Hello to all,
I was wonder if anyone that is going thru menopause has ever had the flu symptoms that come and go? I have the flu symptoms at least once a week, lasts for several hours (about 4 to 6 hours) and it goes away.

Also, I was just outside weeding in my garden (only out there for about 10 min's, not sweating, 74 degrees out and in the shade) and I was in a squatting position. I stood up and everything turned white briefly. I got very weak & shaky feeling, thought I was going to pass out!
I'm so weak most all the time I can't do much of anything. For the pass year since I went into menopause I can't walk any more then 1/2 a block or I will pass out cold!

Just wondering if anyone here that's in menopause is having this problem too, and if so, is it symptoms of menopause or something else?

Thanks
Sabrina

No, these do not sound like menopause. I'd get an appointment with my primary doctor to see what's going on. It's possible you blood sugar is dropping at certain points during the day. Since you've had this for about a year I doubt it's a virus. But I'm not a doctor and if I had these I'd call my doctor and get an appointment.

I only had one episode of passing out in menopause - I fainted in the shower. I'd never fainted previously in my life. I did go on to experience three or four days of flu like symptoms after this where I was very weak. This happened at a time where I was under a lot of stress. It might have actually been flu for all I know, or a combination of stress with hormones.

I'm pleased to report that I never fainted again. My husband is a doctor, and he thought a contributing factor was that I had just eaten a huge breakfast and then gone straight into a hot shower on a cold morning. The moment the hot water hit my hair I passed out, and I came round on the floor of the shower. I couldn't get to my feet because I was weak but managed to claw open the door of the shower (leaving it flowing) and crawl out. I staggered out onto the landing and fainted again, hitting my head on a bookcase. I kept lapsing out of consciousness every time I tried to get to my feet. I called for help to my son who luckily was in his room at the time and he came out and helped me (soaking wet) onto the bed where again, I kept lapsing in and out of consciousness. I was very frightened, but I've never had another episode like it.

The explanation my husband gave for the fainting was something like blood flow would have been diverted by the vagus to the stomach to deal with digestion of the large breakfast. When I got into a hot shower, blood would also have suddenly been diverted to the skin because it was hot, leaving not enough, or causing a drop in blood pressure, which caused me to faint. The reason I couldn't stay conscious for a while, even after being helped by my son to the bed, was that I needed to stay horizontal for everything to recover.

The first thing that occurs to me is to ask if you've had your blood pressure checked? Also, you seem to live in a relatively hot climate (you mention a temperature of 74 degrees) so did you keep up your fluid intake (and maybe salt)? Possibly it would be a good idea to consult your doctor. Standing up suddenly as you mention you did, has led to me 'blacking out' before, even before menopause, although I wouldn't lose consciousness at those times, just everything would go black in front of my vision and I could hear the blood pounding in my head. Then if I sat down or rested I would quickly recover. This would particularly happen in hot conditions - on a crowded underground train on one occasion for instance. I just thought it was a blood pressure problem. It also seemed to happen at times where I perhaps hadn't been eating properly.

Sabrina - you need to have your liver re-staged - when was the last time you saw your specialist?

I'm not saying its your liver problem causing this but go and have it checked just to be certain.

(((Hugz)))

Gez~

Gez,
I had my liver checked about 2 months ago. It's working the way it suppose to be according to the liver panel results that were done on me. I too have thought that it's my liver but the doctor say it's not.

I also think it could be my Hepatitis C acting up. I know that when a person has Hepatitis C the flu symptoms are always coming around and maybe that's what this flu symptom I keep getting is from the Hep C.

I did a search online for Hepatitis C and Menopause. Boy did I find alot on this topic!

Some experts believe that the female hormone estrogen protects women from liver damage; if this is the case, the protective effect may diminish after menopause, as women’s bodies produce less of the hormone.
Here's a link to one of the topic I found on this if your interested in reading about this.
http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci...iso&tlng=pt

So maybe, since I have gone into Menopause, my Hepatitis C is really acting out...heck I donot know for sure but I do have an appt. with my doctor tomorrow morning and will be talking ot him about my find on this topic...................see what he has to say about it.

My doctor also belive's that this is all hormone problems...........I totally disagree with him. Hormone problems do not cause walking problems, can't walk but about 1/2 a block without passing out. I'm also very weak most all the time too! Doctor still says it all hormones causing this problem too.

