The 34 Signs of Menopause: Options

[Snowbird]

Ladies,Just thought I'd post the 34 signs of Menopause here, as I've noticed more questions are coming up concerning them:

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 & sometimees 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/points/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, please see 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.

[cbell]

Thank you! I have been flipping out lately having symptoms 1,3,4,5,9,10,12,13,14,16,19,20,21 and 27!! You have been a tremendous help at easing my mind regarding what is happening to my body. I have suspected it but it is soooo good to share with others who are experiencing or have experienced the same things. My mother passed away several years ago so I obviosly can't  talk to her about it.  It's just not something I want to talk about with everyone.

[cbell]

I am affected by the lightheadedness most often at work. I work in a high school and feel unbalanced in the hall during class changes and lightheaded from time to time. I don't notice it outside or at home. I noticed it once at my son's cross county meet and made note of it because it was a different place. I thought the fourescent lights were affecting me.

[jeanne]

Hi cbell ,Well, now you are here with us and can talk about anything that bothers you No subject is taboo, and no subject too inconsequential. If it bothers you then most likely there is someone here it bothers also. My mother is alive but never talked about it till I brought it up, just their generation I guess. I'm liable to talk to everyone about it, and have to shut myself up sometimes Nice to have you aboard:)hugs,jeanne

[Snowbird]

cbell, hi'ya!!Well, thank you:) Glad I was able to help. I found the information here. I know the feeling when you find some answers. "Peace Of Mind!!!"I too suffer from lightheadedness....it comes and goes....but it is easing!!  It's more of a problem, when I'm experiencing flushes/flashes/ or anxiety!!  All in all....for me, it's the hormones fluctuating that does it!!

I'm so pleased you have joined us....I think you'll find it a great site, like I did:)

[Mystique]

Hi,

I'm new to this site, and have just read the symptoms of menopause! What a relieve to find I'm not alone. I must have most of the symptoms listed!! Thank you. I do keep regular check-ups with my doctor! He agrees I'm perimenopausal. I tried hormone replacement therapy some time ago! Had many problems with that, so I'm just taking it easy now, to see, which route is best for me.I know I'm past the starting of menopause. I'm more in the the middle of it, as I'm still having the occational period.  However, the list of symptoms, have helped a great deal in understanding many of the unusual things, I've been going through, which the doctors can't seem to explain!!I'm looking so forward to learning all I can,  you've help in making this transition a little easier. Lack of knowledge, seems to be the major problem!!

I've been reading much of the information on the main Power-surge site!! Very impressive, indeed!!

Thank you, again!

[Debbie McGrath]

I too can relate to the off balance feeling, light headness and a feeling that my eyes can't even focus on what I'm doing sometimes.  I'm glad to know I'm not the only one, so glad I found this site.  Thank You.

(Edited by Debbie McGrath at 2:26 pm on Oct. 25, 2001)

[MMDonlon]

Not to be redundant, but, THANKS!  I needed that list...I'm 40 and have just been told I'm post-menopausal.  Until I read this list, I was stunned.  It felt like it had happened overnight.!  Now, I see I've been changing over the course of several years.  It sure explains a lot.

[Gemini]

Is worsening PMT a sign of peri-menopause? I have had PMT on and off throughout my life, not every month by any means. Now it seems to come every month and go on for ages, up to 2 weeks sometimes and I'm presuming this is why?  Thanks, Beth

[SylvryMoon]

Hi Beth,Yes, I think that's a very safe assumption -- PMS symptoms are worsened by perimenopause.  Mine were.  The breasts felt like basketballs just before my period.  And the anxiety, depression, and short temper always seemed worse, too.  As we age, our hormones fluctuate and play funny tricks on us.  Sometimes, we feel like teenagers, sometimes like little old ladies.

As long as you're still having your period, you're still perimenopausal.  But rest assured, that those symptoms are bound to be more severe than they were when you were 30!!

Good luck, Beth, and keep posting!Hugs!

[meesh1271]

I am 30 soon and have been getting the above symptoms(apart from 11,32 and 33) for nearly 3yrs and they are getting worse.With regard to 32 I don't get burning but I have a metalic taste most of the time.My mother went through this early but not this early,then again I have been earlier than her in most things body wise.I have been tested for thyriod,endometriosis and full womb investigation via laproscopy and hystoproscopy so I know there's nothing there.I have lower blood sugars than normal but not badly.My mother in law says it sounds very likely as does my GP but the gynaes won't have even a think about it.I am going to see my GP again and ask him if there is a test that he can put me in for.Is there anything that anyone can think of that I should ask him?Bye for now and sorry to go on,Love meesh.

[sunshine755]

Well, that covers me........I have them all but the one that is driving me nuts today is this burning tongue........it has been steady going on for about 6-8 months.......It seemed to start when doc started me on zoloft back in the spring.........then in the summer I started having these muscular and joint problems and have been getting cortisone injections in my elbow and my ankle.........it has worsened with this........does anyone have any remedy that will soothe this burning.........you know how it is, it can burn all year if it wants, but today it is driving me up a wall.........thanks to any of you that may have any suggestions...........Pam

[judyjudyjudy]

Dear babyboomer- I am new to this forum but your post caught my eye.  I had burning tongue 2 years ago-my dentist said it was hormonal.    ***  Good luck and in the meantime i have found chewing eclipse gum helpful.  I also found out i was anemic and started taking iron pills(don't do this yourself tho - go to a doctor and get tested first)-  This has helped me tremendously.

