Unusual Symptoms of Menopause? Options

[ruth in australi...]

I am 57 and have suffered from many and varied symptoms, which, after much reading and research, I now believe are associated with menopause.Vertigo - bouts lasting approx. 2-6 weeks.Tinnitus - which lasted approx. 3 years.Mouth and throat blistersInternal shaking   -------doesn't it all sound like fun !!!!apart from the 'usuals', i.e. hot flushes,broken sleep, anxiety, etc. etc.How about a Topic on unusual symptoms -let's open the Pandora's box.

[Dearest]

Unfortunately, ruth, these symptoms you've described are not considered "unusual" for perimenopausal and often postmenopausal women as well. Everything you've mentioned is something I've personally experienced -- and some of which I still do on a fairly regular basis (although I'm technically considered postmenopausal)

There's a list of 34 signs of menopause that was originally compiled by The Menopaus (no "e") Listserv, which includes every one of your complaints.

Here's the list for anyone who's never seen it:

The 34 Signs of Menopause:

1.   Hot flashes, flushes, night sweats &/or cold flashes, clammy feeling.    (related to increased activity in the autonomic/sympathetic nervous system)2.   Bouts of rapid heartbeat.  (related to increased activity in the     autonomic/sympathetic nervous system)3.   Irritability4.   Mood swings, sudden tears.5.   Trouble sleeping through the night (with or without night sweats)6.   Irregular periods: shorter, lighter or heavier periods, flooding, &     phantom periods.7.   Loss of libido (sex drive).8.   Dry vagina (results in painful intercourse)9.   Crashing fatigue.10.  Anxiety, feeling ill at ease.11.  Feelings of dread, apprehension, & doom  (includes thoughts of death,     picturing one's own death).12.  Difficulty concentrating, disorientation, & mental confusion.13.  Disturbing memory lapses.14.  Incontinence, especially upon sneezing, laughing: urge incontinence     (reflects a general loss of smooth muscle tone).15.  Itchy, crawly skin (feeling of ants crawling under the skin, not just     dry, itchy skin)16.  Aching, sore joints, muscles and tendons. (may include such problems as     carpal tunnel syndrome).17.  Increased tension in muscles.18.  Breast tenderness.19.  Headache change: increase or decrease.20.  Gastrointestinal distress, indigestion, flatulence, gas pain, nausea.21.  Sudden bouts of bloat.22.  Depression (has a quality from other depression, the inability to cope     is overwhelming, there is a feeling of a loss of self.  Hormone therapy,     ameliorates the depression dramatically)23.  Exacerbation of existing conditions.24.  Increase in allergies.25.  Weight gain.  (is often around the waist and thighs, resulting in "the     disappearing waistline" & changes in body shape.)26.  Hair loss or thinning, head or whole body, increase in facial hair.27.  Dizziness, light-headedness, episodes of loss of balance.28.  Changes in body odor.29.  Electric shock sensation under the skin & in the head ("take the     feeling of a rubber band snapping against the skin, multiply it     (exponentially, sometimes) radiate it & put it in the layer of tissues     between skin & muscle & sometimes a precursor to a hot flash.")30.  Tingling in the extremities (can also be a symptom of B-12 deficiency,     diabetes, or from an alteration in the flexibility of blood vessels in the     extremities.)31.  Gum problems, increased bleeding.32.  Burning tongue33.  Osteoporosis (after several years)34.  Brittle fingernails, which peel & break easily.

Some add'l signs from Dearest:  

-- acne-- skin eruptions-- itching wildly and erratic rashes-- shoulder pain / joints / arthritis flare-up or development -- heart pain-- internal shaking/tremor-like feelings

Some of the 34 signs may also be symptoms of one of the following:

-- hypothyroidism -- diabetes -- depression with another etiology -- other medical conditions

If you have reason to believe you may have one of these conditions, pleasesee your doctor for treatment.