Maybe I need a new doctor!
I get so sick of hearing the same thing over and over from this doctor I could puke! I know my body and I know for a fact that there's something else wrong and it's not all hormone related!

Thanks for replying to my post,
Sabrina

Hi Interactive,
I have all my life had low blood pressure. I was diagnosed in 2002 with Syncopy, even tho I had never passed out before.

The first time I passed out was about 9 months ago in the check out line at Walmart. It was brief and I came to within about 30 seconds. I was so weak and shaky and scared.
I felt terrible the rest of the day as well.
I have come close several times passing out int he shower too. So a lot of times when I'm feeling weak I sit down in the shower just to be on the safe side.

My doctor has checked my blood pressure with me laying down and then sitting up and it changes rapidly. He was concerned or seemed to be, but has never done anything about this or suggested anything to do about it. I've also mentioned to him that I can not walk very far without passing out. He keeps telling me it's all hormone problems..........which I totally disagree with him.

Are you still having the problem with passing out? Have you been checked to see if you have Syncopy?

Thanks,
Sabrina

Hi Sabrina -

If your doctor has done a full panel then your liver must be working normally -- Maybe it's the hepatitis having an impact? I dont know much about hepatitis but I do know that they can give you interferon or something else to help with it ... I'm not sure if you're taking anything ..


I have read a lot of posts pertaining to your symptoms - I've had them too but have had periods of wellness although this year has been particularly difficult - Are you under any kind of stress? Can you think of anything else other than menopause or your liver problem that could be causing your symptoms? ... I would change your doctor or get a second opinion to determine once and for all where the symptoms are coming from -- I got so fed up with not knowing what was happening with my liver that I went to see one of the leading hepatologists in the country -- its very scary to be coping with a disease on top of perimenopause, but you'll get this straightened out but you must keep pushing for answers...

Take care

Gez~

Hi Sabrina

I'd never heard of Syncope so I looked it up on the net. Very interesting, thank you for telling me about it. I haven't had any problems passing out since that time although I do feel slightly lightheaded sometimes, which I assumed was a symptom of menopause. I ignore it mostly. It didn't occur to me that it might be connected. Whenever my doctor's checked my blood pressure, both before the incident I mentioned and afterwards, it's been normal. However that's when I've been sitting in the doctor's surgery feeling physically normal!

I had been under quite a lot of stress for a few weeks prior to the fainting happening (almost three years ago now), and hadn't been eating properly. I realised that I was losing weight quite rapidly during that time but as I wanted to lose a few pounds anyway, thought this was quite a good thing! Then I suddenly passed out in the shower one morning, as described. This was followed by flu like symptoms and weakness for a few days and when I recovered from that, I developed quite severe anxiety symptoms and experienced panic attacks. I'd never experienced anything like that in my life. Because of former training in the mental health field, I recognised it as a classic anxiety disorder (well that part of it, not the prior fainting and flu like symptoms). I felt scared to go to the supermarket, scared to drive, scared when there was a sudden powercut here one night and we only had the limited light of candles. I had an exaggerated startle response such that when I forced myself out for a walk in the park and a football hit a fence, making a sudden sound, I nearly leapt out of my skin. I became scared of a man walking a dog in the park because I thought he looked frightening. I thought I was going mad. Prior to peri I'd never experienced such stuff and coped with anything.

Due to my training I knew that I shouldn't indulge the scared feelings about going out, driving, going into crowded places like the supermarket as it would only be reinforcing the anxiety. I needed to expose myself to the situations that scared me so that the anxiety could reduce. So I forced myself to drive, forced myself to continue going to the supermarket - and also changed my lifestyle to be as healthy as possible to cut out extraneous factors. For example a plunge in blood sugar could bring on a feeling very like a panic attack, which might trigger an actual panic attack.

I know your health problems don't include anxiety, but I only relate it because I concluded that the hormonal upheavals of the menopause can exacerbate pre-existing conditions or can make us vulnerable to maladies where once we weren't vulnerable. It seems to increase vulnerability somehow in my experience.

Perhaps something like this is happening in your case.

I was on HRT at the time all this happened, but it didn't seem to offer any protection from anxiety. Even though the anxiety at clinical levels gradually subsided from that point (thank God!) I still had raised anxiety for 24-48 hours from time to time before a period. I only became OK when I stopped conventional HRT which doesn't contain natural progesterone and started using natural progesterone under the direction of a menopause specialist and it took several months after stopping conventional HRT to stabilise. I feel absolutely fine now.

