From out of control, heavy periods to hot flashes to a burning tongue.
One weird thing was happening to my body after another.
Today, I know they were symptoms of menopause and perimenopause, but at the time, I was just frustrated and confused.
The symptoms of menopause went on. Bizarre mood swings. Bloating in strange places like my upper arms and stomach.
Belly fat that would not go away no matter what I ate or didn't eat.
I felt hot one minute, and freezing the next. Fed up and exhausted, I went to my doctor for some tests before I headed off for a short trip. As I boarded the plane home, the results came in. I shimmied down the aisle, bumping the elbows of the guy
in Seat 3A, re-reading my ticket, and scanning for my seat. I squeezed into my seat and opene the patient portal to find a message from my (male) gynecologist that read:
“In menopause. Any questions?”
Umm… first of all, WHAT? Second of all, YES! I have a million questions. Starting with why the heck am I finding out I am in menopause this way?! And what do I do now? I cried as the plane took off, and my mind raced the entire flight. There goes my youth. There goes my sex appeal.
But I quickly learned that menopause was about to be the most enlightened time of my life.
I was empowered by the knowledge that this was menopause. I had my first clue to understanding my debilitating symptoms. I changed doctors and put on my journalist’s hat to find out what the heck was going on with me. I thought I was alone, but I found out that it was me and millions of other women are dealing with this transition.
I felt helpless as I watched these debilitating symptoms affect my personal and professional life. So I did what so many women do, despite knowing that it’s the worst possible choice: I Googled. Yes, I went down the WebMD rabbit hole that told me each thing I was experiencing was obviously cancer or death. I spent a fortune on supplements that promised me relief, and I tried antidepressants and testosterone shots. It wasn’t until my new doctor prescribed me a low-dose bioidentical hormone patch that I finally started to feel like myself again.
Here is a symptom tracker for you so that you can keep track of these symptoms and bring this information to your next doctors appointment.
Plus, i will go over each of them because knowledge is power.
- Hot Flashes: Sudden feelings of intense heat, often accompanied by sweating and reddening of the skin, usually around the face and neck.
- Night Sweats: Episodes of heavy sweating during the night, often disrupting sleep.
- Irregular Periods: Changes in the menstrual cycle, including frequency, duration, and flow, as menopause approaches.
- Mood Swings: Sudden and unpredictable changes in mood, including irritability, sadness, or increased anxiety.
- Vaginal Dryness: Decrease in natural lubrication, leading to dryness, itching, and discomfort during intercourse
- Changes In Libido: Fluctuations in sexual desire, either an increase or a decrease.
- Sleep Problems: Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, leading to fatigue and decreased daytime function.
- Weight Gain: Increase in body weight, particularly around the abdomen, due to hormonal changes.
- Thinning Hair: Reduction in hair density and volume, potentially leading to noticeable hair loss.
- Dry Skin: Decrease in skin moisture and elasticity, causing dryness and sometimes itching.
- Breast Changes: Changes in breast size, tenderness, or sensitivity.
- Memory Problems: Issues with short-term memory, difficulty concentrating, and "brain fog."
- Decreased Fertility: Reduced ability to conceive as ovulation becomes less frequent.
- Cholesterol Changes: Alterations in blood cholesterol levels, which may increase the risk of heart disease.
- Osteoporosis: Decrease in bone density, leading to weaker bones and an increased risk of fractures.
- Joint pain: Stiffness, pain, and swelling in the joints, often due to decreased estrogen levels.
- Changes In Body Odor: Alterations in natural body scent, possibly due to hormonal changes and increased sweating.
- Increased Anxiety: Heightened levels of anxiety and stress, often without an obvious cause.
- Fatigue: Persistent tiredness and lack of energy, not necessarily linked to physical activity or sleep quality.
- Depression: Feelings of deep sadness, hopelessness, and disinterest in usual activities.
- Heart Palpitations: Sensations of a racing or irregular heartbeat, often occurring suddenly.
- Headaches: Increased frequency or severity of headaches, which may be linked to hormonal fluctuations.
- Dizziness: Sensations of lightheadedness or vertigo, which can affect balance and coordination.
- Electric Shock Sensation: Sudden, brief tingling or shocking feelings in the body, often attributed to hormonal changes.
- Digestive Issues: Gastrointestinal problems such as bloating, gas, and changes in bowel habits.
- Gum Problems: More prone to gum disease, bleeding gums, and other oral health issues.
- Tinnitus: Ringing, buzzing, or other noises in the ears, often without an external sound source
- Itchy Skin: Itching, sometimes severe, in one place, due to reduced skin moisture and elasticity.
- Tingling Extremities: Numbness or tingling sensations in the hands and feet, often due to nerve changes.
- Muscle Tension: Persistent tightness or discomfort in the muscles, possibly related to stress and hormonal changes.
- Allergies: Increased sensitivity or new onset of allergies, potentially due to immune system changes.
- Brittle Nails: When your nails that become weak, thin, and prone to breaking or splitting.
- Urinary Incontinence: Loss of bladder control, leading to accidental leakage, often exacerbated by coughing, sneezing, or laughing.
- Frequent Urination: Increased need to urinate, sometimes accompanied by a feeling of urgency.