* Board Administrator Note: commercial URL has been removed -- if you wish more information please email the poster

[ten2it2us]

I am trying to find out some answers to my questions regarding whether or not I am pre-menopausing. I had a hysterectomy in 1985 leaving one ovary. Looking back I can see that the year following was absolute hell and I believe I experienced many of the menopause symptoms. HOWEVER, I was only in my 20's and this did not matter at that time. I am now 33 and having several of the sypmtoms of pre meno, but my question is "will menopause last as LONG even though I had a hysterectomy years ago?" I have memory lapses often enough to be the butt of my teen kids jokes about "old mom and that LIFE change." I guess what I am hoping is that because I think I went through much of these symptoms the first year after my hyster, that I am hoping I will not have that many years of MENO HELL.

[IndyEllen]

I for one also want to thank everyone for their posts it is most helpful.Like everyone else I now know I am not alone.When I started having my joints hurt I thought I had arthritis and then everything else started happening and it has just overwelmed (sp) me.Am so glad I have found this site.Thanks again to all of you.

[jaycee]

I am wondering if I, too, am experiencing peri-menopause at 48 yrs.,but question also whether my using a progesterone cream could cause the same syptoms.  I originally started using the cream because I felt I was estrogen dominant...i.e. PMS, sore breasts right before period, fibroids, clotting, etc.

Have used the cream for approximately 1 year and am now starting to flush at times (nothing extreme), wakefulness at night, vaginal dryness and have skipped a period.  I should also mention that I had a D & C last summer to check on my "fibroid" situation....nothing was removed.

Any advice would be appreciated.  Could the cream be the cause, or am I starting the process????

[NancyV]

Jaycee,

I used progesterone cream for a while and then started skipping as well with hot flashes again.  I added estrogen then as I needed to add it.   For me, it was not the progesterone causing it but that when estrogen fell too much also, then I needed small amounts of it.   I use 2 l/2 mg. of combination estradiol and estriol per day.   This was added to 20 mg of progesterone cream.

I don't think estrogen is needed until we start skipping periods and then it may be necessary....just my opinion...

Take care.  

[Hockeygolf7]

Just read your list and feel like I have been finally understood.  I have several older women around me and they seem to have conveniently forgotten all these pesky little things about menopause, or they did not experience them.  Is this like pregnancy and you forget the pain?  The men in my life seem to be much more understanding of my symptoms than any of the women I know.  Anybody else feel this way?

[jc50]

Yes, Hockeygolf7, it seems to me that the women I come in contact with that are menopausing and afraid to address the issue.  I am constantly sharing what's going on with me and menopause (hoping to give and get support and maybe some useful knowledge to ease it); however, they are in denial (even through I recognize some of the symptoms of menopause coming from them).  So I can relate to what  you posted.  However, the men in my life that I try to explain to them what's going on with me, don't seem to understand and dismiss me as being crazy.  It's like a no win situation to get understanding, support, honest communication about menopause.  I am so-o-o-o happy to be a part of this site, and thank you for being there.  I know I'm not crazy, just going through a part of life all women go through eventually.

(Edited by jc50 at 4:52 pm on June 25, 2002)

[lilijiau]

Hello everyone,Can someone please tell me where I am, I am 55 1/2 and still having regular periods (have missed only a couple over about 18 months).  I have experienced a lot of the symptoms listed but blood tests say I have 'plenty' of eostrogen.  As I am over 55 I am wondering how long I can expect to have regular periods?Would be grateful of any opinions!

[Kalanie]

Hi Lili...That's the million $$$ question for me also... I just turned 54, and have not skipped a period yet!  I see so many women posting here that are already postmenopausal and are much younger than me!  I keep asking my doc what gives and she just says that we are sort of pre-programmed, so to speak, and she has a patient who is still having periods at age 59!  Holy cow.... I will be the oldest woman buying kotex soon.   :biggrin:

[jojoraye]

Hi Everyone, This is my first time to post, I am so happy to find Power Surge. When I first heard the introduction to Power Surge I started to cry, I knew I had found the right place. Thank you for writing the 34 signs of Menopause, I am having some of these signs, and I did not understand why. This site is helping me to understand what is happening in my body and that I will get thru this. It make a person feel more in control of what they are going thru, when they have knowledge. Thank you, jojoraye

[Karenann]

