Wendy - this is how some of my toughest months began. I had tingling in arms and legs - maybe a foot, acid in stomach, heartburn, joint aches, adrenaline like rushes (extreme hot flashes I call them now) etc; the list goes on and on. I had all the tests done as well; ekg, ct stan, blood work, B12, VItamin D, thyroid etc etc. I don't know how many times I've been to the doctor until I started my research and talked with my mom.
I don't know if the anxiety and depression started for the first time in my life at 49 BECAUSE all of this was happening physically; OR that the anxiety and depression CAME with the physical. I don't know.
What I do know is it was awful. Scary. Can I say that again? It was scary. Unsettling. I was constantly saying "what is happening to me?". This has been the hardest thing that I have personally experienced. I was blindsided and had no idea what the affect of dropping hormones could have on the 20-30% of us.
This forum was the greatest gift to me when I joined just a month ago!!!!!! I have been here for hours and hours on end reading old posts and taking notes on what the women have used and implemented.
I am 49. I don't NEED a doctor to tell me what is happening to me - unless the MENO is their specialty, they don't have a clue about it and I'm not expecting them to. There are so many websites and videos online that describe every single thing we are going through during peri.
My FSH was 9; so I'm not near Meno. BUT....I had my saliva test done on my own; ordered it online and mailed it in. My progesterone was at the bottom - the bottom. So for me; all of my symptoms were a progesterone deficiency and my body reacted profoundly. I bought a non-prescription natural progesterone cream online and I am experiencing marked improvements. Like any new supplement - Maca, cohosh, a b vitamin, etc - there are usually side effects; I am pushing through those for now.
Symptoms for me are cyclical:
My tingling happens monthly and lasts off and on around 4 - 7 days (when my estrogen should be rising).
My congestion, ear ache, clogged ears happen for about 5 days once a month - (I think this is also the estrogen drop - so I may incorporate estrogen during this week).
My heartburn is the same way - lasts about a week and then goes away and returns around same time each month.
My sadness and anxiety have been gone for the last 8 days - this feels like a miracle to me. I'm not naive to think I won't see that again - I am tracking all of my physical and emotional symptoms to see what hormone is dropping when I experience it.
Take care and you are not alone! This group is a wonderful resource of wisdom and comfort.