Hi everyone,

I know other people have body aches and muscle pain, but I'm wondering if anyone else experiences this. I feel fine when I wake up in the morning (unless I've been up every hour with hot flashes!)- but then almost every afternoon I just start to feel achy all over, like I'm getting the flu. I also have joint pain sometimes. Usually taking one or two Advils will help, but I still don't feel like myself. Then by the next morning I feel fine again. I do have days when this doesn't happen, but more days that it does. Does anyone else have this? I'm wondering why it's almost always in the later part of the day. I'd appreciate any responses. Thanks!



Kimmie

I've decided it's gravity!

The last year of getting my periods, or maybe even the last 2 years, I would feel that way for a few days before I started.

I hope you feel better!!

I get the fluish aches. This all happened when I started skipping periods. For me,
I feel it is from lower estrogen levels. When I started taking the fish oil I noticed
a big imrovement. (omega 3s)

Last year I had the dizziness and this all went away. There is no rhyme or reason
for these symptoms it seems. They come and go.


Hopefully this will go away soon for you. If not, check with your doctor.


Dreamharp

I get the 'flu aches'. Sometimes they are there when I get up in the morning and diminish towards evening, and other times they don't show up until the afternoon. I think it's probably cyclical, but I haven't paid close enough attention to when it does change patterns. I'm so sick of all of this crap that I am trying NOT to pay attention anymore!

Thanks for all of your replies. It's nice to know that I'm not alone with this particular symptom. I am taking ground flax seed and flax seed oil (which seems to help with the hot flashes), and I noticed on the bottle that it is also a source of the Omega 3 that one of you mentioned. I hope you all have a great day!

Hugs from Kimmie

Yes I've had this from time to time since I was in my thirties. I feel like I've got flu and sometimes even get a sore throat and runny nose with it and get up next day and it's gone. I tend to take Minadex (or Floradyx), which is an iron/Vitamin liquid supplement.

Yay! Yet another confirmation that I'm not the only one.....for the past two or three years, I've been getting the "flu-like aches" for about a week before my period starts. If it's one of those months where I don't actually have much or any bleeding, the achy-ness rachets up another five or six notches. (the non-bleeding cycles are the WORST for all symptoms ) A lot of times it feels like I'm getting a cold....body aches, headache, scratchy throat, the whole works...then when I start bleeding - poof! the symptoms disappear. The only thing I've found that helps is ibuprophen.

Hang in there - it's getting so I'm almost to the point of playing a little game with myself "hmmm....wonder what wierd thing my body is going to do next??"

- Kes

I hear you there. If I don't have SOME kind of crazy symptom, I THEN think there is something wrong with me because I've felt SO crappy for SO long! LMBO! Amazing.

Sure can relate to this one. I ache most days, and just like you girls, much worse near period time..has to be hormones, I think we can blame them for everything!!

The dizzies are bad this week, and burning mouth again. So which little devil is acting up..estrogen or progesterone?

I'm reading good things about flax seed, says it's gives energy, I'm going tomorrow to get some.

Kimmie~~It sounds like it's working great for you.

Finola,

The flax seed seems to be helping a little with the hot flashes, but I've noticed that it also seems to be helping with dry skin and vaginal dryness (sorry to be a little graphic, but I'm too tried to think of a non-blunt way to put it!) It's also supposed to be good for lowering bad cholesterol (which another thing I just found out I have!) I use the ground flax seed and also take the flax seed oil capsules.

Kimmie

Kimmie, Thank's! It does sound like flax works well for many ailments. I'm just tired of trying so many vitamins, and they usually upset my tummy, and I never see any results from them. I've spent so much on vitamins..I could have bought a new car

Does the flax upset your tummy? Thank's again for the info, and you weren't to graphic at all..hey we need to know these things

*Have a nice Evening*

Me too, Finola. Dizzies and burning mouth this week is awful. My period is due, so I guess I can blame it on that. *sigh* Have to blame it on something. The pollen is horrible in my area right now as well, and I'm sure that isn't helping at all. So I'll place 25% of the blame on allergies. Ugh.

Hi Kleeo~~Gosh..isn't this burning mouth thing annoying! Mine stared last Oct. would get a bit better, than worse. You know, now that you mention it, my mouth burns more closer to my period. The dizzies are driving me batty, 2 days now I'm doing nothing but sitting on my bum Yes, the allergies are very much to blame!! Geez..Kleeo..why can't we just feel good?

