I am 47 years old and have been experiencing several menopausal sypmtoms for about 8 years. They have been more severe in the past 2 years. I have also experienced stomach/gas pain (especially from eating fruit) and back muscle pain and spasms, off and on. Are these also menopausal symptoms?

Hi Cindy, I'm new here too, welcome. I'm 47 also and have been experiencing a LOT of symptoms also. If you read some of the past posts on this forum you'll find that many ladies have had digestive problems related to perimenopausal issues. I'm one of 'em, sigh.

Everyone I know "swares" that I have a bad gallbladder. I get a lot of bloating with gas, and burp a lot also, very embarrassing! But my gallbladder, according to tests, is just fine. Guess for ladies our age it isn't uncommon. ;)

Hi Renee,

Thank you for responding to my post :) I'm sorry you're experiencing this also but I'm relieved to hear this is not uncommon. Is your's from anything in particular? Such as, something you ate that shows a pattern? This is a little embarrassing but I noticed the pain in the lower abdomen can become unbearable especially after sex. Does that sound familiar at all?

Hi Renee,

Thank you for responding to my post :) I'm sorry you're experiencing this also but I'm relieved to hear this is not uncommon. Is your's from anything in particular? Such as, something you ate that shows a pattern? This is a little embarrassing but I noticed the pain in the lower abdomen can become unbearable especially after sex. Does that sound familiar at all?
Cindy,
Can't relate to the lower abdomen pain, but the as far as the gas!!! :eek:
I had it so bad about three weeks ago it was on the right side of my left breast. Right where the heart is located. Lasted about 5 hours. I went to the dr the next day and had an EKG done. Which was normal thank God! I have been taking 4 GasEx a day for over a month. I am on natural progesterone cream and I think that might contribute to the gas. I am 43 and I have a friend who is 43 with symptoms also she said she has been having a problem with gas. So I guess this time of life is just a "GAS" huh? :rolleyes:
Penny

Penny, got a chuckle at your line about life being a gas. The best thing I've found especially for the lower intestinal gas-I can sure sympathize with colicy babies-is charcoal capsules. You get them at health food stores and they are wonderful. So much better than the GasX or any others with the simethicone. And they're a good bit cheaper. If I know I'm about to eat something that causes gas, and that's anything in the plant family in my case-veggies or fruits even OJ-then I take a couple when I eat and if I need more later I take more. Onions are the worst for me followed by green peas. No gas that causes the burping so much, just the killer gas in the lower intestinal tract that won't move. I haven't had a period in 14 months now and my symptoms are much better. They started when I was 44-45, complete with HEAVY bleeding every month. Wore Depends to protect my clothing. Started skipping after my 46th bd and I just had my 48th the first of March. Still haven't had to take HRT, doc didn't want me to because of borderline hi bp but since have had to take bp meds anyway. I feel so much better than I did a year ago, it's really a relief. I still haven't gotten all the weight gain off but I'm working on it. Skin tone has changed, everything's a bit loser but my bone scan was great. Dr. said he couldn't emphasize the importance of weight bearing exercise enough. Told him that hauling my fat butt around day after day after day was plenty of weight bearing exercise in my case. lol.

Ladies, keep your chins up and believe me, it really will get better. Just listen to what your bodies are telling you, watch what you eat because once the weight is on it's harder than heck to get off, and come here and visit often. It's a wonderful place to come complain, vent, get new ideas and advice. Can't say enough good about this board. cg

Well, ladies, where else can we talk about gas? It's nice to see we're all having a gas of a good time here too! Well, Charli, congratulations on not having your period for 14 months! You are so lucky to be there! I wanna, I wanna! By the way, happy belated birthday!! Now, I got a chuckle at your line to your dr. about hauling your fat butt around day after as to it being plenty of weight bearing exercise! LOL!! Oh, told my sister about the Fat Flush Plan you went on and how much weight you lost. She was very impressed and wanted to know how long it took you to lose your weight, so I told her I would ask you. Should I assume you were exercising the same time? It is really hard for me to get her to start an exercise program but yet she wants to lose about 100 lbs. I am going to get the book for her and hopefully it'll work for her. Do I need get the cookbook and isn't there some kind of log book too?

