Going through the change?

Do you have any advice or stories to tell?

I have been an insomniac for the last 2 months and left wandering why. I noticed that my irrational PMS behavior was getting worse as well, as were the usual monthly pimples, then it dawned on me I haven't had a period for over 8 weeks!

Time to celebrate! No I am not pregnant - that would be a case of the immaculate conception since I am celibate (by my own choice). Not having those damn periods is reason enough to celebrate!

Now looking back, I could see more and more "strange" things have been occuring:

I get a funny ant crawling sensation on parts of my body - a small patch down above the ankle, a patch on the thigh or arm etc, not the whole body.

My ears tickle all the time - damn that is frustrating! Cant get enough earbuds down them! What a relief so oust the tickle!

I have developed restless leg syndrome - I will be just in between the sleep and waking worlds and my leg or legs will start twitching and juddering, god is that annoying or what!

I have developed an eye thing - seeing bright lights which come and go, been told this is a type of opthalmic migrain.

I get headaches (reasonably mild) that last for 3 days at a time.

I am always tired, I mean really physically knackered.

I get out of breath very quickly

I sit down - my body siezes up from the hips down, I walk bent over for about 5 minutes until my body manages to unfold itself

My joints in my hands have all started to get really achy

I am having to survive on just a few (2 to 4 ) hours sleep - I am very used to a solid 8 hours and love my sleep with a passion!

Thank goodness the anti depressants I take are keeping the mood swings reasonably in check, the irrationality is terrifying, it happens with such swiftness and leaves just as quickly.

My memory has all but disappeared, I never know what day of the week it is, I have missed church for 3 weeks in a row due to the fact I did not know it was sunday! I have absolutely no powers of retention left to draw upon.

I forget doctors appointments among other things too.

My breasts still get tender at the time i am due to come on

I feel constantly bloated and uncomfortable

I am feeding my face non stop

I go bright red in my face and look flushed - for no reason at all - rosy rosy rosy! However I do not (yet) have the unberable heat that should come with the colour. I do however have hot episodes when I am in bed. I feel unbearably hot and kick off the covers, and in doing so I feel cold, but am still too hot to have the duvet back on me! gees man it is driving me up the wall.

I occassionally have the most dreadful sweating episodes, I can be asleep or awake, what an unpleasant thing, yuck yuck yuck and again yuck!

Hells Bells man! What next? Am I to expect anymore "things" to rain down on me? Any more "symptoms" my doc says can fall into the category of the change.

Now my questions are the following:

Joint pains such I have been getting in my hands and the seizing up of my body- is this a normal reaction to the change or should I be asking my doc to see a specialist to find out more. Have any of you had the same types of aches and pains.

Hormone Replacement - whats the deal on this. I am ignorant about it and know only that I am opposed to it due to the cruelty horses suffer for the stuff.

Can anyone out there share their experience with me, throw me some advice?

I have looked up the change on the internet and a lot of the symtoms i have are not listed as being the typical ones. My doc reckons they are all a part of it. He has ordered blood tests to test the hormone levels and a number of other things such as thyroid, and i think he will also test for bone density etc.

Can't they just take me in for a tune up?

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I'm menopausal, so I can commiserate with you. The blushing, hot flashes, 'ant' and creepy crawly sensations and insomnia are all due to menopause.

I get migraine headaches, and I get the bright flashes in my eyes right before I get a headache. It sounds to me like you're having migraines (Headaches that last 3 days - I'm just recovering from a 3 day one myself). Those you probably ought to see your doctor for.

I know what you mean about the restless legs, I get those from time to time too. I don't think they're related to the menopause, but I do know that your doctor can give you meds for them if they're really bothering you.

After doing some reading about hormone replacement, I've decided that if I need it, I'm going to take it. Don't believe all the hype about pregnant horses and their urine - go and do the research for yourself. I've decided to take it because NOT taking it has some not-so-nice consequences, like osteoporosis and a dowager hump.

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I'm menopausal, so I can commiserate with you. The blushing, hot flashes, 'ant' and creepy crawly sensations and insomnia are all due to menopause.

Thank you for sharing with me and for the advice as well.

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