Hi, I'm 36 and have quite a few of the peri symptoms that have been mentioned, most prominent being the anxiety stuff and palpitations! However, this morning I had a WEIRD and new symptom I've never had before, I had it checked out and nothing was found. What it was: I woke up about 6 and felt like I had slept on my left arm really hard, the numb feeling, and at first couldn't even lift it up (tho I was half asleep). So, of course that woke me up and then I found I had heaviness/numbness/tingling in both of my upper arms that went on for a few hours. Of course, a panic attack jumped in there making it worse. I have been better the past few hours, but still the tingly/heavy feeling comes and goes. I have read a few things about adrenal rushes or arm pains, I just wanted to make sure yours sound like that..

I love this board

Honey...........relax...........I get this allllll the time............no rhyme nor reason to it.............happens to me when awake too.


Jadie

Yup........count me in too. Doesn't happen often, but it has happened to me before. I totally freaked ~ but the last time? Was about a year ago, and I'm still here and kickin'~~
HUGS!

Tawnya,
Hopefully I can reassure you a bit, because just reading that this happens to you also reassures me.

I wake up some nights and my arms feel like lead, like they are asleep and hard to move. There is no reason for them to be this way....it's not even like I was sleeping on them or something. Sometimes I turn my body, without using my arms, which when they are moved have that kind of heavy, achy feeling and just kind of move with the rest of my body...but it feels like it takes all my strength just to get my arms to move into another position...like there is no strength left in them. Scares me and is one of those symptoms I often think about as just being so unnervingly wierd. I have had several other muscular type symptoms, and rather than thinking that this is just another one, I worry more that it's just one more.

I cannot wait until all these wierd symptoms just disappear.

I can't thank you guys enough..I almost said "you don't know how much that means to me"..but actually I'm sure you do!! I've discovered over the past 3 months that the 5 days after my period is SUPPOSE to start are my usual worst panicky type days..and today is def one of those! I've been on the verge of crying all day..think in a while I will be taking a nice hot bath and just have a good cry!

THANK YOU!

Thank you Tawnya for bringing up yet another unanswered question of mine. Before I figured out that I was indeed going through peri (no help from my doctor) I had convinced myself I would not live to see my 50th birthday. Sooooooo many changes going on here......sooooo much wierd stuff hapening to my otherwise always been healthy body and mind.
This numbness, tingling, heavy, I couldn't lift a feather if I tried feeling has bothered me for a long time. It also extends to my legs. Spoke to the Doc about it, he told me it was "my anxiety" take more xanax. Thanks Doc. Keep those drugs coming! NOT! I knew I could not depend on drugs the rest of my life. The xanax was just covering up....I needed to learn how to deal with it....to live with it, and hopefully help control it.
So, when I realized "the change was a coming", I started yoga, pilates and breathing exercises.......AMAZING ! No, the wierd pains and numbness in my arms and legs have not gone away. The hot flashes have not gone away, they have actually gotten worse. Fatigue, IBS-C, palps etc...all still there. But, I am learning how to breath, relax, focus . Man, does that sound like a 60's guru or what? And, now that you have brought up this subject, I realize that it is most likely another fun peri experience. Because until now, I still was not convinced it was anxiety/nerves. I mean, jiminey crickets, it wakes me up n the middle of the night. How wierd is that? Thanks for your post.

Reb..it makes me want to take up yoga..for me it takes a LOT of prayer and reading the Bible..I have started walking a few days a week, but I def need to up that a bit. I may check out a yoga type thing..and THANK you for encouraging me as well

Ladies,

I just recently had my first experience with waking up and feeling like my arm was so heavy I couldn't move it. It happened in my left arm (which I do sleep on) and it did freak me out. It was almost as if the arm was just hanging there and like Pixie said it took all of my energy just to move it. I rely on my faith and I just keep reminding myself that God is in control of my life and His will will be done. I am accepting that whatever my life brings to me is His will.