Hope you feel much better soon, at least the pollen will leave..now what do we do about the hormones

I was interested in the discussion about flaxseed. I had read somewhere (forgot where), but I believe that it was an expert transcript on PowerSurge, that too much flaxseed was not good for you. Something about thinning the blood too much?? Anyone heard of this?

I also take flaxseed (with my muesli every morning), and I take fish oil capsules, where are also a great source of Omega 3. This has all made me feel a lot better.

This is my first post. I hope I am doing it right. Other than that....I'm glad I found you guys cause I'm really doing nuts. Mostly it is this nasty feeling of tired achy body in the morning. I feel so sick. At first I thought I was dying from cancer or something cause this is very unlike me. I am super healthy. I workout 3 times a week and have for over 10 years. I get these kinda quick spells where I feel dizzy. And I can't focus or concentrate. I've been kicking back watching a lot of TV lately cause it's like the most I can do anymore. I dread the morning when I have these fantom aches and overall feeling of sickness. I get hot sweats at night. Also the weirdest thing is abdominal pain . Does anyone else have any sharp abdominal pains sometimes? I've been checked out by doctor and there was no other apparent illness to link it to.

Hi MenoManager~~Your post sounds so familiar. The tired, achiness seems to be a pattern in peri. Mornings are absolutely the worst for me, it takes until around 2 in the afternoon for me to get any energy. I hate it!! I used to be active, but like you I watch alot of tv these days. I read that our hormones fluctuate so much at night and that may be why we feel worse in the mornings. I do get sharp pain sometimes, my best friend does too, and her doctor said it's the ovaries trying to release the egg like they always did but can't anymore.

Hope you feel better soon lots of advice on these boards, most everyone has the same things going on, it's very helpful info!

*Welcome*

Is that what it is? I don't usually go out til around 11 and if going any distance I save it til the afternnon when I feel "more up to it".

In peri I used to have nausea in the morning so badly that the thought of eating anything made me sick, and I used to have a good appetite. I also had the achiness and fatigue in the morning on some days, and at night on others. I started taking two aspirin with my breakfast every morning, and two with dinner, automatically. If I didn't take the aspirin, I'd REALLY ache all over.

I'm two and a half years postmeno now, and the achiness and flu-like feelings have gone away. I would never have believed that a few years ago! I cut down on the aspirin, and only take it when I need it, every few days instead of twice a day.

Do we love you Sugar!

There's hope for the helpless (or should that be hopeless )

Have a good weekend!

Meno can sure mess with your allergies... even create new ones! If you're experiencing dizziness and burning mouth, it could be allergies acting up. Our old family recipe for that was always a few drops of hydrogen peroxide in the offending ear... Tickles like crazy if there's a little infection in there! But one or two treatments has always worked for me. And some ladies on this site use it as a mouthwash also. Just don't swallow it!

Keep the faith! It does get better!

I meant me there!

alice, you are far from hopeless. I love your posts! Keep 'em coming!

Hello
Remembering back to when i first started this world wind.
I had flu like symptoms & doctor was treating me for the flu
which was going around bad at the time.
It really did feel like the flu but when i didn't get over it
then i knew it had to be something else.
So that was my intoduction to Menopause.
It does get better You will see.

Hope this helps!

Angel

Finola (and anyone else who has burning mouth),

I read your post a few posts back and felt that in spite of feeling like the pits today, I could contribute with some positive advice. Have you tried rinsing your mouth with a very mild solution of salt and warm water? It seems to ease the burning mouth for a while. My dentist recommended that.

I am new to this wondeful web site!! I did not know it existed until in desperation I just typed in "body aches" and then was directed to this site. I was so happy to find others who have this symton of body aches. I have had them for 2 years now, and have found no Dr that has ever heard of this. I thought I had fibro and am not sure that I don't. It is always around the time I ovulate that I have these body aches like the flu and am very tired. Lasts for about 3 to 7 days then gets better. It does't happen every month. Very strange. Very debilitaating!!! Help. Is it Perimenopause? Thats what I am in because I still have fairly regular periods. Does omega 3 help? What else? Maude

Hello All
Yes my dentist told me that rinsing your mouth out with warm salt water
is the best thing to do. But don't shallow the water.
Salt water has a healing effect for sores in Mouth.

