Symptons of Menopause

I am 48yrs old and believe I am post menopause. Can anyone tell me if extremely sore breasts and nipples are a symptom of menopause?

1. Hot flashes, flushes, night sweats and/or cold flashes, clammy feeling
2. Bouts of rapid heart beat

3. Irritability, Mood swings

4. Sudden tears

5. Trouble sleeping through the night (with or without night sweats)

6. Irregular periods; shorter, lighter periods; heavier periods, flooding; phantom periods, shorter cycles, longer cycles

7. Loss of libido

8. Dry vagina

9. Crashing fatigue MORE INFO

10. Anxiety, feeling ill at ease

11. Feelings of dread, apprehension, doom

12.Difficulty concentrating, disorientation, mental confusion

13. Disturbing memory lapses

14.Incontinence, especially upon sneezing, laughing; urge incontinence

15. Itchy, crawly skin

16. Aching, sore joints, muscles and tendons

17. Increased tension in muscles

18. Breast tenderness

19. Headache change: increase or decrease

20. Gastrointestinal distress, indigestion, flatulence, gas pain, nausea

21. Sudden bouts of bloat

22. Depression

23. Exacerbation of existing conditions

24. Increase in allergies

25. Weight gain

26.Hair loss or thinning, head, pubic, or whole body; increase in facial hair

27. Dizziness, light-headedness, episodes of loss of balance

28. Changes in body odor

29. Electric shock sensation under the skin and in the head

30. Tingling in the extremities

31. Gum problems, increased bleeding

32. Burning tongue, burning roof of mouth, bad taste in mouth, change in breath odor

33. Osteoporosis -- MORE INFO

34. Changes in fingernails: softer, crack or break easier

35. Tinnitus: ringing in ears, bells, 'whooshing' buzzing etc.

Well, well, well, I don't think too many of my symptoms were left off that list. I have all of the symptoms listed above and I am post menopausal for a while now. I haven't been able to do any kind of hormone replacement therapy for years because of severe heart problems. I have had a 5 artery by pass surgery 8 years ago; and by the way I am only 48 years old. Ovarian failure was the cause of my premature menopause at age 27. I have suffered for years with all of the symptoms above. I have tried to stay in the work force for years with all of the symptoms above and the fatigue, brain buzz, dizziness and short term memory loss finally got the best of me and I retired at age 47. I am drawing long term disability and the heart and the menopause are just 2 of the many, many medical problems that I have now due to the premature menopause. I did a real age test and it said my real age was 69. I feel that way too. The only thing that I can really add to the symptom list above is that I have really lumpy breasts at times. They will be very lumpy on both sides and so tender that it even hurts when I walk. I get up in the mornings and I have to hold them when I walk to the bathroom or to the fridge to keep them from hurting so bad. The buzzing in my head is about to drive me bananas and the depression is just about to get the best of me. Thank God I have church and my Grandchildren and daughter. They are my lifeline. Good luck anyone who suffers even half of the symptoms listed in jahrule's symptom list.

I used to work as a neonatal nurse and what you describe was the first hint of a perimenopausal pregnancy. You can still have surprise ovulations. You might be surprised to have a period in a couple of weeks.

I will have to agree with jahrule. although before reading the list was so frustrated with the whoshing and plugged up ears that I have been getting off and on for about 2 yrs. now. I thought it might be alergies,but I haven't really suffered from alergies other than a little hayfever in the late summer. I Don't know anymore really. I can say this. That if it weren't for the Lord our God. I don't know how I would get through it. I am 50 now and have been post menopausal for about 6 yrs. I hope this ends soon. But then I wonder if it gets better or what???

Hi ladies, I am 43 years old and started premenopause at 41years old and yes it is hell, hot flushes all the symptons as listed above, that I felt I am going crazy, heavy bleeding for days on end, memory problems and the irritable feelings, lucky I have a good man that I have been married to for 23 years, and understands my lack of libido and my painful breasts that one cannot even tough, it is all symptons of menopause, but my doctor recently put me on Estriol the tablet named Angilique for 6 months and I must say I feel a lot better not weight gain with it either maybe you can suggest it to your doctor see what he says to you.
Ps I live in South Africa (Good luck ladies we need it)
Caroline

Hi,
I am only 25yrs old and suffer at least half the stuff that is on that list... Seriously, i am not premenopausal/menopausal? How can one tell for sure as i dont want to go to my doc's telling them what i have wrong and they laugh in my face. If i am not menopausal then what else has these similar symptoms if anyone knows?