Gotta go...I really should do some work ....
Molly :wave:



Penny, got a chuckle at your line about life being a gas. The best thing I've found especially for the lower intestinal gas-I can sure sympathize with colicy babies-is charcoal capsules. You get them at health food stores and they are wonderful. So much better than the GasX or any others with the simethicone. And they're a good bit cheaper. If I know I'm about to eat something that causes gas, and that's anything in the plant family in my case-veggies or fruits even OJ-then I take a couple when I eat and if I need more later I take more. Onions are the worst for me followed by green peas. No gas that causes the burping so much, just the killer gas in the lower intestinal tract that won't move. I haven't had a period in 14 months now and my symptoms are much better. They started when I was 44-45, complete with HEAVY bleeding every month. Wore Depends to protect my clothing. Started skipping after my 46th bd and I just had my 48th the first of March. Still haven't had to take HRT, doc didn't want me to because of borderline hi bp but since have had to take bp meds anyway. I feel so much better than I did a year ago, it's really a relief. I still haven't gotten all the weight gain off but I'm working on it. Skin tone has changed, everything's a bit loser but my bone scan was great. Dr. said he couldn't emphasize the importance of weight bearing exercise enough. Told him that hauling my fat butt around day after day after day was plenty of weight bearing exercise in my case. lol.

Ladies, keep your chins up and believe me, it really will get better. Just listen to what your bodies are telling you, watch what you eat because once the weight is on it's harder than heck to get off, and come here and visit often. It's a wonderful place to come complain, vent, get new ideas and advice. Can't say enough good about this board. cg

Hi Molly-
I lost 50 pounds in the first 5 months on the Fat Flush Plan (3 more in the 6th month and the rest have come off a little here and there ;) ). Yah, I started doing the pilates mat workout about 2 weeks after starting the FFP. I've lost over 23 inches and have gone from size 18/2x to size 8. (wahoooooooo!)
There's a wonderful exercise regimen outlined in the FFP book that I have never tried but have heard great things about it. It's called rebounding (think, mini trampoline upon which you lightly bounce, not letting your feet "lift off") and even the most sedentary can do it - at least a little. :D
The cookbook is great for variety/recipes and there is a journal and shopping guide (it's one book) too. There's also great info and a lovely group of Fat Flushers at the FF website and even MORE recipes. :p

(psssssssst! hiya cowgal! I'm menopausal, too :jester: )

best wishes,

charli
highest wt: 233
203/146/146 on the Fat Flush Plan for life :D
age: 50, menopausal and perky. Veddy, veddy perky :D

Thanks for all the help ladies....and reassurance! I'm hoping that I am nearing the end of this process. My periods are spiratic but have been for a year or two. I will definately get the charcoal capsules! I can really relate to the lower abodomen pain. I've had times where I've almost had hubby drive me to the hospital. Sitting in the bathroom, bent over with severe pain, is not something I want to experience very often, ya know? LOL

I'm still waiting for someone to answer about the back pain. I get this every few months and it lasts for several weeks. It's muscle spasms and I've had to use heating pads and take advil. It takes everything out of me and makes it very hard to get around sometimes, but it always goes away, eventually. It can be anywhere in the back, upper or lower. Anyone out there that has gone thru this?

I just stumbled onto this board, and I'm so glad I did! What a great place for information and venting, LOL Thanks ladies, for all your welcomes and advice! :)

hi,
does anyone have the extended gut,stomach bloatiness of the menopausal hell that I am going thru?...I started using a projestrone creme which helps a lot but I still went up from a size 8 to a size 10 or a 12 in jeans..I do weights, walk 3-4 miles every day. I am just concerned that the extended stomach will never go down..and I have always had a flat tummy. I am 53 years old, very active and this is driving me nuts..everything else is staying the same, just from under the boobs down to the tummy area.
Any suggestions???

Thanks,
Faithy

Hi Renee,

Thank you for responding to my post :) I'm sorry you're experiencing this also but I'm relieved to hear this is not uncommon. Is your's from anything in particular? Such as, something you ate that shows a pattern? This is a little embarrassing but I noticed the pain in the lower abdomen can become unbearable especially after sex. Does that sound familiar at all?

Cindy, I don't know about abdominal pain, but I have noticed that it really does NOT matter what I eat. My gas gets worse during my period time, before, during and after, ugh. BUT I HAVE had some really painful upper back pain with the gas too. That's when I have to resort to a heating pad, sigh.

Hi'ya Charli,
Thanks for the info about the FFP weight loss. What an accomplishment!! I will let my sister know and will get the book from amazon. By the way, where did you order the windsor pilates? I'm not sure what I found is for beginners. It looks like it comes with 4 DVDs and costs $40 (2 payments of $19.95).