Also a lot of body aches is from the weather we have been getting.
Right before a storm hits i feel achy & nervous. I know I should have
been a weather man. Sun Is really good for the body.

hope you feel better soon.

Angel

LadyB~~Just saw your post about the warm salt water, I'll give it a try. My burning mouth had eased up, but it's back, hormones again! Thank's so much

Hi Maude,

I have the exact same symptoms as you and finally found out I have almost no progesterone in my body. I am 44. I also noticed accelerated aging, constipation, decreased sleep even though I am tired and many other symptoms. Going to see an OBGYN next week and then a natural hormone clinic if she can't (or wont) help. Good luck to you.

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Hi Kimmie,
I know exactly what you are feeling. I have had that for a while. Sometimes it's bad enough that I take my temp and am amazed that I don't have a fever. I am wondering if you or anyone else has waves of extreme aching that comes on (much like how hot flashes might begin) normally at night, but not always. They tend to begin in the very core of my torso and expand to the rest of my body and last a minute at most. My mother said that she has experienced this, but have not heard of it anywhere else including symptoms listed on a web searches.
Hang in there!
Sue

Thought I"d bump this thread back up. For months now, I've been having body aches, really bad..all over..mostly my legs. Is this a normal peri symptom? I feel just awful; like I have the flu....

Does anyone else have this and what did you do for it? Should I call my doctor?

Robin, I get really achy through the shoulders and upper back, and it has been worse since I stopped having periods...I am sure it is connected to low estrogen. My knees ache a lot more these days too, I think because I am walking on the treatmill and have been doing some re-decorating in the basement, so I am up and down the stairs. I also have some stiff muscles in the legs, but I know that is from the exercise. I generally just deal with the pain, sometimes I will sit in the bottom of the tub with a hot shower raining down on me, that feels very nice on the sore muscles. I don't take any pain meds, like tylenol or advil for it....those are only for headaches, and only bad ones at that!

How are things going on the throxine (or whatever that was called)? Any relief yet? You must be getting so darn fed up with it all!! If ever someone needed a vacation from their life, it is you! Dontcha just wish you could pack a bag and head to some lovely warm tropical destination, all by yourself, and sit on a white sand beach - in a comfy lounge chair, not in the sand! - and read to your heart's content???? What a dream..**sigh**

Kathie

Kathie: I can always count on you for support and kindness; you are such a treasure. This body ache thing is getting very annoying; I don't think I have the flu but that is just what it feel like.

I just took my first thryoid pill this morning. So I'll be watchfully waiting..

On the estrogen front; I have now been on HRT 3 full weeks and can confidently report that I feel TOTALLY HORRIBLE. Worse than before I started it. I have no idea what's going on with me. Is it hormones, thyroid, winter, depression, stress? All of the above?

Life better improve--I can't see living like this forever. I feel 200% worse than I did last year at this time. I mean, I know 'the change' is difficult, but was I really supposed to end up completely disabled and feeling like I had aged 30 years in just a few months?

oh, i am so sorry round robin. each step of the way seems so fraught with obstacles & no sooner do you clear one (get a good doc, get some useful medical dx/validation), then the next one pops up. i can't comment at all on the thyroid, hrt as i'm not to that point yet, but i sure hope this is just an issue re: adjustment of treatment. but how horrible to be feeling so bad after 3 weeks of proactive intervention.

as far as the body aches - that just is incredibly hard for me to deal with, especially when they come on strong & are unrelenting. then it just wears my spirit down so much. & you are right- it feels like having the flu. but hang in there - i have to believe this is your body reacting to all the changes & that this will work itself out as you adjust treatments.

best,
ellen

I'm bumping this to the top since I've been dealing with flu like feeling for about two or three months. It's interesting that it all started when I began skipping periods several months ago.

The constant muscle aches and soreness has been my nemesis for months now! My periods stopped over a year ago- so I haven't really noticed a pattern. I do know it makes you so fatigued all the time-but-what REALLY wears me down is how sore and red it makes my eyes feel. I've tried all the dry eye stuff-nothing helps. I wound up taking Motrin in the morning, thinking maybe it's a bit of arthritis (why not-let's throw that on the list too!). I do exercise-like walking, and water aerobics, take vitamins, actually sleep now (because I feel so exhausted!). One thing I have noticed is that I seem to be really tense all the time-so that makes sense it would add to the feeling of aches and pains. But, the sore eye thing! Anyone else deal with this too?