I am struggling with the "I don't care" attitude. I've gained weight...some due to my deviating from my past healthy eating pattern and some of it might possibly be due to the antidepressant I started to take to keep my sanity. I am going to have to really buckle down. Watch what I eat and begin exercising again. With the way I feel it's been hard to put the extra pressure on myself of not eating the fattening good tasting stuff and exercising when I'm already tired. Now on top of all of that I don't think I look good either. Will I ever feel good again?

Oh TeeJay honey....don't do that !!!! Negative fuels more negative! Don't say "will I ever feel good about myself again".......Yes, Yes, Yes you will!
Been There! We all have, haven't we ladies?
Don't "look at" yourself...."look within" yourself.
I have always been a petite, height/weight porportioned Teenager and woman. Four years ago at age 46, the weight gain, thick waist, wrinkles, age spots and oh my God the massive grey hair hit all at once. I was also trying to understand what the heck was going on not just with my body, but my mental state. I didn't feel pretty anymore.....I didn't feel healthy....and I didn't feel like anyone gave a rats patootie about what I had to say anymore. I allowed myself to become an "OLD FRUMP". My spriit was broken.
Weeeeelllllll.....one day my sister and I were discussing our mid life crisis situations. It became a battle as to who was suffering the most. Sister is 5 years older, so she said she was the winner. The debate ended up becoming a silly, verbal and antimated debate. We were laughing and telling stories and acting like goof balls. All of a sudden, my sister says "you have always been just like daddy, such a free spirit full of life and laughter and always full of mischief, I always wanted to be more like you". WHOA! Get down off my horse and slap me silly! MY sister, who I harbored jealousy for most of my life due to her "beauty & brains".....wanted to be more like me? I started to cry....I had not felt that full of life in a long time. The real me was peeking out of the frumpy, I don't care anymore shell of a woman. That afternoon, I felt lke the old me. pardon the pun.
I had been focusing on all of the negative things taking place in, on and around my body and feeding that negative every day until I actually lost a part of me. I AM like my daddy.....a free, happy, content and full of life spirit. Wrinkles, fat, age spots, grey hair and all. I am going to get older, (I am not ready for the alternative Lord! ) of course, I guess that is up to him.....but, I have decided I am going to do it.....NO, not as they say..."gracefully".....I am going to do it with zest! I love to laugh, I love to play in the sprinklers with my grandkids, and when my nerves can handle it, I love to go on long motorcycle rides with my husband. I walk, do yoga and feed my spirit with laughter everyday. I still have bad days, bad moods, bad pain and God help me, bad night sweats. I have about 10 more pounds to get off my small frame. But, I am not going to rush it. I wear clothes that FIT me and look good on me. Not baggy clothes that make me look like a bag, because then I just feel like a bag!
PLEASE don't give up on yourself! Look within and bring out the real you. Whoever "you" are. My daddy was the "character" as we say in Texas. My mother was the rock, the glue, the calm personality that kept everyone in line. My complete oppostite. But my greatest motivator. The one who always told me "be whoever God made you, if people don't like that, then that is their problem, because God likes what he made".
Oh my, have I ever gone on and on....my lunch break is over and I have a cup of cold soup sitting by my keyboard. OOPS.
This place just motivates me too.....Be well TeeJay, Be happy, Be in control and Be who God made you. I bet your a hoot!

Reb,

What a wonderful motivating response. Thank you for taking the time (even giving up your lunch hour). I am more like your mother...the rock, glue that kept everything together. I was a single mom for quite awhile and my children have always counted on me. I have been the main adviser and bread winner...doing both the role of mom and dad. During peri I have found it extremely difficult to continue to hold myself together let alone my family.

You're right that I am still me....the inner self is still there...and God did make me. I am not vain but it's hard when most of the world is. The expectations of society are there and I know they really don't matter. My family and friends still love and respect me no matter what I look like on the outside.

