34 SIGNS
SYMPTOMS
OF MENOPAUSE
Here is the list of:
"The 34 Signs of Menopause:"
1. Hot flashes, flushes, night sweats and/or cold flashes, clammy feeling
(related to increased activity in the autonomic / sympathetic nervous system).
Without becoming too, technical, messages are sent to the hypothalmus because
of declining estrogen production via neurons which result in vasodilation --
widening of the lumen of blood vessels (lumen being the cavity of a tubular
organ, i.e., the lumen of a blood vessel,) which, in turn, causes flushing or
hot flashes. Tips for treating/minimizing (and even avoiding) hot flashes:
Power Surge's Menopause Survival Tips. Also, read the Power Surges (hot flashes)
Forum
2. Bouts of rapid heartbeat (related to increased activity in the autonomic /
sympathetic nervous system) Note: Along with rapid heartbeat (palpitations),
women can experience skipped heartbeats, irregular heartbeats. These are
generally normal vasomotor responses experienced during menopause - usually
due to fluctuating hormone levels. However, if these problems continue, it's
always a good idea to be checked by your health care practitioner. An
echocardiogram is a common procedure to tell the doctor what he needs to know
about your heart. If your health care practitioner doesn't suggest it, ASK FOR
IT! Read the Palpitations, Heart Issues, Hypertension Forum
3. Irritability. Note: Along with irritability, a host of "anger" problems can
develop during menopause. Just as a perimenopausal woman can find herself suddenly
crying for no apparent reason or provocation, so can she find herself reacting to
given situations in an angrier manner than she normally does. This anger can
sometimes feel like "rage." Again, this is hormone-induced, but for some women, the
anger can become inappropriate and a woman can feel like she's out of control.
There's nothing wrong with seeking counselling to discuss these issues with a mental
health professional. This is a challenging time of life and some objective outside
help can be tremendously useful in helping a woman cope with all the emotions she's
feeling. Remember, menopause isn't simply physical changes, but emotional and spiritual
changes as well. There's an excellent forum on the Power Surge Message Board that deals
with the issues of Anger / Mood Swings / Rage.
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4. Mood swings, sudden tears. Note: Mood swings can include anything from mood shifts
(happy one moment, deprssed the next) to sudden bouts of crying when nothing overt has
occurred to cause the crying. Mood swings can and have been misdiagnosed as bipolar
disorder because one can feel such extremes of emotions due to hormone imbalance.
Anxiety, depression, panic attacks and even feelings of agoraphobia aren't uncommon
during menopause. The panic attacks often can develop with the onset of hot flashes.
For some women, hot flashes can be severe and quite frightening.
5. Trouble sleeping through the night (with or without night sweats). Note: This can
develop into insomnia or just waking at 2 in the morning for an hour. Relaxation and
breathing exercises can be useful at this time -- many women may log onto the Power
Surge message boards and are surprised to find so many other women there in the middle
of the night. More help on the Insomnia, Sleep Disorders Forum
6. Irregular periods: shorter, lighter or heavier periods, flooding, and phantom periods.
Note: A phantom period is when you experience all the symptoms you're accustomed to having
before you menstruate -- but... no period comes. This is a common experience during
perimenopause before a woman's period actually stops.
7. Loss of libido (sex drive). Note: Not every woman loses her libido entirely during
perimenopause, although some may temporarily. Many women simply have a decreased interest
in sex - often it's simply because they generally don't feel well and sex is the last
thing on their mind! Also, bear in mind that there are many medications that can affect
one's libido, including the anti-depressants some women take to cope with the depression
and anxiety associated with menopause to anti-hypertensives.
8. Dry vagina (results in painful intercourse) Note: Click here for an excellent article
about vaginal dryness, sexuality and midlife relationships.
Recommended: Sexual Issues/Libido Forum
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9. Crashing fatigue. Note: I've never been able to determine if the "fatigue" associated
with perimenopause is a symptom in and of itself, or if it's a side effect of the
cumulative symptoms and general exhaustion (from them) many women experience. Take all the
symptoms and "dump" them on one person -- is it any wonder perimenopausal women are so
fatigued? If you can, try to find time to grab a nap. One of the things that helped my
fatigue, and it's all chronicled in my personal odyssey to find remedies, is the use of
considerable amounts of soy isoflavones and protein, which I found in Revival Soy. I can't
say that it specifically targetted and relieved the crashing fatigue, but it helped so many
other symptoms and gave me a burst of energy, that I feel comfortable in attributing the
fatigue relief to Revival. There are various vitamins, such as those in the "B" family, that
can help with fatigue as well. Also, increased amounts of vitamin C. The Recommendations page
lists numerous vita-nutrients that can be useful in treating fatigue and other symptoms
associated with perimenopause.
10. Anxiety, feeling ill at ease.Note: One of the biggest complaints during menopause.
11. Feelings of dread, apprehension, and doom (includes thoughts of death, picturing one's own
death). Note: It's possible that this can be a manifestation of depression associated with
menopause, or possibly feelings that come from going through daily discomfort through a difficult
menopause transition that can last anywhere from 3-12 years. A woman living under these
circumstances can feel totally overwhelmed and frightened by the physical, psychological and
spiritual changes. When there seems to be no reprieve from the suffering, for some it can leave
them feeling drained wondering when and IF they'll ever feel well again. It isn't unusual for
women at this time of life to have thoughts about dying. One phase of their life is coming to a
close (not soon enough for many). There may be apprehension and fear about moving on to the next
phase of life and wondering whether things will get better or worse.
