OK...this stuff is really bothering me now. I cannot get any doctors to take me seriously about how i feel these days. I go into their offices with a list of symptoms a mile long and they pick the list apart and give me symptom by symptom remedies. I am switching from a female doctor to a male one this time. Maybe he will be more understanding as I haven't had a lot of success with the women doctors...the ones i have been to brush me off (I am not saying all female doctors are like that....I havne't been to all the doctors in the world. I am just saying the ones I have come across) Anyway the dizziness is coming back, the head spinning, dry mouth and constipation. Now I am starting my periods within days of the last one!!!! I am now 5 short days apart. I haven't told my doctor of this symptom yet so I don't know what she would say. All I know is she told me my blood tests were normal last November when I was checked for peri!!. I couldn't believe it. Now with periods five days or so apart, is there anyway I can become anemic? I am really worried this time.

Thanks for all your help, ladies!!

Sherri

Take some iron supplements for the time being and when you go and see your doctor, ask for a copy of your blood test results --- Most of us have to do our own research these days because doctors just dont get it ---


A lot of the time blood tests for peri/meno aren't reliable because our hormones fluctuate so rapidly...sometimes hour to hour.

(((hugs))

Hi Sherri,
I wouldn't worry too much about anemia--that can be easily resolved with iron supplements. Are you taking a multi-vitamin with iron now? That may be all you need. Your doctor should be able to check your hemoglobin with a simple finger prick.

I think your continuous bleeding is more of a concern. Have you had a D&C or endometrial biopsy? Could you possibly have a fibroid? It could just be peri, but you probably want to rule out any other conditions. I hope you have better luck with your new doctor. Let us know how it goes.

I was iron defeciant meaning my iron stores were low at 12 on a scale of 20 and above being ok, but the iron in my blood was normal. I took iron pills for a few mo. I was also taking iron in my vitamin.

My periods were also coming very close and very heavy at the time. I wouldn't worry too much, it can be fixed fairly easily. Mikki

Hi Sherri,
You sound as if your symptoms are leading you a merry dance. I think that you need a good doctor to really listen to you and get to grips with your problems. That is easier said than done.
Heavy periods coming in quick succession are very likely to cause low levels of iron which will in turn lead to anaemia. Anaemia is easy to identify and treat but if your periods have really gone off the rails big time, you need to investigate why that is. I would warn you that if you turn up to a doctors office and give him/her huge lists of symptoms, their eyes just glaze over and they will dismiss you as a hysterical female. Try to keep your description of your symptoms simple and very focussed on what the worst of your problems are. You then stand a better chance of being listened to.
You mention spinning head, dry mouth and constipation. This is a side effect of many drugs. For instance AD medication is well known to cause these problems , especially drugs like Zoloft.
Can I ask; are you on any medication? You would be surprised at what drugs can do to you.

Kind regards,


XIII

hi. i just read your post and i am having the same problem. i also switched to a male doctor after shunning them for years, but no such luck. so far, all he's done is taken my blood and tell me that i am anemic, which i already knew. now i find out that i have a b12 defiency which no doctor ever told me. he told me that i am too young to be going into menopause. i am seriously beginning to think that these doctors don't have a clue about perimenopause and the symptoms we get. i pray that this is what is going on with me and nothing life threatening. i need to be here for my kids but i'm getting very scared because some of the symptoms are letting up lately, like the mild flushes and the insomnia. but i still have dizziness and being off balance,and my periods are coming 20 days apart. very heavy too and going thru my clothes! i would like very much to keep in contact with you i wish you all the best and i hope to hear from you soon. good luck with this new doctor. you are in my thoughts.
shirley

Hi Sherri

I have followed some of your posts for quite some time and I wondered where you had gotten too lately, I had hoped you had found the answer and was feeling much better. Did you ever find any reason for all or even some of the more bizarre symptoms you have had and still have??? I myself are still coming up with no real answers and seem to be going around in never ending circles which of course jsut makes my anxiety skyrocket. I did have a few good months of virtually no anxiety except appropriate situational anxiety which is normal I think ..... I've forgotten what normal really is anymore ......

Like you I have the dizziness, floaty, woozie head feeling back tenfold (actually it never really went away but it was managable) constipation is gone for the time being probably cos the anxiety is back with a vengeance. My last period 17 days ago was what sent me spiralling out of control again and I can't fathom why cos I was on top of the world before that apart from my ongoing leg issues. I'm sure it's the worry about these darn legs of mine which is making my health anxiety sky rocket.

You have had every test under the sun haven't you or are docs there like here that won't test unless they think you look like you're dying or near to it. How old are you Sherri if you don't mind my asking and how far into this peri journey do you think you are. And what did your doctor call normal for those peri tests last November??

I seem to recall you having some leg or feet issues or am I mistaken, if so have they resolved now??

Keep us posted on your progress or lack of

Rox

Hi there skiergirl,

No, I am not taking any kind of multi. I think at last check my Hemoglobin was within normal limits but it was last checked back in Februrary. No, I haven't had a D&C or biopsy. When I last had my well woman exam, I was told that everything was "fine". I am switching doctors though because of some things I found out through other people that go to her. I have a friend at work who kept complaining that her mom kept gagging and was short of breath. She had asked that her mom be referred to a pulmonoligist. (SP) Anyway her doctor is the same as mine and this doctor kept dragging her feet. My friend's mom died because this doctor did nothing to help her except tell my friend her mom had allergies or an infection. My friends mom died of lung cancer; not an infection!!! Anyway, that is the major reason I want to switch. I think my current doctor is missing things or just doesn't care. She won't refer me to a endo or a rhuemy. I had to get my orthepedist to do that. Thanks for the "good luck" wishes. I will need it.

Hi E.P

Oh yes, I am getting copies of everything I get done in the way of blood work. My current GP didn't bother to listen to my when I told her (that's right, her; a woman doctor) that blood tests needed to be repeated. She says I am NOT in peri but she doesn't know or care what is going on.

Hello

I had the spinning head thing and the dry mouth for a long time even before medication. I have been on Zoloft but stopped it cold turkey. Maybe that could explain the spinning head thing. I think I have been looked at as a hysterical woman. I know something is going on with my because why is my ESR over 100 now????? Think doctors, think. I have inflammation going on somewhere and no one knows why. I am still taking some meds: salagen for dry mouth; fish oil capsules, metformin and prilosec.

I hope my new male doctor doesn't tell me "I am too young for menopause"!!! I will be 44 in august. I am not quite as heavy as you sound with the bleeding but when it comes 5 days apart for me, I get anxious. Good luck with your symptoms too and I hope you can find a doctor that will take you seriously. By the way, I have a lot of the same symptoms as you do. You have my prayers as well.

Hi rox

How are you doing? Yes I still have my leg issues. As a matter of fact it looks like I will have to have TKR (total knee replacement). I don't want to do it but my knee is killing me. My orthopedist is great (I really wish I could use him as a general or family doctor). I can't though. Even my orthopedist has no idea why my ESR is over 100 but all other blood work is normal or near normal. I don't mind you asking at all about my age....I will be 44 on August 26. Don't know how far along into peri I am but I hope this stuff is almost over. My blood work back in November came back below normal for FSH and LH. As a matter of fact my General practioner accused me of being pregnant because of bloodwork. She had given me my exam just a week or so before. Also I told her I have never had children which I haven't. I hate being accused of lying to these doctors. Yes, I will keep you appraised and you keep us appraised as well! We are all in this together!!

Sherri