OK, this is really something! does anyone else, feel like pure s*** ALL THE TIME?! I mean, this is ridiculous! I try to look at the bright side, but i can't find one these days. I feel constantly SICK, well, ok, there ARE times i don't, but not to many! I would say, that out of 7 days....i feel SICKLY about 5..maybe 6! then, you add to that, the outright, specific symtpoms! .... like, latley, this bladder thing, which is on and off....then, the MOST recent, is a sore throat (for 6 days..not BAD, but "there", it switches sides...),then, the ear tube ache is back again, and NOW, this lousy soreness under my chin, the glands there! mainly on the left... I feel like, WHAT ELSE????????!!!!!!



i just need to know, that im not alone with all of this! i need to hear other "horror" stories..lol ... hey, dump them HERE! , I WANT to hear them..lol....it'll make me feel not so alone! (and you just know, my mind has me thinking i'm dying of some dreaded disease!)...UGH

OH WAIT..i forgot to add, that the woman who is a nurse, who lives down the road from us, told me the other day, that hormones can do all that! can u believe that? also, she said ,that allergies , can not only make your sore throat, but give you sore glands! now, see, since i've never had any of this in my life, this is all new....which is probably why i'm so scared with all of this nonsense! now, i know the pollen count is way way up this year, and she seems to think, that's the cause of this sore throat and gland thing.....and why it keeps coming back.....does anyone else have this allergy trouble this year?

I've been sick (with one thing or another) since the end of January, no kidding. First I developed the flu (late Jan.) - then got it again (had it Feb-March) - then I became very sick (I mean sick in that I was uncomfortable, with physical suffering) from hemorrhoids and a fissure (result of thinning tissues in that area? perhaps) from March to April, and just about when my backside started to feel better - and I thought maybe I was going to feel good for awhile - this urethra pain/aching/discomfort came on. It is relentless, too. I will see the urologist on Thursday.

I am soooooo sick of being sick. I am tired of all of this. Not only have I had the flu, fanny upset, and now the urethra misery, but I've also developed some acne, itchy skin, aching muscles and joints . . . etc., etc., etc.

Could it be that I'll never feel good again? Sure seems that way.

Bugaboo

Your symptoms sound just like mine. Since January I have had a virus twice, then hemorrhoids and then a very sore vagina after usin my super tampons, it is now feeling better, but are sticking to just sanitary napkins as the whole area was feeling a little raw. Although I haven't had the urethra pain, I did break out in about 6 spots on my chin at the end of my period!!! would normally only get one before my period, and have been having muscle aches, really itchy skin and adrenal surges, which have left me incredibly anxious.

We could be twins!
I am coming up to 42 and have been in peri for about 3 1/2 years.

I live in NZ and have made an appointment with a Menopause clinic in desperation - like you I am so sick of being sick.
A good day is when I make it through the day with only minor symptoms.

I think you're right, nzmum! - we definitely could be twins! (I'm the older twin, LOL.)

This stuff is driving me crazy, it really is. My periods were fairly regular until last month (well, last year I had a very late period, just once) - and ever since my period has been late, this urethra stuff has been awful. The flu, followed by the hemorrhoid/fissure episode, was a nightmare - and now this!!

I've never used tampons, only pads - and I've never had problems with them, so I think you made the right choice in switching to pads. --- I've had the adrenal surges, too, I believe . . . I guess that's what they are with me.

I didn't know there was such a thing as a menopause clinic! I wonder if I can find one in my area . . . I'll have to check into that.

Yes, nzmum, a good day is a day without symptoms - so rare for me now. It's good to have women like you on this board, so that I know I'm not alone in this misery.

If we add each other as friends I will update you how I get on at the Menopause clinic if you like.
Likewise it is so nice to know I have someone who understands what I am going through.

I agree with all of you. It seems every day is a new thing to worry about. Sinuses are awful, tmj is bad, acne for the first time in years, shoulder and neck aches, weight gain that i hate, so now I am running for 2-3 miles a day. My face is so itchy, I can not get a good nights sleep. I am up every hour or so for the bathroom, then back to bed tossing and turning. Fortunately with the help of bcp's the anxiety is better, the dizzies are better and the internal shaking is better.

I wish better days for all of you. thanks for letting us complain.

