Anyone...symptons sound familiar???? - Menopause Message Board

ThinBones · 03-12-2005, 02:28 PM

I am 48 and although my blood tests show I am not in active menopause, I am having more and more severe symptons right around my cycle. I am absolutely exhausted, muscles ache, etc., about 3-4 days before my period, I bleed very heavy for only about 1 day, usually tapers on and off before and after. My sleep patterns are not normal, which I know is the normal(so to speak). My most recent distressing sympton has been intestional distress, seeems whatever I eat just goes right through me. I know it is normal to have some intestional problems during this time but this is getting out of control. Boy, could I use a shot of adrenaline as I am sure many of us could. Does the intestional distress sound familiar to anyone? Thanks!!!

anita4pets · 03-12-2005, 11:41 PM

Hi Thinbones,
stomach issues (among other symptoms) have been the bain of my existence. Problems seem to appear when the hormones are fluctuating and can range be anything related to the stomach, diarreah, constipation, gas, bloating, ...it is a never ending festival of stomach ills. Hang in there and search these posts, you will find many women with stomach problems.

rmc12 · 03-13-2005, 02:17 AM

Hi Thinbones,

Boy, I am right there with you. The worst for me has been the intestinal stuff. I hate it!! I had it really bad with it earlier last year from late Feb, a lot in March and then on and off (more taperiing off) in April and May. Then hormones must have stablilized as I was okay with it all till THIS Feb!! and now on and off since then I have had bloating and gas like I would get mid cycle or before my period , also achiness on the right side of waist and a bit upward and lower. It is not related really to food and from reading these boards I know that a lot of women have experienced this ache in particular. Plus I have back problems which are centered around my hip and pelvis which make everything all pronounced. My gyn said that everything there is so tied into the muscles there that if one has back issues it will be affected there. Plus she has said that irritable bowel is prevalent at this time or perimenopause.

I am 50 but have been having symptoms of peri for a few years but the intestinal symptoms cropped up last year and reared their ugly heads as I said after 8 months or so of not feeling it. I have read so many posts that echo what I am feeling yet I still get so upset about it. So I empathize with you.

I take Vitamin Bi, Estroven an over the counter vitamin and herbal supplment a multi vitamin and also calcium. I try to take green tea at night as it feel sotting and use a heating pad for the aches. Do you have the aches abdominally also near the waist? I know it is typical of Irritable Bowel in peri so was wondering if you feel this too. It is the one symptom that freaks me out and I still get anxious over it. I was given xanax to take for anxiety and when I went thru this last year I did take it on and off , and have this year too when i needed to. I tends to relax the muscles it seems but it is not something I want to take daily.

I wish I had more advice for you but wanted you to know that I can so relate. I posted a few days ago saying something in the subject heading like I am a WRECK...AGAIN and you might want to read it as Molly123 had very good advice in her post to me and reassurance about this intestinal issue. Evidenntly we have estrogen receptors in our instestines that can cause all this..and I guess when our hormones are fluctuating this happens. But is the one symptom as I said that frightens me and I have seen the gyn and dr. about it and am current with my annual exam and all but still worry when I get it.

One thing I can say stress and fretting over it, amplifies it for me big time. So I guess we need to find a way to relax about it. hard to do!! a dip in a hot tub or hot bath helps and breathing deeply . Somehow we have to find a way to relax as the muscles i think tighten even more when we are in the throes of it. Someone posted to me (Twanger I think) that there is a muscle that goes from our breast bone to pubic bone and when this tightens it can cause problems too instestinally and with muscle aching in that area, etc I try to remember that but it is hard. So I do feel for you and I thank you also for posting as it helps to hear someone else who is going thru it, although I am sorry to hear you are. but it is a comfort always to know we are not alone.

Keep posting and hope you feel better soon.

rmc

Kahlia25 · 03-13-2005, 09:06 AM

I have also had intestional problems and finally went on Aciphex for them. I alternated between constipation, diarrhea, being bloated etc. My dr. sent me to a specialist that told me that hormones or Lack of them cause this problem. When we are going through Menopause we have EVERYTHING that you can come up with. Keep posting and don't think you are losing your mind. I also have very bad nightmares on a nightly basis. I dream about some really weird things. I have found that being on Klonopin for my nerves has helped......best of luck to you.......Kahlia

rmc12 · 03-22-2005, 10:29 AM

Kahlia, Anita4pets...

thanks for your input to Thinbones on this and to me, as it also helps me to reread it as I did this morning, even though this was from last week!! I know you both said you have had this and Anita you said that it has been the "the bain" of your existence, which is how I feel sometimes too. I think the gas issues and the feeling that it is trapped in one area or another gets to me the most, due to the feelings it causes. I keep telling myself as you both said it is the flucutation of our hormones that is creating it all. And indeed I went thru this last year for a bit and it got better and waned and was gone. I am just not good in remembering that at times!!

Anyway, thanks as this post , helped for me to re read it today.

rmc