This is the one that is really bothering me a lot lately, and I think it is triggering a lot of my panic attacks.

My muscles are extremely weak, even when I am trying to do basic, everyday activities. Its not shakey at the fingertip, like trembling from nervousness. Its more of a shakeyness in the muscle, my arms and legs, as if I'd been doing very vigorous weight lifting, and now have weakness and shakiness.

Last night, I held a baby for 5 minutes. JUST 5 MINUTES. I handed him off and sat down to have a cup of coffee. My arms were trembling like crazy while I was holding the coffee cup. It made me panic so badly, I ran home and had myself the mother of all panic attacks.

Anyone else get this?? This is the scariest symptom for me, it seems like a sure sign of MS or Parkinson's when you look at the 'net, its always the first thing they say. "Weak muscles".

Thanks for your input. What a lifeling PS is. HP

No, Heartpeace, I haven't but ladies posting at this site have had just about everything else and in big doses. At this very moment I am sitting here absolutely exhausted in my chest area and hardly able to move.

You are right, PS is a lifeline. Without it I probably would not be here today. It was the only place that I found answers that worked and honest communication about this hellish transition. So, I can almost guarantee you that others have had this same problem. For some reason, this period of hormone meltdown causes neuro muscular problems of all varieties.

I care.

ygirl

HeartPeace:

Yes Yes Yes - I have had this for about 2 years, especially in my arms and hands. When I lift up that mug of coffee in the morning, my hand does tremble. My husband built me a swing (like the one at elementary schools) a few years ago, and afterward my arms are shaking like crazy. I am also very tired most of the time. Personally, I don't worry about it too much as I did at first.

I was such an athlete as a child, young adult, until about 12 years ago. I'm 46 and feel that my body just isn't able to do the things it used to. I also have arthritis and bad back problems. I have been thinking lately of starting to work out. I too have gained that extra poundage but have lost 10 pounds this last month (I had the flu)

I'm with Tina. YES YES AND YES! I get what I think they call 'muscle tension'. It's like my muscles will hurt and feel weak for no apparent reason. Comes and goes. Tingling is part of it too, and what feels like numbness, but it isn't numbness. lol. Makes sense, eh? WAY WAY TOO MANY SYMPTOMS!!
HANG IN THERE!
Hugs!

Have the same thing. Especially with my hands and forearms. Like I had been pruning all day and typing is the only thing I was guilty of. Also arms feel like they have invisible weights dangling from them. More a nuisance than anything else. Fingers shake also.

I also have been having alot of muscle pain thru my whole body. Going to see the doc today. My back is hurting so bad I can.t hardly stand it. I am wondering if it can be from some of the new exercises I have been trying? I have not exercised in a couple of days because of it. It almost feels like you have the flu or somthing I ache all over. I am trying to stay calm about it but it still scares me because I hurt all over. But the exercises aren't that stressful on the body or so I thought. I get such neck pain it's not funny. I am sitting here almost in tears because of the pain. Hope the doctor can help today the pain is starting to run down into my arms and shoulders.

Neck, upper middle back and shoulder pain radiating down the arms. Initially my doctor prescribed a mild muscle relaxer. Weakenss in the muscles has been a reoccuring problem. There are days I can't open the simplest packaging without a great deal of effort!

I have found that massage therapy seems to be the only thing that has really helped. Being new to this site, it is a relief to find that this probably is just another symptom of menopause.

And I have had many! My home connection is so s l o w, that I have used my breaks and lunch hour at work to glean what info I can from this site. I believe that since 1999 I have not been living but just surviving.

Right now I am experincing something, maybe someone will have some input. I have for years had what appears to be rosacea on my chest. Dr never has given me any good explaination of this. Lately, my face gets beet red at times, and I notice that there is a lingering pinkness to my face and neck.

It is first of the month report time. I had 68 hours of leave mostly relating to days I couldn't bring myself to a point to come to work. It has been this way since last September.

Lacking any faith in my current physician I made an appt to see a gyn on the 12th. In the meantime I am relying heavily on this site to keep me functioning!