Dearest note: Please remember that although these may be common complaints during menopause, they might also indicate some other health problem. Be sure to consult with your personal health care provider before attributing these symptoms to menopause.

This list was developed by Judy Bayliss' Menopaus Listserv.

[Denise Thomas]

Does anybody have these symptons. I developed a yeast infection after taking Prempro and now I have a Urinary tract infection also. I just have had this bad burning in my pelvic, back and recently the stomach. I have changed my diet but ate some fried food at Red Lobster on Monday. I recently start taking vitamin C & B6 for anxiety, soy milk and remifrien. Today I have not taken anything other than the meds the doctor called in. I have been under a lot of stress lately and wonder are these symptons of Menopause ( I know the fried food did not help matters) and does anybody have any suggestions.

[jeanne]

I would not take any of the supplements till the infection is gone, Denise. Some meds don't interact well with vitamins , etc. After it is gone maybe add one thing at a time till you are sure none of that is causing any problems. Sounds like it may have a possible allergic reaction to something maybe?Hope you're better soon,hugs jeanne

[Carol S from PA]

Deniese:  In the beginning stages of perimeno, I developed infections; and I never had them before this.  This was during the same time I had vaginal dryness.  I was on Prempo also, but I had the infections before starting it.  After a while, they just went away, and I have not had them since.  This is a crazy time--be ready to accept anything.  

[Denise Thomas]

Thanks Carol & Jeanne,

I am so confused at what I can take and I think I have taken so much stuff. I have so may allergies and some of things that I have taken may not agree with my body. So I took some mylanta and my stomach feels a little better. I took some vitamin B6 and C together and think that could have caused the upset stomach along with the infection. Thanks Carol & Jeanne for your response to me.

[dawn]

Denise,I too have had lots of weird reactions to meds, starting at the same time my perimenopause symptoms cropped up.  I was having some neurological problems and had violent reactions to many different meds, and ended up in the hospital each time.  I even reacted to cortisone and that's what you're supposed to be able to take to "calm down" the allergic reactions.

I am very cautious with meds and even vitamin supplements  now.

On another note, Ruth and a couple others mentioned mouth and throat blisters.  I actually had these quite severely before I started having the neurological problems, which resulted in some one sided facial and tongue paralysis.  No doctor was able to diagnose them, did anybody's physician ever explain to them what the cause of the blisters was?  I always wondered if it could be some form of shingles.

[kiva]

I am writing from n. New England, am 50 ys old, and am concerned about weird symptoms. Am seeing Dr., but also want relevant experience from others. Had two different viruses back to back in April and early May. Now have worsening double vision and almost no sense of smell or taste.  These may be separate issues, but could menopausal changes contribute to them? Am missing many periods.  Thanks for listening!

[Framboise]

Dawn, re: your blisters and neurological symptoms

I've had kinda similar stuff all my life, cyclical with my periods. Mostly the oral blisters--sometimes one (mostly) but during periods of high stress, thousands in my whole mouth/throat/nose. Yeah, nice.

The ENT I finally went to for them said it was a herpes virus, probably from when I had chicken pox as a child (it's a herpes family virus). Herpes tends to take up residence along our nerves and remain there. This, later in life, can turn up as an outbreak of shingles. It can also, she said, affect the facial nerves. My right eye area is prone to this, and during that same stressful year, I couldn't touch my right eye without triggering an excruitiating electric nerve flash. I also have huge pads of scar tissue where wearing braces as a teenager kept two huge ulcers inflamed for the entire 3 years I wore them (although my complaints of pain were brushed off as a "bad attitude" ) so physical trauma is another potent stressor, as is sun exposure.

Most of these went away when the stressors did. It comes back rarely (often, now, it is triggered by some thermal stress, like sitting by an open car window on a cool day).

The good news is that the hormonal stability of menopause (and especially post-hyst, being on steady hrt) seems to have greatly reduced the incidence. YMMV, of course, but it's something good that might come out of all this hormonal upheaval.

