Hi There. I am new to these boards and happened across them while googling for menopause and wierd thoughts! I am 43 yrs old and had a hysterectomy when I was 28 for cervical cancer. I have always been a happy-go-lucky, the life of the party type girl, until the last few years. With recently getting worse and worse. It seemed after my mom died in 2005 I have been on a downhill spiral with doom and gloom thoughts or obsessive thoughts about dying or if and when Im going to! If I drive will I get in a car accident..pain or headaches can it be a tumor..you get the picture. I was usually able to knock them out of my head before making me a basket case. But the past few days have been an increase in anxiety for me after a very bad bout with the stomach flu.

The past few months or so I have been having terrible stomach issues which seem to get worse when I am stressed. I have off and on diarrhea, colicky stomach pain, gas, burping, etc. All gastro symptoms. One thing that seems to calm it down is yogurt! But now I am certain I have stomach cancer!! I keep thinking that's what it is, SO it's making me completely stressed out to the point that I lose my appetite and can't eat, which in turn makes the discomfort worse! Oh, and Im completely stressed and freaked out about Swine flu!!! I am sooo afraid I'm gonna get it, get super sick and possibly die. UGH

I am beginning to wonder if I am in menopause? and it's increasing my anxiety/stomach issues?! I did take an at home FSH/menopause test (which came back positive from what I can tell). I am sometimes wake up with cold/hot sweats..increased anxiety..stomach upset, especially first thing in the morning?..incontinence while sneezing...no libido..on and on. I dont want to be on meds because I am afraid I will have a bad reaction..its a terrible viscious cycle for me. Does anyone have anything to shed on this? I am trying to keep myself occupied or deter myself when I feel a bad thought coming up, but sometimes I lose the battle. I feel nuts and like i'm losing my mind! I don't want to live the rest of my life thinking I have every ailment under the sun, I just want to be happy and live it to the fullest!

Dear 'slo66'
Welcome to the best site in the world.You are in a great place for sharing and giving advice.
Firstly how courageous you are.Beating cervical cancer at the age of 28 is no mean feat.You mentioned you had a hysterectomy which would have thrown you into full Menopause unless your ovaries were left in tact.Were you given any Hormones to help or because of the cancer this was not an option?.
The symptoms you describe could probably be Menopausal but I think you need a full Gyno. check up in light of your past history.You might also get your Thyroid levels tested to make sure there is no problem there.
Health anxieties are common to many of us women at this stage but no you are not nuts because if you were you would not be asking this question!So please do not worry about this.
So get yourself over to the Doc. for a full check-up.Write down all your symptoms so you don't forget anything.Once you know where you stand you will be better able to discuss your options to help minimize your symptoms.
So keep Posting and let us know how you are doing
Warm Wishes
Elizabeth


1
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Thanks. I did have my ovaries left in. A few years ago my hubby and I went in to a fertility doctor to see if I could possibly you my eggs with a surrogate. My ultrasound looked as if my eggs were still producing, the lab tests showed otherwise. Doc said my eggs seemed weak and not viable.
I was not put on any hormone replacement, never have been. Got a thyroid test done a year ago, came back fine. I am due for some more lab work this week..FSH test, H pylori, thryoid and CBC blood panel. I go to my GYN every year like clock work. She did put me on testosterone once for a very low level, but it didn't help at all. Its just been lately that my "wierd" feelings have been getting worse. I contribute it to the fact that I may be in my cycle right now, if I was having a period. Because my feelings are like that symptoms I got while having a period, but about 100 times worse!
Thanks for your help! and reassuring me Iam not nuts