Sweet Bug - I have had urethra pain/aching/discomfort the last three months too. I suspect interstitial cystitis as it is irritated by foods that i eat - let us know how you get on.

YES! If it's not one set of symptoms, it's another. I'm currently rolling off of a two week anxiety/panic spin right into CONSTANT hot flashes, depression and crashing fatigue. Isn't it fun? What really stinks is I can't find someone outside this board who feels the same way. Are we aliens from another planet???

One thing I forgot to mention, nzmum, is that I'm a computer ignoramus! Until very recently, I didn't know we could add friends here on this websit - nor have I tried to do it (I'd like to, starting with adding you), nor do I know how.

Would you (or someone else here) please assist me with this? just a few instructions?

THANKS! I'll be out for awhile (it's morning here, and I have a few errands to run before my energy runs out), but I'll check back later.

I've started jogging/walking, too. I believe (HOPE!) that the exercise will help us out.

Hi, squiggle! I've thought of that, too - and I'll have a better idea about that, once I see the urologist (this Thursday). However, this discomfort I have seems to be here most of the time, regardless what I eat.

LOL, I think so. My husband probably thinks so, too, the poor guy.

MyDarling, You said 'ear tube ache"?

I have this itching in my parotid gland that drives me crazy. It just comes on. No reason that I can really define. I thought it was due to what I ate but some mornings I wake up and it's there before I've even had coffee. It's only on the right side. I've been to a couple of doctors and a dentist who can find no stones or any other cause. Is this similar to what you feel? Do you really think this could be hormonal as well? I've had it going on 3-5 years now.

It's funny you should mention haemmeroids as I have developed these in the last few months since other peri symptoms started. The doctor said they were either from being constipated and straining to go to the toilet (never, ever had that problem) or childbirth (never had a natural childbirth). Makes you wonder if this is yet another fabulous symptom......

Hi, honeydog! I'm the same - I've never had a natural childbirth - my four biological children were born via c-sections. But, I did gain alot of weight with everyone of them (55 lbs. for the first, 62 for the 2nd, 75 with the 3rd - and I quit weighing myself with the four one, after I had already gained 88 pounds and was up to 225 lbs. as my weight to that point). So, my system has had alot of stress on it, which may be why I have hemorrhoids. However, I do believe this peri/menopausal stuff has made things more delicate down there.

I've seen two colorectal doctors, and the first one recommended "Fiber One" cereal - and I'll tell ya, it's made all the difference in the world for me. I also eat the Fiber One bars. So, try to make sure you're intake of fiber is sufficient, and that should eventually calm things down, down below. It's worked for me.

oh this is terrible! today, I REALLY feel like ****! gosh, it gets worse! at least SOME of the sore throat and ear pain went away, not all ....... but, i can feel it "lurking" in there, just waiting for the opportune moment to hit again! lol ... but that's what seems to happen, it goes away, then comes back. I'm drinking EMERGEN C ...this is a good drink, it has lots of Vit. C in it (1,000 mg.s) and lots of other vit.'s and minerals...and electrolytes. This should help! Now, however, the LEFT side of my head feels weird, and pressurized as if you're ascending in a plane! I took 2 Beneadryl, but it's not really helping.


Im sure i'll be back later, with something else

Mydarling,I really feel for you.I had some really rough times a while back when I would cry and say-I feel awful all the time.I have since switched to a different Birth control pill for my hormones and I feel like a new person.Have you ever tried hormones?If you feel this bad all the time it is worth a try .GODbless

Where to begin?!! I began having symptoms about five years ago and seems like ever since then it's been one thing or another. Just this last February I ended up in the hospital due to high blood pressure. They started me on new meds, but it's still not cooperating as well as I'd like. I'm chalking it up to peri, as I've never really had these spikes even though it tends to run high from time to time.

During the time I'm trying to get used to the new med, I decide to sleep on the couch since it's more comfy. I end up struggling to get used to meds - nausea, cold sweats, headaches, dizziness, lost weight, etc. After about 5 weeks of sleeping round the clock on the couch, I decide I'm going to start sleeping in my bed with dh again. Bad idea! I wake up at 5 am unable to move due to muscle spasms in my lower back. Once I finally get out of the bed, it's about an hour later and the only way I can move is to crawl. This goes on for several days. Neurologist thinks there may be tears in ligament/muscle down there and I can expect to be down for another 6-8 weeks. Not being able to drive for 6 weeks was the worst!

