Need Another Pep Talk! - Menopause Message Board

Buzzbabe3 · 05-10-2008, 06:22 AM

I originally got on the boards to ask about internal trembling and shaking as that was my most predominant symptom and since then a variety of others have reared their ugly head. I am panicking and would love some feedback. I did feel some calm after others shared that they had this symptom too...been to Dr. and had some bw done...started taking the natural route and saw my ob/gyn who gave me some options. I took the RX for the hormones and let them sit for a few days as I am so leary to go down that road...but after feeling even worse...started taking them. (and actually thought I felt better after a few days) But now I feel as though my symptoms have increases some days...I may have a day or two where I feel almost ok (what a blessing those days are) and then I will wake up and I am in that fog and my legs feel heavy and I feel jumbled...the formication feelings...the peculiar muscle pains that last for a sec or two at different spots on my body...a little weird twinge here and a little twinge there. At first I though the worst was happening to me..that I am dying of some awful thing and then I calmed down...but now I am sky high with anxiety over this. I don't have traditional HF...what I feel is just this general sense of warmth all over but no real sweating...I still get my cycle but it is starting to fluctuate in terms of days in between and how it presents itself. I have been taking some anti-anxiety meds but am trying to keep them at a minimum so as not to become dependent...some nights I sleep better than others. Bottom line is I just would like to know if others feel this way. So unable to truly pinpoint...is it menopause or something else! I am 51 and feel as though I have been peri for some years now but the symptoms havdbeen fairly mild...now it is messing with my head and I am scared!Help!

alwaysaworrier · 05-10-2008, 11:58 AM

I am going to jump in with my story: From reading your post I feel that I go thru many of the same symptoms as you. Don't want to frighten you but my problems started about 12 yrs ago (am 50 now). Back then it was not so bad (thats looking back now, but at the time I felt miserable, even tho it was only occassional!!) Anyway, it started one day when we were out for lucnh and out of the blue I felt this rush thru my head...frightened the life of me and I felt washed out for the whole day afterwards. Some time later I visited with the doctor and she said 'panic attack' and talked about various meds etc for it but I just left it at that and was glad it was only 'panic attack' and not a stroke or whatever. This type of thing used to happen every so often during the followings years and often just felt miserable. Then i started getting what i call an adreline (sp) rush thru my body which would send me into panic over it again and agan. I would feel so weak and my legs would be like jelly. Several times I would mention it to doc and would ask could it be menopause, but she said the normal ' too young'. Then i developed HBP about 4 years ago and put on meds (no wonder!!). Around this time doc started to believe me about menopause even tho bloods used to say no. Tried HRT for a few months but felt no different. Then eventually bloods showed ' menopausal'....i felt so good that day just hearing that!! Things have eased off a lot but I still do have some v bad times. Like you I wonder is this really menopause or is there something dreadful wrong with me and am I going to die...it is terrible. Then sometimes i wonder is it my blood pressure (even tho doc very happy with it) that causes these horrible feelings - the adreline rush thing - oh, if just don't know. A few nights ago I woke up to this burning feeling from my heart area up to my throad and thought 'heart attack'. I got up and took a mouthful of milk and went back to bed and it was gone - now what the heck was that? Scared me i can tell you. So, on and on and on it goes........
The hot flashes - at least thats what i think they are - are just getting the most horrible hot feelingt from my waist up to the top of my head - no major sweating - just an awful uncomfortable hot feeling - lasts a coupld of mins and then gone - I assume they are the so called hot flashes. My periods started getting further apart a coulple of yrs ago, like no sn for about 3 months and then back regular for a number of months and then 3 months again. I have gone 6 months this time and hoping maybe gone.....don't know.

I'm sorry for ranting on but just felt when I read your post that I could relate. I must say (even tho after all I've just said, hard to believe) that I don't feel as bad as often as I used to. How many times have I got this 'wave/gush' thru my body and think 'this is it' 'im going to pass out or die or whatever'.

Hope reading this might be of some comfort to you, knowing that you are not alone or going crazy. I do believe talking about it and sharing experiences do help.

How is your blood pressure, cholesterol etc. I also have high cholesterol (what don't I have!!).

Hope we all get better soon. Thanks for listening.........

TEdds83 · 05-10-2008, 12:30 PM

I am going to jump in here too. I am right there with ya ladies. I have weird feelings all the time now. I am already an anxious stressed out person at this makes it worse. I have made several trips to the ER and they dismiss me saying it was a panic attack. I hate it! I am 43 and swear I am in perimenopause. I don't care what they say. I still have my periods and the only last 3 days instead of 5. But I swear my body is freaking out. I have had strange muscle twitches for a year now. I am being tested for everything. No answers yet. Sometimes I get hot flashes in the night and wake up drenched. I get hot sensations in various places in my body and pin ***** sensations randomly. It makes me feel like I am going crazy! I feel like no one understands the hell I am going though. I am hypothyroid but that is under control. Every test run so far say all my levels are normal. But I feel FAR from normal. I have more anxiety, stress, weird body sensations, muscles aches and burning, and the list goes on. I feel like I am trapped in a body I don't know anymore. It's not the one I used to have. I want to cry, but what good will that do? I feel alone, and this is the only place I can come to ..to try and find someone who will listen to me or leave me an answer. If this is truly perimenopausal I don't know how I will survive all these years ahead. I tried one day on a antidepressant (Celexa) and that just magnified all my bad feelings and symptoms too.

I was wondering....I keep hearing about the internal shakes....I wonder if that is what I am feeling? I feel like mine are twitches...but they are definately worse about a week before my period, then they subside again. It is all so very weird. I am sorry you all feel bad too. I don't know what to do. If you all have any natural remedies let me know. I find a cup of natural peppermint tea with NO caffeine helps to relax me at bedtime. At least I can fall asleep even if I am shaky or twitchy. lol God Bless you ladies!

alwaysaworrier · 05-10-2008, 12:51 PM

I am wondering also about the internal skakes and wonder if I have them - i don't shake tho but i do feel 'jittery' at times in my stomach area - you could also call it a nervous feeling.....don't know if that is what the others are talking about. Hope somebody will be able to tell us.

As for the muscle aches and pain - would you believe I have 2 frozen shoulders since last summer, about Aug. They are getting better but still have a long way to go. Also, when i get up after sitting or driving for a while - my hips feel achy and takes a couple of minutes to loosen out. My god when i think of everything, how do we cope at all.....we should all get stars!!! You need to laugh at times to keep you sane

I like you feel these boards are the only place to come as any of my close friends don;t seem to have the same problems as me really. That in itself makes you wonder what is wrong with you!

Take care

Maggie

TEdds83 · 05-10-2008, 03:23 PM

HI Maggie! I feel that way too. When I tell my friends all these freaky symptoms who are my age too, they go "Really? I don't have any symptoms." and that makes me feel all the worse like why do I have all these weird ailments. I get alot of muscle spasms in my tummy area now. (weird) and my hips and legs get stiff or achy. I was working with school children the other day and felt like I was about 80 years old. I just didn't want to bend down and play with them, ha! It would be too hard to get back up. I know some of this is my thyroid disease. Hang in there! We have each other.