Perimenopause - health anxiety overdrive!

Women's health
1

I've posted here before and found the ladies on here really helpful so Im always popping vack for a read.

I dont know how to keep going with this perimenopause. I cant take hrt and dont want antidepressants but seriously - what to do?

I google my symptoms DOZENS of times a day. Ive got heart failure, cancer and all manner of horrible things according to google.

I seem to get a symptom that gets worse then vanishes only to return or be replaced by something new!

Ive had shortness of breath on and off for 5 years now. Been checked out and all looked fine but then more stuff 'pops up'.

Ive had enough and somedays I wonder if Im going to just die of some undiagnosed disease.

Its scary as my children are 11 and 13 and they need me!!

Oh ladies tell me you understand! Because my sister thinks Im odd as she doesnt know anybody that is or has gone thtough this, including herself. I'm 46, she is 56.

Thank you x

2

I'm with you on this one!  its one thing after another! I'm only 46 but feel 100

 

3

You’ve got to watch Google, although many of us just cannot help but type in our symptoms.  I find that whatever symptom you have, it will all lead to cancer, according to Google.  This is because it has to cover everything.  In real terms Google does not understand your personal circumstances.  For reassurance, see your GP.  I’m sure you are fine with normal symptoms for Peri x

4

Same here.

46 and wonder everyday what major disease I have.

It's awful 

I was the most laid back chill unstressed person I know before this started :-(

5

Hi there

I'm to the same as you, so you are def not odd... unless your going through this no one understand how it plays with your mind and body, 

I can't have HRT either due to blood clots on my lungs, and my breathing is really bad, I'm due back to see consultant in November, so really Iv just been turned away from the docs as nothing eles they can give me..

Wonderful 😡

Try your best not to google it all the time, I know it's sooooo hard not to, as you think that you've got every disease going, Iv been there and done that at the begging , I'm 53 and been going through menopause for around 4 years, so your not a lone here, it's horrid to feel the way you do, how mind plays these alful  games with us, and it's so scarry to feel this way.... try and talk to your doc if you can, but don't feel a lone as this is just the norm, I know at the moment there's no light at the end for you, BUT you will get through it one way or another, just keep talking to people on here..

You take care of yourself and you can email me privately if you EVER need to chat to some one as I can listen and understand what your going through lots of hugs 🤗 X 

6

Hi sarahonadowner, just to add my voice to everyone else here - I understand 100%. You could be describing me, it's one horrible symptom after a while - and on a rare good day, the anxiety of feeling bad again spoils it. I can only take heart from all the empathy here and the positive stories. Sending you lots of good vibes xx

7

Sarah, you are not crazy or dying.  I know it feels like it sometimes, but you're not.  Many of us have experienced this, and unfortunately, get a big dose of health anxiety.  

  This very best I can offer is to try to do everything you can to reduce stress, have some fun, take a good multivitamin, eat really well, do a small amount of exercise, drink plenty of water, get in bed by 10 every night, and everything, anything, to help your body adjust.  Our declining hormone levels effect every hormone system in our bodies, thyroid, adrenal glands, insulin.  So yes, things feel very odd.  And while I know you don't want an antidepressant, they do help at times if you get the right one.  

   AND YES, I DO UNDERSTAND.  HOPE IT HELPS!

8

Sarah

I am 59 and my sister is 57 she hasn't had any symptoms of menapause, not one. Me on the otherhand has had most of the sixty odd symptoms and experiencing one as we speak and my appetite has just gone. So i have come on here to see what other ladies feel. I have pushed my dinner aside! I feel tired unable to eat dizzy and generally yuk. I know you are going to be fine as am I but it's when the heck do we get to the finish line? Hope its soon. Take care!

9

You know I've been seriously thinking about this lately. After reading an article in People Magazine about Mindy Cohn from Facts of Life having breast cancer. She found out only because she was feeling very tired and her friend took her to the doctor. Of course, then I think, well I get bad fatigue too, and this throws me in to a tailspin again as far as thinking I have something that's been missed even though I've been scanned to the moon and back for everything. So then I started thinking, maybe women seek medical care because they are having menopause symptoms and this is when they find cancers.And it wasn't the cancer causing the symptoms. Surely there are many people out there who have had cancer and say they had no symptoms at all and it was found inadvertently. This seems to make sense to me. And it sort of helps me to know that I don't have some awful cancer or something else pretty dreadful. 