Again, I'm sorry for discussing so much of my own history when I know it's not directly relevant, but I wonder if hormones may be playing a role in your increased suffering. Even if this is the case however, it might not mean that some other treatment won't be relevant to what you're experiencing besides hormonal treatment. It could be a combination of things. Much as I believe I wouldn't have experienced clinical anxiety had I not been in peri, I still had to treat the anxiety when it arose (which I did by cognitive behavioural therapy) as well as trying to find an effective hormonal regime to make me biologically more resiliant, as well as making diet and lifestyle changes. An approach on a number of different fronts.

In the UK where I live testing of hormone levels tends not be widely available but in the States I believe it is? If this condition has worsened since you've been in peri, would it be worth having your hormones tested to see what's going on hormonally?

I agree that it's unacceptable if you can't walk far without passing out and feel weak all the time and all your doctor can say is that it's due to hormones. If you've discovered that flu like symptoms occur with Hepatitis and the regularity of these symptoms has increased, maybe it's worth asking to see a specialist in that area? If there's a rapid change in blood pressure between lying down and sitting up then your doctor needs to explain why. Surely this isn't usual and needs investigating? Could it relate to any medication you might be taking for example? I haven't read any posts of yours previously so forgive me if I'm suggesting things you've already tried.

I really really sympathise with what you're suffering and understand how frustrating it can be to be continually rebuffed by your GP. Like Gez, it occurs to me to suggest trying a different doctor. I eventually paid to see a specialist privately because I couldn't get anywhere with my GP - although in my case it was someone who specialises in the menopause and bio-hrt rather than any other discipline. I can only think to say press on and explore all the avenues that might be relevant. Unfortunately it sometimes takes a long time to get anywhere.

Good luck.

Sabrina, had your symptoms for several year now and been to many doctors, tons of tests!
One reason they check your BP while sitting and then standing up is for dehydration. Maybe you shall drink more but yet it's not a cure!
I am stress out with the sale or the no sale of our house but my biggest stresser is PERI-MENOPAUSE!
At this point doctors have diagnose me with CFS & FM.
I'll try and send you a PM later just feeling to horrible today to post much!

Hi Gez,
Sorry I took so long to answer your reply.
I always have stress, can't remember when in my life I've never had some type of stress! And Yes, somedays the stress is worse then other days but I try my best to keep it at bay.

The town I live in doesn't have any Hepatologist, only Gastro Doctors, and I do have a Gastro Doctor here in town. The nearest Hepatologist would be either San Antonio Tx, or Houston Tx.

Back in 1999 I went on treatment for my Hep C and have severe reaction to the Interferon 5 days after starting teatment, so my Gastro Doctor at that time took me off and told me that I would have to wait til a new agent came out that didn't have Interferon in it. That could be YEARS before a new treatment that doesn't have Interferon in it comes out.

Hep C has symptoms of the "flu", and I have had the flu symptoms on and off for years but never this bad and this often 2 to 3 times a week

I've been reading that a women that has Hep C and goes into menopause, the loss of her Estrogen may cause problems with the live. I read that Estrogen in someway protects the live from damage or slows the progression down caused my the Hep C Virus. If this is correct about the Estrogen being a protective for the liver, then maybe since my body no longer produces Estrogen anymore, maybe the Hep C is taking a toll and causing more damage to my liver and this is why I'm getting the flu symptoms more often. I have also asked my doctor this question the other day and he didn't have an answer to it............I really need another doctor who can answer my health questions and this Monday I'm gona find one and hope I find one who will listen!

Thanks for repling Gez

Sabrina

Gez,
I wanted to add that I'm not on any medications at all, not even HRT.

I'm really considering trying the Bioidenticals but they scare me because of the cancer that runs in my family.
I have read may articals on Bioidenticals and some will tell you it does not cause cancer, and some will tell you it can cause cancer......................so who do you belive? Just all so scarey.

I really would like to find some type of supplements that would help. Omega 3-6 etc. , but not sure what and where to start.