With the help of Physical Therapy I'm beginning to feel more mobile again after about three weeks and then boom... I wake up one morning with a severe headache that then turned into severe throat/ear pain. Two days later I'm in the ER with the worst ear pain that they tell me is due to massive infections in both ears. After two morphine shots, IV antibiotics, steroids and ativan, I'm finally feeling some relief.

It is now 5 days after the last ER visit and I'm still not able to hear out of the left ear at all and the right one is minimal at best. I called the doc and am to see him tomorrow afternoon. Obviously these antibiotix aren't working. My ears are draining, bleeding a bit and I still have a fever.


When does it end?! Even my ten year old made the comment that I've been on the couch most of this year! I did manage to get out today and run several errands, but by the time I got home, I had to, you guessed it, hit the couch and put my feet up for a bit!!!

Even though I wouldn't wish this on anybody, it is nice to know that I'm not alone!

gyz

I have not felt well for a long, long time now. I've had a relentless headache for over 2 years now, and I mean daily, tension type, and no dr. has helped me. I feel tired all the time, I have hot flashes and sweats, panic and anxiety worse than I've had it in a long time, tinnitus, heart palpitiations and the racing heart thing that wakes you up in the middle of the night, bp spikes, buzzing inside and the newest thing is that my breasts have been sore and swollen for over a month now and I haven't had a period in over 13 months. I'm also feeling a bit off balance and my ears feel like they are clogged at times. I'm sure there is more that I can't remember at the moment. I never would have thought women suffered so much going through peri and menopause.

Praying for all of us that we get through this and come out better and stronger when this is all over.

Hugs,
Karen

Mydarling,

As you can see, you are not alone, although while there is some comfort in that, it still is just ridiculous that we have to go through all of thisl

The bladder symptoms were the worst for me about 2 years ago, very much what you describe. I thought I was going to lose my mind. It wasn't until I finally got in with a urogynecologist that I started to feel better, she looked around in there, made sure my bladder was okay, assured me that it was not interstitial cystititis, and then told me how very very sensetive bladders are to estrogen. She prescribed Detrol LA for me and told me to take it for 6 weeks to calm my bladder down, and then to use it as needed. It totally worked for me.

I want to reassure you that as my peri went on, (the bladder was really my first and worst symptom) the bladder symptoms disappeared in favor of the horror of the rest of it:anxiety, fuzzy thinking, nausea, dizzies, HOT flashes galore, depression....you know the list-- and especailly the ears, glands, and throat-- what the heck?????

For me, it took learning to take a good day, which were far and few between and learning to run with it...and with that also came learning to take one day at a time....and not looking at my life as a totally horrible life, which I was surely doing. I have found relief for my ears/sinuses/glands with a prescrition nasal spral from the ENT doc.

Now, I can honestly say I have more good days than bad days.(although I will caveat that with my own fear that this is short lived because it was so so so horrible for 6 months, and I leave in dread of when it will start again)...but, there is also a little grain of hope in me that it can get better, and I want you to know there is some hope. It just takes time, and a lot of support-- because hearing about getting better is all fine and hopeful, however feeling it is what really makes the difference.

So keep writing and we will keep boosting you up-- and sitting tight with you-- I would be lost without PS.

Thinking of you-
Jan

Hi, Jonesy -

I read this post of yours and can totally relate, especially with the bladder symptoms. For me, it's been more of a urethra thing - that urge to go, with pressure down there - but not all the time. I'm fairly certain mine is hormonal, too, and it has definitely marked the start of peri/menopause for me. QUESTION: Did you use anything down below, when you were in discomfort? I know you mentioned Detrol LA, which might work for me, too. Maybe that would calm everything down, down below.

I wonder if these urinary symptoms are the start of a nightmare for me - with more, horrible symptoms to follow ?? . . . I just don't know. One thing I've decided for myself is that I have to keep myself from going under, emotionally. I HAVE to keep myself up and fighting these symptoms. Sometimes it all feels like too much to deal with, and I just want to shut myself off from the world.

