
Ladies,
I'm in my late forties and in the early stages of perimenopause. In many ways it has changed my character completely, and I often feel as if I have gone around the bend! I work in a 'mans world' and menopause is just not recognised in my work place. I have the aching bones, the dry skin, the depression and anxiety - big time on some occasions! Also vaginal dryness. Due to some medical issues I can't go near HRT. For my hair and skin I have started to take some good multivitamins, which have helped greatly. I found a youtube channel called Menopause Barbie. It is founded by an American female doctor who specialises in Menopause. She is very eccentric, but knows her stuff!! There are about 60 odd youtube videos to watch as she goes through all manner of subjects on estrogne, progresterone and so on. It is very informative. You need to start from the beginning at video one as they build on each other. Maybe just take some quiet time out and sit with a cup of tea and begin to watch them - you will be investing in yourself if you do.
I live in the UK and unfortunately due to budget cuts the only thing they tend to dish out is HRT. The GP's do not seem to be well informed on alternatives, and unfortunately if you can't take HRT like me it appears you seem to be cast out to find your own way!
Ladies, I wish you all well with your menopause. I think we do really need to stand together on this. xxx
Toddpodd Lucertola
Posted
Thank you for the you tube channel details 😁
janita35990 bumblebee85
Posted
janita35990 bumblebee85
Posted
mary27278 janita35990
Posted
Ok enough about me sorry for rambling on..i noticed you have anxiety. I had it really bad at one time . When I stopped googling every sympton my anxiety decreased a whole lot. My mind was constantly playing tricks on me.
I could not hear anything bad such as someone dying or see commercial on tv about illness , I would have an anxiety attack . I am much better in that area, I just want to reassure you that you are definitely not along, I feel as I have no one to talk to nor do they understand.
janita35990 mary27278
Posted
janita35990 mary27278
Posted
mary27278 janita35990
Posted
I had the cold feet also. It did go away and just two days ago back to back i started to experience it again. It is all hormonal. I'm noticing symptons are worse around time for period. You may want to start charting it. It kind of helps me some that way I know what phase I'm in. I also took a vitamin b12 spray for the anxiety, it worked wonder at first until I realize that my worrying and googling was part of the anxiety. B12 deficiency can also bring on anxiety. Magnesium can help too for the insomnia and anxiety.
Also try meditation , you can YouTube and find some things for meditation to help clear your mind. The mind does control the body so you have to take control of your mind. Hope you start feeling better...we have to hold on to hope.
Icecold1 bumblebee85
Posted
Thank you bumblebee85, reading this has put my mind at ease. I was convinced I was going mad or losing it or worse that I was going to die. This menopause thing is rotten and in many ways debilitating. I had never suffered a panic attack before, but suddenly wham here they are and how frightening. I also get the stabbing/ electric shocks in my head, the feeling nauseous and the sweats. My mood a lot of the time is on the floor which is totally out of character for me but I'm hoping in time things will return to "normal" whatever that is as I would really like the old me back.