Somebody please help before I lose my mind

Women's health
1

Hi all

Just stumbled across this group while Googling symptoms. 

I’m 45.  For the last two years I’ve had so many strange symptoms I feel like I’m losing my mind. I have health anxiety so I’m always thinking the worst.  GP is fed up with me and puts everything down to anxiety.  

Symptoms much worse the last six months or so.  

Two main things worrying me right now:

1). Last month I had electric shock type shooting pains in right breast.  They would happen several times a day, startle me and last for a few seconds.  Went to GP and she said she could feel nothing of concern. 

Those have stopped now, but instead I’m getting pinching type pains in the same breast when I lean or stretch a certain way.  Kind of feels like a pinchy nerve pain. 

2). I had what I thought was ovulation pains on left side this week. It’s the right time in my cycle.  But they’ve lasted for three days now and still hurting, though not as much as the first couple of days.  Is it normal to get ovulation pain for that long?  I’ve also got horrendous lower back pain. 

My other symptoms include:

Joint pain, especially hands and feet

Muscle aches

Back pain, upper and lower

Blurred vision and dry eyes

Ear pressure and tinnitus

Palpitations and skipped beats

Chest pain

Sore intestines

Numbness in legs and fingertips

Weakness

Crushing tiredness that I have to stop what I’m doing and sleep

Heat intolerance

Insomnia and waking early

Night sweats occasionally

Tailbone pain

My periods are regular and cause no trouble.  

Recently I’ve had thyroid ultrasound, two upper abdo ultrasounds, bloods, diabetes test, all normal.  

I’m so scared right now.  I can’t get to the GP for another week and even then I think they will just send me away again. 

Can anyone else relate to these symptoms, especially the breast and ovulation pain?

Thank you for reading if you got this far.  

2

Hi.  Welcome to the forum.  You will be in good company here.😬. Most of us are struggling with all of these perimenopause symptoms.  Someone will chime in on some of your symptoms and you won’t feel so alone.  As far as the shooting breast pains and pinching type pain.  I have experienced that.  My breast pain was much worse in the beginning when I first started going through all of this.  I also have hip pain too.  I never had it until all of this started 3 years ago.  I am 46

3

Thanks for your reply.  I have the hip pain too. Also restless legs etc.  

But it’s the breast and ovary symptoms that are stressing me right now sad.  

4

You can relax...honest. I was in the thick of peri at 44 to 47 years...and know both those symptoms well. And all the others you listed too. It was horrendous and scary, but normal. This forum really helped me relax about these years. Knowing I wasn't alone in this and having others to chime in a tell me "oh yes" to my symptoms really helped get me through. I will be 49 next month...still regular periods...but most of the more terrible symptoms have passed at least for the last year and a half. So hopefully you might get a break soon...or at least feel less anxious knowing that it IS real...its not all in your head...and it's not life threatening...just real big pain in the backside!.

5

Hi, one way to minimize the breast pain is to use arnica. It will work for pain in or under the arm, breast and chest areas. This is what I use, after a few of my nurse colleagues recommended it. It'll work almost immediately, it took only 2-3 days of use before my pain completely went away.

6

Hi there- I Swear to D 25 I started having all those random symptoms! Of course I had to do a lot of research to find out that it was actually perimenopause! I had Never felt so scared and crazy in all my life LOL..Yes the chest shocks and breast pain were not my first symptoms but I’ve Definitely have them… And then as soon as I think I should go to the doctor, it disappears..It’s like a merry-go-round of symptoms all month some worse than others. And yes my ovulation pain is so bad that I went to the doctor and had blood work plus ultrasounds done and it turns out I just have cystic ovaries… I take Advil to help and it really does help the pain, during Ovulation and also during my period which I still get pretty regularly..but I can totally relate and wish there was something easy to deal with these symptoms With no side effects, but I’m sure everyone does.  Hang in there and know that we are always here and we are going through much of the same😊

7

Hi. Sounds like peri symptoms. Even though your periods are regular you are likely experiencing low progesterone. You could try an OTC progesterone cream to see if it relieves some of your symptoms. As far as your breast pain, did you have a mammogram/ultrasound or MRI? If not, you should request that you have one or more just to make sure. I've had ovarian cysts that caused a lot of pain and for a few weeks. The pain was so bad in my pelvis and down my leg too. So it is possible you are dealing with that. A vaginal ultrasound could confirm. You might also want to ask for an EBV test to see if that's been reactivated. Google to find the proper tests to ask for this. Reactivated EBV can make your life miserable and can turn in to CFS as well. Some women experience this when their hormones start dropping or they are under great stress, or not sleeping because this allows for your immune system to weaken and stop keeping viruses under control. 

Sure hope you start feeling better soon! 

XO

8

Sorry for the weirdness of some words, it was voice to text so some things are a bit wacky lol

9

And I should add, I'm not telling you about these tests because I think you have anything serious, it's more for your peace of mind so you can stop worrying. I think you are just experiencing full blown peri, and I think you will probably start getting wonky periods soon. Such a fun ride, NOT. But welcome to our club, we are a great group! 