Slo66,

I wanted to share with you that I have many problems with my stomach like you described. Many days it is so stressed and churns making awful noises that people often ask "is that your stomach?" It can be very scary not knowing what is causing the problems. You will think about cancer or some dreaded disease, I have more than once!! This has been going with me now about a year. I have adjusted some what the best I can sad to say. For me it's nerves and I am severe lactase. Dairy products will tear my stomach up fast. I never had a problem until I started having problems controling my emotions. Fear I think has done a number on my stomach. Many days I'm only able to eat small snacks .. big meals will make me very sick. I have lost much weight, have had so much fear just knowing something terrible was wrong. I very much agree with joyceveronica, go get checked out. Will give you peace of mind!! Trust me .. peace of mind will help this in many way!! Have you noticed any certain foods causing more problems than others. Also, are you taking any medications? Many times meds will cause the stomach to get out of whack. I have no way of knowing anything for sure .. but my guess is this is some sort of problem similiar to mine. Once you have the doctor tell you for sure you will be able to to get more of a idea how to treat going forward.

I'm so sorry for how you feel, I understand very much! Eat when you can then when your stomach is really upset find some bland foods to keep on hand that will help to soothe. I use oatmeal, cheese bits, and a cream cheese dip that I make with pinnapple. I'm a big fruit eater but many times when I'm having such a problem fruit seems to make worse. We're all different so these may not work for you. Please do get it checked out and then start trying to notice if you can narrow down any foods or meds that could be part of the problem. One thing for sure .. when we are upset it always effects our stomach's!!

Welcome to PS, I am new also. This site has been like a Godsend for me! I have made wonderful friends and even one Cover Sister lol.
You will find so many caring people who will offer advice and their support to help. We are all sisters here, I hope you find the same comfort as I have.

Take Care!!
Vaylorie

I can completely relate to what you are going through. I have had all those same feelings, doom/gloom, I have every illness and am going to die from one of them. Every new symptom was throwing me for a loop. It's been almost a year since it started and I have to tell you it has been a hard year. I finally decided to try an Anti depressant, tried a few, currently am on Pristiq and it seems to be helping me with anxiety and obsessive thinking. I reeled myself in last night as I started obsessing over an ailment, normally I would have gone to the dark place and I did for 5 min. but than I allowed myself to be rational. I have a 6 week rule for ailments, if it isn't gone in 6 weeks, I will go to the Dr. So far other than the anxiety, all the other aches and pains, twitches, headaches have resolved before 6 weeks. Of course, another one likes to take it's place, lol. But, as you get used to some of this stuff you become less reactive. It's important to be proactive with your health (that is something I am working on). How wonderful that you got through cervical cancer at such a young age. You are a perfectly normal woman going through a difficult time, doing the best you can. Don't rule out medication completely, it has personally helped me a lot. Welcome to PS, as my friend Vay says we are all here to help each other through it because we understand what we are all going through. There is always someone who can relate to you and you to them. Take Care, Mich

Thanks so much you guys. I really appreciate it. I have noticed that coffee did a HUGE number on my stomach, so I gave it up and switched to tea. Still has a bit of caffeine, but no acid to get my stomach in an uproar. Also noticed that cheese and white sugar do a number on my allergies/sinus infections, so I am slowly giving those up to. And I LOVE cheese . I have replaced sugar with honey in my tea, etc. I have also begun a regime of probiotics two times a day and eat plain yogurt everyday. Really helps me and calms my acids down in my stomach. They think perhaps I have an ulcer, and the yogurt is a God send with those symptoms.

I know nerves have a HUGE impact on my stomach. I am a complete worry wort and stress over the smallest of things. Since losing my mom 4 yrs ago, everything has become bigger then it is. But I guess that's understandable when you lose some one suddenly and out of the blue. A big shock to the system. Recently my father was diagnosed with renal cancer and had a kidney removed. They just found another tumor in his other kidney. So there goes the stress levels! I am beginning to think I may have a IBS from my my stress levels and my tendency to get nervous stomach when I'm stressed.

Anyways, I will follow up with my doc and get things squared away. I am trying to think the most positive thoughts possible and IF it is something bad, then I guess I have to face it head on. I dealt with cancer at 28, I can handle anything, right!! (at least that's what I keep telling myself) Thank you~