The bottom line, however, is that while I can't answer for what's going on with  your specific case, the reasoning you are looking at is physiologically plausible.

[france]

Hi Ladies...Reading all yr notes and wondered if anyone had symptoms like this....skin stinging like bee bites...mostly on chest and neck...(normally where hot flash would be).  Its like being pricked by little pins all over now.  Even my throat is now feeling this.   I know my anxiety doesnt help it but ...just returned from MD and of course he knows nothing about this ...neither my dermo, my allergist or my GP.  Has anyone heard of anything like this associated with peri/menopause..Just at my wits end it is so painful and adds to all the other anxiety,depression, migraines, et al.Just hoped someone might have heard of something similar.Thanks for your time...Fran

[Ga Girl]

Dear France:I have had a lot of weird sensations like a buzzing in my head--especially  when I lay down on my back. Does this happen to you?  Even my vision is affected sometimes.  I have a friend who was on Premarin for several years and she got the bee stinging sensations in her chest and breast area.  Her doctor told her to stop the Premarin because this was a side effect.  Are you on Premarin?  I hope this info helps you.  This menopause is TERRIBLE!  Good luck.Ga Girl

[Jools]

Please could you tell me how is your vision affected? This is my most distressing symptom, and I would so love to find something that helped it. It is a comfort just knowing that others have problems with their vision too (but sorry for you, obviously)

[IreneCrites]

Jools...I also had and continue to have (although much less frequently) problems with my vision. Somedays I would not be able to even read road signs correctly.  I have had a couple of eye exams by my Opthamologist and Dry Eye Syndrone is the culprit that bothers me the most. As long as I use Nu-Tears as prescribed my vision is 100%  improved. Anxiety also plays tricks with vision causing tunnel vision, color distortions, difficulty focusing etc. I hope this information will be helpful and help you to feel less anxious regarding your eyesight. After all my unecessary worrying my eye exam proved that my eyes are in great shape (other than the typical old eye arm is too short syndrone,lol) and the dry eyes. Dry eyes can really raise havoc however so if this hasn't been checked out it might be prudent of you to do so.

[Liz51]

My vision is affected sometimes by anxiety, TMJ and like Irene, I have dry eyes too.  Sometimes I keep blinking trying to bring things into focus.  When driving it sometimes looks like a heat haze, and everything is shimmering...very distressing and one of the reasons I find it difficult to drive on interstates.  

Hugs,Liz51

[jeanne]

I don't drive on interstates because everyone would be in serious peril -:biggrin::shocked::shocked:hugs , jeanne:)

[Snowbird]

Awwwwww....A WISE Woman Who Knows Her Limitations!!! :biggrin:(((Huggies))) Silly Goose :cool:

[Jools]

Thank you for all your help - but what are dry eyes? Do you mean 'no tears'? My eyes sometimes feel gritty and/or sore, but equally, other days they might run and be watery. Most days I have blurry vision - that is to say, I can SEE quite clearly, but as if I'm looking through a greasy film or filter or something. The colours red and orange seem to GLOW, or else I can't focus on the colour at all - a small red light is almost invisible some days. Then, if I go for a walk across grass, the grass becomes out of focus and discoloured. This is so hard to describe, because it sounds so mad - it's not like anything I've ever experienced before. I have had my eyes tested twice in the last year and although I have a mild prescription for reading, the optician says I have good eyesight and looks baffled when I describe my symptoms. He says it could be anxiety. I have been tested for glaucoma etc.but all okay. I am now trying gingko biloba because someone said it helped them. All my other symptoms have more or less subsided, but the eyesight lingers on. Could it still be anxiety related? I am so upset by it, I really am, and am just desperate to know if it will eventually clear up. I used to love doing the gardening, but now the colours and patterns of the flowers and leaves almost hurt my eyes, and after a while everything goes so fuzzy I can't bear it. It is much better than it was around Christmas time, when I honestly thought I was losing my sight (or reason, or both!)Any suggestions or help would be gratefully received!!Thanks and hugs

[jeanne]

Hi Jools,Just wondered how your blood pressure is. I had a lot of vision problems before I started taking blood pressure pills. Just something to check out .

hugs , jeanne:)

[Jools]

Thanks Jeanne - blood pressure fine (had it checked last week), because I had similar thoughts. I wonder if it could be computer related? Anyone else think so?