Thanks,
Sabrina

((( Sabrina )))-

Sorry about the delay in replying but I've been off-line due to a house move and haven't had internet connection - I'm really sorry that you're not getti ng any answers from your doctor - You really need a doctor that specialises in liver disease - if your present doctor can't answer your questions, you're right to get yourself another doctor or maybe go and get a second opinion? I dont know much about the health care system in the U.S. - thats the problem. I will ask my own consultant about your condition and see if he can give any advice - might be a little unorthodox but worth a try - I dont see him again for 6 months but I will ask him about the Hep C and the hormone connection -

Anyway, hope you didn't think I'd abandoned you - I know how stressful all this is for you -- You need your quality of life back an d for that you need help from your doctor -

sending you much love and hugs

Gez~

Hello to all,
I haven't posted in awhile now and wanted to post this about what has happen in the last few months.

I had been very sick with all kinds of strange symptoms from not being about to walk, talk and major depression, my doctor even thought at one time I was having a stroke, but wasn't the case at all.
All of these symptoms and many more went on for approx. 2 1/2 years.
Of course my GYN doctor try his best to get me to believe that every single symptom I was having was due to menopause. He tried his best to get me to go on compounded hormone therapy, to which I refused because of the cancer that runs in my family. He also told me that compounded hormone therapy would not cause cancer, but I personally do not believe this to be true....just my opinion.

Anyway, a friend of mine suggested to me a few moths back that maybe I'm sick from the foods that I eat. I told her I never in my life had any food allergies, or if I did have any food allergies they must have been so mild I didn't know I was allergic to food I would eat.

I took my friends advice and went to an allergist to have a skin prick test done. The results of the test showed I was highly allergic to almost every food on God's Green Earth!
The allergist told me something's when a women enters menopause her body changes so much that you can become allergic to all kinds of things your around in your daily life and foods as well, this is what happen to me...Allergic to the Foods I ate.

For the past few months since the test, I started avoiding all foods that I'm allergic too...the out come of this, is 100% free of all symptoms I was having!
I'm once again my old self again!

So if by chance you are having symptoms that do not fit into the regular ole menopause symptoms, please consider going to an allergist and have a Food Allergy test ran.

I'm so glad I took my friends advise on this! My friend saved my life by suggesting to see an allergist! I'm not saying this is the answer to your symptoms, but it was to mine. So please consider seeing an allergist, what ya got to lose if your not getting any better?

Just wanted to share my story and hope it helps someone out there with crippling symptoms as I had.

Sabrina

Oh Sabrina, That is GREAT news! I am so happy for you! I hope you enjoy many beautiful days...you soooo deserve it after all you've been through..

((((major hugs)))))

Sabrina,

I am so happy you got to the root of your problem and you are well again. This is much "food for thought" (no pun intended) for anyone experiencing similar symptoms.

Hugs,
Karen

[quote name='ArkAyngyL' date='Sep 30 2007, 11:16 AM' post='188795']
Hello to all,
I was wonder if anyone that is going thru menopause has ever had the flu symptoms that come and go? I have the flu symptoms at least once a week, lasts for several hours (about 4 to 6 hours) and it goes away.

Also, I was just outside weeding in my garden (only out there for about 10 min's, not sweating, 74 degrees out and in the shade) and I was in a squatting position. I stood up and everything turned white briefly. I got very weak & shaky feeling, thought I was going to pass out!
I'm so weak most all the time I can't do much of anything. For the pass year since I went into menopause I can't walk any more then 1/2 a block or I will pass out cold!

Just wondering if anyone here that's in menopause is having this problem too, and if so, is it symptoms of menopause or something else?

Thanks
Sabrina
[/quote

Hi Sabrina,
I also have flu like symptoms almost every day, mostly in the late afternoon. I just started on all kinds of supplements and the aches & pains are lessening. I have complete & agressive adrenal fatigue. I feel hungry all the time & if I don't eat I get extremely shakey, clammy, hot & cold, extreme mental confusion & feelings of blacking out, fainting if I do not sit down. Last week while in Trader Joes I had a severe attack and my vision was all black..I never want to go out again..I had a diabetes test back in March & all was normal. I'm thinking I have hypoglycemia..My doctor who prescribes my bioidentical hormones & supplements doesn't really know what to tell me.Except go to Urgent Care..On top of this I have extremely severe peri-menopause syptoms as well. I am wondering when all this will end???? I seriously am losing my mind. I run an online business & can't work..
Thank you all ladies, you are all a source of great comfort during this very hard time..
Carolyn