What symptom of meno really surprised you?

[menopausalfart]

I've had most symptoms associated with perimenopause, including some really nasty ones.
The symptom that surprised me the most was the memory loss. If I don't do something the moment it enters my brain, it's gone.
I've been taking HRT, vitamins, collagen, and I exercise regularly. This symptom, along with anxiety, has stubbornly persisted.

That I didn’t have any. My mother had a dreadful time, particularly with flooding and I was really worried about it. But I sailed through it.

Did your shoulder pain go away eventually @CheeseDreamsTonight? Mines been going on for ages now, I’m taking painkillers everyday. Mentioned it to doctor when asking for HRT but he’d never heard of it being connected to menopause. So bloody annoying because I know it is!

What a kind and caring contribution...

What surprised me just before was the surge of sex drive and overwhelming baby fever. (There is a word for this and I can’t remember it).

Realistically I had no desire for more children, but honestly had to stop myself sniffing random baby heads. And I kept dreaming about having baby with DP

15 years in peri and I'm still going. That's what's surprised me. The sheer length of time it's taking!

not intended to be unkind, just surprised to see it mentioned as something unexpected.

Anxiety. It comes and goes for me.

Pregnancy - I'm pretty sure we would not have DS were it not for a burst of late fertility. So good call as I thought my parenthood ship had sailed without me.

No HRT given, I was told not appr to rapid menopause when DS still a pre schooler

Whilst I know it’s really important we talk about these things… I think I wish I’d remained in blissful ignorance at what lies ahead :-/ sorry to all those who are struggling/have struggled

I’m now like all the ‘old’ women I grew up around who always had a hanky poked into their bra/up a sleeve…because my nose is always running!

then the usual fun ones;
anxiety/rage
itchy ears
forgetting words

The worst, the big comical burps on par with that scene in Elf! No idea where they come from, but my god they could blow the roof off!

Itchy and prickling skin - everywhere. I was even treated for scabies twice - I was convinced I had them.

Well not really because for me, I often worry that Ive got dementa, parkinsons or had a stroke. It helps to know that this is unlikely and that its peri symptoms.

At least if you know what is ahead, you can find out what the mitigation options are. For me it was a series of less than delightful surprises.

I get this too!! It's not wee, it's like a watery discharge. I'm 39!

I think I’ve had this. I was inserting a tampon and felt a gush of liquid coming from within my vagina. I spoke to my doctor and she had no idea what it had been.

If anyone has information on what it could be, please post a link.

For me, it’s been the insipid orgasms. They are so pathetic now 😢

Anxiety and sudden, uncontrollable diarrhoea that goes with it. It has got to the point where I get urgency going out anywhere, public transport, shops, visiting people - people visiting me.

Basically, any time it’s inconvenient to want the loo I want it. Genuinely life ruining.

I've lost my carefree, don't worry about anything self. Maybe its anxiety? My elderly parents are decling too and that is getting to me more recently. But today I went to pick my 16 yr old DD up from work (remote area) when she wasn't where she said she'd be I went from 0-60 in the overthinking dept! I had her run over or kidnapped and was starting to cry! Then she walked over to the car and I hid my ridiculousness from her! I mean wtf! I'm becoming neurotic over my nearly grown up kids 😩

The joint pain. Also how long PMT lasted - up to three weeks - and how much worse it was.

The itching in my ears. Drives me mad.Apparently we have oestrogen receptors there.
Lack of balance. Sometimes I just start drifting to the left. I have to stop still and reset of I just keep drifting until I crash into something

In no particular order:

Itchy ears
Itchy deu skin
Horrible brain fog, worse than normal as I have always been (undiagnosed) ADHD brain, coupled with a head injury and post concussion syndrome a decade ago, which I'd say has made it a million times worse lol 😆
Terrible gingivitis and awful sore gums, that would bleed loads and make me cry when I cleaned my teeth before my period - I'd never had a cavity or gum problems ever before
Burning mouth syndrome and excess saliva
Weight gain around the middle that is very muffin-top like, which is shite as I'm slim everywhere else
Nosebleeds
Frizzy hair
Worse pompolyx eczema and the horrid Itchy blisters on my hands
Joint pains

Ooh, I forgot to add that I had much worse symptoms after I'd had my third baby in 2020. Funnily enough, i think these were just due to postnatal hormones decreasing hugely, but the burning dry eyes, severe excess saliva and burning mouth syndrome, along with all the general anxiety and depression were very similar to the symptoms that I get now - but actually worse back then.

I remember reading that women postnatally suffer very similar symptoms to menopausal women, which is why I don't feel like I'm going through any unusual things now lol 😆

@Isanyonereallyanonymous I was ignorant of the symptoms. When they started, I thought that I was terminally ill. It scared the shit out of me.
Then came the depression. Then all I could think of was putting one foot in front of the other.

The pain i get when lifting my arm. Bizarre!!!

I’m further on in menopause. HRt has been a life saver.But a few weeks ago I started getting really really achy legs and shoulders. Started taking B12. Feel so much better! It could be a coincidence, I could have had some virus which is now over.

I also take evening primrose oil, Vit d and a probiotic.

The insomnia. If I sleep for a five hour stretch, I’m ready to put bunting out. And I’m now ten years post-menopause and it’s still as bad.

The sitting bolt upright from my sleep at 3am with anxiety - no RL 'issues' - not being able to get back to sleep. Prog tab at night first day on HRT changed my life as first mights slept thru in a decade. If it wasnt the anxiety it was walking up by the cold from a pool of cold sweat from a hot flush that didnt wake me.

The short fuse and rage.

The perspiring face - wet upper lip - think related to anxiety / hot flush - the more I thought about it the more I sweated.