To be sick of all my health issues being blamed on the menopause

[Tiredallthetimeneedsleep]

Throbbing pains in toes, feet, hips, shoulders, arms, wrists, hands and fingers. Ooh, and clumsiness and sometimes unclear speech. Have not even started the menopause - have been in peri for the last 10 years! Arghhh!

Have had electrode tests on my hands and wrists, full.bloods, MRI and xray. No thing found yet. Feeling disallusioned.

If you haven't checked thyroid already, do it now. Achy joints is always one of my symptoms, I'm underactive but stable and symptom free at the moment thankfully. Every time I've had a bad patch I get a new set of random symptoms on top of aches and exhaustion so it's very hard to see a pattern.

Will that have been already done in my bloods or do i need another test?

Have you had a celiac blood test? I had all your symptoms and at first they were blaming it on depression (I was depressed because I had the symptoms ffs).
It was only when I had a condition in my eye that you can get through having an autoimmune disorder that I was tested for all sorts and it turned out that's what I had.

What condition did you have in your eye?. Have booked eye test even though I had one 6 months ago as my eyesight is deteriorating.

uveitis, but the other symptoms was pain in joints,feeling exhausted,pins and needles,brain fog and not being able to concentrate.

I would expect its part of a full blood test but double check. I discovered my issue as part of investigation for another issue years ago so when I get 'full bloods' my GP knows this is included.

Very frustrating for you.

I have those symptoms (apart from the unclear speech), among others, and was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia.

It's a diagnosis of omission - everything else had to be ruled out first. Just started with some menopausal symptoms (I'm 52) and it's defo making the symptoms worse.

Just wondered if I will get the fibromyalgia diagnosis as ( touch wood ) no IBS or digestive issues. Don't you have to have so many markers ( factors) to get the diagnosis?

Are you on hrt? It's possible that all the symptoms are related to hormone deficiency. I have fibromyalgia but have it since I was 12 (results of glandular fever) and I've never had digestive issues but widespread pain, nerve pain and lots of other issues. A lot of women are being diagnosed in their 40's when their hormone are winding down. If you haven't tried hrt I'd start with that, it may help. If it's fibro (and I sincerely hope it's not) please see a specialist because a lot of gp's are pretty useless regarding it, it took me until my late 30's to find an excellent gp who was willing to prescribe 'outside the box' for it and finding her only happened because I married and moved a 100 miles!!

I'm sorry you're not being listened to. FYI - Menopause if generally when your periods have stopped - peri is when you experience symptoms in the lead up.

Have you had your B12 checked? I had slightly jumbled speech when I was very low. Always get a copy if yoyr blood results, GPs will tell you you’re fine even when you’re borderline. You need to be in the top quadrant for each range.

Yes been on hrt 2 years - symptoms have started since

Yes I know - I thought I'd put that in my original post.

You did OP.

I would push for some extra tests. You can request a print out of your blood tests from the GP if your NHS app doesn't yet show them (mine only started being shown last month and not historic)..
I always ring the reception and they print out and leave for me to collect..

Then you can see what has already been tested.

I've seen the results when I log in online, but I don't 100% know what exactly to look out for. I DO know my thyroid function has been tested though

I don't have IBS (I do have separate digestive issues, a hiatal hernia and gall bladder issues both diagnosed way before the Fibro).

I described my exhaustion to the doctor as if I've got new born triplets, two have colic, none sleep and no one helps me lol. The key marker was that I was just as exhausted even if I'd had good sleep. The pain I get in my muscles and joints and just under my skin feels like it does when you have bad flu and I get dermatome pain on my back and arm. I'm in low level pain 24hrs a day but manage it until I have a flare. Sleep is difficult but my meds help with that now.

Bloods ruled out thyroid, menopause and all the usual culprits. Investigations for arthritis also negative. At one point Dr though I might have MS but that was ruled out by MRI.

Finally got diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome AND Fibro, all the investigations took about a year. Most of which I wavered between "am I faking/just moaning?" to "do I have cancer?"

It's been a gamechanger. I'm a Uni student and the Fibro Fog means studying is tough. I have to use a mobility scooter most of the time now but I'm not faking, and I don't have cancer.

Pacing really helps, heat too (I have an electric underblanket in bed and for the sofa and I've been known to wrap it around my legs when I'm studying). I've just started to go to Aquasize (but go at my own pace) and swimming/steam room 3x a week, even for only a few laps.

Mostly, it's about recognising my body or brain limits and respecting them.

Just went t to the bin and my ankle gave way. This reminded me of that fact that both my ankles have been known to just 'give way' at random times for years. Could this be linked do you think?

I feel your frustration, OP.

I am currently peri & on HRT, & am in the latter stages of getting a diagnosis of fibro.

It's so draining having to constantly explain to people that my inability to regulate my body temperature (not a new thing, although now exascerbated by peri I have always easily overheated & will be walking around in a t-shirt in the middle of winter most days, then in summer I sweat excessively & embarrasingly) has been an issue since I was a teenager, not the menopause.

IBS isn't always present, I have some minor digestive issues but the main problem is my irritable bladder, which is apparently another of the fun but obscure symptoms.

Pelvic floor exercises don't do much for it either.

I make a concoction that seriously helps with my joints and pains.

Bottle of organic apple cider vinegar in a mason jar with:

Pack of chopped, fresh turmeric, a large piece of chopped fresh ginger and a flat tablespoon of whole peppercorns.

Shake the jar for a month and then strain. Keep the liquid in the fridge and daily, drink a tablespoon in a glass of orange juice or your favourite juice.

I noticed a drastic improvement in my joint aches and pains.

Google it if you don't believe it!

I'm 47 and peri and know exactly what you're going through.

There are undoubtedly benefits to the high profile the menopause has now but it does seem that doctors and the public blame everything on the menopause.
Mention anything on MN and a host of posters will jump in and say menopause.
In my late 40s early 50s I had a host of symptoms that would now be blamed on peri / menopause - painful joints, palpitations among others. But as this was 17 years ago it was never even considered. Instead my symptoms were taken seriously and I was referred to specialists and diagnosed with SVT and originally palindromic rheumatism which has since progressed to rheumatoid arthritis.

I just wonder how many serious conditions are missed because if you are female and 50 it must be the menopause.

100%

Well, I've woken up and am so overwhelming tired I could cry

Hope you've managed a restful day, or at least a feet up and Netflix evening.

I've spent today resting. Had a early start at Uni yesterday which meant travelling in rush hour. THREE time someone knocked my walking stick from under me! I did get a seat on the train but only because I know where to stand on the platform for the disabled seats and I am loud and unashamed at asking someone to get up from the disabled seats.

Just about to curl up with the new season of Survivor.

EDIT: For spelling because brain fog is real!