Hi there,

i have posted on this site a couple of times, and am a frequent visitor, just reading everybodys posts.......it really helps some days when feeling low, to know others feel like this, and are getting through it, with help from all of you.

i will give a quick little bit of background, do not want to bore you all to death.

i am coming up 39 this year, and for the last 2 years have suffered some of the list of the things i think is perimenopause.

lightheaded spacey feeling at one time 24/7
tingling inside, and mainly down my left side
what i thought was carpel tunnel on my left side for months, then just went
now i am suffering with almost constant headaches.....but they are not like reach for the bottle of asprin like ones, more an awkward band like feeling round my head, and my kneck is almost always stiff feeling...sounds weird because i can move it quite easily, and no pain, but it feels, stiff!!!

now this last few months, if i had not have known any better, i would swear that i was pregnant with the feelings that i have.

naeseous feeling nearly all the time, and a heady feeling that goes with it, which is what i suffered with when i was pregnant, but no i have had my period.....although those have changed in flow, and time etc. not drastically but i can notice it.

what i would like to know it, is it possible that i am in peri and that is why i feel sicky all the time, and heady, i constantly worry now that maybe it is the start of something like, MS, brain tumor, you name it.

i have tried to discuss this with my doctor, but she says there is no point in testing me, as i am still having my periods.

any feed back would be really welcome.

kimps

Hi Kimps,
A big welcome to our community!
It is difficult to give you any assurances about your health. The most important thing is that you always liaise with your doctor on all your symptoms and if your doctor doesn't seem concerned about anything, come here for reassurance. Menopause can mimic just about every ailment in the book and that is why Googling symptoms can be a very scary and damaging experience!
All I can say is that all my problems started around the age of 38. I am now 51 have have entered true menopause. Every woman is so completely different, so it is almost impossible to compare us, like for like.
The speed with which you go through this bodily 'change' will differ from others around you. My mother started suffering terribly at about 40 and entered menopause at 50 whilst her sister just went into menopause at 42 with no symptoms at all. That is how unpredictable it is! My experience, for what it's worth, is that there are three kinds of menopausal symptoms. There are the ones that occur because of hormonal shifts and imbalances. These tend to occur at the start of the mayhem. These might include severe migraines, pains in joints and especially the neck. I suffered tingling hands. Intestinal problems such as IBS and the deepening of mood swings or PMS. Then come the secondary ones which occur when the system if really beginning to shut off. These might include such things as terribly black moods with no real explanation, panic which either enters you life for the first time or in those poor souls who already have it, it becomes much worse. Control of periods may go haywire at this stage giving rise to the horrors of flooding or spotting. At this stage insomnia will often rear its ugly and believe me, insomnia caused by hormonal fluctuation is ugly. Everything kinda dries up at this stage and including nose, throat, vagina, eyes and skin. Atypical rage and uncharacteristic bouts of anger can appear out of nowhere.
Then comes stage three. Stage one and two problems tend to lessen but they can be replaced with brain fog, so dense that it is difficult to remember your childrens' names. The fatigue can be so overwhelming that you imagine you must have some terrible disease. Just like a toddler, the need for an afternoon nap returns. Around this stage, the hot flashes arrive and you lose the ability to control body temperature. Each morning you wake up drenched in sweat, after a night spent alternately tossing off the quilt and then retrieving it again.

At this stage, no matter how good you once were at the sex thing it evaporates off into space. My once enormous orgasms became very tiny.


I am now waiting for things to get better........................ However in my case it is a very long road!

Hope this may help you to decide if your problems are due to peri menopause or not.


Cheers,

XIII

XIII,

I couldn't have said it any better!!!

Hugs,
Arla.

Hi Kimps,
I was doing a search on "tingling" on Power Surge and came across your post today. All I can say is that this journey is an interesting one indeed, as you are discovering too! I feel for you with the headaches - I went through a very intense headache time and eventually got relief. Now the headaches come back when I am going through a spell of intense/more frequent hot flashes, etc. Mine as either on the top of my head or in the back of my head. I feel like I have a cap/hat on that is too tight. I also developed migraines for the first time in my life. 2 weeks ago my tongue and mouth started tingling and then that went away. Now, my tongue is burning/tingling and my left hand feels like it's asleep even though I can move it fine. I am chalking it all up to hormones ... and yes, other (MS, brain tumor, etc.) do cross my mind. I'm 4 years into this journey and I remain amazed at how individual this all is. I'm grateful to have this site and hear from so many women! Even though our journeys are unique - we do all have much in common as well. This site has been a godsend for me!

So, take heart and know that there is great support and information here. kathleent

Hi, I have actually heard of women who have actually had their periods even while pregnant, strange as that may sound. I personally remember speaking to one of my mom's best friends who told me she went like 6 or 7 months on a period while pregnant all that time. Weird I know. Just a thought.

Kimps....You wrote it all for me! The carpal tunnel started with me as well about 3 months ago, went away and came back a couple of days ago and is gone again. The rest of your description fits me about 10 days a month, in a row. Your body know better than anyone if it is changing. If you feel it, don't let a Dr. make you doubt yourself. Have every test done that could otherwise explain why you are feeling this way. When nothing shows up, scratch it down to peri and come and get your support :-)
At 42 the Dr.'s just gave me an "Oh, well..." at 45 they now truly listen. Just took them 3 years to know what I already knew ;-)
Keep your head up!
Girlsmom

Hi Kimps:

I started with my peri symptoms at the age of 36. No one would listen to me because they said that I was just too young even though my family history suggested that I was at the perfect age to start. I am 45 and till going through this crud. Myh periods have changed a lot but have not stopped (darn it).

Anyway, I cant say for sure this is what is happening to you but I would certainly read further here because this i the bet source of information I have found. Chart your symptoms and talk to your doctor. That is what I did. I just wish I had done this 9 years ago.

Jeaninne