Yesterday I felt a little better - and today, so far, not bad either. BUT, I know that as quickly as I've started to feel a little better, for a little while, the symptoms can come back and start pounding me again. I live in fear of that, too.

Mydarling,

I will address another post here also...the vibration and chills posts. I don't know if I get the same vibrations as others, but mine started with the hotflashes and most of the time are very localized at different parts of my body... it feels as if I take one of those messagers and kept it in one area. The other vibration I get is happens when I get up sometimes and it is my whole body, it just feels like my inside are quivering for about a min. I have actually laughed at it a few times because it feels so absurd so I am not sure if it is the same as it seems to drive others up the wall.

The chills is something new for me in the past few months...it seems to have replaced my typical hotflash. I will just get so cold and it starts with a sudden chill that just goes through my body right to my bone, but my face will be warm and I will still get flushed, but the cold stays. I shake and shiver, put a jacket on and just can't get warm and it runs it's course like my flashes used to so I assume if fluctuating hormones can cause heat they probably can cause cold.

2 years ago when I started to get hot flashes and all my pms symptoms went through the roof and never seemed to take a day off I felt like crap day after day. My ears hurt and felt full and rung but no infection, I was dizzy none stop, palp's were seemingly constant some days, my vision would go blurry and I started to see spots sparkles and flashes of light, I was scary tired, brain fog that left my unfunctional constantly..I mean at times all I could do was stare, my periods were early then late and at time I thought I'd bleed till there was nothing left,
I was constantly flashing and my anxiety soared so much I became agoraphobic and that is just a few. I don't know what happened, but over the last few months the symptoms let up some, I don't feel great, but I recently told my husband I feel almost normal again sometimes and I can see myself. I eventually had to do what Jan above did and that is take those couple days I did feel well enough to get stuff done and just run and I had to learn to except the others and rest when I needed to through the day, now I know for those who work this is not practical, but I lost my job so......I now have an equal amount of good and bad and when I feel good, boy I try and go, go, go. My energy is even better, fog is better, anxiety and my worst detachment is better by alot. I do take OTC progest...just started it again after about a 2 year break, I read DR. vleits books and she scared me away from it a bit, but maybe it is what I need. I took my week break for my period and was miserable so I didn't even make it the full week before I caved and started it early. I am by no stretch symptoms free I still seem to have one or the other daily, but the constant bombardment of all at once has given me a breather. You could try natural remedies...have you? I haven't read you stating that you have tried soy, vitamins, hormones....if so sorry. Just hang in there and know we are here for you. I don't think there is any quick fix, but maybe our bodies adjust eventually. BIG HUGS MIkki

oh my dear friends ..... this is awful! i dont' know .. i woke up today, after another frightful night, feeling SEVERELY detached, weird eyeball movement, somewhat off balance, SHAKEY, and CHILLS, stuffy head and that feeling you get when your flight is taking off, ascending upward ...yeah, that pressure in the head and ears... my legs feels shakey, and my head is spaced out!
I took an antibiotic the other day, for the sore throat and ear, but I regretted it, bec. within a few hours, i had a BAD reaction, so i'm not going back to that! DARN! no good! now, i know, that if you don't finish the course of the antibiotics, you can make it worse, BUT, there is no way i'm going back to that! THAT WAS A BAD REACTION~ so, I have plenty of natural things here, plenty of vitamins and minerals, and herbs ..... i have always been a big believer in natural things, I believe our bodies aren't really meant for those synthetic drugs, so i try to stick to natural as much as i can. EMERGN C is a great product, you can buy it at Walgreens or a health food store, i am drinking LOTS of that, just in case this ear thing is an infection. But, seriously, i felt like i was dying this morning! I know, i have had so many days, when i thought that, and i know so have most of you .... but today, really threw me! When i woke up, i felt VERY VERY strange in my body, i can't even explain it. It felt as though, my legs below my knees and my feet were cold...yet, my face and hands, were hot! My body temp seems to remain at 97.7, most of the time.....now, yest. it kept fluctuating, in the 97.'s .....it made it down to 97.0 at one point! But, within about a half an hour was up to 97.5, then since then, it's been between 97.7 and 98.5, so i guess that's ok now. I keep taking my temp.!
I felt so strange, I felt as though, all the nerve endings in my body were being attacked, esp. on the surface of the skin .... because the nerves were shaking, and very suseptible to either heat or cold .... they felt all this buzzing, and the most strangest feeling i have ever felt!