TGIF!
Molly :wave:

Hi Molly-
I lost 50 pounds in the first 5 months on the Fat Flush Plan (3 more in the 6th month and the rest have come off a little here and there ;) ). Yah, I started doing the pilates mat workout about 2 weeks after starting the FFP. I've lost over 23 inches and have gone from size 18/2x to size 8. (wahoooooooo!)
There's a wonderful exercise regimen outlined in the FFP book that I have never tried but have heard great things about it. It's called rebounding (think, mini trampoline upon which you lightly bounce, not letting your feet "lift off") and even the most sedentary can do it - at least a little. :D
The cookbook is great for variety/recipes and there is a journal and shopping guide (it's one book) too. There's also great info and a lovely group of Fat Flushers at the FF website and even MORE recipes. :p

(psssssssst! hiya cowgal! I'm menopausal, too :jester: )

best wishes,

charli
highest wt: 233
203/146/146 on the Fat Flush Plan for life :D
age: 50, menopausal and perky. Veddy, veddy perky :D

Hi Cindy,
I don't have spasms but I do have these occasional shoulder/neck pain (could be the way I'm sleeping) and these lower back pain everyday (only on the right side). Sometimes, the right side butt muscle hurts too (the sciartic nerve). My dr. said to exercise. I do stretches, have used Rodney Yee's back exercise DVD, have a new firm mattress but I still wake up every morning feeling achy :confused: . It seems to be better once I'm up and moving about. Sometimes I take a Tylendol arthritis pill (I take only 1 pill - 650 mg), sometimes I take a Doan's back pain pill. I also take Tylendol PM (cut 1 pill in 1/2) to help me sleep b/c I'm so achy laying down sometimes. There have been days where I don't take anything. I have used the heating pad, soaked in the tub. Next time I go to the drugstore, I'm going to try those ThermaCare heat wraps. Heard they helped a lot. My sister and a friend get spasms but for them, it's underneath the breast area, or near the rib cage.

If your pain eventually goes away, it could just be PMS while mine is just old age! LOL. I remember I used to get lower back pain right (and sinus headaches) before I get my period.

Have a good day!
Molly :D

I'm still waiting for someone to answer about the back pain. I get this every few months and it lasts for several weeks. It's muscle spasms and I've had to use heating pads and take advil. It takes everything out of me and makes it very hard to get around sometimes, but it always goes away, eventually. It can be anywhere in the back, upper or lower. Anyone out there that has gone thru this?

I just stumbled onto this board, and I'm so glad I did! What a great place for information and venting, LOL Thanks ladies, for all your welcomes and advice! :)

Hi Faithy,
I have the same problem. I do walking tapes, yoga, use light weights, walk my dog, etc. etc. and I've really firmed up except the tummy area. I could use a little bit more toning there. I don't have a flat tummy anymore either (it is the most flabby part of me). I guess I could do more sit ups more regularly or just eat less? :bouncing:
Sorry I'm not much help....
Molly

hi,
does anyone have the extended gut,stomach bloatiness of the menopausal hell that I am going thru?...I started using a projestrone creme which helps a lot but I still went up from a size 8 to a size 10 or a 12 in jeans..I do weights, walk 3-4 miles every day. I am just concerned that the extended stomach will never go down..and I have always had a flat tummy. I am 53 years old, very active and this is driving me nuts..everything else is staying the same, just from under the boobs down to the tummy area.
Any suggestions???

Thanks,
Faithy

Thanks girls! Faithy, I get that extended gut too. I was wondering if your menses have totally ceased now. I was hoping that once menopause finished, that type of thing would go away. I will very disappointed if it doesn't :( Molly, the spasms don't necessarily always feel like spasms. It's definately pain, severe at times. Sometimes I think it is brought on by the gas/stomach pain. I consider these to be spasms because I had it so bad one time that I had to go to Urgent Care and they told me they could see the muscles actually jumping around in my back. I've also taken Doans and even some muscle relaxers I had from that Urgent Care visit. I now try to catch it when it begins, and work with Advil and heating pad. It worked the last time I did this, I just have to pay attention to the signs that it's starting again. I honestly believe I'm knocking on the menopause door now. I believe my periods will stop within the next year or so. I've had changing symptoms for the last 8 years and my periods have gone from very heavy/constant to lighter/longer spotting and less frequent. I've had horrible, horrible hot flashes that, for awhile, were coming everytime I moved around or every 45 minutes....whatever came first. Night sweats, oh yeah!!! LOL I am so looking forward to the end of menopause and it can't come soon enough, as far as I'm concerned! Oh also, I am taking New Phase and another black cohosh in the afternoon and I refuse to get off either one, they're keeping me sane, LOL Please ladies, tell me it will all be over and wonderful again when menopause is behind me :eek:

