I'm sure most of what I'm about to ask you must have been covered before but here goes.
I'm lying in bed trying hard not to cry again. I've no idea what is happening to me, I kind of want it to be the menopause because if it isn't then I'm scared at what's wrong.
I'm nearly 51. No children, wonderful husband and a happy home. Until recently I've been well, always slightly overweight but exercise well and eat quite healthily.
In august last year i had a muscle problem in my back. Docs over and over, medication only. Visited in October to explain back still bad and periods erratic but a permanent bloating feeling. Sent away with advise of tablets and chiropractor for back. Here we are now in Feb, my back is still bad although I found a great osteopath who is helping. However I've now developed sore aching arms which is non stop (3 weeks), I'm tearful, my face feels puffy and tingling, I have nausea, light headed, period two weeks late after having them every fortnight, I'm anxious, I can't sleep or concentrate, had a really swollen gland in my neck for 5 days which has just gone down. I ache all over and I'm fed up feeling so sad. I saw a different doc on Wednesday and she was lovely. Cried my eyes out though :-( I'm due blood tests next week and she's checking for all sorts but says will be around 2 weeks for results. I need to stop myself from googling the symptoms as I'm scaring myself silly but after reading some of your tales most of what I have could be the menopause. I think it's the aching non stop of my arms and the bloating and the new one of the puffy tingling cheeks which is worrying me most.
If you'd have asked me a few months ago if I'd be this person I now seem to be I wouldn't have believed you. I've never felt so scared and desperate. Thank you for reading x
Hi val
Try not to worry! Your symptoms sound like menopause and once you accept that it does tend to remove some of the fear from it all. Is your gp testing fsh levels? We all mourn the loss of the people we were, but with appropriate treatment, you will recover. I had terrible symptoms and it took me 5 years to actually get a proper diagnosis and hrt. I am so much better now and regret e wasted years from the age of 43 when I literally wanted to curl up and die! It does get better- possibly not 100% but pretty close so hang on in there and try to be patient
Sending hugs and warm wishes xxx
Hi Val, Susan is right, knowing that there is a reason helps you to stop thinking you are going crazy! Like you, I've had the aching shoulders, also elbow joints, and definitely the feeling of not being able to concentrate, being tearful and anxious. I also seem to have lost common sense, and do really stupid things - I almost left the suitcases at the airport recently! There sometimes seems to be a disconnect between me and real life, and the tearfulness comes from nowhere - but the support on this site is amazing, and there are many people going through varied symptoms..
Chin up, stay positive!
Hi Val - many of your symptoms sound like they could be due to menopause. Not sure about the puffy face though - could it be an allergic reaction? You are doing all the right things though by visiting your GP to rule out other conditions. I had the typical menopausal symptoms of hot flushes, fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, flat mood, irritability, as well as pins and needles in my right arm. It turns out that all the typical symptoms were due to menopause, but the pins and needles, which my Dr insisted was due to menopause, was due to an impinged nerve in my shoulder! After physio it's now fine. Just be wary about GPS' attributing everything to menopause.
Hi Val, i've just turned 51 and can you relate to some of your symptoms of bloating, tearfulness, nausea, i cant concentrate i really don't know how i get through the day at work, seem to stare at my computer at times and try and think what i'm suppose to do next and forget how to spell the most simplest words, i cant sleep and like you i have the tingling but its all over my body. I think we get tearful cos we don't know what the heck is going on and its certainly brought anxiety on for me. I too goggled every symptom i have and scared the live out of myself.
Madmarilyn made me laugh about losing her common sense cos that's exactly how i feel at times and i have a very responsible job but do darft things you wouldn't believe, i also worry every time i come out the supermarket i just for a couple of seconds i forget where I've put the car.
Try not to worry cos we just make ourselves anxious says me anxiousface. sending you a comforting hug x
Thank you so much for your replies. About to undo the button on my jeans as I appear to have swallowed a balloon !. What on earth is happening to my tummy ?!.
Was tempted to buy one of those kits today that tell you if you have started or not but at £18 I decided I'd wait and see what the blood tests say.
Been doing a bit more googling even though I know I shouldn't and I had no idea muscle aches and pains can be associated with menopause too. Before this all I ever heard about were hot flushes and mood swings. I guess some people just sail through !.
I refused chocolate today as I didn't fancy it and feel so 'off' so now my husband knows I'm really not myself !.
OMG the bloatedness is driving me mad too I've been in my bigger size trousers all week as feel like a hippo. Sorry your suffering with aches and pains i don't seem to have any yet its trembling and tingling and dizziness that I'm finding the hardest in my every day life but i do have low blood pressure and low sugar so maybe there a contributor. You must be off not wanting chocolate don't worry I'm sure you'll make up for it another day if your anything like me. Hope you feel better tomorrow. I'm going to drive to my sisters which isn't that far but iv not ventured out very far on my own for about 2 years now as i get anxious and worry i'll be ill and feel faint and i wont get back but I'm going to do it and be proud of myself. take care val x
And you anxiousface - and all of you, it's good to be able to tell people how I feel. As soon as you mention menopause to people they treat it like some kind of joke because you're admitting to getting older and somehow that's funny. Hey, I don't mind getting old but I don't want to feel ill !.
