Hi all I have been on HRT now for 8 months and my symptoms were much improved BUT just last week THEM PAINS came back and started the vicious circle of......have I got a dreaded desease....why do I ache all over......why do the PAINS seem to travel around and through my body and why is my digestive system upset yet AGAIN!!!. I probably can put some of it down to stress and maybe I internalise too much but has anyone else felt the strange feeling like...ummm... crampy,aching,moving pain???? or am I the only one?? I suppose like a "flu" ache that comes and goes and travels Oh and I get the chills and goose bumps too. Anyway enough of my complaining. Love to hear from others that feel like this. BOOMPTY

Hi Boompty, You can count me in on the crampy, achey, moving pain, traveling through my body, including digestive problems and abdominal pains! I had this feeling almost non-stop for about a year and a half. I felt terrible and I was so fearful of what it could be. How could I feel this bad and have it not be something horrible? Although I did not have many tests, my doctor felt it was "stress." I also had an ovary removal due to endo at the beginning of all this, as well as a bad reaction to a short term prescribed drug that may account for some of the long term discomfort and anxiety. I myself am still not entirely sure what caused it, but one glorious day (to my disbelief) I realized I actually felt "good!" Then another time I realized I felt "good" for a week, and the duration of time of feeling "good" kept increasing till those terrible feelings finally diminished and went away. In between the "good" times, when the pains reared their ugly head(s), I began to ignore them. I'm living life normally now (I was very NOT normal), aside from achey feet and hands and feeling pretty tired and non-motivated about things like cleaning and housework, etc. However, I'm back on track and enjoying life again. This has coincided with my periods lessening to the point that I may have one every few months. So, hang in there Boompty. If you've seen your doctor, had a check up and checked out okay, try to relax and flow with it. Pursue your medical needs. Remember that our bodies are going through some "tough times" right now and the discomfort you feel may very well be due to those natural changes and nothing really terribly serious, as we fear! Take care Boompty! I think I'm almost on the other side of this, and just want you and others to know, it can get better:D Kate

Thank you Kate for your reassurance on the pain problem. I'm so glad you feel better. I know I'll get there but sometimes you do lose track of the positive but you have helped me a lot. I'll see you on the other side of MENO!!!!! Thanks again Kate Cheers Boompty

Kate, You give me hope. I feel like I don't have a natural endorphin left. My stomach cramps can be miserable. Boom, I hear you. Plus, I have arthritis degenerating disks, etc. Before my period I ache all over. For awhile my legs ache constantly, but that's a bit better. I'm sitting her with a heating pad. Aunt Flo has got to go!!!!

I also find walking diminishes some of the achiness in my lower back. Ugh, I'm going back to physical therapy after vacation. I'm glad you're feeling better, Kate.

Aha, someone else with a similiar wierd symptom to mine. I had "floating pains" which were actually quick stabbing pains which occured in different parts of my body: head; foot. Sometimes the pain was not quick. I am wondering if it could be due to muscle spasms of some sort? I am not taking magnesium (yet). A few days ago I had one in my teeth. My teeth hurt anyway, whatever the cause. My joints have been hurting for quite a while. My left shoulder aches too much to lie on it at night. My neck cramped up for a few days so that it was hard to drive. This seems to be brought on by unusually great movement of my neck. Now I have a sore feeling in the top part of my spine. Kept me awake one night, now my sleep cycle is thrown off I guess. Hot water bottles help... Hope I don't sound like I am just COMPLAINING or anything?!

I found HRT relieved the aches & pains in muscles and joints. Since I've gone off it, they've come back with a vengeance! So I guess in my case at least, the symptoms are caused by declining estogen. Don't want to go back on the estrogen/progestin routine, and am wondering whether exercise helps? And if so, what sort?

