Weight loss and joint pain?

[kerstina]

Has anyone had these symptoms? Mainly of weight loss . Thought had knee injury but now other knee joints are a problem and so aches and stiff. I get head zaps and feel on edge even when at home.
I knew I had been losing weight as chest is flatter than ever and my stomach is flat and hips jutting out. Scales weren’t working for ages but got them working today I have lost at least half a stone if not more. Possibly a stone.
I have been stressed for various reasons. Am 55 and been through menopause .Anyone had similar thought I would put on weight at menopause.

Hi,
When was your last period? Any usual symptoms? Have you been to the doctors? I'm 53, still Perimenopause. I assumed weight loss is part of the process. I'm not 100% sure. This week suddenly felt my hip bone and breast size reduced. Noticed my top is loose. I wonder why? Like you I think I have lost nearly a stone this year. Brought a scale this week, because I haven't weigh myself for ages. I have arthritis on my knee, so it can play up sometimes. I have searched info about Menopause, all they say people gain weight, but nothing about losing weight. Let me know how you are feeling.
Take care

Hi Harmony Rose , thanks for your reply ! I think my periods stopped about 7 years ago. Unfortunately the other knee is playing up now with stiffn so probably because I have put more pressure on it .
So far I have had two lots of blood tests . First showing I was in the high range of inflammation in my blood and also significantly lacking in Vitamin D so I am taking supplements for that . The second blood tests inflammation markers still high but didn’t test positive for Rheumatoid Arthritis . Dr keeps asking if I have had an infection , not sure if my knee counts as there is fluid on it. She is going to see me in person in about a weeks time . I hope I get some answers soon. I wondered if I could have Lupus. It’s good to know I am not alone in losing weight around this age .Are you going to the doctors too ? Do you find you are easily cold because of the weight loss ?

Hi kerstina,
Have you been under any stress? Women over 50 have different types of joint pains. I think it is Osteoporosis. Also there are different types of arthritis. I had to go to different doctors for a better diagnosis. Lupus is usually weight gain and type of rash on the skin. I think I need to ask my doctor for test on inflammation.
My blood tests are ok now. (Jan was bad) (March was ok). At the same time tested for Coeliac disease and negative in my Fit test for bowel. Also Urine and stool test. Same month(March) went to Gynaecology hospital for a scan.

I was easily cold and had peeling skin last year. It was the lack of certain type of vitamins and minerals.
I have been having blood test (this year) nearly every two months because of my Anemic. Started taking Iron supplements. I have been having really heavy periods these last few years. Feeling ok, so didn't consider nutrients, Iron food was important. Instead gone for chocolates and crisps all the time. I think it was Covid and locked down and afraid to go the doctors. This made me eat junk food. But my health was fine. But this year all sort of health problems.
Going to see my GP next month and another blood test.

Let me know how yours went. 😉Try to be positive.
HR

Thank you Harmony Rose. I googled all my symptoms and it comes up with MS 😒 but trying to stay positive and not catastrophise.
Yes I have been very stressed ,for a long time really .My Mum has dementia and although I am not doing the caring for her myself now I still find it extremely hard.

Hi, how are you feeling today? Some celebrities got MS. I think the first symptoms are balance and walking. Also when women aged, they do get aches and pains. Have you been eating properly and getting enough sleep?
You could try a different doctor. Hope you get answers soon.
x Harmonyrose

Your symptoms do sound similar to mine I must admit! I also had terribly heavy periods in the run up to the menopause I think it is called flooding . It stopped me in my tracks and had to get to a toilet asap. So I do not miss periods at all!
I am alright thanks . About 3 weeks in to taking vitamin D but not making any difference to my joints. How have you been this week ? The weather is so depressing in the Uk though isn’t it ,if you live here too.

i just saw your questions .yes sleeping quite well thanks ( taking liquid magnesium) and also trying to replace junk food with anti inflammatory foods.
it is really good to chat to someone with similar issues I must admit

Hello.
I am living in the UK. I think I have got a bad cold. Went out shopping and it rained. Started with a sore throat and running nose, then with a chesty cough. Slightly better today. Watching BGT cheer me up a little. I'm into Entertainment and the Arts. 🤗 I have tried to eat healthy food too.
This year my bowel movement always in the morning around the same time and getting up around 4.30-5am. I wonder if it is because of the sun rising? Someone said gut health is important and it does have affect on you overall health.
Taking vitamins, supplements take time for your body to adjust to. I like to try collagen. But curious about the ingredients.
Chat soon😉

Oh no ! Hope you feel better soon. I have been sneezing a bit but am pretty sure it’s hay fever.
i am the same ! I go first thing after breakfast and I also have been waking up early .It was half six this morning. It’s just so light and the curtains don’t keep the light out.
I caved in a bit with the anti flam diet and had my favourite choc !
Hope you manage to have a nice weekend despite your cold.

Hiya,
Tried to get more rest. Tend to cough more when lying down and asleep. Getting better now. Went to the pharmacy to get some Antihistamines. He is friendly than my GPs. My eyes is kinda of red, little watery. . My husband got it now, coughing a lot and running nose too. Not sure if some virus going round.
Have you been able to gain weight this month? Feeling better?
I am trying to find ways to add weight, used to be the opposite when I was young. Looking at some old pics, I had chubby cheeks and odd figure when I was in my 20s/30s. Now I'm more skinny. Especially shown on my face. Fat is more on my waist and abdomen, but not on my hip? Wondering what to eat or exercise to put on weight, any suggestions? A bit afraid, will it effect my hormones, because it has been all over the place with this perimenopause phase.
Chat next time.

