menopause clueless - Menopause Message Board

househuntress · 06-19-2005, 10:38 AM

Hello All,
I'm having symptoms and I don't really know if they are menopause or something else. Please point me to the right board.
I'm 53, have fibroids that are getting larger but the gny wants to wait until I start into menopause thinking they might shrink.
About 2 months ago, I started feeling soooo tired, almost dragging. I get out of breath but it feels like it's from my stomach? I'm nauseated in the morning some and my stomach feels bloated and tight. I can feel my stomach full under my sternum and that feels like it has something to do with my shortness of breath. I have started feeling anxious about all of this and have felt tearful but have pulled it back together before any waterworks. I'm trying hard to keep all of this under control, but I don't want to miss danger symptoms.
If I had night sweats or something that I KNEW was menopause I would at least KNOW not to worry so much.
I also have started having muscle aching in my legs and hips, plus low back pain.
BUT..it's the severe tiredness and shortness of breath that freaks me out.
I do have HBP that's under control and have had a stress with thalium test in the last two years that were normal.
Help please.

Sissypie · 06-19-2005, 11:39 AM

I've had similar symptoms before too. When I have had the stomach issue, it almost felt like a trapped air bubble or something. Almost like if I could force it up, it would relieve that pressure. I've had it bad enough where I actually felt panic and anxiety symptoms during the attack. As weird as it sounds, I was able to calm this down by taking some anti gas Maalox. This forced me to have a huge burp, and the symptoms calmed way down after that. I got similar relief by chugging a diet 7 up too, but that episode was not as severe as the previous time. The pressure got so tight at one point I thought I was having a heart attack.

I've had the morning nausea before, and it seems to have been a couple days before my period.

I've had a little of the shortness of breath, but when that happens it seems to be during the times my heart is doing the skipped beats and flip flopping.

Are you having trouble with insomnia at night? I'm currently dealing with a fairly severe bout of that right now, and it has totally zapped my energy level to nothing. I'm constantly dragging during the day.

I haven't had the night sweats, or any hot flashes yet. Those are always the ones that I associated most with going through menopause too. There is a pretty good list of the most common symptoms on this board. People have added their personal experiences to the list as well.

I really believe that everyone is going to experience this jouney in their own way, but it's comforting to find people who can relate to the experience, and to know you aren't alone.

I would suggest getting the shortness of breath checked out to be safe. That's just one of those symptoms that should be checked into more thoroughly.

Best wishes,
Sandi

househuntress · 06-19-2005, 09:44 PM

Thanks Sandi,
I'm not really having the insomina but that is a BIG menopause symptom.
Right before my period I experience very light sleep, I'm hot but not sweating, tossing and turning, just not a restful sleep. Also lots more swelling of my ankles right before my period. I always had swelling but this is more.
When I wrote this I was totally obsessing about how I felt. I went out to a father's day party and felt much better. I didn't have the shortness of breath like before.
If it persists I will have it checked into. I'm wondering if it's not anixiety. I've never had it before, but it sounds like many of my symptoms coupled with menopause...except for the fatigue. But when I was pregnant 27 years ago...*S* I was so tired I just went from couch to bed and back again. This is the same feeling so I'm wondering if the hormones in menopause could do the same thing.???

rmc12 · 06-19-2005, 10:32 PM

Hi Househuntress,

I am 51 and a book that really has helped me is : The Pause : Positive Approaches to Menopause by Lonnie Barbach. It goes thru all of the many symptoms that we can have thru perimenopause. I too did not know about anything except hot flashes and mood swings and nightsweats but mostly you hear about hot flashes. But there is so many other symptoms that we all can have. I have never even had a hot flash , but I have had the fatigue you are talking about and the feeling of tightness at the sternum. I know other women on this board have talked about it too.

Of course it is always best to talk to your doctor about these issues. I suggest the book too as it is helpful to know that a lot of symptoms, even muscle and joint aches can be a part of peri for some of us and also gives suggestions too. The anxiety is a huge part of it for a lot of us and that has been the big thing for me. I also have had intestinal issues too. More so last year. And the anxiety makes it all worse when it is all happening.

I do not have fibroids but I do have friends that do and I have heard they shrink also as we go into menopause. But it is best the dr. keep an eye on them which it sounds like he is. Like I said it is best to talk to the gyn nor dr. about the shortness of breath etc. just to check it out.

Also read some of the past posts on this board and even the archives and you will read a lot of posts that tell you that perimenopause affects every differently but there are also a lot of things we all seem to experience so it helps to read them so one does not feel alone. I know it has helped me to know that.

It is interesting you said that when you went out to the father's day party that you felt much better and didn't have the shortness of breath. I think that when we do obsess as you put it about a symptom it does get worse and when we take are mind off of it , sometimes it helps. But it is easier said than done.

I hope you will continue to post as venting I think does help.

Take care,

rmc