Hi Ladies, It's been quite some time since I can say at the end of a day I had no aches or pains. Each day, thanks to peri, I experience repeated or new twangs of pain. Of course the worst is when I start to create a more critical problem than it actually is:o My venting gives rise to the question of whether or not we will feel great for a full day at any time in our future lives? It seems that TODAY is the BEST day of the rest of our lives:D If you care to share, I'd love to hear what you have to say. Thanks for listening, EJ

I think some of the physical aches and pains are unfortunatley a part of aging. I do tend to get an all over achiness, that come and goes. This seems like the hormonal achiness I once only had before periods. Some factors of aging, such my arthritis in my hands, and degenerating vertabrae are likely AGING!!! I think the feeling of being chronically premenstrual eases considerably. I once read a dumb, little outdated meno. pamplet, which compared peri to feeling like PMS. Well, when you had PMS from hell, otherwise known as PMDD, years of this peri crap is an absolute nightmare. I also haven't found the magical cure and Lord, I've tried!! I sure hope this emotional roller coaster level,s, which I understand it will, or perhaps I'm more of an optimist than I though. I also hear those anxiety brain cells die as we age. lol

Dear EJ, One of the problems of this time of our lives is that EVERYTHING is changing. Since we are complex organisms, all parts are intertwinned and it is virtually impossible to know if meno affects arthritis or if we just become more sensitive to it because of heightened awareness of everything else. However, something tells me that those darn hormones are in there somewhere since I notice it is consistently worse some parts of the cycle than others. What to do? I have been able to deal with it by what I call getting ahead of it. On days when I think it is going to be a constant problem, I take two aspirin in the morning. It's amazing how this old tried and true medicine can help. Also, the other biggie--don't scream,we have to do it-- is exercise. The catch-22 is that it is the last thing you want to do especially if you are dealing with depression and one of the most important for arthritis and mood change. I like Gilad as a workout video because you can actually follow him. It was amazing how the aches and pains in my shoulders quit after I started doing a 20 minute morning workout couple of times a week. Okay, maybe it wasn't a couple of times but everything helps. Believe me you are not alone with those aches and pains. Everybody in my family had Mr. Arthur Itis and so do I. ygirl

I've walked at least 5 days a week, for over 20 years. It helps the pain sin my back, while I'm moving. I've started sobbing, during many of these walks the last two years, but continued to walk. The neighbors must think I'm a nutcase, but at least I'm a trim nutcase. I despise gyms and belong in a warmer climate, but......... You will loosen up once you start moving. I should get back to free weights. That something this aching body resists.

I have Ulcerative Colitis, which even baby aspirin has set off episodes of. I do use Celebrex, which helps slightly. Whether this type of anti-inflammatory worsens UC is unknown. No symptoms lately, so I guess I'll continue.

Chriscarol adn YGirl Thanks for your words of comfort. Intellectually, we all get it. It's the physical and mental part that difficult BUT with boards like these and dialogs that we are able to have, it makes things a bit more tolerable. Thanks again. Merry Christmas and Happy and Healthy New Year to all EJ