Nice to have you all here-Luv, Scardekat

Hi Maude, So glad to hear about the body aches. Mine start about 10 days before my period, not every month, and not the same degree every month. It lasts for maybe two days. I feel like I'm getting the flu . Body aches, chills, also debilitating, emotional. I'm 45 ears old. This has been going on for a few years. It got better after a while, but I don't know why. Perhaps it's stress since it was very active during our renovation and then again after my husband lost his job. My doctor believes me and did tests (CBC, ANA, ESR, blood cultures, hormones etc) All negative. My Gyne said it's "mittel schmirtz" sp? meaning middle pain, but mine comes AFTER the middle of the month. I may have also fell of the wagon with respect to diet. I've been eating sugar again, not in great amounts though. I eat VERY healthy normally, but have been consuming more sweets lately. Maybe that is it? I've read that sugar causes inflammation. Pain is related to inflammation. I too thought this was the start of fibromyalgia, but thank God it's cyclical. Teresa

Hey ladies, I hate to sound like a broken record to those who have heard my story before but.... I had all the flu like symtoms, the lethargy and general malaise. It was too debilitating not to whine about it (drove my husband crazy) yet not definitive enough for anyone to help. I didn't know how I was going to go on... I can't stress to you enough how difficult this was while also maintaining a facade of 'she's got-it-all- togehter-ness' for the rest of the world to see. I felt like I was falling apart.

Then a fitness board I frequented at the time mentioned adrenal fatigue. I started researching this and found it's caused by major life events... pregnancy, menopause, major or ongoing stress..... One of the suggestions was to give up gluten (wheat, rye& barley). Once I gave up gluten I was better within 3 days. 3 days and I felt like an iron weight had been lifted off of me and the fog was clearing. After 2 weeks, I knew I would never intentionally eat gluten again and I haven't. It's been about 2.5 years now.

At the time I went GF, I was on Birth control pills. I'm on bio-creams now and I'm sure the hormones also help to keep my energy levels up. Since going GF, I haven't had a cold, a flu, strep, nothing... even my allergies are better. What I've read is that if you have a food intolerance then your digestive system does not absorb the vitamins from what you eat so you are essentially malnourished even though you are eating (and usually eating more often because you are tired and wanting fuel).

My story may not be yours but if you feel as badly as I felt then I urge you to try going GF for at least 3 days, maybe 7 to see if that helps. It's been well worth it to me.

I am so glad I found you guys!! For most of my life, I have had "mystery illnesses" where I was achy, feverish, weak, and fluish (among other stuff). About 5 years ago it got so bad that I was out sick from work nearly every month. I went to doctors and they dismissed it as being depression (which it wasn't) or a somataform disorder (where there is no physical cause for my problem, I am psychologically causing it) because they refused to dig deeper than the basic blood screens. Since I didn't have a thyroid problem or a major deadly disease, I was discounted as having a psychological problem. At the time of the somataform disorder incident, it was so severe, I finally noticed there was a pattern. It was happening right before my period...almost every single month. My doctor ignored me and went on with a three-person, intervention-style visit where he had two other people try to convince me that it was all in my head and when I insisted something was really wrong, the only other things they could do were painful invasive medical tests. I should be happy that I am not dying. I was actually asked, "Aren't you glad you aren't dying?" I told them no, because the quality of my life mattered far more to me than how long I had to live. Needless to say, I decided I had enough of doctors. None of them ever considered hormones (other than thyroid) as a possibility for my problems. Several months later, I was forced to go back to the doctor because I felt my job was on the line if I didn't go.

I ended up finding this fantastic doctor who listened to me. She suspected PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder--a severe form of PMS), and confirmed with only a few tests that nothing else was going on reproductively. While we were trying to find a treatment that works for me, I got fired due to my constant absences due to this problem (not what they ended up saying, but that is only thing they were unhappy with so they made something else up that kept it legal) so I now have no health insurance. Luckily, I haven't had any symptoms for a few months...until today. I am 37, and apparently my family goes through menopause early. PMDD symptoms supposedly worsen as menopause approaches. Then when your period stops, it goes away. I think I am in perimenopause because my 28 day every single month cycles have turned into 25 day or 23 days or 30 days. I am also getting wacky symptoms like hairs sprouting from my face and neck and hot flashes and other things that could be overlapping with the PMDD. I am taking Omega-3 supplements and a lot of extra calcium (for PMDD) and it doesn't seem to be helping a whole lot. I just wish my period would hurry up and end so I can have a life!