It is hard to believe that hormones alone could cause one to feel really really bad. But then I have that odd good day where my joints don't hurt, my feet aren't burning, I'm not fatigued, etc., and then I think, well, it's got to be hormones because cancer or parkinson's or whatever wouldn't come and go, right? 

I agree though, nobody I know seems to have any clue as to what I'm going though. If I talk about it I can see them giving each other glances, like I know they've talked about me behind my back and think I must be crazy. At least you all here don't think I'm crazy, so thank you for sharing and caring.

 

10

Hi Dawn,  sorry your going through this.  Your reply is very kind.  It’s way to get into Google overload.  Just wondered if you may have had any hair problems at all ? I’m looking for advice on that at the moment xx Many thanks Deb x

11

Hi Debbie 

Hair problems in what respect??

My hole head seems to be more itchy since menopause started, and not a lot, but seems more thinner then of late, but is that my mind again thinking this 🤔

I use to go out every weekend with friends, and had such a fantastic life, living and laughing every day, so much fun, and felt good with the way I looked, but now I spend most days at home, and no longer go out with friends, as I'm sure when I look in the mirror or see a picture of me, that the person there,  can't possable be me, as since menopause and clots I feel that I'm a mess and no longer the same person,,,,

I do hope,  like many of us on here, that normal life will resume and get better, I think you have to,or you will go under

I do hope you are, or will be holding your head above the water, till this alfull menopause passes....

Remind me not to come back as a woman in my next life 😂

I'm here so you can bend my ear as much as you like if it will help you, it's so lovely to here from all these wonderful ladies on here, that we are all fighters and will win... big hug to you 🤗X

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Me too x

13

Thank you...you're so kind. Wish we were all in a room together discussing this crazy hell! X

14

Thanks for your kind words. I seem to need almost constant reassurance these days, hence why Im on this site everyday. Youre very kind x

15

Youve got some good points there. I have got extremely sore breasts which are almost never not sore. Breast exam by doc and xrays and all is well. People tell me breast cancer mainly doesnt hurt so I really need to accept this i think !x

16

Hi Sarah,

I am 44 and after 4 years of thinking there was something seriously wrong with me and no one was listening I changed doctor's and finally got an answer, menopause. I was not expecting that but it was kind of a relief. I was on the mini pill at the time and my symptoms were really bad anxiety, panic attacks, dizziness, really bad fatigue and pains in my chest. I stopped taking the mini pill to see what happened and 4 weeks later I started with an inner tremor, hot flushes and night sweats, very poor memory. I did a lot of reading on the Internet and found some posts from ladies who were using B vitamins complex, one in particular was called busy B. They recommend taking half tablets to begin with to get your body used to them. Because I panic over taking anything now I research Boot B vitamins first before ordering them.

I'very been taking them for just over a week now and about to up the dose to the full tablet. So far so good, hot flushes and night sweats stopped immediately, I don't feel as anxious, the inner tremor has stopped but I still get moments of dizziness. Unfortunately it doesn't last all day but I think that's because i'm only taking half the dose and they are slow release so it makes sense that the effects would only last half time. Might be worth a try but please do your own research first. Hope this helps x

17

Hi Dawn,

Thank you so much for your kind reply.  Yes mine seems thinner and have Greys that grow out like wire and then thankfully turn straight.  I’m the same I look in the mirror and think “who the hell is that” then I feel even more down about myself.  I too used to enjoy going out bi tone dread it and prefer to stay in.  Yes feel free to bend my ear any time of want 😘 I’m here if you want to message me.  Preying that one day I might be ‘me’ again xxx Hugs 🤗

18

Yeah me to, be nice to all get together, and try to help each other, even if only by talking to each, and making some good friends 😌X

19

Hi Dawn

Think I should have spelled checked that first 😂 sorry x

20

Sorry Dawn, I meant to also say I notice a fair few stands in the shower drain after washing as well ? xx