I have gained alot already through this peri journey. Priorities have been put into perspective. I realize what is and what isn't important. Sometimes when I see myself changing I put pressure on myself. I know my husband loves me regardless of the exterior...but inside I feel like I'm cheating him by gaining the weight...I'm not the same woman externally that he married three years ago....but I guess in looking at the whole picture he's not the same either and it doesn't matter to me.

I just need to live each day the best I can in all aspects of it. Try to lose weight but if I don't....remember that it's not life altering. If I wake up and my arm is numb or my knees hurt and I'm tingling like usual....remember it will lessen and/or pass.

Again..you don't know how much your response lifted me...thanks again.

TeeJay

By the way...forgot to mention I liked the "senile delinquent" at the bottom of your post

Oh yes...the majority of our population is vain. Feelings of inadequacy if you do not look like a super model.
But, really, doesn't your husband love you more for who you are, not who you look like.
Honey, I turned my husbands head so far around when we met 25 years ago that he nearly broke it!
25 years later....it looks like someone took a ball ping hammer to my thighs, my belly botton is oblong not round, my crows feet have turned into deep wrinkles....and what the heck is going on with all of these lines on my neck?
It is "character" honey......A lot of character and wisdom! And as you said, our husbands have some of that character too. hee hee......and if either of us, husband or wife decides that "character" is unappealing.....well they can just go see how many super models and /or hunks they can hook up with.
My mother said her wisdom was written all over her face....and it was beautiful!
Have an outstanding day!
And go hug your husband and plant a big wet one on him for absolutely no reason at all. Makes ya feel grand and sassy! And there is no telling what you will get in return.

Oh yeah....and the senile delinquent came along when I decided to be ME again...and stop whinning about being me.
It kinda fits too.....well....actually, it fits very well thank you.

Reb,

You made me smile a couple of times today. I always tell people that my Grandma was the most beautiful woman I ever saw because when I looked at her I saw her heart and the many many years of dedication and love that she provided to our family and God.

I will give my hubby a big kiss and you're right I doubt that either of us would have much chance with a 20 year old hottie....and would we really want it??? Nah....we'd have nothing to talk about

I must admit that what I've lost physically I've gained mentally. I am much wiser and confident at 47 than I was at 27.

Thanks again for the smiles...I'm going to work towards being a bit more delinquent myself....been way too responsible my whole life, which results in carrying way too much stress and pressure all the time. Life needs to be enjoyed and lived.

TeeJay

By the way...when you have the heaviness and numbness in your arm (s) .... does it ever radiate up to your shoulders and neck and into your chest.
A few times I have had this and of course thought....heart attack!! Nope....they can not find anything wrong with the old ticker except "mvp" . So, again it is written off as anxiety. Well, what I do not understand is, anxiety while I am sleeping? While I am sitting in my chair crocheting? I had this happen the other night while I was having supper with friends. Just out of nowhere...BAM...... my right arm was so weak I could barely lift it, and when I did my shoulders felt like I had been doing weight training.
So, is it just in your arms? Or do you and any of the other ladies have it spread like wildfire to other areas?

Reb,

I've only had this experience twice and both times it was in my arm only.....hope it doesn't raditate on up in the future. Like you I was not anxious at the time (I was sleeping and awoke this way) and your descriptio of being like in weight training is perfect...so heavy I can barely get it up. All of this is so bizarre and I wish I just felt good again....I know it will pass ....I know it will be okay....I know God is in control....

TeeJay

ladies,

About the numbness and tingling thing. Have any of you had your spine checked? I have three spots one in neck, middle back and lower where I have slight nerve compression, slight bone spurs and slipping discs. This causes my numbness and tingling in hands side of face, neck area and feet. The right exercises helps alot. I also get carpel tunnel symptoms but that too is caused by the neck area. The pain starts in the neck and shoots over the shoulder and into the bicep and somethimes extreme pain in the forearm. Sometimes my siatic acts up and it goes down my right butt cheek and down leg.

Hope this helps.