[Dearest]

Ga Girl, yes, I have experienced that buzzing sensation, but it does eventually abate. It can feel overpowering -- frightening -- almost like an out-of-body experience. However, don't fret. I doubt anything is wrong, but if it continues, you should be checked by your doctor (believe me, he'll find nothing)

I've spoken about it many times in the past, referring to it as my "electrical shock impulses." This happened to me while I was in the throes of PERI-MENOPAUSE -- the very WORST part of this entire process while our periods are becoming fewer and far between, only to eventually stop completely (your life should improve once your periods are gone for about a year).  For the most part, it's gone now (fingers crossed.. the minute I say something is okay.. it's back again - case in point, I said just Saturday that I hadn't had swelling in my bad leg/foot for two weeks... it returned Sunday ).  It felt like electrical impulses in my head.... a buzzing sensation.  Similar to the pictures we get of someone sticking their finger in a live socket and the body vibrating with a Buzzzzzzzz'ing. It can be very frightening, but I was convinced that it was one of the *strange* (and there are MANY strange and, yes, inexplicable, things you'll experience during menopause - thank you, mom, for telling me this before it all started) for which hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and/or any other drugs, herbs or vitamins will do nothing at all.

Your body is going through many "changes".. that's exactly why they call it the "change."  Our bodies are governed by hormones, not just estrogen, progesterone and testosterone, but NUMEROUS hormones -- all of which become totally whacked out during menopause.  Everything in our bodies is connected - nerve endings, arteries, veins, hormones -- and it's not unusual to feel what some describe as "electrical impulses" in their bodies. Our bodies arehighly complex mechanisms, but not quite as fragile as some would have us believe.

[dixiemartin]

My mother in law was taking the HTR drugs one being Premarin and it caused her to bleed and her bottom got white and itched.  she went to the doctor was treated for yeast infection then she got worse and was sent to a specialist he took some skin from there to check for other things.  she was hurting really bad and "not once would the doctor let her stop taking the medicine.  later she had to have surgery for a bladder problem and after she looked like someone beat her up.  She was black and blue insdie her legs and in pain.  That poor thing went through a lote and finally they took her off the medicine. Now she has Alhemziers which you know how sad that is.  She was a very active women who could sew anything and cook anything and now, just a shell. It's so sad. I don't and won't take hormone replacement.  My sister has delvoped Asthma and that is one of the side effects of the drug.

[Dakota]

Been reading about the unusual symptoms - some mention of mouth and throat blisters etc.  and some possible connection to herpes virus and shingles. Has anyone had any problems with shingles ? I got my first bout  6 years ago when in peri menopause. I consider myself to be pretty healthy  (haven't even had a cold in 31/2 years ) but this freaked me out ! A couple of years later had an out break of herpes simplex 1, which I had never had in my whole life ! Thank God it hasn't happened again !   I'm wondering if it's another thing connected to the hormone fluctuations ?

[Nina Bellanti]

i have had burning sting skin for two years on and off. seems to be related to stress but im not sure. was told it my be yeast on my skin but i took lamisil for months with no real releif. i also saw somthing on the internet about shingles. does anyone get the bvurnring (not Hot) but as if i was in the sun all day and have oa horrific sunburn with no red ness or some redness.? My throat nose and eyes can burn too. I also get numb sensations like something is brushing against my face its not numb but it feels numb like. I know that sound really stupid. lately my hands feel swollen and stiff. I too have had the eye symtoms but is more like my eyes are all over the place as if theres too much to look at and i get oveerwhelmed. Im 36 and premenapause i think. I ve got almost all the other symptoms too.