Jennys and Whitehorses My aches and pains have definately been worse since coming off HRT, my knees especially and general leg aches. I find that walking(which I do a lot) helps, mine is always much worse when I've been sitting down, I also have to remind myself to relax my muscles, cos I am one of these tense muscle people. My daughter is always saying to me 'mum! drop your shoulders':P don't you just LOVE them, sometimes I feel like she is the mum. Keep smiling luv Jenniffer

Strangely my legs ached chronically on a larger dose of estrogen. Now it's more cyclical. I noticed when I walked the leg muscles loosened, alleviating the dicomfot. I did have to push myself, because in the early part of the walk my legs ached. Walking also helps my back.

Hi Everyone, I'm another who has moving or floating pains and can't imagine why every part of my body aches at different times. Each pain feels like it will never go away but when I awake the next day (I might add after a restless night of hot flushes etc), that pain has gone and it starts up somewhere else. It is re-assuring to know we are not alone, but I wish there was an answer as to when this madness finishes! Cheers to all Lili

Hi all Gee Wizz glad to hear I'm not the only one feeling this way and thankyou for all your expeirences and support. I am now wondering if I need to UP the strength of my HRT patches .Maybe after 8 months they aren't strong enough now. What are your comments on that my Meno Friends??? I could maybe try to supplement with phytoeostrogens.....best talk to the doctor first I guess. Hope to have an answer that maybe can help others along the rocky MENO road. Boompty

Hello again, I am not on HRT although my Dr has suggested it, but I am reluctant to start. Must admit I'm getting close as I can't stand all these silly symptoms and wish I could be normal again. Can anyone fill me in with side effects you have experienced eg. weight gain, loss of hair etc. Lili:(

This almost sounds like Fibromyalgia! I am in perimenopause and starting to notice aches and pains I never had.

I'm so glab i saw these posts, the thing with me is i tend to pass by boards that i do not think are relative for me. But of course the past few weeks i now have this one to add to my list of other yuck things that are happening to my body. Most days my body just aches and i find even walking up the stairs a stuggle, my legs ache and it feels like i have done so much more than just walked up the stairs. Also at the moment my joints on my hands are hurting and they feel weak and i have no strengh to open jars. Oh well at least i now realise i'm normal oh right who am i kidding:o Take care Pauline

Hey Boom ~ COOoooWEEeee Cobber! ~ Ladies I found that HRT, be them patches, troches, cremes, pills ~ natural or otherwise created more problems than they fixed. My liver didn't like any of them and they all *CAUSED* arthritic joint pain, as do too many oranges, tomatoes, vinegar etc and most of The deadly nightshade family. This arthritic behavior would circulate throughout my system from one finger to my neck and wrist joints. As soon as I stopped each form of HRT ~ the arthritic discomfort would disappear~ when I tried another form~it would return. Too obvious to ignore. Needless to say, I stopped ALL HRT. Havn't had any arthritic joint pain since! I usually do everything arsed about, so this result wouldn't surprise me in the least. The causes of arthritis can be as simple as something you ate or applied and your body is telling you to stop. As for arthritic pain disappearing when ON hrt and returning when OFF hrt......the mind boggles. Well that's my two cents worth. Hate to hear you are all suffering, hope this helps someone. Oh! and years ago when I was living in a new house with a concrete slab floor and ceramic tiles, I developed arthritic pain in my knees, this disappeared as soon as I moved to a house with timber floor boards.

About a couple weeks ago I had pains in my lower back. I stopped taking the cream the Yam Cream I was not taking because I felt no more problems. But my night sweats and hot flashes are gone,now it is aches and pains occaision ly.