Glad you are starting to feel better. I have always been skinny but not this much. I eat lots of nuts but no I haven’t put any weight on but lost a bit more.What is your diet like?
I felt really low on Monday as it was my face to face GP appointment but was left feeling not listened to and not really given much opportunity to talk. She just examined my knee ,gave me a prescription for ibrufen gel and referred me back to the physio so I feel like I am totally back to square one.
I felt so worn down by the pain I decided to give Citalapragn ago that I was prescribed a while back but didn’t take it. I didn’t really want to take anti depressants as worked hard to get off them. I was thinking more HRT but not given chance to mention it. Think I might change drs .
Especially as she commented that I looked nice and slim when I am so worried about how much weight I had lost .Another thing that we didn’t touch on. They are very much one symptom a session kind of drs! I was out of there in ten mins I am sure .

I have lost weight (muscle mass) due to the menopause and am a similar age to you. Knees are also less happy than they were a few years ago!

That’s reassuring to know that it could be the menopause and muscle loss . I tried to find info on this before but end up just reading about weight gain !
Do you take HRT blue champagne?

Hi Kerstina. Have you ever consider seeing another GP? Sometimes doctors treat us as a number. Not like they used to. Majority are part time now. I am thinking of going to see a specialist Menopause doc, wondering if they can refer me, can't find one in my area. My doc register last year as a GP, I don't think she knows much about women's health. Went on websites and gym info, all they talk about helping pp to lose weight, nothing about gaining weight. Is it really hard to gain weight? Should I go back on junk food again?😏😬Missing my crisps and chocolates! Oh, my knees are playing up too. .Feeling my body is changing a lot this year.

That sounds like a really good idea Harmony Rose about seeing a specialist menopause dr . No try not to go back on the junk food if you can . I just eat a bit of chocolate after tea as my treat but trying to cut down on flammatory junk food.
yes I think I will definitely change drs. You shouldn’t come out of the surgery losing hope, feeling worse and not listened to. I listen to dr chatterjee podcasts sometimes he is brilliant . Wish he was my dr. I am supposed to be having a chat with a dietitian in August if I haven’t disappeared altogether by then.

Be positive, I always tried to be optimistic in life. I don't know where you live. Some specialist are free and others need paying. Also came across a website where some women meet up and talk about their health and menopause probs. Need to look it up again and pass the site to you.
My life is up and down, family, friends, work and now my health. When I was young, nothing bothers me. Sometimes I wish I could go back in time and change some things. What about you? I like chatting to you. Blink of an eye, we will be talking about Christmas here soon. 🎄🙂

@kerstina just wanted to jump on and add that your head zaps and feeling on edge are classic side effects of starting (or stopping) anti depressants. However, I also get head zaps if I have a urine infection but you said that's been tested. Also turmeric with curcumin is a very good supplement for inflammation and/or joint pain x

I am naturally a bit of a worrier but I try to be positive and be grateful for people and things in my life.
i just think trusting your health professionals is such a big part of getting better and them working in partnership with you and taking your views into account rather than just dictating how appointments go and not really giving you the opportunity to be heard is frustrating. I had a breakdown a few years ago and I felt like this then .
Thanks for your imput abouttoturn50 I haven’t been tested for a water infection and hadn’t been on antidepressants since five years ago but I had stopped putting ibrufen gel on my knee and also stopped taking some CBD liquid that I had been taking so maybe with drawl from that . I don’t want to speak to soon but the head zaps seemed to have stopped for now.
We have actually had a bit of sun today so I have tried to soak up a few rays . Hope you have all had sun too it does make you feel so much better just to see the sun !

Hi OP, have you had your ferritin levels checked? Painful joints and weight loss can be symptoms of haemochromatosis. Very treatable but poorly diagnosed ask me how I know

Thank you Wingslutz I had to google that but it has given me food for thought. I am vegetarian so I wouldn’t have thought I had too much of iron in my blood but maybe I am eating a lot of something like dark chocolate lol that could do it . I used to have to take a lot of iron when I had heavy periods and was anaemia.
I have had blood tests recently . I have a significant vitamin D deficiency and high inflammation. Which is worrying me

How's everyone here? Drop by to see you are ok Kerstina. Hmm.. I might buy some dark chocs, an ex colleague who is in her late 70s now, told me to buy some. Better than dairy chocs. I used to buy Cadburys, Kitkat, Ferrero Rochers. They are my naughty treat. When u start, you can't stop!😋Maybe one day, when my health improve. Got another blood test and GP appointment this summer. Just to check my health and any changes to my RBC. Going to get ready to go out for a walk. Stop my bum bum sticking to the chair, tried to avoid going on my PC all the time. Well, today done some cleaning and some laundry. Feeling my back and hip aching this morning. Lack of exercise? Take care.

I do, but feel I need to up the dose, as my sleep had gone to pot again.

When have you got your blood test harmonyrose? Sounds like you have been constructive anyway. I like Roches too! They sell them 3 in a pack . Just right for a little treat and quite satisfying.
i have been pottering on . Can’t face another GP appointment at the moment. Trying to get house clean and sorted as DS is back from Uni soon.
I found Magnesium improved my sleep Blue Champagne

Thanks for the tip kerstina, I'll give that a go. Have also persuaded the GP to up my dose, at least for the summer! The last couple of nights have been cool and I've done better.

Hiya. I went to my doc in May, she has told me to take another blood test in July or Aug and see her afterwards. I think it is to do with my iron level and any problems. .But I might book to see another GP instead. I have heard from one patient, the GP on maternity leave is back this summer, she is specialist in menopause. Hayfever, cough is better. But now it is my bowel. Normal in the morning. But when I eat certain food at lunch, it upsets my stomach. Had soft stool later. My hormones playing up all the time.
I am going to bed early this month. In the past it is usually 12-1am. Now it is between 10.30-11.30pm. And I am awake about 6-6.30am. Thank goodness it is not 4-5am.
Take care all.