Hi all,

Am having night sweats (about 1 a night). Wake up feeling saturated and then start to feel cool and clammy? I don't feel particularly hot. Have brown discharge finishing period (new for me) and ache like hell in lower back and down right leg. Feel a bit dizzy and foggy in morning. However put in very long days with work/family (approx 18 hours) so I know I am tired also.

Don't feel generally healthy but achieve a lot each day physically.

Every day I wake up thinking I am some terminal illness and fear being told so! Before all this, would have considered myself a 'warrier woman' but now would describe myself as 'train wreck'.
Am 46 and only just recently joined the dots and thought maybe I am in peri/meno etc....duh but have been so busy looking after family, didn't think of my various symptoms together, just kept thinking about them separately.

Am not having any hot flashes during day, but feel generally clammy. Any wisdom as to whether this is normal?

God Bless, Lizrose

Lizrose- it all sounds quite normal to me! The only thing I am not sure about is your bad backache and leg pain, but it sounds like maybe a pinched sciatic nerve to me. That can cause pain to radiate down your leg; however, if it persists, you should probably get it checked out.

I am 47 and have had hot flashes and night sweats. I have read about several other women waking up sweaty in the night and getting chilled, thus starting the covers on/ covers off cycle. I have had the brown blood, too, and think it is also normal, kind of the leftover old blood. Again, always best to have it checked to put your mind at ease.

You certainly put in long days. I could not function on 6 hours of sleep; fatigue is one of my worst symptoms. Perhaps your morning dizziness and fog are a sign that you need more sleep, which is probably easier said than done, as it seems you are a very busy person.

Anyway, sure sounds like peri/meno to me. Hang in there! gardenbear

Hi Lizrose,
Your symptoms sound very familiar but I agree with GB about getting things checked with your doctor if they persist. Always best to be safe than sorry. As I was on the count down to stopping my periods I had the brown blood thing a lot. As things started to wind down I seemed to find it harder and harder to start my period, then had days of horrible brown stuff. It was all quite innocent and in my case nothing to worry about. I didn't really start the night sweats thing until my periods stopped but all women are so totally different. No one can give you an answer as to where you are personally in the 'shut down' process. I had so many aches and pains during the peri process that if I had visited the doctor for everyone he would have had me committed to a mental hospital!!!!! I always seemed to have abdominal pain of some sort which did on occasion extend down my legs. Back pain reared its head on many occasions. I blamed most things on IBS.
Since my periods stopped all those irritating symptoms have stopped. Sadly they have been replaced with other grotty stuff but my advice is to take one step at a time.


Cheers,


XIII

Dear Lizrose
Sounds like you are really working very hard physically which could account for the pain but I do think the girls are right and you should have a check up to be on the safe side.Also you do need a bit more sleep,girl!Can you delegate a bit?

I do remember at start of Menopause literally aching all over the place and sweating and heating up like a cumbustion Engine.Things did get a lot better after I was put on HRT,though they took about two months to kick in.I also find that the gentle stretching exercises in Yoga keep me fairly supple and flexible which helps

You need some "You" time.

Keep us posted
God Bless
Elizabeth

I'm sorry to hear you are suffering. I've been there, and after making some lifestyle adjustments, I'm doing better. I'm not 100% like I was before peri, but it's better. I don't think I'll ever be like I was before peri.

If there was ever a time to pamper yourself a little and take care of yourphysical needs with enough sleep, relaxation, and good nutriton, it's now. Be good to yourself! No one will tell you to take the time you need but yourself. My family would let me do everything if I hadn't stopped and started asking for help. I was so stressed out and tired that I sent myself into a panic attack in the emergency room and had high blood pressure. After that, I stopped trying to be superwoman. I say 'no' more often. And I feel so much better for it. I put myself into bed by 9:30, even if it's just to read for 30 minutes. I can really tell when I don't get enough sleep.

And don't be afraid to take a pain reliever if you need it. You will sleep so much better.

Take long soak in the tub once in a while. Lock the door and tune out the world.

I hope you feel better soon.
WriterMom

To all you lovely ladies who took the time to respond, thank you for the bottom of my heart. I have made an appointment for Monday with my doctor and will get thoroughly checked out.
Am going to endeavour to get to bed by 9 pm each night and have booked in for massage and physio. God bless you all for caring.
cheers, Lizrose.

Hi XIII

I am 42 and like you have had the brown stuff and now feel that my periods are harder to start
Did you notice at this time you were ovulating early in the month?
PS How long before your periods stopped did this phase last

Hi there, still getting regular periods (always between 21 - 23 days apart). Brown discharge lasts about 5 days after 'normal' period finishes. I have a prolapse also, which could be affecting things. Never have seen reason to tamper with this as it has caused me no real problems previously. Have no spotting in between periods.
cheers,
Lizrose,

QUOTE (nzmum @ Sep 21 2008, 03:37 AM)

Hi XIII

I am 42 and like you have had the brown stuff and now feel that my periods are harder to start
Did you notice at this time you were ovulating early in the month?
PS How long before your periods stopped did this phase last

Yes my ovulation moved from about day 15 to day 12. It's all a bit of a blur really but I think that this phase lasted about a year.


Regards,


XIII

Hello all,

have been for my big check-up. Told my lovely doctor all my (many) symptoms. She said it definitely sounds like peri-menopause but is doing some further blood work to clarify hormone levels etc. have some hypertension too, but this comes and goes with me. I think talking about all my aches and pains and my stressors started it off! Anyway, thank you for all your feedback and encouraging words. Am trying to take some more 'me' time. God bless you all. Lizrose

remember this saying my mother told me years ago...... " most of the time fear is just a False Ellusion Appearing Real"

XIII

Thanks for that reply - most useful

Hi there and welcome!!! You describe very well how many others feel on here. Hot flashes are quite common for some only at night time. Regulating our body temperature is more of a challenge shall we say. Hang in there and I hope you get the support you deserve here.

Sincerely,
Suzanne

Crikey, you just reminded me how I used to get really bad sciatica.... not had that one for a while (touch wood).

Occassionally get night sweats, though I'm now post. Also get full boob feeling which is accompanied by mild anxiety... so I put that down to a mild hormone blip.

I know you will all be delighted for me, - am now taking time to have a massage each week, physio and am also seeing a dietician!. Feel things are slowly resolving with sciatica but still feel niggly. Am following this up with usual girly annual tests including blood test for hormonal levels. Am also trying to take some time to do small walks. have cut hours down to 14 per day and am loading up on good food for my body in the RIGHT proportions and at the right TIMES!. Feel like I am taking charge of my body again and boy - does it feel good to do that.

thanks for all the responses - it is great to have the support.
God Bless, Lizrose

Night sweats can typically be a symptom of hormone imbalance (along with other menopausal-like symptoms such as hot flashes, mood swings, weight gain, etc.) I would recommend consulting a qualified doctor about re-balancing your hormones. I recommend Dr. Maegan Davis!

Dear Lizrose

I am really very delighted at all the positive changes you have been making.Sounds like you are heading in the right direction!

Well done and keep us posted

Warm Wishes
Elizabeth