Grizz

Whoa Grizz....this is scary! I read your post, and it is me.
I also have carpel tunnel, but I have arthritis to go along with it. I am not 50 yet and my poor old fingers are knotted and as crooked as a dogs hind leg.
Your mention of having the spine checked is what I am going to look into. I have had two major auto accidents in the past. Each time, they took x-rays of my back and neck....of course found nothing wrong. Just hyper-extended muscles and bruises. And of course the older I get the more my lower back and neck bother me. Sciatica used to be a frequent problem. But I have not had any episodes in about 9 months. (knocking on wood). I have kept mobile with exercise and yoga. However, the strange tingly sensations and numbness was not always the norm. And the strange heaviness and sore muscle feeling in my arms is new too. Kinda like I have been weight training and my muscles are swollen and sore.
This may very well be from the accidents years ago, or it could be good ole Peri. Thanks for your input....really helpful.

you are so welcome and let me know what you find out!

grizz

Reb says "So, when I realized "the change was a coming", I started yoga, pilates and breathing exercises......."

I had another one of these crazy arm pain days that threw me off, yep with the whole I feel like I can't breathe..like you can't swallow I guess is the way to put it..pain in both of my arms and then every once in a while in a leg or something..it's really almost laughable when you look back on it and say..what in the world?! I did go out and buy a yoga DVD today and hopefull that will help me. From reading the article on breathing on here and other places, I know that I don't breathe correctly, but I really don't seem to be able to get to the point to fix it, so I'm hoping this DVD will help!

Tawnya you are so young to have to be dealing with all this crap. My counselor told me she went post at 36, but she did not have any symptoms or problems at all. Just stopped having periods. She is 54 now and said she is still fine. Don't you hate people like that!
I'm having a lot of arms- hands etc problems. Left another post somewhere here on ps about it. Scary at first but after a few doctor visits and time passes you get kind of use to it... Hey I bought a yoga DVD for beginners. So far I haven't had the energy to take the warper off. well it's hard work removing those wrappers.
I tried sending you a pm about the rescue remedy but with the problems I'm not sure you got it. if not just look up Bach rescue remedy. it's a small bottle and I bought mine at gnc.

Oh I was going to ask if you had your thryoid check but I'm sure you have. I had all kinds of thyroid problems in my 30's but it is NOTHING like peri!

I too have had this arm/hand pins & needles and weakness mainly at night. I sometimes wake up and find a finger totally dead. Seems to fit with carpal tunnel syndrome - which can be brought on by - you've guessed it, hormonal changes at menopause. Just another one to add to the list. I slept in gloves last night, although I'm not sure if it helped or not. Doesn't quite explain why the tingly sensation and weakness sometimes affects other parts though.

Forgot to mention, in my job I spend hours at the keyboard which apparently doesn't help, or any other repetitive strain.

I too spend my day at a keyboard and my ring finger on my right hand feels sore and twitches slightly off and on. It's much better when I haven't typed all day. I also have more tingling in my right hand then I do in my left hand. Sometimes I obsess with my finger and my anxiety goes through the roof. Then I try to remember that I've seen many doctors they all say "anxiety" (not peri mind you) nothing serious, but with muscles twitching (all over off and on...not as severe as a year ago), my upper arm on the left side hurts and it's the one that gets heavy, burning mouth, sore left leg (twitching and tingling), sore joints, past major insomnia, and irratic strange periods I have to think it all is peri.....but gosh...at times it's hard to keep that in perspective. Who would have imagined it would be like this??

I have also been told that if you have arm pain and weakness, it often comes from the back of the neck. I have been advised to just have one pillow, so your head is not higher than your arms. My trouble seemed to start when I started having more pillows at night, so there may be something in it.

You know, my doctor told me and I found a site that said this too, so I was so relieved. He said: It sounds like you are totally having a panic attack with this arm numbness thing. The website I found (I'll have to look again and see if I can find it) said that really what happens is your body gets ready to "fight" with the adrenaline rush we get and, when that happens, blood rushes to your fingers and toes to make you ready..and that's sometimes why we feel it. It was very interesting and certainly made me feel better!