Oh god I am such a wreck.

[Ormirian]

I have pain in my shoulder and upper back that feels just like a toothache iyswim. I've spent a fortune on chiro which worked but within a few weeks the pain was back. I can't sleep properly because of it. Last night i spen an hour doing yoga and massaging the sore area and it was fine - when I woke up the pain was back.

I have horrendous thrush - worst for ages.

I have a runny nose and a sore throat and my athsma is bad.

But nothing that I can put my finger on - it's not flu, it's not even a real cold, just general shittiness.

I was so looking forward to christmas but TBH I feel really down and ill and soooo tired.

What can I do? Anyone suggest a supplement or some tablets that might help? I tried spatone for 30 days but it made no difference. I'm taking agnus castus for meno symptoms.

Is your mattress ok?
It may sound silly, but an old mattress won't give you the support you need and may make back problems worse.

DD gave me the fright of my life earlier, after having her first asthma attack in three years. She had been playing in the snow, and I think the cold just got to her. Her friend dragged her back to our house on her sledge looking really worried.

Can't offer any advice on supplements I'm afraid, but hope it all goes away by next week.

Thanks twirly - athsma is scary enough when it's your own. Must be horrible to witness is a child

We have a new memory foam mattress becuase we thought it would help, It hasn't.

Get blood tests from GP. Sounds like autoimmune to me, not that I am medically qualified or anything like that - but do get it checked out. Lots of sympathy.

Actually, DH takes a Berocca every morning, and swears by it. He used to get some real stonkers (colds) but hasn't had one for months.

You sound so run down, you poor love. I had shingles in September, and have felt a lot like that over the past few months - so I sympathise, especially re the shoulder and upper back. I've got an appointment with a back specialist after a very similar story (even have the meomry foam mattress!).

FWIW, I am finding a lot of it is postural and Pilates is the only thing that helps. But I also think upper back/shoulder pain should be checked out by a GP - it can sometimes be gall bladder/liver related, though you do sound fairly clear that yours is musculoskeletal?

I also found, post shingles when I was at my most exhausted and run down, the first thing I had to do was just accept how awful I felt - give it space. Trying to be ok when you're not is the most exhausting thing of all.

Do rest when you can, if you can - sleep and just lying down are easily neglected top healers. Hope you feel better soon.

Thanks elibean. I know mine is postural - I work at a computer all day and I am tall so tend to stoop a lot. But at 45 it's hard to change my ways. I might try the GP see if he can suggest anything. I can't keep paying for chiro or osteo - even with my health plan it costs a lot.

Have you tried swimming to build up your core muscles gently. Don't do it when it's very cold obviously but if you can swim it does seem to help strengthen the long muscles which are causing you trouble.

In general terms though, I would recommend treating the menopause like an extra long pregnancy, lots of extra rest, accept that you will be a crazy loon for a bit and just go with it. And force those round you to treat you like the centre of the universe. Even if it doesn't help your symptoms it will make you feel better

Dh had shoulder and neck problems which only cleared up after his work gave him a desk which was about 6" higher than everyone else's. Like you, he works on computers all day and is tall. His back problem only began at that job.

I OTOH have chronic back problems, and when I worked my office gave me all sorts of little adjustments like a tilting footrest, a raised monitor, and various ergonomic mice until we found a combination that worked best for me.

Talk to you HR. Regardless of whether your problem predates or was caused by your work, they have a duty of care towards you and should do what they can to make your work station safe for you.

Have your therapists told you about the rolled-towel stretches?