Kind regards
Lynette

Hi Lynette,
Did you know you can start your premenopause as joung as your early twenties and there are so many helpful natural remedies when you are so joung, the reason I am telling you this is that after my problem of feeling so bad I did research on menopause and I spoke to my granny and my mom and she started at 27 years old it is a good idea if you have a open relationship with your mother as I have with my mother and my daughter to go and speak to her and ask her when did she go through menopause and how did she feel. But if you feel comfortable with your doctor be open he will not laugh and tell him that you have a suspcion that you are going through premenopause and see what he says, if he is clued up and has dealt with menopausal women a lot he will guide you correctly, but do not let them fool you as say you are too joung, I was told that at 40 years old and I went through hell, my gyno said no you are too joung for such things, nobody knows your body the way you do, there are so many hormone helpers for alot of the symptons do not be to hasty to go on hormone replacement drugs they can mess you up, I am not doctor but after a lot of problems and feeling so bad and all other illness ruled out I was finaly given at 43 Estriol tablets and I feel a lot better, but you should go and see your doctor and discuss how you feel with him or her. People told me your life starts at 40 I thought I was dying not starting. It may be just a slight hormone inbalance that you are experiencing , put your fears in your pocket and speak to the right people to help you.There is a silver lining out there!!
Kind Regards
Caroline
menopause 123

hi.
i seem to have a lot of the things listed above and also i have not had a period since at least feb/march this happened last year for about two months then i had a light one for a time and now this.does anyone think this could be the start of big change.
hope to hear from someone soon .
kind regards.
diane

I seem to be suffering from most of the things listed, but also a very bloated tummy, i have been to docs today, as, and dont laugh, i feel pregnant. I done home tests by the dozen and all but two during the last 6 months were negative, but 2 were positive. It has really confused me. I am 42 very soon. After reading this, and after docs, i having blood tests on tuesday for hormonal problems, and she suggested hormone imbalance. I feel very sorry for new husband, with me either ratty or teary.

How soon after your positive tests did you menstruate? Quite often women who are pregnant never even know because they have an occasional extra heavy period that is actually a miscarriage. If you were doing pregnancy tests so often it is quite possible that you were pregnant for a brief time. You should go to a gyno doctor though for blood tests that way you will have peace of mind.

im 37 and started suffering hot flushes, i did at the beginning of the year not have a period for 2 months. I have now not started my period again. The hot flushes are unreal, i can have loads during the day. Im suffering headache aswell. Does anyone think i should go doctors to discuss this or is it just premenopause????
Thanks Amanda

I have already posted a message here. Finally had period, for two days heavy, this last wednesday, blood tests i had at docs were all fine, not hormone imbalance, but still got very distended tummy, and sure i can feel movement, hubby and friends say they can too. After hubby complained to docs boss i now got ultrasound scan on tuesday, so, hopefully, will get answer to problem. Hubby being very supportive, just been on 2 weeks holiday, 1st week camping with active 7 year old daughter, very stressful, 2nd week in caravan on site, very good, relaxing time for all of us. Will let you know result of scan

I have most of the symptons listed above, especially the hot/cold flashes. One minute sweating and the next minute, freezing cold.

I have not had a period since March this year. Last year, in 2007, I think I had maybe 3 or 4 periods all year long. I am constantly tired, anxious & emotional.

How long does this last...does anyone know? Is this just a passing phase? It's 'killing me' so to speak.

Being in menopause or "post" menopause means that one hasn't had a period for twelve consecutive months; otherwise the average age for perimenopause ("before" menopause) onset is 35+ years.

I had most of those symptoms for years. I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (hypothyroidism) at 42 and took SSRIs for my PMS depression. I read Dr. John Lee's book on perimenopause and started using LifeFlo natural progesterone cream. What a difference!!! No more tender breasts or migraines!!

I did much research and found out about saliva testing for hormones (
www.salivatest.com
). I went to a nurse practitioner who specializes in natural medicine so she could manage my care. I was low on ALL my hormones- progesterone, estradiol, testosterone, cortisone, and DHEA (adrenals) as well as vitamin D. She prescribed natural supplements which I started taking immediately. Within one week I began to feel better. I started my period during that time and had a much easier one (no breast tenderness, migraine, depression).

I suggest everyone find a practitioner who uses saliva testing and natural supplementation. My regular doctors were of no help AT ALL. They weren't interested in anything but blood tests and prescription drugs- what they learned in med school.

Be sure to get tested for low thyroid too. It can cause many of the same symptoms.

I had my last period a little over a year ago. My doctor says I am post-menopause. I thought symptoms would get better not continue. My breasts do not hurt but they do seem larger. Not sure if that is because of menopause, I don't like it because it makes me feel fat. The one symptom that really bothers me is the ringing in my ear. It comes and goes and I am not sure if this is because of fluctuating hormones or allergies or just fluid in my inner ears. Hope it stops. Good luck to you.

Three months after by periods stopped, my feet started to hurt so much at night I limp, my legs also lost strength. I have been to a regular doctor, pain management doctor, chiropractor, and a foot surgeon. I have had a MRI and X-rays on my feet. They found nothing wrong. I am now going to a therapist and he suggested that my hormones or lack of hormones have attacked by muscles and tendons of my feet and legs and he is now trying to stretch my muscles and do therapy on them three times a week. They are starting to feel better. He also has me on a non steroid anti inflammatory pill. Does this seem possible for post menopause? Anyone???