10

Yes Peri ! Mine  was awful at 41 I crashed went very weird mentally lost my mind ! I didn’t miss any periods so had no idea it was Peri . If I only knew then. It took months maybe even years to level out a bit . 

Now going through it all over again at 52 . 

Try not obsess about every single twinge .. get all your blood work done and will give you peace of mind . 

11

Thank you all for your replies.  I was actually supposed to have a vaginal US in February but I panicked on the table (I had childhood abuse) and I wouldn’t let them do the test.  I’m kicking myself now and wish I had as I’m unlikely to get referred again.  I guess I’m just terrified of what they will find.  But I’m getting to the point where I’ve had enough and just want to know. 

I had a mammo and US five years ago.  Nothing was found then.  I will ask for them to refer me to the breast clinic but won’t hold my breath. 

I had EBV and ME when I was 19.  My Osteopath suggested I may have Fibromyalgia now but not been diagnosed.  

I’m just in a terrified state at the moment. Luckily I’m self employed so I can work when I want to.  

12

I guess you aren't in the US. I'm so used to just getting any tests I ask for. If you tell them you are having very bad pain, won't they refer you? I'm not sure how it works there.

I had a vag u/s, but then she also did on top to get a better look. If you can't tolerate the vaginal one, maybe just a regular u/s would show something if it is anything. 

And you don't get mammograms every year? 

Hearing that you had EBV and ME, I'm still inclined to think you have reactivated EBV. All you can do is try to support your immune system the best you can. Getting the proper sleep is most important. What have you been trying to help you sleep?

 

13

Hi Lrowley77

Im 48 and. I began at 45 and I have them all . I also went from test, ultrasound, scan and all normal. The itchy crawly skin is the worse I can’t take it. I have it today and it comes w a light headache and pinching sensation 

14

Hi i knw exactly how u feel . Am 44 am hav been going tru hell mu gp actually told me she is tired of me. Am trying yo be calm an rest alot . U take care.

15

I think I am about to lose my mind too.

Im 53, in full menopause , I have had in and off scalp tingling for 3 three months; bresst pain, burning vagina, burning skin sensations,severe muscle pain on and off for 4 years, headaches, chronic neck pain., sciatica.

MRI, CT's, blood tests, urine tests, all came back clear (except for bone spurs, mild bulging discs and arthritis in neck and lumbar).

I started have major anxiety as well. After one huge meltdown electric shock sensations on and off, and visible twitching. all over.

This of course has added to my anxiety as now Im terrified I have ALS/motor neurone ..or MS.

My GP thinks it is due to anxiety and menopause and has reluctantly just referred me to a neurologist.

Ive tried various hrt , antidepressants but haven't got much success as yet.

Honestly I feel paralysed by fear about making that

appointment despite wanting to know because Im.assuming the worst.

I cannot believe all of this would be menopause related, surely it cant be this cruel.?

My sympathies to you and all the other ladies suffering btw. Ant Any tips or advice gratefully received.

16

Hi, when i got the itchy crawling skin sensation I would take an antihistamine and voila, it would subside that feeling.

17

But it is cruel. Estrogen and progesterone depletion can be like a bad nightmare come to life. Thanks for reminding me to contact my doctor about my back issues. I also get electric shock. Scary stuff!

18

Yes I’m in the UK and it’s ridiculously hard to get referred here.  We don’t get called for routine mammo until after age 50. 

I’ve been awake all night with the left ovary twinge and obviously I’ve convinced myself it’s cancer.  I took two Ibuprofen which knocked the pain for a couple of hours.  But now it’s back.  The thing is it’s not even that painful and I can barely feel it.  I’m just hyper aware now.  But it’s sent me on a spiral and I’ve been picturing my 14 year old daughter growing up without me and other dark thoughts.  

19

Hi Lrowley77 - Yes, I have had ovulation pain for days and sometimes Advil etc. doesn't help.  I'm 53 and still have it although not as bad as when I was in my 40s,   Don't worry though because it is your body's way of letting you know everything is cycling through.    I ended up going on the pill to control bleeding,nausea etc but it was great not to have that mid-month pain.   I'm off the pill now and the pain is back but when that pain ends I will know I am crossing over to the other sidesmile

Have had many of the symptoms you list.  My co-worker and I have been going through this for 2-3 years and just discussed how there is a slight improvement.  Perhaps because the hormone levels are reducing and the fluctuations aren't as dramatic?  

My new way of coping is to look at what is working in my body,  When I freak out with health anxiety, I try to chalk it up to a hormonal high or low and not some other serious illness.   It would be nice if there was some kind of meter to show our hormone levels are at any given time!

Take care

20

Almost every one of those is me. AND the restless legs. I feel like a crazy person. But it ebbs and flows relating to my cycle. Hugs.