Morning Cindy. I've had the aches and pains also, mine mostly in the left hip but some in the neck and shoulders. I started taking SAMe over a year ago and it has helped bunches. It's good for joint pain so I don't know if it would help your back or not. Tying the lower gut gas to the back pain? Have heard of stranger things. When one of my ovaries had attached itself to the abdominal wall I had tremendous pain in all parts of my lower body-back, side, pelvic area. Dr. Gyno couldn't tell from the ultrasound so they did exploratory to try to figure out what the problem was. Cut everything loose and apart and in less than a year I was back in, same problem. Took that sucker out and it was the best thing I'd ever done. Begged to have everything removed but oh, no, insurance says if it's not broken, we can't fix it. 10 years later and I'm a menowoman. YIPPEE.

Seriously though I do feel better the last few months than I've felt in several years. Hubby says I'm easier to live with-most days. Believe it was Cloverberry who made the statement that when we start the transition-I've dubbed it peripause-that we suddenly lose all tolerance. I agree with her 100% on that issue.

Calcium and magnesium also play a tremendous role in muscle dynamics and most of us are already short on these two. Not only good for bones and muscles but also important in the way our bodies metabolize nutrients by helping the digestive system work continuously, keeping the involuntary muscle actions going.

Hope you find some relief. Nothing worse than getting up all achy. cg

Hi Cowqal :) I'm so glad to hear that there is an end to most of this and happy to hear that you're able to enjoy it! Two years ago, I had a bone scan and was told that I had moderate to severe osteopenia, Moderate in the back and severe in the hip area so I am surprised that I don't have pain in that location. I have not been able to find a doctor that I can have faith in, in this area. They are either men that pull it all out and jam synthetic hormones into you and tell you to have a good day, or they are women that are so busy because of a heavy load of patients, they don't have time to work with you. There are so many women that are heavy smokers, out here and their GYN's have them so loaded up with synthetic hormones and all the drugs that counteract some of the symptoms of those hormones. I get so discusted, I don't trust these people with my life, and that to me, is very sad. That's why I am going the natural way. I have been taking Caltrate 600 Plus in addition to all the natural hormones I had mentioned in my post. I do need to go back for another bonescan though. My husband has been very concerned about my gas/stomach problems and we are both relieved to find out it is a part of the onset of menopause. I know I have more questions, but until they come to me, I will keep visiting and reading. I am a true believer that we know our bodies better than anyone and the more information we can get, the better we are taking care of ourselves during this period. :)

I was wondering if anywone else belches like a sailor or is it just me? I go through bouts of heartburn and belches, ugh. I believe it started because of peri.

I was wondering if anywone else belches like a sailor or is it just me? I go through bouts of heartburn and belches, ugh. I believe it started because of peri.

GOOD GRIEF YES!!! I have belched "like a sailor" for a while now and it is so horrible. And I've had all kinds of tests done and there is nothing wrong with my Gallbladder or digestive system. But I read in Dr. Lee's book that one of the symptoms of Estrogen Dominance is gallbladder problems. I don't have the heartburn, but I get so much gas, and I belch so horribly. I hate to eat with anyone other than my hubby. This weekend I'm going to start the PeriZappers, and I hope they help. I'm on my "monthly" right now, and wish I could just crawl under a rock somewhere and die, lol.

:)

Renee', think that was one of the worst parts of peripause-my periods were absolutely horrible. Remember feeling so drained it was major effort to get through the first 3 days and then when they started lasting 10 days-double ugh. Don't miss those a bit. cg

Cowgal, was it your suggestion to get the charcoal capsules? I just bought some at the health food store and they were about 10.00 for 100 capsules. Does that sound about right? I'm hoping this will allow me to have fruit again.