Karen

I just found this site.  I just turned 50 and I am post menopausal.  My last period was in July of 2001.  Along with going through the change last year I was caring for my mother who was dying of liver cancer.  I thought I was going to loose my mind.  In January of 2002 I started having all kind of weird things happening.  My hands and feet started to be numb and tingle.  After having an MRI Dr. said all was normal.  I went to a neurlogist and then began to have ringing in my ears in February.  I went to an ENT and he said I had tinnities.  Now I am having dizziness and trouble focusing my eyes.  Can all this be due to menopause.  I have been to every kind of Dr. there is  NO ONE  has helped me.  My GyN is no help at all and she if female.  I am also having the classic symtoms of memopause - hot flashes, dryness, not able to sleep and so on.  I've tried hormones 3 different time as well as natural ones.  I think I am going to die.  Can anyone give me any advice? Karen

[Lolly]

Aloha Kalanie!LOL, nah, you're not the oldest buying Kotex!  I was talking with a friend last night about all of this.  I asked her how old she was, I didnt know for sure.  She told me she is 57 and still has her period regularly!And let me tell you, this woman looks like shes 45.  She is very fair also, but has aged sooo well.  I tried to get her secret, but she just laughed!  I think its the wine.  heheAnyway, I'm trying to find some info for my hubby to read.  Not too complicated or lengthy though.  Short attention span, ya know?Mahalo nui loa,Lolly

[jck80634]

I joined this group yesterday and was overwhelmed with trying to read everything at once.  So many of these symptoms that were listed are familiar, but I didn't realize they were linked to going through the change.  I kept thinking that because I was still having periods (sometimes even twice a month for 10 days at a time) that I couldn't be in perimenopause.  Two vaginal ultrasounds in the past two years have ruled out any reason for the heavy periods.  At 52, I really expected to be "done" with all this by now, but no such luck.  My doctor says that my symptoms are "typical".  Not a lot of comfort, is it?  And of course he doesn't offer any suggestions.  While I've been the banshee woman from hell lately with irritability and mood swings, what is really getting to me is the severe itching - scalp, legs, arms, torso, to the point that I'm scratching places uncontrollably until they are raw.  Any suggestions as to what can be used on my skin?  I haven't even begun to explore some of these topics like diet, vitamins, supplements, etc.  I'd appreciate any suggestions you all might be willing to share on keeping my sanity.  Thanks.

[Kalanie]

Aloha, Lolly...  hahaha, well, I am glad I am not the oldest, but it sure seems like I am sometimes!     Don't know the answer for short enough posts for hubbies, lol.... maybe you can read them to him and paraphrase!   :biggrin:  

[Dearest]

They don't necessarily have to be posts for anyone's husband to understand more about menopause. There are areas on the site containing articles that are perfect for everyone, especially men, to get the information they need. Case in point, in the The Educate Your Body Library and the Newsworthy area. I could recommend the Menopause Primer, but even though it's not too long, it may be too technical for men who aren't really interested in women's ovulation and how the process really works. I would have him read the What Is Power Surge? page. Within that one page is, I believe, a great deal of information that will help any man understand what his partner is going through - and it's pretty much to the point.

There are also two excellent transcripts that are part of a series I did called, Man To Man... Women and Menopause -- devoted to the men in the lives of menopausal women. The purpose of this series is to help educate men on the transition their wifves / partners and, ultimately, relationships go through. Dick Roth, a 53-year-old former Olympic gold medal winner says he nearly derailed his own marriage when his wife started to suffer hot flashes. I was the typical clueless husband, Roth says, whose book is, No, It's Not Hot In Here: A Husband's Guide To Understanding Menopause has been very popular in helping to educate men about their wives or partners menopause experience. Both men and women are encouraged to attend this series of chats. Read the transcript of Dick Roth's visit.

Another guest in the series was Bruce Bekkar, M.D.  Dr. Bekkar, aka Dr. Bruce, has a dry sense of humor and has a successful course for men on women's biology. He says he wrote the book, Your Guy's Guide To Gynecology: Everything You Wish He Knew About Your Body If He Wasn't Afraid To Ask to help the average man, whom he says is completely confused about how women's plumbing works. This ignorance can adversely affect relationships. Men are encouraged to attend this series of chats to help them better understand their partners' menopausal experience. Read the transcript of Dr. Bruce Bekkar's  visit.

You might want to look through the Men, This One's For You board. I put that on the boards because I figured some men would feel more comfortable in their own forum. A bunch of women talking about menopause, or anything for that matter, could be intimidating to a man who needs information. I highly recommend checking out that board.  

You also have to look around the entire site. There are so many areas and articles, newsletters, faqs, resources. There's even a Male Point of View page where I've done interviews with men regarding their feelings about older women.

I hope this helps.

Dearest

[bigbaby]

With respect to burning tongue I seem to have gotten relief from A.L.A. (Alpha Lipoic Acid, I think).  

[PatMac]

Hi everyone.  I am a brand new member and, in fact, have never "chatted" on line before.  I am very happy to have found this website.  41 years old and am experiencing the majority of the 34 signs!  I felt like a bit of a hypochondriac until now.  My question is this:  I had classic migraines for about 25 years and then they stopped when I was about 35.  They have recently made a reappearance, and I'm wondering if this connected to perimenopause?  Thanks for listening!

[Kalanie]

Oh, I love the internet.    

I have been having some symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome recently, so I went looking for some information about it.  Among the causes I found, there it was listed, big as life....  "hormonal changes, as in menopause" !!!