Early Menopause or maybe worsening PMS?

[allovertheplace]

Hi All

I'm 43 and have been experiencing problems with sleep and various other symptoms since earlier this year. I have been prone to bouts of mild depression throughout my adult life too, so put the sleep probs down to a recurrence of the old trouble. My GP wondered about early menopause when she saw me and ordered some hormone tests which came back as not indicating early menopause. I merrily started the A/Ds and found that my sleep improved a bit but still isn't great.

Lately though I've been feeling worsening of the other stuff, mainly having to take frequent trips to the loo, thinning of my hair, and what I think are hot flushes although to me it's like I'm just feeling the heat more than DH (or anyone else in the room - could also be side effect of A/Ds although I've been on them for a few months now). The latest symptom is a weird lightheadeness accompanied by a fluttery feeling in my chest which doesn't feel like palpitations but it also doesn't feel normal either. Could be anxiety I suppose but it's happening when I'm at rest and in a quiet place. My weight has gone up a bit lately too and I have noticed it around my middle particularly. Periods are very light and come every 3 weeks-ish.

Is there anyone out there with similar experience, in particular negative blood tests but genuine menopausal symptoms? Would it be worth repeating blood tests even though only five or six months have passed?

I think I might be beginning to be menopausal too because I keep going all hot.

It's different kind of hot to just hot room type of hot, or drinking coffee-hot. It sort of starts in the middle of my fact around the bridge of my nose. It feels like my nose is stuffed up with hot cotton wool IYSWIM. Then it sort of spreads like a wave down my back.

Is that what you are experiencing too?

FACE... not fact LOL

Hi Themoon66

Actually, your description sounds more like what I would expect from a hormonal flush. I guess mine is more like your first description - that of room too hot or just had a hot drink, (in a warm room), so I'm not entirely convinced my flushes are true menopausal ones. Yours sound like it though! I do get symptoms like that at night but that feels more like a shiveriness, like what you get with a fever as opposed to sweating.

The most debilitating thing is the lethargy, mood swings and general feeling of yukkiness and now this weird fluttery/shakiness thing.

I know you can buy a kit now, but it's about £15, which is fair enough but I'm thinking if the blood tests aren't picking it up, then a urine test is unlikely to do it either. My GP did say that sometimes it takes the investigations a bit of time to catch up with the symptoms, which is fair enough but now I'm wondering, should I try one of the herbal supplements to see if that helps?

Allover, I have some of the symptoms you describe. I have been waking in the early hours and not able to go back to sleep for an hour or so. I get very hot and start sweating sometimes. I have had that palpitation experience in the last 2 weeks, not the lightheadedness though. I was wondering whether that's caused by a virus as lots of people seem to be ill ATM. My periods are erratic as I don't have one for 6 weeks, then have one 3 weeks later. I also feel overwhelmingly irritated at times as well. Do you get that feeling?

I did one of those menopause tests from the supermarket. To my horror it tested positive. I am still breast feeding a bit so I think that maybe the hormones are all over the place still and that caused the positive test result. I hope so as I don't want to be menopausal.

I should go to the GP about it but just haven't got the energy for it ATM. I'm 41 by the way.
Maybe it's just normal hormonal change and not menopause Allover?

Hi mimizan

My first thought was that it could be viral actually, (the fluttery/giddy thing, as it's a new symptom) and chances are that it is. I've only had that one for a few days, on and off. I'm actually sitting here having little flushes now and come to think of it, it does seem to start around my face and move down.... hmm. I think I'll do a "wait and see" and see if it settles, (confirmation that it is viral). If it continues for more than a week, I think I'll try to see my doc again. Could be that it's a viral thing on top of the normal PMS thing making me feel double-iffy.

Us women have all the luck!

I do feel kind of weird and like my body's driving itself IYKWIM. I hope it is a virus as I couldn't stand being like this for the next however many years 'the change' takes. Even that phrase 'the change' is blardy awful, isn't it?

Well... I have been trying herbal tablets for the last 4 months and they are working wonders.

I got them through a website called Healthwize. They are called something like Natural HRT, suitable for vegetarians.

Before i started them, i was getting hot feelings about every 2 hours, waking in the night with a feeling that the bed was heating up underneath me, etc. I stuck with the tablets and after about six weeks I noticed a huge difference. I only get that hotness about five mins after I wake up (which is handy on these cold mornings). Then I suffer one only every other day or so. Huge difference.

I have noticed shakiness too... almost anxiety-like, but I am the least anxious person I know!

Cheers ladies

I'll check out those herbal tablets themoon - I might get them anyway, regardless of whether the shakiness stays or goes, (I so hope it is viral, like you mimizan). I need to do something about the other symptoms anyway. It could be that I'm feeling them more at the minute as it IS that dodgy time of the month but yesterday at work I just couldn't focus at all which is bad news when I'm the one who's supposed to be keeping everyone else organised, never mind all the stuff at home where strange things are appearing in the fridge, (my mobile - gives a whole new meaning to "cold calling").

Thanks again!