Ok ladies, I need your help. For the last couple of weeks I have had severe gas and heartburn pains. My hot flashes suddenly came back also. I have suffered from costochondritis off and on for years and now it is back also. My back hurts so bad (between my shoulder blades) I am sitting here in the middle of the night scared to death, my hubby is out of town on business and I am miserable with pain. I also have pain in my left side, I am seeing my Gyn tomorrow about that to make sure it isn't anything. Oh did I mention that I have TMJ also? How in the world can I have so much going on? I am 52, haven't had a period in 2 years and am on no HRT. I think this is it, I am going to have to do something, I can't go on like this, I need the HRT. I just heard another report that it causes heart attacks and strokes so I am scared to try it, but I feel like I am withering away, between the saggy skin, dried up private parts and severe bloat, gas and back pain, oh I forgot about the nausea, I am desperate. The doctors don't think that menopause causes anything but hot flashes and none of my friends ever experienced this either. Please reassure me that I am not a hypochrondiac and that this will pass with time. Thanks for listening.

good morning,

First of all, I feel your pain, literally. The gas pain, ibs, gerd and tmj are all my nemisis's . Add that to arthritis and your singing my song. I am only 49 and feel very old. The weather on hte east coast has been constant rain, making it all much worse. Sometimes that back pain can be rubbed, I use a back massager and then when it hits a certain spot I burp like a truck driver and get relief, (although temporary). Maybe some maalox or prilosec will help, I use it during the rough times. Warm compresses help the tmj and all soft foods, annoying I know. YOu are not a hypochondriac, you are not feeling well and that is not in your mind. So many of us feel this way. I hope you got some sleep, come back and talk when you need to, I will be out for most of the early day, but back later.

Dear GGal, I sure hope this gets better because can relate to these symptoms, too. I have gained so much weight and then on top of that the bloating adds to well, the back ache.
It's like carrying around a huge tire with a ball and chain attached to it. I also am scared of the 'taking something' part of recovery. I have witnessed and experienced how side effects lead to worse problems. It's not that way for everybody. I hope you find some relief from your aches and pains.
Senecaguns

Thank you ladies for getting back to me. I was so desperate last night, it is so nice to know I am not alone. I went to a new GYN today and he was wonderful. He spent about 45 minutes with me, can you believe that? Of course he could see I was at the end of my rope. He did a pelvic to check me for ovarian cancer, apparently gas and bloated symptoms can be the beginning of that. Anyway he says he didn't feel anything unusual but he is doing a CA 125 blood test and an internal ultrasound. He says it is just a precaution becuase normally he can tell by the exam if something is not right with the ovaries. Anyway he is a pro hormone therapy guy, he said I could have years of feeling like heck and miserable or maybe I could feel a lot better and the chances of problem with the HRT are not that much greater than if I didin't take it. He said I should try it and can see if I get relief for a short period and then take it from there. I filled the prescription but am waiting the results of the blood test before I start. I hope that I can find relief and get on with my life. Thanks to all of you guys at power surge I don't feel alone.

Thank you ladies for getting back to me. I was so desperate last night, it is so nice to know I am not alone. I went to a new GYN today and he was wonderful. He spent about 45 minutes with me, can you believe that? Of course he could see I was at the end of my rope. He did a pelvic to check me for ovarian cancer, apparently gas and bloated symptoms can be the beginning of that. Anyway he says he didn't feel anything unusual but he is doing a CA 125 blood test and an internal ultrasound. He says it is just a precaution becuase normally he can tell by the exam if something is not right with the ovaries. Anyway he is a pro hormone therapy guy, he said I could have years of feeling like heck and miserable or maybe I could feel a lot better and the chances of problem with the HRT are not that much greater than if I didin't take it. He said I should try it and can see if I get relief for a short period and then take it from there. I filled the prescription but am waiting the results of the blood test before I start. I hope that I can find relief and get on with my life. Thanks to all of you guys at power surge I don't feel alone.

OK, I was reading this thread looking for some answers to my aches and pains and didn't realize I was reading one that I had posted the other day, was thinking 'that sounds familiar' lol
GaudyGal, I had a dr's appt the other day and he wants me on hrt, also. I have an US scheduled and then we will talk about it after those results. My FSH is 78 and guess I'm postmeno and I feel old and worn out and hrt is my last resort. I don't really want to take it, but I want to feel better.
I'm getting tired of all of this.
Senecaguns

oh you so silly, sounds like something id do !!!

Hi there,

I too can relate to some of this certainly. I have had costochondritis, and some things give me terrible gas pains that radiate into back area. I go to a door frame and rub my back sideways and just try and burp it out as much as possible. I liken it to when you have a baby an you burp them. It's horrible.

Please consider what you ate prior to getting this terrible gas pain and eliminate it. I do this and it helps alot!

Aspirin works the best too for the more minor costochondritis...according to my pharmacist.

Hang in there, we can relate!


Suzanne