Ladies only...

[Stephanie]

Okay, has any of you been through menopause or are going through perimenopause? What have your symptoms been like?

Mine all started with my hair thinning. Then my cycle starting swinging back and forth like a pendulum. I was fortunate to go through the summer without it only for it to pop up again in September.

I'm a little more high-strung, my concentration is foggy. I don't have the energy that I used to have, not that I was the Energizer Bunny before hand.

Now my left knee gets stiff from sitting too long, my left arm hurts when I raise it and when I push open my car door or put on a coat. My right jaw popped last week and it's been hurting ever since and then on Friday, my right leg "slipped" from the hip. It hurt like hell and then it went back into place but I can feel it "loosen" again. I've read on some websites that the fluctuations of the hormones during this phase can cause joint pain.

I guess I'm looking for some guidance from what you've experienced. I've been to my primary doctor several times over the past few years and I think that he thinks I'm a hypochondriac.

Thanks!

[HEY_NICE_PANTS]

[Stephanie]

You better run and jump into the ocean!

[CajunMama]

Have you considered seeing an internist? That's my main physician now. Because of my age she's had me do a bone density test and others related to my thryoid, blood pressure and other stuff. My previous internist must have been getting kickbacks from the pharmaceutical companies as she had me on like 7 medications. My new one...I'm down to 4.

Maybe it's time for a new physician? One that will listen to you and try to help you instead of saying you're a hypochondriac.

I have a history of fibroid tumors so I never went through menopause...just had all the plumbing removed!

[Stephanie]

He never said I was a hypochondriac, I just feel like every time I go, get more blood work done, and everything comes back "normal". I'm the one feeling like a hypochondriac.

Just about every friend of mine has had her "plumbing removed", so they didn't go through it "naturally".

I'm glad that you were able to cut down on your medications. It's expensive and I'd be concerned about the way that they all interact with each other and side effects.

[angelwing]

Steph, I am taking Black Cohash,it's a herbal supplement. I went to my dr because I was getting hot flashes bad...Imean bad, I was breaking out in a sweat in 10 degrees! I didn't want to believe that I was going thru menopause, I was in peri-menopause for the past 2 years and my gyn was just telling me that there was nothing I could do..finally told my internist and he told me to take the black cohash, so I am and it seems to help.

As with the other symptoms, I already have osteoarthritis of the knees, I have rheumatoid arthritis..these I had prior. THe new symptoms of my right arm going numb, my right hand having pins and needles didn't start till the menopause came in full bore--and I am gaining weight and haven't changed the way I eat or anything.

Gotta go for now but if I think of anything else, I'll post,

Mary

[DESTRUCTION5]

Okay, has any of you been through menopause or are going through perimenopause? What have your symptoms been like?

Mine all started with my hair thinning. Then my cycle starting swinging back and forth like a pendulum. I was fortunate to go through the summer without it only for it to pop up again in September.

Thats Just from watching too many Phillies and Eagle games.

I'm a little more high-strung, my concentration is foggy. I don't have the energy that I used to have, not that I was the Energizer Bunny before hand.

Thats the wind shift bringing in that fresh air from Newark

Now my left knee gets stiff from sitting too long, my left arm hurts when I raise it and when I push open my car door or put on a coat. My right jaw popped last week and it's been hurting ever since and then on Friday, my right leg "slipped" from the hip. It hurt like hell and then it went back into place but I can feel it "loosen" again. I've read on some websites that the fluctuations of the hormones during this phase can cause joint pain.

Getting old it a B#$%@!

I guess I'm looking for some guidance from what you've experienced. I've been to my primary doctor several times over the past few years and I think that he thinks I'm a hypochondriac.

Hes prob right

Thanks!

Welcome!!

Ohh sorry you said ladies only

[Stephanie]

Yo DESTRUCTO - *THUMP*

Mary - I've had the tingling sensations as well in my hands and arms. All of this has been coming on for the past 4 years. It's like what else is going to come up??

I do have a dentist appointment on Saturday to take care of the filling. I'll start with him regarding my jaw if it doesn't stop hurting by then. I'll play the other stuff by ear for now.

Thanks!

[sunny]

Steph, has your doctor done blood work on you to check your hormone level? About two years ago I swore I was going through early menopause, and the situation turned out to be completely different.

[weathermom]

Stephanie, Have you had your thyroid checked? And if so, did you actually get the numbers or did they just tell you "normal"? Thyroid symptoms can be felt while you are still within the "normal" range as listed by a lab. The optimal numbers for your thyroid are much tighter than the "range" listed in your labwork. Look up symptoms of Hypothyroidism and see what comes up.... you would be surprised how many things can be related to your thyroid being off.