Love and healing thoughts, Hazel in Kansas

Music is fun, and not to be taken too seriously.
"It's not brain surgery, if you make mistakes nobody dies." Dave Mackenzie

Earlier this morning I had made a list of symptoms to take to my next doctor appointment and the 2nd on the list was muscle weakness or muscle fatigue. I'm not sure which one it is, but it's scary to say the least. Something is not right! Gave me little relief to have found your post.
Right now it has been my arms but I have had it my legs. Like you Heartpeace, I was holding my great nephew whom was born on my birthday and OMG my arms got so weak I was afraid I would drop him. I know I'm not that out of shape because I carry my 10 pound dog around all the time. It's like a spell and will pass after week or so. But I have notice it comes more often now, maybe with extra stress? Hang in there TG we have each other!

yes i get the same symptoms at times but not as severe as you describe yours, my muscles get weak just doing simple things, like cleaning the house, i find im putting it off more & more the older i get, then when i do clean afterwards boy do i pay the price! Im 42 & i think, gee is this going to get worse in the coming years? Ill tell you though, i can definetely see me hiring a cleaning person in the near future! Enough about me, i encourage you to see a dr if your symptoms donot improve and/or get worse, by all means see a dr. Keep us updated! God bless you aprillv68

Hi Heartpeace!

Thought I would weigh in with my muscle woes.

For three years I have had muscle fatigue. (I'm 55.) Sometimes just standing up makes my legs weak. Some days are better than others, but basically I have had to stop all aerobic exercise. If I get overtired, it takes me two days to recover. This is really annoying, especially as I have always gotten through difficult time using various forms of virorous exercise. The muscle fatigue coincided with my doctor's confirmation that I was definitely in peri-menopause. However, he didn't think the fatigue was due to hormone withdrawal. He sent me to my GYN, who sent me back to him, who sent to a shrink, who said she doesn't deal with women's hormones because it's so complicated.

Sigh.

This WILL GO AWAY!! I've found no "cure," just spent a lot of money on various kinds of snake oil and gadgets that promise strong muscles. Hmmmmm.

Hang in there,
Libbett

Hi HeartPeace and All-

Yes I have had the muscle weakness but not recently. When this all started I had the tired arm thing like my hand would shake from holding a coffee cup. I had numbness and tingling in my hands and forearms.

Now I have extreme tiredness. Like little things just wipe me out. I mean cleaning the house and doing a bit of yard work. I am not out of shape so this should not be an issue.

I am trying to just ignore that and keep doing as much as I can. What I can't get to can wait.

Not like me at all. Everything always had to be perfect (the house, the yard).

This whole peri thing is so weird. If I hadn't found this site I think I would have lost my mind.

I had so many unusual symptoms and had no idea what was going on. Dr's would look at me like I was some kind of nut.

Thanks to Dearest for all of her wonderful work to start this site and keep it going.

It is a great comfort to me to come here everyday and I do.

Sandy

Yes Indeed!! I've been getting the shaky hands for about 2 years. When I read how some of you have trouble holding your coffee cup...well that's me too! I just showed hubby a few days ago how my hand shakes while holding my toothbrush and coffee, it's the weirdest thing..and it never happened before all the miserable peri symptoms hit! It's just unreal what this can do to us I get the crashing fatigue now and have had to limit myself to only a few tasks a day, but before peri I could go strong most of the day.

(((Hugs)))

Hi Everyone,

Yep, I've got the shaky muscles too ! Whenever I exert myself (even a little)
my muscles respond by shaking - like I'm having a localized seizure. This happened last week as I weeded the yard. I came in for water and my left hand and arm could hardly hold the glass. I was afraid I would drop it.

What helps me? Epsom salt baths (magnesium) and massage. Wish my insurance co. paid for the massages even partially. My body craves them and they are very helpful.

Hang in there. We're all with you, girl.


Suzy

I'm 44 years old and found this site while researching what could be causing my twitchy, trembling, aching hands and arms. While my doctor says he can't find any weakness in my hands they sometimes feel leaden. Sometimes the muscles feel twisted and sometimes cetain areas, like my thumbs or my shoulders feel like they're disjointed or out of place.

