I will be 40 in March and started my periods age 11 with ongoing problems ever since (heavy flow, terrible cramps etc.) My GP suspected endo but I never went for the tests and another GP gave me the mini-pill which seemed to help so I left things alone. I got pg with my first son very soon after stopping the pill and my younger son was the same so no fertility probs. I had a Mirena coil fitted last May but had it removed in May this year because I felt it was causing weight gain, mood swings etc.

ANYWAY - I have recently been having some odd problems and wondered if they could be s sign of peri. Here's a list;

Suddenly feeling very cold with terribly cold hands and feet, to the point where I need to wear a fleece or sweater indoors and everyone else is going about in t-shirts. When this happens I feel like my heart is racing and my legs are trembing. This can go on for hours, or even days on one occasion, alternating with feeling hot with a noticeably red face. My DH says I emit heat like a furnace. The first time I had this it lasted a week and on 2 consecutive nights I woke up and suddenly started sweating all over. This has never happened again and the hot/cold has only lasted for a few hours or maybe a day at most.

Very unpleasant smelling sweat (sorry for TMI) which I've never been bothered with. It's esp bad when I'm having the hot/cold thing.

A persistent problem with my sinus on one side only with intermittent pain on my neck at that side and a feeling of ear fullness at the same time. Also feel like my jaw aches on that side from time to time. I do have a post-nasal drip on that side so my sinus is draining and I also get occasional pain in my eye on that side. The pain seems to come and go throughout the day when it flares up. I had it really bad this afternoon and now its almost gone.

I feel it's more difficult for me to lose weight these days and my stomach feels bloated a lot of the time.

Horrible crawling sensation on my skin esp my legs and across my back. Also I'll break out in little patchy areas of goosebumps.

Itchy feelings esp in my hands.

Persistent scratchy throat and very occasional actual sore throat.

Itchy ears inside and they click and crack when I swallow.

A feeling like my tongue is burnt or raw. I also feel like my gums are inflamed.

Alternating constipation and diarrhoea.

Very tired on and off.

I wouldn't have bothered about this but we're hoping to have another baby and I had a very early miscarriage 2 months ago and at that time I was having the hot/cold thing really bad so I don't know if my hormones were all wrong and that's why the pg didn't continue. I will go to my GP but he's on holiday just now and I just wanted to know if I can suggest peri to him and he won't dismiss me as hysterical.

Thanks anyway for reading all of this. You all seem really kind so I hope you can help me.

Fiona.

Well, let me start by saying that we have all been in your position. Seems like all of the different symptoms are overwhelming. Have you been to the doctor? Honestly it sounds like to me with the hot and cold thing that you might be having chills. Could you perhaps have a deep rooted infection of some kind? Might want to have your thyroid checked too. I know that whenever I mention peri to a doctor they say I am too young. For goodness sake, I am 46 so I doubt that. You might ask your doctor though if perhaps your hormones could be out of whack. I am sure there are blood tests they can run to find out what is going on with you. With the itching and upper respitory stuff it may be allergies as well.

Hang in there. I am sure there are other women on here who can provide some feedback as well. It could be peri but I would have these other things checked before I chalked it up to that.

Shakin'

Dear Mrs F
I am so sorry to hear that you are having such a rough patch at the moment. :::::::: ((((Sending you warm and gentle hugs)))) ::::::::

ShakinInHouston is a wise woman
'some' of your symptoms sound like the beginning of Peri.....but I concur with Shakin that you should have a full bloodwork done to rule out any sort of infection or other underlying problems.

Hang in there
Please do keep us posted
Cheers and Hugs
Dottie

Did you find out why you had the miscarriage? Low progesterone can cause that. Progesterone maintains the lining of the womb during pregnancy by being at high levels.

It does sound like your hormones may be out of whack--but the problem is finding out which ones--estrogen, progesterone, thyroid, etc. I'm sure when your doctor gets back he will want to do some tests if you bring him the list of symptoms you just shared with us.

I hope you feel better soon and best of luck on creating your future family addition.

And welcome to Power Surge.

Miss Tibbs

Dear Fiona,

I concur with ShakingInHouston's excellent post. I do believe you have some Peri symptoms, but I sense this is either an infection [probably sinus deep rooted] or an allergy.

