what is it?

What is your age? If your thyroid tests are not definitive, you can ask them to do thyroid antibody tests. If menopausal, I found that bioidentical hormones helped me immensely. I asked for a prescription for them and my doctor obliged me. I get them done at a Compounding Pharmacy.

Another possibility is PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome). PCOS causes a lot of hormone imbalances which lead to missed periods, possible thyroid hormone imbalances, hyperinsulinism as well as other abnormalities.

My cousin had missed periods, weight problems, and thyroid nodules which they originally said were benign. However, they turned out to be malignant after all and she had her thyroid removed when she was 20. At the age of 30, she saw an Endocrine specialist who prescribed Prometrium, a bioidentical Progesterone hormone to bring on her periods.

I would work with your doctors and ask for referrals to get to the root of your medical issues.

It might also help to have a list of the conditions they test for and what the results are, so you know what is ruled out and why.

Ditto. I suffer from all that you have stated above. I have been tested for menopause and that has been ruled out. I cant seem to get my endo to take me seriously but it is really effecting my life. I ride horses, its my life's passion but no I am getting to the point where I may have to give up. I don't know what the answer is but I too need one.

well after the second thyroid blood test, its not my thyroid, and no antibodies present to say it could be in later life, doc said to keep an eye on my bloods as normal, so im no further forward.

another month no period, but all the symptoms, and hot flushes have returned with a vengence, and still got the stiff joints, and spots on my face, I never had teenage spots, but getting them now at 53 , must be a late starter

Were your blood hormone levels checked for menopause, i.e. FSH level? That is what it sounds like you have. I felt like this at menopause and went on Bioidentical hormones which you need a doctor's prescription for and obtain from a compounding pharmacy.

52 is the average age for menopause, from what my OB/gyn told me when I was that age. Did they run any female hormone tests? Do you get copies of what tests they ran and the results?

If it truly is not the thyroid, some other things to consider might be Fibromyalgia, Depression, or possibly even Heart Failure (CHF) aka cardiomyopathy. (Depression can't be tested for directly or simply like in a blood test, and I don't think Fibromyalgia can, either. Heart Failure is best tested with an Echo cardiogram, but if the doctor thinks your heart is involved he might run an EKG/ECG first. A normal result with the EKG might mean you had no heart attack, but doesn't rule out CHF.)

If the doctors run into a dead end checking for normal conditions, perhaps you should encourage them to check for rare or somewhat unusual ones.

Best wishes to you. Please keep us informed.

Puzzled, how old are you? I was going through peri-menopause in my early 40's but it seemed to reverse course when I had to go off chocolate. I would have resumed eating chocolate but after 3 months of avoiding it I got my energy back and felt 5 years younger. I was actually about 54 or 55 when I went through the change.

Sandra, if your case is menopause, it doesn't mean that all the symptoms of the change will continue. Think of it more as a bodily adjustment period which will settle down with a little more time.

Didn't settle down for me. Only managed with hormone replacement. And if I don't take it feel lousy even today.

Maybe I have just blamed these symptoms on the thyroid...

Actually, I understand that Estrogen binds with T3 so the Free (active version) will be a smaller percentage of the total. Progesterone, on the other hand, opposes the Estrogen which may improve the ratio. And it's the free T3 that makes the most difference in the symptoms as far as I know or can tell.

So, Linda, do you take bio-identical progesterone as well as some form of Estrogen? which form? Estradiol?

Yes I take Estradiol 1.25 mg and bio-identical Progesterone 30 mg in the form of troches or lozenges which I suck on. The creams were not being absorbed so my doctor switched me to this form. This was a Godsend.

When I first went on it, I had 2 or 3 different estrogens combined but had sore breasts so my Dr. switched me to the above.

I see it's been a year since you last posted....I was wondering if your "crazy lady" came out?  Because I know that if you have night sweats and your are acting nutso one minute, crying and or laughing the next???  You  ARE in Menopause.  I wish you all the luck in the world to deal with this, IF you cannot take HRT.  I cannot for two reasons, and cannot take the Bioidentical hormones, either.  THIS leads to vaginal atrophy.  PAINFUL intercourse to the point where you don't want to have sex, because it hurts so bad.  I would even get scared and start shaking when my husbands wanted to get intimate, it hurt that bad.  You CAN prevent this.  I suggest you start now.  There are monay products out there.  I finally found one that reversed my atrophy, and after seven years of no sex, I can finally be intimate agaiin without pain.  I am telling you this, because NO ONE EVER TOLD ME!!!  

Good luck to you, hope you are feeling better.  I got through it , after 12 years now, without any help from anyone or any meds.  It'll be OKAY.  I learned to adapt.  Even made myself a "night sweats towel robe".  Saved having to change the sheets and waking up freezing from being so soaking wet.