Of course I panicked and thought of all the horrible diseases I could have, but nothing seems to fit all my sypmtoms except that I'm starting menopause. Other symptoms I have are crushing fatigue at times, heart palpitations, panic attacks and slight changes in my periods (they're more frequent, but shorter in duration).

I work out 3-5 times a week and I'm in pretty good shape. I tried taking magnesium and it does help a little but not too much. I was wondering if anyone has any other recommendations for alleving these symptoms?

I'm so glad to have found this community. It's such a relief to have a place to go.

HI Twister,

I wish I could give some ways to make you feel better, but all I can do is empathize.
I've been having the muscle weakness and twitching since Feb, and haven't found a way to fix it. I will say that I'm pretty sure I've made all my symptoms worse and added to them by worrying about them. So if there is a way you can assure yourself that you will be OK, it would help. Knowing there are other women going through it certainly helps. I do think massage and ,agnesium have helped spme with the muscle stuff.

Hope you are better soon.
JP

Hello Ladies,
I'm 44yrs.old and I have various symptoms and it's really making me feel like I'm losing my mind. Constant sweating, eye twitches, fatigue,hands shaking,body aches all over. In Oct.2001 I had a TAH/BSO and my doctor immediatlely put me on HRT thel owest dosage of Premarin, after 2months it was d/c]because it was causing my bp to increase,and also my vision was affected as well.
Currently I'm still having difficulty with my muscles & joints which having Fibromyaligia doesn't help much either, and I do realize many of these symptoms overlap one another which make's it difficult for the doctor to help me. Also my OB-GYN told me a few weeks ago that my symptoms are very complex, which I asked her what did she actually mean by stating that, she really didn't have an answer. So now I'm in search of another ob-gyn, but in the meantime I'm going to speak too the Endocrinologist about my symptoms & see if she can help me. Everyday I try to exercise by stretching,& walking although some days are worse than others, so I just do the best I can. I'm so grateful to have found this site because I don't feel so alone, also it's going to be great to share more with you & also educate myself further on these raging 'hormones'...
Thank all of you for your Support. Have A Wonderful Day!

Michelle

Dolphin, have you tried the water exercises in a pool? My ex mother in law has fibromyaliga and she swears by the pool.

Hi everyone!

I've been writing about muscle problems since March. I have weak, achy, twitching and tired muscles. I had to stop all physical activity except for some stretching and yoga. I can't do anything aerobic, stopped doing housework, and can get overtired if I cook for too long!!! This year I didn't travel at all because it's just too difficult. This has been going on for three years. I've really not had a break, never had a "good" day when I feel normal. Now I'm into the hot flashes and insomnia. This is like a nightmare.

When this all started, I went to the doctor. All my blood tests were normal, except he said I was definintely in peri-m. So I've tried to accept this process as a natural one; however, it is extremely frustrating. I know it's also contributing to my depression. If I could get out and exercise, I'd feel better. But every time I try, I end up in bed for two days recovering.

This isn't chronic fatigue. There are several other posters here who also have fatigue, and the doctors don't know what to call it. I do. We're going through severe hormal withdrawal. I just didn't realize how completely debilitating it could be.

Hang in there. It does get better.
All the best,
Libbett

Hi DaMomma,

actually I did attend Aquatic Therapy for several weeks,which it offer some relief
too my muscles & joints. Currently Ive been searching around for another class that strickly works with Fibro & Disabled.
Thanks so much,

Michelle

Hi Ladies,

I am 47 years old and all these wierd thing started happening to me last August. I got twitches in my hands especially the thumbs and index fingers. I would go to bed at night and feel twitches all over my body. At the same time I developed shin splints even though I had been doing tread mill for 2 years every day. I worked myself into such a frenzy believing I had either MS, ALS or Parkinson, I lost 8 pounds in a week because I was not sleeping or eating anymore. When I went to my doctor, he did some neuro test on me and told me I did not have MS, but could not tell me what was wrong. Then I found this site. I cannot tell you how much better it made me feel. I know I am in peri, I have the hot flashes, I am beginning to skip periods. But I have to say, I can take the mood swings, the hot flashes and stuff, but it is the eye twiches, the shaky muscles, the weird feelings I get in my arms and legs, the sensation that I am wobbly when I walk even though I know I am not. It is all very upsetting becasue I have always been very active and in shape and this makes me feel awful. I just hope that this can help others the way it has helped me because when I feel calmer, the symptoms do not seem as bad. I cannnot wait until this all passes. Can anyone tell me how long this will last.