[coriolis]

Stephanie, all kidding aside, we men will never know what you women have to go through, but to be sure, we'll be suffering right with you - you won't let us get away with that!

[Stephanie]

Stephanie, all kidding aside, we men will never know what you women have to go through, but to be sure, we'll be suffering right with you - you won't let us get away with that!

You're darn right you will be!

I've had blood tests taken many times for my thyroid, most recently this past spring and it was "normal". I even asked if the number changed at all from the previous tests (I've had it tested at least once a year the past several years - the last one was 6 months after the last one). My doctor said no. I don't really know what the number is.

I've never had my hormone level checked - is it a different test from other blood tests?

I will be seeing my dentist this weekend anyway to get a filling fixed. I do plan on telling him about my jaw popping. It still hurts, particularly when I wake up in the morning.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions.

[sunny]

I've never had my hormone level checked - is it a different test from other blood tests?

It is a different test. Might be worth a check just so you know for sure what you are dealing with

[dizzyfish]

Going through it "naturally" here.

Don't have a clue as to how old you are but I have been going through menopause and what you described sounds like what I have experienced so far. Kinda felt like I was falling apart for a while there. My knees have been the most recent complaint - if I sit on the floor to play with the dogs it is all I can do to get back up and walk. Haven't had jaw pain but last year I had a tooth break off for no apparent reason.

Hot flashes - don't go there!

Hang in there sister - you too will survive.


Hey guys - remember it's MENoPAUSE. Pause and think before you speak.

[Stephanie]

Hey guys - remember it's MENoPAUSE. Pause and think before you speak

I'm 47 and I've been going through this for about 4 years. I noticed with my hair thinning first and then the cycle doing whatever it wants to do.

It's funny that you mention about your teeth, but I've had a couple of caps put in place after a few have cracked during the past couple of years.

No hot flashes that I can tell, but I do sometimes feel warm to the point I need to remove my suit jacket. No drenching sweats. I also wake up during the night more frequently.

Thanks sunny for the FYI on the blood test.

[breeze]

Every night, I'm sweating and kicking covers off - five minutes later, freezing and pulling them
up over me again. Five minutes later, sweating and kicking covers off... this continuous cycle
goes on for hours. Hair thinning? Good thing there's a filter in the shower drain, or my drain
would stay clogged constantly - it looks like I gave a dog a bath in there! I've been making
jokes about buying me a Dolly Parton wig for quite some time, now... Brain fog? Yep -
big time! Moody? Yep - thank God my Mother loves me. As for joint pain, I have had
osteoarthritis for many years now, so that one is kinda hard to put on menopause. My
OB/Gyn checked my hormone level - normal. My thyroid levels - normal. Me - not normal...
My common sense says it's menopause, and, this too shall pass. I've read where soy milk
helps naturally, and I do like vanilla soy milk, but I don't want to put the pounds on, as I'd
be drinking it a lot! Oh, and I'm 47, too.

Hang in there, Steph - we're earning ourselves another Womanhood Badge of Honor!

[Stephanie]

LOL Breeze!

Good, coming from someone from the healthcare field, I don't feel like I'm totally losing my mind!

The last time I had my thyroid checked and it came back normal I felt like saying "I could've told you that"!

[angelwing]

You just reminded me, I had the thyroid checked & hormones checked--normal...forgot about the cover thing, been doing that a lot!

BTW, supposedly I started being perimenopausal in 98 when my cancer was dxed, now I'm 48 and going thru this wringer (and no cancer though at least)

[sunny]

Guys - remember, this is a ladies thread! My post may be more than you can handle!!!

I was going through the same thing angelwings - with the cover thing at night. Amongst 'other' things. I rarely got a good nights rest. That was why I thought I was premenopausal. My doctor did a full blood work-up. Thyroid was good. Hormone levels were perfectly fine. Ultrasounds turned up a few small fibroid tumors, but my doctor didn't see anything that would cause the issues I was having. I had diagnostic surgery on June 5th. Turns out I had huge fibroid tumors that was causing my issues (along with a huge cyst on the right ovary and uterine polyp), and the tumors were hiding which is why they were not detected with the ultrasounds. I am 10 weeks post-op today for TAH.

My TAH scared my sister, so she went and got checked. Had very similar issues. Hair, the back and leg issues, amongst 'other' things. She figured, like me, she was premenopausal . Turns out she is in the advanced stages of adenomyosis. Her surgery is set for next month - ironically enough three months to the day from my surgery

[angelwing]

Yikes Sunny! Hoping all goes well for your sis! Hoping all stays well for you too!