I am so glad I have you all !!!! thank you for your replys .... all i keep doing is checking back here all day ...HUGS!

Oh, lord have mercy, mydarling! How AWFUL for you!! I don't know, but it sounds to me like you have some type of virus - unless hot flashes/cold flashes give a person this type of reaction. Gad!

Try to hang in there - and if you develop a fever, please go see your doc, immediately. I haven't had hot flashes, YET!, so I don't know if what you're describing is usual for those, or not.

Hang in there, mydarling. Surely all of this will pass . . . well, that's what I keep trying to convince myself.

see that face? ok ,that's me at this point! lol ...holy moly! i mean to tell ya, i can't keep up with this, this is wearing me down terribly, i feel so OLD right now, so DRAINED of any life energy I once had. I know most of you can relate to this.

Today, i'm somewhat better....oh goodie! But honestly, I feel like s***! I can't describe it really, it's all so weird.
Yesterday and the day before were FAR OUT! I mean, FAR OUT! I felt so lightheaded, pressurized in my head, off balance, "sickly", WEAK, DRAINED, SHAKEY, and my skin felt like it was burning, yet not ..... oh, and i can't forget, the feeling of being chilled, yet at the same time, HOT! THIS REALLY CAN'T BE FOR REAL!

I feel a little better today, but not much...but, like my husb. pointed out, hey, at least i"m getting better! LITTLE BY LITTLE...i guess i have to look at it that way. Something absolutley strange happened, i don't knw what it was, but it was strange! and, oh yes, the ever present, sore throat and ear tube thingy, with the sore gland on the same side ...now, it's shifted to the right side! lol...

In a way this felt like some sort of bug, or virus, and in a way, it didn't. Never had a fever. The sore throat and ear, are not BAD, just "there" and annoying, so i don't know if that would actually classify as a SORE throat, or an irritation?

I think i just needed to vent! for anyone who has read through all these posts of mine latley, thank you!

if you feel like responding to this ONCE AGAIN, GO RIGHT AHEAD....i need the input! LOL.....thanks ladies!!!!!

again, i forgot to say this ... ok, you know, my husb. had suggested that maybe, the ear/sore throat thing, could be "swimmers ear" .... i have to look that up. I thought that had to do with "swimmers" , lol ...but he said, no, this can be caused by simply getting water in your ears, say, when you shower! ok, that's new. Does anyone here get swimmers ear?
what is that like? does it give you a sore throat, or CAN it? see, i feel as if my ear is a little clogged too....that may have something to do with it.


thank you ladies!

been there! this week is the throat, right side red and sore and the weird skin burning feeling on and off with my arms and back of head. this all just comes and goes. last year I had the pressure in the ears and head also. not as bad now. most of my worst symptoms are not as bad, they just kind of pop up mildy every now and then. I had to do the HRT. thank god my hair stopped falling out. I do still have really bad days just like what you are describing above. my gp says it is all hormonal. oh and the burning skin sensation on the arms and scalp I don't believe is any serious disease. I have read in Geoffrey Redmonds book that this sensation is called dysesthesia. This is a common symptom of menopause. It is caused from a drop in estrogen. He writes that with estrogen treatment dysesthesia quickly resolves or sometimes gradually goes away on its own. I had this really bad in the begining. I could not stand to have anything touch my skin that was rough. After starting on HRT it did go away. I can tell when my estrogen is low because I get the burning feeling, slightly, in my arms. You should read his book, it will make you feel a bit better. I get all kinds of weird nerve pains thru out my body/face and head at one time or another. I see you also live in Florida. It seems like with the terrible heat we are having, it is causing flare-ups. I hope this all makes sense. Sometimes I have trouble putting into words what I want to say.brain fades. Hope this helps you. Feel better.
Linda

I'm glad you've made a little progress, at least. Yes, I had swimmers ear several years back, and IIRC, both my ears were sore and achey in there, and my doc said it was because I had overcleaned them. I did not get a sore throat with them, though.

Keep us posted. I've been thinking about you.