Crying, scared, desperate...sore arms, bloating, anxiety. Been there, bought all the tee shirts!!
Welcome to menopause. Worst five years of your life...but IT WILL PASS xx
Hi. I can relate to lots of this Val. I have headaches, dizziness, bloating, really tight and sore muscles, tingling arm and puffy face near ear. Fuzzy head, inability to concentrate.I havnt managed to get to the bottom of it yet, although I have ruled out anything serious. I am thinking that menopause is probably the issue. I'm 49 with erratic, heavy periods. Trying to get the Dr to take it seriously. I really hope your blood tests help you get to the bottom of things. Let us know how you get on. Also, I found that a chat online with a lady called Eileen on the A.vogel website really helped. She know lots about women's health issues and since talking to her ive started taking a magnesium supplement which has really helped my sore knotted muscles. Xx
Again, thank you for your replies.
Of course I'll let you know what the results are. Mmmmmmm wouldn't it be annoying if it's nothing, just a blip or something, because then I'll still have the menopause to come and I'm kind of hoping I've begun the journey and it'll be ending rather than still having it all to come !.
Hi, I too have been crying for no reason, losing stuff at work, which is very embarassing and forgetting things at work too. Formerly I was very organised, now I am just very embarassed. Hot flushes, night sweats, anxiety and no energy, no desire to do anything when I come home from work. House is a mess now, which makes me feel worse and I hear it can go on for years?
I have come across FX Nutrition and wondered if anyone else has taken this 'natural' supplement, it is mung bean - a phytooestrogen? Anyone know whether it works or not? It is supposed to control hot flushes and night sweats.
Otherwise, hang in there ladies, at least we can talk to each other.
Hi val and fighting madness
I am in the same boat as all of you. Lots of symptoms and tests and the rest of it. I have been taking nutrition fx for 2 weeks and have not had a hot flush or night sweat for a week. I am hopeful it will get me through.i am also taking calcium and vitamin d as my doctor wants to wait until my periods have completely stopped before considering hrt. I am happy with this. Don't really want it. The facial swelling etc mentioned is, I think, a low histamine intolerance to foods brought on by hormonal changes. I know we are told not to google , bit I am finding that if input my symptom and menopause it brings up a reason for the problem connected to the ruddy menopause. Any way knowledge is power.
Hi, I've just found this forum and it helps knowing there are people out there who know hiw you feel. I'm just about it gave blood tests to see if I'm peri menopausal. I'm coping with most effects of menopause but this incessant worrying and crying is really debilitating. Is this a normal thing do you think x
I'm 51 and had a period at the start of January then nothing until 24 March and it hasn't stopped since. I've been to the doctor and she's recommended blood tests, of which I'm waiting for the results but everything mentioned above by you ladies is the symptoms I'm suffering. I think the worst is the feeling that my head is blocked. I just can't seem to think straight. I have the memory span of a gnat. I was waking up in the night too hot but since I changed to our summer quilt, that seems to have stopped. I'm so exhausted but am putting that down to the bleeding for almost 35 days. Reading that other women are going through the same does make me feel better, and I'm so pleased my female boss is understanding of the silly things I've been doing. The ditsyness seems to come in waves, some times my mind is clear and sharp then other times it's foggy and I hurts when I try to think. Lovely knowing this could be life for the next 5 years.
This menopause thing is awful. I don't even know who I am half the time. The anxiety is horrific. Some days I barely cope. Fortunately I stay at home and just hang on. The bloating was horrific. I went to my dr and she recommended I immediately start a priobotic called Align. Not sure what it is jn uk but it has helped tremendously. The thing I'm suffering from most now is these menopausal headaches. Nothing seems to make the intense pain go and it shifts from left to right of my head. Also I am SO hot and sweaty all the time. I can't stand it. Light housework and I'm sweating. This whole thing is making me totally miserable. I am 49 and this has been going on about 4 years now. My neighbor who is 64 is still suffering.
Oh Val, I wish I could answer in more detail but my mind is so 'fuzzy' and I am so tired. I am 51 and haven't had a period in 6 months. It's really doing a job on me. What's worse, unless they are going through it, most people don't understand and frequently ask "what's wrong with you". Family members especially because I am around them all the time. I am here for support and please know I "get" everything you are going through. I think I'm going to tell some people to read this, if they care enough they will. I will be back as soon as I'm up to it. I never imagined it was like this. 
Hi Marilyn, I agree with you. Just knowing is a big help. I have just about the exact same symptoms as you do. I am a very strong woman but this is kicking my butt and causing tension between myself and people I care about. I am glad to have found this site. TY for sharing. I am off for a nap and another good cry. I have days that I do feel a little more the old 'me' I hope I can be of more help on those days Hugggss
It seems to vary among women but I read sometimes 10 years from beginnng to end. I can't imagine. It's been about 4 years for me, progressing to worsening, I hope I am on the downhill track side soon. How long did you experience it for Lesley? Hugsss
Hi Val I'm 48 and have had dizzy /feeling faint symptoms for 8 years really hate it can't stand in a que on my own anymore because of it ! In the last couple of months I've started feeling really anxiuos and tearful which seems to be worse first thing in the morning ? Anyone had this ? Many thanks Deb x