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12. Difficulty concentrating, disorientation, & mental confusion. Note: Forgetfulness during
perimenopause is often referred to lightly and humorously as "brain fog" but it's not always funny.
13. Disturbing memory lapses. Note: See #12,
14. Incontinence -- especially upon sneezing, laughing: urge incontinence (reflects a general loss
of smooth muscle tone).
15. Itchy, crawly skin (feeling of ants crawling under the skin, not just dry, itchy skin Note: the
feeling of ants crawling on your skin is called "formication") Visit the Your Skin: Dryness, Itching,
Vaginal Dryness, Disorders, Discomfort Forum
16. Aching, sore joints, muscles and tendons. (may include such problems as carpal tunnel syndrome).
Note: Osteoarthritis can develop during perimenopause - and those with existing arthritic and/or
rheumatic pain may find it's exacerbated during the menopausal transition. See the Joints Aches and
Pains/Arthrisitis Forum
17. Increased tension in muscles.
18. Breast tenderness. Note: Breast swelling, soreness, pain.
19. Headache change: increase or decrease. Note: Many women develop migraine headaches during perimenopause.
However, if one doesn't have a history of migraine headeaches, they're generally a short-lived experience
of perimenopause. Also see the Headaches, Migraine Forum
20. Gastrointestinal distress, indigestion, flatulence, gas pain, nausea. Note: For nausea, try some ginger
or, as I use, boiling hot water with a few teaspoons of lemon or lemon juice concentrate in it. Many women
also develop acid reflux (Gerd). For some, it can be an uncomfortable feeling of severe burning sensations
in the throat. If it persists, see your health care practitioner.
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21. Sudden bouts of bloat. Note: Bloating, water retention are common complaints during perimenopause. Also,
Acid reflux and heartburn are very common during perimenopause. Treat them as you would if you weren't going
through menopause.
22. Depression (has a quality from other depression, the inability to cope is overwhelming, there is a feeling
of a loss of self. Natural hormone therapy, ameliorates the depression dramatically). Note: There are various
natural methods of treating depression.
My personal experience was that my perimenopause-related depression was elliminated when I started using Revival
Soy Protein Revival is excellent for mood swings, but I was astonished by the impact it had on the hormone-related
"lows" I experienced before using it. Also recommended, The Depression Forum
23. Exacerbation of any existing conditions. Note: Often, conditions women had prior to entering perimenopause
become exaggerated (worse) during the menopause transition.
24. Increase in allergies. Note: Many women who suffer from allergies develop worse allergies during the menopausal
years. Many women who've never had allergy or respiratory problems may develop them for the first time. Many people
don't realize that histamine levels are affected by hormone levels. Women can develop wheezing, coughing and a host
of respiratory problems. This generally disappears as the hormones level out once a woman becomes menopausal.
25. Weight gain. (is often around the waist and thighs, resulting in "the disappearing waistline" and changes in body
shape.) A good read, Weight Gain and Fitness Issues
26. Hair loss or thinning, head or whole body, increase in facial hair. Note: There is often a loss of pubic hair
during menopause. Many women are more comfortable simply shaving their pubic area instead of having patches of hair.
27. Dizziness, light-headedness, episodes of loss of balance. Note: Although common complaints during menopause, I
always recommend anyone suffering from dizziness, dysequilibrium have her blood pressure checked just to be on the
safe side. However, women can experience these symptoms during perimenopause without having hypertension.
28. Changes in body odor. Note: I wouldn't be too concerned about this one. It can happen, but in 13 years of running
Power Surge, I've heard of relatively few cases of developing body odor during menopause.
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29. Electric shock sensation under the skin & in the head ("take the feeling of a rubber band snapping against the
skin, multiply it (exponentially, sometimes) radiate it & put it in the layer of tissues between skin & muscle &
sometimes a precursor to a hot flash.") Note: Those buzzing sensations, as though you've put your finger into a live
electrical socket, can be frightening. They're all part of the hormones, nerve endings and electrical waves running
through our bodies when our hormones are constantly fluctuating. Many women experience this during perimenopause,
but it eventually passes.
30. Tingling in the extremities (can also be a symptom of B-12 deficiency, diabetes, or from an alteration in the
flexibility of blood vessels in the extremities.)
31. Gum problems, increased bleeding.
32. Burning tongue
33. Osteoporosis (after several years)
34. Brittle fingernails, which peel & break easily.
Some additional signs from Dearest:
Dry skin / skin changes
Internal shaking / tremor-like feelings.
Acne and other skin eruptions
Itching wildly and erratic rashes
Shoulder pain / joints / arthritis development
or flare up in preexisting conditions
"Heart pain" - a feeling of pain in the area of
the heart (if persistent, get checked by your
health care practitioner)
Acid reflux / heartburn / difficulty digesting
certain foods
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Some of the 34 signs may also be symptoms of one of the following:
Hypothyroidism
Diabetes
Depression with another etiology
Other medical conditions
If you have reason to believe you may have one of these conditions,
see your healthcare practitioner for treatment.
34 Signs / Symptoms of Menopause
http://www.power-surge.com/educate/34symptoms.htm
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Hesperian Health Guides
http://hesperian.org/
New Health Advisor
http://www.newhealthadvisor.com/
World Life Expectancy
http://www.worldlifeexpectancy.com/
Medicine Net
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/hp.asp
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Medtube
https://medtube.net/
Medical Scientific animations
http://medical-animation-studio.com/MedicalAnimation.html
U.S. National Library of Medicine
https://www.nlm.nih.gov/
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