Menopause Support Group
Menopause is the physiological cessation of menstrual cycles associated with advancing age. It normally occurs in women between the ages of 45 and 55, when the body begins to slow and stop the production of eggs, estrogen and progesterone production decreases, and menstruation diminishes, eventually stopping altogether.
Heres a list of 35 symptoms of premenopause & menopause..I was wondering what everyones symptoms were? I've had most of them on and off. It seems like I have a few symptoms for awhile and then they stop and I get a different set. The buzzing in the ears is finally over (hated that one). The worst one for me was the off balance feeling. I had that one for almost a year. I still have it sometimes but now I think its brought on by anxity. One good thing about premenopause for me; is I actually have a better sex drive. I hope that one stays. Heres the list.
1. Hot flashes, flushes, night sweats and/or cold flashes, clammy feeling
2. Irregular heart beat
3. Irritability
4. Mood swings, sudden tears
5. Trouble sleeping through the night (with or without night sweats)
6. Irregular periods; shorter, lighter periods; heavier periods, flooding; phantom periods, shorter cycles, longer cycles
7. Loss of libido
8. Dry vagina
9. Crashing fatigue
10. Anxiety, feeling ill at ease
11. Feelings of dread, apprehension, doom
12. Difficulty concentrating, disorientation, mental confusion
13. Disturbing memory lapses
14. Incontinence, especially upon sneezing, laughing; urge incontinence
15. Itchy, crawly skin
16. Aching, sore joints, muscles and tendons
17. Increased tension in muscles
18. Breast tenderness
19. Headache change: increase or decrease
20. Gastrointestinal distress, indigestion, flatulence, gas pain, nausea
21. Sudden bouts of bloat
22. Depression
23. Exacerbation of existing conditions
24. Increase in allergies
25. Weight gain
26. Hair loss or thinning, head, pubic, or whole body; increase in facial hair
27. Dizziness, light-headedness, episodes of loss of balance
28. Changes in body odor
29. Electric shock sensation under the skin and in the head
30. Tingling in the extremities
31. Gum problems, increased bleeding
32. Burning tongue, burning roof of mouth, bad taste in mouth, change in breath odor
33. Osteoporosis (after several years)
34. Changes in fingernails: softer, crack or break easier
35. Tinnitus: ringing in ears, bells, 'whooshing,' buzzing etc.
1. Hot flashes, flushes, night sweats and/or cold flashes, clammy feeling
2. Irregular heart beat
3. Irritability
4. Mood swings, sudden tears
5. Trouble sleeping through the night (with or without night sweats)
6. Irregular periods; shorter, lighter periods; heavier periods, flooding; phantom periods, shorter cycles, longer cycles
7. Loss of libido
8. Dry vagina
9. Crashing fatigue
10. Anxiety, feeling ill at ease
11. Feelings of dread, apprehension, doom
12. Difficulty concentrating, disorientation, mental confusion
13. Disturbing memory lapses
14. Incontinence, especially upon sneezing, laughing; urge incontinence
15. Itchy, crawly skin
16. Aching, sore joints, muscles and tendons
17. Increased tension in muscles
18. Breast tenderness
19. Headache change: increase or decrease
20. Gastrointestinal distress, indigestion, flatulence, gas pain, nausea
21. Sudden bouts of bloat
22. Depression
23. Exacerbation of existing conditions
24. Increase in allergies
25. Weight gain
26. Hair loss or thinning, head, pubic, or whole body; increase in facial hair
27. Dizziness, light-headedness, episodes of loss of balance
28. Changes in body odor
29. Electric shock sensation under the skin and in the head
30. Tingling in the extremities
31. Gum problems, increased bleeding
32. Burning tongue, burning roof of mouth, bad taste in mouth, change in breath odor
33. Osteoporosis (after several years)
34. Changes in fingernails: softer, crack or break easier
35. Tinnitus: ringing in ears, bells, 'whooshing,' buzzing etc.
I kept feeling weirder and weirder. My breast began to swell soooo bad that it would hurt to walk. It continued for over 3 weeks.
I checked things out on the internet and it kept leading to menopause. One day I just happened to turn it to "Oprah" with my kids (teens) in the room and they were talking about menop. As they were counting down the list my kids would look at me and say "that's how you've been acting" The bad part is that I was having all the feelings that came with it.
It was about 2 yrs. ago that it all began to happen and so now I am only 42 and trying to find ways to fight perimenopause. :0
I did take HRT for about a year and it worked at first, but I am high risk for breast cancer and it didn't stop the breast swelling anyway. I went off it and just delt with things, but then I (and family) realized I needed some help and so I started "Estroven". It really does a good job. Most of those symptoms have disappered. I still get mood swings off and on and a couple of the other symptoms, but not near as bad as before.
(PS my top 3 signs are depression, insomnia and headaches, not hot flashes much)
The price of the estroven depends on where you go. I've heard that at wal mart it is only $10.00, I pay around $12.00 at the health food store I go to. I also use progesterone cream which you can also get at the health food store and it is great as well.
Using Serenity Nat progesterone for 2 weeks and have noticed some slight improvements but I know it is gonna take longer to get real benefit so I am patiently hanging on in there but the worst of the symptoms for me is the bloating.
I hate men, well, change that to most people in general.
Eyelashes falling out and not growing back! I guess that might go along with the hair loss... half my hair fell out.
Racing thoughts - related to anxiety I'm sure.
And constant day dreaming about running away and living in complete solitude. LOL!
Hyper aware of the cultural double standard between men and women. Which totally pisses me off! : )
Now that I'm in surgical menopause all of those symptoms have reversed. I am not on any HRT... I get a few mild hotflashes here and there.
I'm praying for all of us. I won't take HRT's. I'm off of paxil, zoloft & cymbalta is what triggered my worst nightmare. I can get to sleep with a valium, but I'm beginning to hate western medicine. I'm trying a ONE a Day brand vitamin for menopause. It has soy replacement.
I joined this site this morning, please read my journal page if you would like to be friends.
HUGS
I guess, the the beginning of a hot flash feels like a flush, but doesn't make it to the sweating part.
It's amazing what an impact this crap has on your life. Why, why doesn't anyone talk about this stuff... why, why don't doctors address this stuff?! The most I ever got was a pat on the head, a patronizing smile, and a "you're not menopausal". Yeah, right! If only we could "give" this thing for men to live with for a year. They would have a cure in the first few months.
The oddest symptom for me has been something called "Night terrors" that occassionally goes along with night sweats. I am not usually easily scared but I tell you what.....they were rough. I started Prempro 1 week ago and already feel better, Sleeping better and not as fatigued. I am a health care professional and was resistant to HRT....not amymore.