Hi everyone,

Let's compare our symptoms. Here are mine... What are yours?

Leg stiffness and weakness
Aching in neck, shoulders, hips, ankles
Prickling and burning on skin
Digestive problems (taking Levsin for this)
Upset tummy
Cold flashes more than hot flashes
Depression
Major anxiety (taking Ativan for this)
Buzzing in head
internal tremors
internal "itchy crawling" bugs
painful periods
occasional numbness in feet
all over body tingling
Cry over everything
Lack of motivation
Irritable
feel like a band is wrapped around my head
Just want to be home in the evenings
Never know how I'm going to feel from one minute to the next!

Thanks for listening!
viktik

Viktik, looking over your list of symptoms just triggered my memory because some of the symptoms I no longer have. I'm saying this because hopefully that means we all are just going through various phases as we travel down the road to menopause. I have noticed that anxiety seems to be one of the symptoms that appears to be the first to arrive and the last to leave :). I also use to get those bone freezing chills more than hot flashes, but that has since changed.

Here is my list of symptoms that I'm currently dealing with although many of them seem to come and go and some are triggered by what I eat, lack of sleep, and even how I take my medications and various vitamins/supplements :

Major hot flashes then chills
Major night sweats & day sweats with & without hot flashes
Skin crawling (formication)
Brain Fog/Memory Lapses
Feeling Blah!
Weepy
Digestive issues
Headaches
Slight spacey feeling
Sleep disturbance
Anxious
Irritable
Panicky
Ankles swelling, various bodyaches and pains
Vision changes (becoming more nearssighted)
Tired
Lack of motivation
Stiffness
Easily become angry
Never knowing from one minute to the next how I'll feel (does this sound familiar?)

Whew, it's amazing what all is on the list, with so many similarities. Mine started with only a couple or three about 8 years ago, but within the last 6 months have escalated. I was almost non-functional for about a month when the severe anxiety hit me (because I thought I was dying of some dreaded disease :eek: ). I think some have been helped by taking supplements and bioidentical hormones, but am still hoping for more improvement soon!

Severe cramping
Major PMS 7-10 days prior
Insomnia
Hot flash (no sweating), but this has all but disappeared
Chills, also mostly gone
Mood swings, get angry easily
Feeling overwhelmed by every day things
Headaches and head tingling (like an adrenaline rush), these have lessened
General fatigue
My eyesight in one eye has also gotten worse (since you mention it!)
And the worst: Anxiety and heart palps

Also a new thing for me - I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this: Middle of the night hunger! I've changed my diet in the past 2 yrs. to eat more protein and less refined carbs. But recently, almost once a week I wake up in the night so hungry that I can't go back to sleep, so I sneak down to the kitchen and eat a little something just to get rid of that feeling. I haven't had problem with weight gain, but if this keeps up....yikes? Anyone else?

Katidid, I did not have the midnight hunger, but I did go through a period of time where food just was not appealing. I use to really enjoy chicken and Chinese food, but for several months they made me nauseated or left a horrible after taste in my mouth. It tasted almost like some of those artificial sweetners.

It's funny because I can see these come and go...and I can go for months thinking to myself, "wow, this is a breeze. I can't believe how many women complain." Then, I get a few nasty months and think, "I wonder if I will survive this. I am so grateful for this BB and all the women who support each other here!!"

On and off....

I think anxiety has been the worst for me as well. I had been anxiety free for about 4 years now and I think it is rearing its ugly head again.

Night sweats were worse in my 30's, but I do occasionally still get them.

My body skin seems to be drier, but that is expected I guess.

IBS is flaring on and off...and every time I get diarrhea, I worry it is colon cancer.

Oh, see...hypochondria I guess is another one (if that doesn't fall into the anxiety category :) )

I have put on a few pounds. It makes me mad because I spend so much time exercising but I just hope that the exercise keeps me healthy and the weight will not climb as quickly.

Last month I had a small case of vaginal irritation. Probably starting to get drier. This month it all seems fine (cross fingers!!) so we will see how long this lovely symptom can be kept at bay, LOL !

Hungry in the evening...around 9pm or so I get so RAVENOUS. Seems like puberty all over again...sigh.

I feel or seem stressed all the time. The slightest things...cats running around and making a mess in my house or just feeling like a failure overall.

Thanks for listening :)

Hi. I have been going through peri for about 5 years now. At least that I know of. Like someone else had said, some things have stopped; for now anyway. I don't have panic attacks lately or a few other things that I can't think of at the moment. My biggest trouble makers are:

anxiety
pms worse (especially muscle tension and bloating)
periods closer together
headaches (more often)
increased allergy problems
some intestinal problems (but getting better)
memory problems
lack of energy
lack of libido
I probably forgot something but this is my main problem areas.
I do have about 2 weeks per month that I feel fairly good. The rest is yuck!
I'm thankful to have all you out there to listen me because a lot of people just don't understand. They want to but they can't relate. So anyway, thanks.
Rose

I'm not sure if I'm menopausal or not....I have a pinched nerve in my neck and lower back causing pain and a 6 1/2 month old baby at 50 (didn't give birth to her) I also am now retired...I virtually go nowhere...my back won't allow it right now. I had a partial Hysterectomy 25 years ago. Doc had never checked my hormone levels...I've asked like 3 times...because no night sweats.

Symtoms...
headaches
nausea
feeling faint
mood swings
heart palpitations-flutteriness
spiky BP (I do take bp meds,now on another one w/linsinopril... toprol)
feeling depressed
anxiety
temors-shakiness
of course neck & back pain
wake up at night with tremors and feeling anxious w/labored breathing
tingling in hand (having stess test and ecocardiagram in 2 wks)
tired


I know I have anxiety with my pain and a new baby and going from working outside the house for 30 yrs to being home all day...but could I also be going through menopause or perimenopause too?? i feel like something is out of wack...they did bloodwork...potassium is fine...glucose is fine..never checked for menopause (hormone levels) or thyroid. would just like to know what the problem is so I can fix it and get on with life...being anxious in pain and feeling yuky is no way to live.

I'm not sure if I'm menopausal or not....I have a pinched nerve in my neck and lower back causing pain and a 6 1/2 month old baby at 50 (didn't give birth to her) I also am now retired...I virtually go nowhere...my back won't allow it right now. I had a partial Hysterectomy 25 years ago. Doc had never checked my hormone levels...I've asked like 3 times...because no night sweats.

Symtoms...
headaches
nausea
feeling faint
mood swings
heart palpitations-flutteriness
spiky BP (I do take bp meds,now on another one w/linsinopril... toprol)
feeling depressed
anxiety
temors-shakiness
of course neck & back pain
wake up at night with tremors and feeling anxious w/labored breathing
tingling in hand (having stess test and ecocardiagram in 2 wks)
tired


I know I have anxiety with my pain and a new baby and going from working outside the house for 30 yrs to being home all day...but could I also be going through menopause or perimenopause too?? i feel like something is out of wack...they did bloodwork...potassium is fine...glucose is fine..never checked for menopause (hormone levels) or thyroid. would just like to know what the problem is so I can fix it and get on with life...being anxious in pain and feeling yuky is no way to live.

Hi,
I understand exactly how you feel. You saw all my symptoms listed above, and I honestly never feel good. I believe you are in perimenopause, and I think I am too. I am 51 and single and still have to work full-time. It's really hard when you feel soooooo bad. I have another dr. appointment on the 18th. I keep going back and he keeps being patient with me until we find a way to make me feel better. I hope your back will be better so you can do more. God bless you...

viktik