Mimi

Oh God Mimi...sounds just like me....I to thought I had MS or something and went to a neurologist....He told me he couldn't find a thing wrong. I had terrible twitching.....numbness, tingling, weird images at night, tremors, terrible foggy thinking..said it was fibromyalgia....(that's a cop out for doctors)...wasn't fibro..I have alot of joint pain also..47...

my wonderful gynecologist says it is peri/menopause....may take a few years..

Kathy and Mimi,

You both sound just like me....went from feeling great and in control to being a basket case overnight. It all started for me about one year ago. Twitching (all over and in hands...for me the ring fingers twitched the most), shaking, wobbly, couldn't think or focus, blurry vision off and on, insomnia, digestive problems, weight loss, felt like I had arthritis....I thought I was dying (I had to have some horrible neurologic disease). I was on the doctor roller coaster for about six months to no avail (only diagnosis was IBS). Saw rheumatoligist, neuroligist, psychiatrist, and my GP more times than I can count. Was poked, prodded and tested.

Now one year later the symptoms are still there but less severe and/or frequent. I do feel better now than last year. I have more tingling and less twitching....anxiety gone most of the time but still raises it's ugly head on ocassion. So how long does it last???? I think it's different for everyone. Dearest said in a message she posted somewhere that for most women the peak (worse time) of peri might last two maybe three years and then lessens. I think we might feel symptoms for a long time to come but only feel the worst (which most of us are probably encoutering right now that's what brought us here) for those few years. I keep hoping I'm maybe halfway through.

Hang in there girls....one day at a time.

TJ

Thank you Kathy and TJ,

Thanks for the information ladies. It is so reassurring to hear from other women with the same symtoms. When I talk to my husband about anything peri I can tell he is trying to look interested but I can see his eyes 'glazing' over. I have three teenage sons and whenever they hear me talk about anything remotely related to how peri makes me feel, they make jokes about it. It is very hard to deal with all of this being the only woman in a house with 4 males. This site is a godsend and I refer to it when my symptoms get worse. This week my lower left eyelid has been twitching 24/7. This site allows me to relax about my symptoms and helps me face each day.

Mimi

Mimi,

I have two sons (early 20's) and a daughter (17). I know what you mean about men not being able to relate. I also hear them when they think I'm a bad mood (even if it's justified) blaming it on "what I'm going through". Little do they know.....it's not at all what most people think.

TJ

What a relief to read your replies and realize I am not going crazy. I'm new here, 39 years old. Been worked up and down by a variety of "ologists," to no avail. I had also conviced myself I had MS, etc. For about a year I've been experiencing numbness, tingling and now weakness in my arms and now thighs and hips. When I get up in the morning I'm just dragging and my legs feel funny. Also my fingers and hands seem clumsy, i.e. I can't open the cat treats in a little zip-loc bag!

I saw my ob-gyn on Monday for my annual exam. I had my list of symptoms and was looking forward to discussing the whole peri issue. She asked how I was feeling and I listed a couple of symptoms before she broke in with, "Are you interested in becoming pregnant?" Excuse me?? Then she went on to tell my about IUDs, a progestin ring that will last for 5 years, etc. As she was doing the exam I rattled off more symptoms and asked if peri was the cause of my problems. No, she replied. At that point, I gave up and resigned to find a new doc. She also dismissed me by saying, "why don't you have your internist do you exam next year. One stop shopping." Thanks for your support, I thought. It was clear she had many pregnant women to tend to and clearly that is her area of interest.

I wish Ob-gyns had separate waiting rooms. One for the young healthy pregnant women, and one for old hormonal basket cases like me

Thanks for letting me vent!