Are menopause symptoms quantifiably 'real'?

[Dilbertian]

Meno symptoms are subjectively real - I know that I'm having a completely random mood swing or emotional surge - but can the physical sensations I feel at these times be detected by someone else and measured objectively?

First tell us which newspaper this is for ...

You want?

Perfectly reasonable question from a MNer of many years. Check with MNHQ if you doubt me.

Ok.

Without googling - yes, they are quantifiably real. And the fact that you (or I, or anyone else) have to ask this is purely the result of thousands of years of male dismissal of female experience.

I have generally assumed that most of the physical symptoms are related to hormone imbalances which not only create new ills but exacerbate any mild physical imperfections that one previously scarcely noticed.

Good luck with getting your symptoms measured and specifically addressed though. Unless you are exceptionally fortunate in your GP (or can afford expert private care) you'll be sent away with a prescription for whichever HRT tablet is being most heavily promoted to the surgery that week. And, if it doesn't suit, or you have doubts, you'll feel too ... unreasonable to go back for another try.

Hormone changes behind the feelings can be measured

Feelings, like pain or happiness are much harder to measure although you may find that different brain areas show different activity levels

Pain measurement is a fun one to look at. You are often asked your pain on a scale of 1 to 10

Hardcore painkillers are given to men who report lower scores than women who are denied the painkillers.

ATM I'm getting whichever HRT patches are available, ie not my preferred Estradot. Most patches seem to be equally effective for me, except Estraderm. Guess which I'm getting. Still, better than nothing.

Dry skin, poor sleep, forgetfulness, they are all objectively quantifiable. Hot flushes can be seen and felt by an external observer.

When I reported palpitations, I was immediately referred for an EEG. Normal. When I had chest pain, I was bluelighted to A&E for EEG and blood tests. Normal (GERD!).

Yet I still have the palpitations. They are very real to me. I have a BP monitor at home, and sometimes when I feel like my heart is about to leap out of my chest I put it on. Pulse slightly raised, BP within my norm. When it's a surge of anxiety or other emotion, the BP monitor shows no difference to my norm.

So what is actually measurable when I 'm feeling that way? The feelings are physical sensations as well as mental 'feelings'. Why do these episodes physically exhaust me?