Morning, Cindy. Probably. Think I get them for between $8-9. I've taken the charcoal for years because of the lower intestinal gas and it has worked better for me than anything I've ever tried. When I eat any of my veggies I usually take one right before I eat and if I know what I've eaten really bothers me I'll take another abut 30 minutes after I eat. Onions bother me more than anything else and when you eat out sometimes they still sneak a few into whatever you've ordered and the charcoal caps are the only thing that ever was able to keep me from having the killer gas in the lower GI tract. I'd still be gassy every now and then but wouldn't be doubled over with pain. Don't mean to sound gross but your stool will be very dark from the charcoal so that's normal. cg

Morning All,

Thanks for all of the insight! I am glad I am not alone either. I think you hit the nail on the head Cindy..my periods are on and off thus the extended belly..God I cannot even button my pants some days..all I keep saying is: this too will pass..I didn't even know the gas pains were related to menopause until I found this site! The natural projestrone creme helps alot to relive the night sweats, bad dreams, etc..but not all of the bloatiness. All I keep thinking is: what if I didn't work out...eat right..thanks for all of the help!

take care,
Faithy :angel:

hi,
guess what?? got my period yet once again

You are so right about magnesium and calcium and the digestive system during peri-and menopause!

I am 47 years old and have been experiencing several menopausal sypmtoms for about 8 years. They have been more severe in the past 2 years. I have also experienced stomach/gas pain (especially from eating fruit) and back muscle pain and spasms, off and on. Are these also menopausal symptoms?


I have had gas cramps severe of uterus and bad low back cramps had pap no review on that yet had sonogram yesterday all looked good so dr says but why do i have that awful low back pain fullness in lower abdomen and low back pain severe at times I am 55 yrs old and in post menopause no surgery at all please help on and off spasms too

:wave: Hi Everybody. Well after 1 week on a progesterone cream I'm having a period-1st one in 15 months. :( But I guess it's ok because now maybe some of my other problems like a bloated tummy and constipation and weight gain will get better. At least I hope that they do. Doc said it was an overabundance of estrogen without enough progesterone. He wanted me to wait until I could get in and visit with Dr. Gyno and didn't want to prescribe anything so I took it upon myself :D to go to the health food store and purchase progesterone cream there. Started it on a Friday and the following Thursday, I'm having a period. We were looking for thyroid problems but if you do a little bit of looking on the net you'll find that the symptoms of hypothyroid and estrogen dominance/low progesterone are lots and lots alike. The other thing I noticed immediately was relief for the constipation, I'm talking like within just a couple of days. Guess the moral of my story is to not give up when you're not feeling right. Didn't mess the periods and this one's not a bad one, light flow with no cramps so I guess I'm not in menopause quite yet after all. darn it. Everybody have a good day! cg

:wave: Hi Everybody. Well after 1 week on a progesterone cream I'm having a period-1st one in 15 months. :( But I guess it's ok because now maybe some of my other problems like a bloated tummy and constipation and weight gain will get better. At least I hope that they do. Doc said it was an overabundance of estrogen without enough progesterone. He wanted me to wait until I could get in and visit with Dr. Gyno and didn't want to prescribe anything so I took it upon myself :D to go to the health food store and purchase progesterone cream there. Started it on a Friday and the following Thursday, I'm having a period. We were looking for thyroid problems but if you do a little bit of looking on the net you'll find that the symptoms of hypothyroid and estrogen dominance/low progesterone are lots and lots alike. The other thing I noticed immediately was relief for the constipation, I'm talking like within just a couple of days. Guess the moral of my story is to not give up when you're not feeling right. Didn't mess the periods and this one's not a bad one, light flow with no cramps so I guess I'm not in menopause quite yet after all. darn it. Everybody have a good day! cg

I use the progesterone creme and it does help alot. How many days do you use the prog creme? What make do you use? I posted elsewhere about my gyne saying I was low on estrogen and this was causing the shakiness which could be true, but what I'm questioningi is: Aren't we pretty much estrogen dominant until menopause? This is where I get confused about taking estrogen before a blood test comes reads low estrogen.

When the dr. did my routine blood work he was shocked that my estrogen was at 314 and I was not having periods. But I have been taking herbal supplements for over a year that are rich in the phytoestrogens (plant estrogens) because some research encouraged them for perimenopause rather than resort to conventional HRT. I didn't look hard enough to find out that we also need the progesterone and can get it from plant sources too. I can't remember the name of the one I've been using. I actually picked up 2 bottles and after the good results from the cream that I've used I passed the other on to a friend that really is in menopause to see if it would help her hot flashes and mood swings. Instructions say to use 2x daily and then off for so many days. Days of use depends on whether you are still having periods or not. Think the one I'm using suggests for peripause you start on day 12 of your cycle and use it for 25 days and then off for a week. Since I started so soon after the first use and had been 15 months since my last cycle I'm going to use it for the 3 weeks and then stop for a week. This is all new to me. I thought I knew so much about all of this and come to find out I'm really uneducated. Guess that's why the saying goes "live and learn". cg