Hi, I'm experiencing the joint aches too. I've had these pains periodically but these last 3 weeks they've been consistant. Is this normal? I have a pain in my elbow joint, in my right and left wrist, just above the radial pulse. Also my fingers ache and I've also had a pain in my knee where I could hardly walk today. Is this normal? I feel like I'm a worn out rag doll. What medical tests are available to rule out anything other than peri-menopause? On a good note , my moods are better the last few days. I think I cope better with physical aches and pains than psychological stuff. Could someone write in please and give me some advice? Or at least tell me this is normal stuff to have for 3 weeks ongoing? Thanks Gez

Hi Ladies, I too have had my share of body aches and pains. They started during peri. At one point I felt like my legs were giving out...so weak I could barely walk. This lasted for about 2 weeks. After the doc ruled out thyroid problems, arthritis...let's see...I went from one disease to another certain that I had something horrible. At one time I read in a medical magazine about MS and could swear that I had that...well...after I gained some knowlege and started using progesterone cream, some good vitamins, started eating more vegetables, salads, less sugar, protein shakes and smoothies to boost my energy. My chiropractor recommended glucosamine HCI for lubrication of the joints. It really does help. I went from barely 10 min. on the treadmill to 45 min. within a week after starting that supplement. Stretching exercises do wonders...5 to 10 min. each day. A yoga ball, also known as an exercise ball is a fun way to do that. Taking time for a massage once in a while or if you have access to a jacuzi tub to relax and loosen the muscles. You know...I'm sure that most of you would agree with me that when we were young moms...we got so used to just keep going and going, taking care of our children's needs, our husband's needs and just about everyone elses but our own, our young bodies just kept going and going, but now that we are older, going thru this meno crap, we just can't keep going and going without some pampering so come on gals...we must pamper our bodies and do whatever it takes to ease those darn pains. These things I have mentioned have really made a difference for me. Blessings to you all, Leslie

TextRed This past September marked one whole year since my last period...but the aches continue. Does anyone know the range of time after the end of menses that these weirdo symptoms continue? It seems neverending! :P Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences. It always helps me feel better to come online and check around Power-Surge. :D

Hi Yankeegal, I've been thinking about you lately and wondering how you were shaping up? Still on the merry-go-round!! Aches one day, pains the next....they just don't seem to let up. I was talking to a lady the other day and she's had symptoms for 20 years!!!! I felt like curling up and dying at the thought. I have to tell you I found the best bra in the world! for me anyway.......comfort at last! Lili

I am new to this chat board and I am happy to find encouragement and answers to my aches and pains. I am in perimenopause and possibly going into meopause since I've only had a period 1 time in the last year. I've had every symptom you can imagine the last 5 years! I have survived the panic attacks, the hot flashes, night sweats but now the aches and pains. My joint pain is in my knees, shoulder and hip. The pain and stiffness is worse in the PM. I was tested for rhumatoid arthritis and was negative. I guess the is the next phase for me. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what has work for them? I am not on HRT. I was on Loestrin for 2 years but my Dr. wanted me to go on HRT and I only want to do natural therapy. Thanks

Hi gabbygerl and welcome to Power Surge As you read more here, you'll find that there's a huge, very informative site here - much more than just a "chat board". Our host and founder, Dearest, has provided lots of information for us, and there's more added each day. Some of the best places to start are some basic introductory articles, such as Power Surge's Menopause Survival Tips, and What's A Hot Flash? and About Your Hormones and a simple explanation of menopause in the Menopause Primer, Midlife Sexuality, Relationships / Vaginal Dryness and many, many others including, of course, Being The Best You and the ever popular RECOMMENDATIONS AREA.. Many of us here have opted against the more traditional HRTs and there are lots of other suggestions on that Recommendations page (above) and in many of the guest transcripts found in the Power Surge Guest Transcript Library. Last night's guest, Dr. Stephen Holt, spoke about MenoPlan, his newest supplement for menopause and you can read more about that here and in his previous transcripts. The transcript of last night's chat should be up in a few days. You said that your doctor tested for rheumatoid arthritis - were you tested for osteoarthritis, too? Even though they may say that you're "too young", a test might be a good idea. I was diagnosed with it in my early 30's even though I was "too young" to have it. Best of luck to you - I'm sure you'll learn lots and lots here in Power Surge