As I get so cold I have to have a hot shower to warm up, I know mine is Peri due to my blood work being fine.

You really need a blood workup. Then you will know 100% what is what. It's too easy to put everything down to Peri, so it's always wise to get things checked.

Take Care, and please let us know how you get on!

Hugs,
Viktoria

Thanks for replies everyone. I know it sounds like an infection with the hot/cold thing but in the past if I've had a fever I've always had other symptoms like sore joints, swollen lymph nodes, headache glassy eyes etc. With this however I feel well apart from the fluctuating temp. I also forgot to mention that I get trouble with my bladder on and off and at times I'm peeing about every half an hour and have trouble holding it (sorry for TMI). I also have mood swings going from euphoric to irritable then weepy.

I will see my GP but I know he'll prob just put it down to an infection and give me antibiotics and I wanted to have some ammuniton.

Thanks again for all your replies.

Hi, just wanted to say when you go tot he Dr. if he just throws antibiotics your way without bloodwork (CBC and maybe hormones which will probably come back fine because they flutuate so much) I would really insist and be persistant.

I am 40 and have never had the sinus problems I have had in the past year not infections but itchy ears, plugged ears, stuffy itching nose, ear pressure more recently headaches and spaciness. I found out I have allergies to dust, cats and dogs new to me.

I also have the clicking in my ears from TMJ so I have a mouth gaurd.

The hot/cold thing is funny with me because it could be 60 out some days and I am warm and others have sweatshirts on and other days it could be 70's and I have the sweatshirt on while others are in T-shirts. Some days I will just be chilled to the bone. After ahotflash which have become more obvious I will get very cold. Last winter I though I would break our thermasat moving it up and down within 5 min. Windoews open windows shut...couldn't make up my mind.

You are the first one that has said you have the goosebump thing. I started to get this when my flashes really made themselves known. I get this creeping feeling like something it just barely touching my skin, I look and see this irregular pattern of goosebumps forming in one patch. Not like you would get if you were cold where your whole arm is full of goosebumps but just a small area and it is very irregular being the border of it.

Welcome and good luck with the DR. but don't be discouraged if he says the all too common "your too young" that is what I heard for a few years until one of my tests (FSH) finally came back showing peri. HUGS Mikki

I have to agree with the other posters who said you may have an infection or you need to have your thyroid checked. Feeling cold like that can be related to one or both. I'm thinking sinus infection since you are having gum problems and chills like that. I'd suggest your telling your doctor about all this and getting a good physical. I don't think what you're experiencing is related to peri, that's just my gut. Get yourself a good checkup and discuss all this with your doctor.

Hi, Fiona,

It sounds like you are in peri and are having sinus issues due to allergies to mold, pollen, etc.

I wonder if your doc should check your hormones to see where you stand?

Also, an allergy doc can do a scratch test to see if your are allergic to certain substances.

Good luck!

Colleen

Sinus/allergy most likely, but your other symptoms, itchy skin, crawly skin, intolerance to cold etc. are, as others have mentioned, very often thyroid as is unaccounted for weight gain and bloated abdomen.

I saw my doctor day before yesterday (primary not GYN) because of these symptoms including constipation or more 'bound' than I have ever been and unaccounted for weight gain. Some of your complaints are also questions she asked me. I had blood work done yesterday so I don't know what the outcome is yet.

Since I have been off HRT and all other medications for almost 6 months now, she indicated that it will be easier to identify any problem if there is one. My mother, however, was on thyroid for many, many years.

See your primary physician first because it does sound as though you have multiple issues going on.

Thanks again for all your lovely messages. I am going to see doc next week so maybe will get some answers then. I spoke to my Mum today and she said that HER mother had underactive thyroid so if these things run in families it could be that. As for the plugged ears, itchy throat etc my Mum has suffered with allergic rhinitis for years and it started when she was in her mid forties so perhaps that could explain some of the other stuff. I still don't think it's an infection as I had a terrible bout of the hot/cold yesterday and my temp was about 37.1 and today I'm fine but my temp is 37.4 .

Basically I'm going slightly bonkers but so glad to have found all you guys to moan at (ha, ha ).