Hi everyone, I'm so glad to be here. I have tons of symptoms and need to know if anyone else here is experiencing these symptoms. I'm sure it's related to menopause, but at the same time, there's some odd things too, so here goes: I have extreme fatigue and muscle weakness, especially in my legs. My blood sugar goes up or down almost constantly, even though I'm eating more healthy than ever. My blood pressure, which normally used to run around 98/56, is now spiking up to 140/90, at times. Frequent insomnia which causes all of the above to worsen. Frequent hunger, but losing weight. I've lost about 7 lbs. since July. My tongue burns, my chest burns. I have terrible anxiety and mood swings galore! My periods are scanty, but with clots; and they're only lasting about 4-5 days, when ordinarily they last from 7-8 days. OH, I'm 41 years old and these symptoms began to get much worse in mid July. My doctor has tested my thyroid but it was normal. The only other thing is peri-menopause. My OBGYN did hormone levels a few months ago and said that it actually looked as if I was going OUT of menopause or I guess peri-menopause. SOOOOOOOOoooooo, my really big question is this....HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO SUFFER THROUGH THIS? I mean, my life has stopped. I can't go anywhere due to my fatigue and weakness. My family are all suffering as well, due to my insomnia and fatigue. My life has changed so dramatically since July, I feel that I'm going crazy. My mother died of breast cancer at age 53 and we never talked about her menopause. I remember her having severe hot flashes, but that's all I remember about that period of her life. My paternal grandmother, on the other hand, says that she had a lot of the same symptoms that I have. She began all this when she was 32 years of age, and stopped having periods when she was 42. When I was 30, I gave birth to my daughter. I had all of these same symptoms, except the weight loss, when I was pregnant with her. It was a horrible pregnancy. I had already had one child, so I knew the joy of pregnancy. This was not normal. I believe that I may have been starting peri-menopause even then, possibly anyway.
Does peri-menopausal symptoms (like the ones I've described) get worse just before you stop having your periods? I just want this to be over. Don't get me wrong, I understand that I'm a woman and our bodies must go through these changes. I can handle change. But my symptoms are so life altering, so severe, that I just seriously think death would be easier. I just feel very overwhelmed. I'm not going to do anything crazy, I just am describing how horrible I feel, both mentally and physically.

I hope, and PRAY that someone can either relate to this, or just offer some suggestions.

Love and Blessings!!! Megan

Megan........Im so sorry that you are going through this.......I have going through it all since April.......i have been scanned from head to toe and have had every blood test done and they find nothing.........Im 15 months post.......it does get better,......and please talk to your doctor about giving your something to help you thru this time........I wish that I could help you more........but Im still looking for the perfect solution.......anytime you want to talk or need to vent come here..........or you can PM me.............take care Valerie

Thank you so much Valerie! I tell you girl, this is almost more than I can handle. Mentally, emotionally, physically, this is just almost too difficult for me. What bothers me most is the not knowing when or if this will ever end, or just get easier to deal with. It seems that when you get one thing even somewhat under control, all the others kick in and knock me off my feet. I've not even begun to miss my periods, so I feel that I've got a long, long way to go. The latest doctor I saw just practically blowed me off when my thyroid test came back normal. He prescribed me something for insomnia and thinks that if only my sleep gets straightened out, that will cure the rest of my problems. I only wish that were true. I'm sorry to sound so down and hopeless, I'm just really in a bad way right now. I have a very sensitive system to medicines and such. I can't take anything hardly. I have had panic disorder for years but can't anything for it. The pills always make the panic worse. Anyway, thank you for your support, it does make a difference I tell you.

Love and blessings! Megan