Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[jam153]

Hi ladies, I’m new to this forum and first time posting. This past 2-3 months have been such a challenge and struggle for me. I believe I have been in peri menopause for a couple years now with symptoms of irregular heavy period, brittle nails, dry skin, hair loss etc. it really didn’t bother me at all.  That’s why I didn’t connect the dots when my new symptoms of low mood and anxiety or hot flashes creeped up on me. Im 51 years old.

Here is my story:  In July of this year I got Covid. Tested negative 8 days later and all Covid symptoms gone except for post nasal drip. That lingered for a long time and it was truly frustrating  and uncomfortable at times.  I tried everything to get rid of it but nothing worked. Eventually I just kinda gave up cause nothing got rid of it. Fast forward to a month and a half later I noticed one day I woke up feeling a bit anxious. I didn’t know why. I just don’t feel right. When I get the feeling I would feel sick to my stomach kinda like butterflies in the stomach and chest area. I also noticed I would get a warm burning feeling in my chest, back and arms. My heart would beat really fast. It would last a few min. Sometimes longer but it would go away and I would feel fine again. I also noticed there are days when I just don’t feel happy. It is like I feel flat and no joy. I can be in a room full of people but it seems like I’m in my own world. Feeling spaced out. I don’t find anything fun or interesting. Lost interest in all things even shopping something I love to do. It is so unlike me. I felt like I lost myself somewhere. This feeling would come on suddenly and would go and I would feel back to my old self again like a light switch. I was having such a tough time cause I didn’t know what was wrong with me and I was so down and worried. I couldn’t think of anything that can cause this cause nothing changed in my life. I went to my gp and she didn’t know why I was having on and off low mood plus anxiety. She asked me if I wanted antidepressants. She didn’t have answers. My blood work was fine with no thyroid problem. It wasn’t until I talk to my neighbor that I finally heard the words “sounds hormonal”.  She said that I am going through peri menopause and the anxiety feeling might be hot flushes.

Can anyone relate to what I’m going through? I thought at first it was because I worry too much about my post nasal drip but I just don’t think so. I used to worry a lot more in the past, but I still didn’t get these symptoms.

I was confused cause I thought menopause is feeling hot and sweaty only. Never knew there are other symptoms😩

I have an appointment with an obgyn this Thursday. Hoping to get answers since she is a menopause specialist also 

[Taz2]

Hi jam153. Your symptoms are spot on for peri-menopause so you've come to the right place. Things will begin to make sense now 

Lots of us have no idea that the menopause can affect us in so many ways ranging from low mood and anxiety to hot sweats, depression, insomnia, vagial dryness (often masquerading as repeated UTI symptoms) heavy periods, loss of confidence etc.  Peri menopause is the eight to ten years before menopause which is when your periods actually stop. During this time hormones are fluctuating wildly which gives rise to all kinds of symptoms. What is your cycle like at the moment? Did your doctor offer HRT or is this something you'd not be happy to consider?

Lots of invaluable information on here together with friendship and understanding of what you are experiencing.

Taz x 

[Nik2502]

Hi

Your explaining classic hormone symptoms.
At 51 blood tests aren’t reliable for hormones.
I’m suffering with the mental health side of menopause - anxiety, panic, tearfulness. I honestly just thought your periods stopped and you had a couple of hot flushes 🙈
I hope your appointment goes well tomorrow - let us know. All the ladies here are so supportive.

Nik xx

[jaypo]

Your post could've been written by me a few years back and like the other two ladies have said,classic meno symptoms,can you ask at your surgery if there are any Drs or nurses who have meno knowledge? ADs seem to be the first thing a Dr goes for but usually they are not the answer.
There are soooooo many symptoms of meno......even the dripping nose!!

[jam153]

Thank you for all your replies and information. I really appreciate the support:) Sure need it during this time.

@Taz2 My cycle used to be at 28- 30 days prior to peri. Then a few years ago it was irregular mostly at 24 days or so. Then last year up until last month this year it was every 3 weeks and suddenly this month it is 5 weeks. It is pretty heavy for about one and a half years but this month it is not as bad but I noticed spotting after my period which never happened before.

@Niki2502 I didn’t know at 51 blood test for hormone levels are not accurate.
I didn’t take anything for my symptoms. This past two weeks it seems to be improving. It was the worst in October. I was constantly crying. I didn’t know what was going on and thought something was wrong with me to feel so awful. I would wake up feeling anxious and weird. A feeling of emptiness and hopelessness. That feeling would last a few hours to half a day and I would be back to feeling normal again. It was just so strange I was having a hard time coping. I thought peri symptoms was suppose to come all at once so thought I already got them a while back. When these new symptoms appeared I seriously thought something was wrong with me. Now it all made sense. I never had anxiety before so I’m confused if what I’m feeling is anxiety or hot flushes or both. Isn’t anxiety suppose to be like something you fear and are afraid of ? I don’t seem to have anything I fear. I could be in the middle of a zoom meeting and would get that feeling. I did get the baby blues for a week after my first daughter was born and after that it lifted.

@jaypo wow dripping  nose is a symptom. Maybe that’s why I have been getting post nasal drip for 4 months now! Used to go away after a few weeks.