I'm still pretty young, but I have had a number of ailments that I probably shouldn't have had until later including body aches. For me, they are particularly bad during my period. And it's not just my midsection. I hurt all over. I also get migraines this time of month, though they have been less severe for the past year. Anyway, I read that one of the main reasons for the aches is the lack of calcium in the blood. It makes sense since you lose blood during your period. Also, my mom's doc said she needs more calcium since she's in menopause and she's losing some bone mass now. She also lots of aches. So, I'm convinced that the calcium is important all around. The problem is that a lot of calcium supplements will not absorb enough when you take it. Last year I found a supplement that has a different ingredient in it which is supposed to help it absorb way better than many leading brands. I have been taking it for a year, and I feel like it has helped me in many ways. What's even better is that you can order it online and have it delivered to your door. In the meantime, I've also read about two teas called feminini tea, and calcium rich tea that are supposed to help. Also, there is something called cramp bark that you can put in the tea that is supposed to help with cramping muscles. I'm going down to my local health food store to see if I can get some. If you're interested in trying the supplements that I take, let me know. I'm not sure if I'm supposed to post the name of the company that makes them or not, but you could e-mail me. All the best!

Hi, I found this while searching through google. I'm 20 years old, and have two kids, and have been getting this fluish feeling every night now, and I'm just afraid of hitting menopause super early b/c I planned on having at least one more baby later on. My periods have def been slowing down from a full week to 3 days where I bleed heavily for 2 days, and then spot on the last one. Now I'm getting these fluish aches that disappear the next day, and was wondering if these were signs of menopause.

What do you guys thinK?

I think it would be very unusual at your age. Not impossible but unusual. How long since your last child? It could be that your hormones are re-adjusting after pregnancy.

I just had that happen to me about 30 minutes ago .. just took 3 advil .. am taking my tempurture too thinking it must be a virus .. only to find it isnt .. at least I know what it is because my periods arent regular anymore .. am 51 and close to the end I think,, but this body ache thing as the last symptom just ***** !!

I think your way to young to be going through menopause.. but I did start with the body aches in my 30's ,, I just didnt relate them to my hormones because they were sporadic. Since you're getting them from time to time now ,, chances are you will also experience them in peri. But I would go see my doctor just in case If I were you.

Have you had your glucose checked? Before i was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes i would wake up feeling like crap with flu-like symptoms and achy joints and just not wanting to get motivated....turned out my morning glucomter readings (after nothing to eat or drink for 8 hrs or more) were out or range (i was using my hubby's glucometer macine) waaaaay over 126 which indicates Diabetes. I was getting 139, 155, 179 and even in the 190's.

Just a thought....

I'm absolutely wrecked with aches at the moment, in all limbs, shoulders and back with severe cramps, joint aches and tingling in my hands and feet. I had this a few days ago, on a Friday, and on Saturday my husband let me sleep and I slept until 6 p.m. !! When I got up I felt a whole lot better. But now it's back. I went to my doctors yesterday and he is running tests for all kinds of things including diabetes, meantime I just feel like absolute hell. Never had anything like this before. I have a horrible feeling he won't find anything the matter. He gave me anti-inflammatories for the sore joints and aches but so far they haven't made any difference.

This can't be right.

The tingling sounds like diabetic neuropathy, i had it in my hands and feet, as well as the aches, to this day when ever my blood sugar is elevated i get the aches and the tingling.

My blood sugar couldn't have been elevated, I hadn't been eating anything... anyway I was tested for diabetes a while back and everything came out normal. But let's see what the latest tests reveal.

In diabetes your glucose is elevated regardless of whether or not you eat anything, an elevated level in the early morning after you've gone overnight without eating is called "Dawn Phenomenon" funny phrase, i know, but it simply means your liver responding by dumping sugar into your bloodstream, hence your sugar will be elevated.
BTW which test did you have for diabetes?

I don't know what tests were done.
It's now first thing next morning and I've woken up in same condition. Just aching everywhere. Sleep didn't help.