[jeanne]

Nina  hi, Have you seen a doctor at all? It sure sounds like you are perimenopause to me.  If the doctor thinks you are too young , you must speak up and tell him you want a saliva test to be sure. The blood test isn't always accurate, and I believe you need to be sure. If the doc says you are too young , make sure he or she knows that you have been reading a lot about it and it isn't too young. Are you doing anything for any of these symptoms? I hate to think of you suffering needlessly. Hope you are well, take care,hugs, jeanne

[Claire]

What are phantom periods?  I assume they are periods that don't happen but you have all the symtoms thereof.  Also I noticed you said rashes and I am wondering about the rash under my arm being associated with that.  I never got to the doctor because by the time it came to go the rash was subsiding and is now gone.  It seems to happen when my body thinks it should have a period.  Hopefully if it happens another time it will not be on a weekend holiday.

[MrsSLG]

Wow!  I'm normal!  LOL  As a newcomer to this site, I've spent some time drifting through many subjects and found that I have many of the symptoms that are described.  To get to the point...I'm 50, still having periods, dealing with those 'wonderful' face hairs, take Synthroid for my Hypothyroidism, take Zocor to keep my cholesterol in check, take prescription 'prenatal' vitamins and prescription iron,  I experience that blurred vision on occasion, just recently have been going to bed early but waking up around 2 a.m. [watch tv] and try to go back to sleep just as the sun rises, and GAS...I've got gas!  LOL  I have an enlarged uterus that has been giving me grief for approx. 10 years...but I put off a hysterectomy saying that when I experience Menopause, I'll feel better.  Ha!  I'm at the end of my rope.  I'm scheduled for a Hysterectomy in Jan. 2002 and I'm having my ovaries removed also. [background: my mother just passed away Sept. 14th, 2001 of Ovarian Cancer]  What bothers me the most though is this feeling I have in my lower right side,  that I can describe as 'always being there'.  I always feel discomfort there in front and it seems to pass through to my lower back.  Yes, I've had all the tests to rule out any other problems.  So I'm finally resigned to the fact that maybe a Hysterectomy will help.  I have friends who've had it done years ago, who keep telling me to 'go for it' and that it was the best thing they did and they've never felt better.  Dearest, you mentioned in your new member greeting to me, that I will experience instant menopause after the Hysterectomy.  But wouldn't the HRT keep everything in balance?  I realize it'll take time to get back on track.  It's all so mind boggeling!!   Oh yeah...one other thing that is of concern to me is my weight.  I am stuck at a weight that is 'not becoming', yet despite a lean appetite, I cannot seem to shed the pounds!  I must admit though that I don't exercise as recommended.  But I feel there is a connection between all the stuff I mentioned above that won't allow me to lose weight and is out of balance.  Ok....I'm done for today!  LOL  Enough about me....how's everyone else doing today?  

[Liz51]

Yesterday and the day before, I had spells where the only way I can describe how I feel is "weird".  I don't feel anxious or panicy really,  I just feel kind of in a fog and can't focus.  Kind of like in a dream.  Then it goes away as quickly as it came.  I figure it must be a surge of some type of hormone, but it always leaves me feeling uneasy.

[Kitten]

What about bloat. Is this a symptom. I did't see it listed. I always had a flat stomach, until Sept. 2001 when my periods stopped. I worry about Ovarian Cancer for this is a symptom. Can any one help me. Thanks.

[ruth in australi...]

well, things have settled down since I first entered this forum.  I am now 58.5 and the worst seems to be over. Have resisted HRT and glad I did.  It has all taught me one thing - and that is to just allow everything time to pass - because almost every symptom did - and I am now much more accepting (or battered into submission) about any physical or emotional changes I feel.  Good luck to everyone and hang in there!!!

[cookie]

Hi Kitten~Yes bloat is there.....#21 on Dearest's list.  Isn't this just one of the grandest symptoms. :smile: