Saturday, October 31, 2009

Menopause and Perimenopause - Common Symptoms

I mentioned recently that I wish someone had given me a list of signs to watch out for after I hit my late 30s. I had never even heard of perimenopause until I started experiencing panic attacks. My GP at the time didn't mention it but I figured out for myself that the way I was feeling was not unlike how I had felt many years previously at the beginning of menstruation. So I did a little research, and concluded that the chances were I was going through perimenopause. A few simple adjustments helped to smooth things out and life got back to normal pretty well. More recently, then, things have moved up a gear with the start of missed periods, a noticably more frequent need to apply the tweezers to the chin, and a few minor inconveniences like itching legs. The list that follows is not a substitute for seeking medical advice but it may help to set your mind at rest to know what other women experience.
  • Anger
  • Anxiety
  • Changes in the menstrual cycle - heavier or lighter periods, missed periods
  • Confusion, foggy thinking
  • Dizziness
  • Gum problems
  • Headaches
  • Heart palpitation
  • Hot flashes and night sweats
  • Irritability
  • Itchy legs
  • Joint pain
  • Lumpy or tender breasts
  • Nightmares
  • Panic attacks
  • PMS
  • Sinus problems
  • Unexplained weight gain
  • Vaginal dryness
  • Vertigo
  • Water Retention, Bloating






2 comments:

Julia said...

I am 39yrs old, I had a hysterectomy earlier this year, so I imagine it will be difficult to know when I actually hit menapause, but I think it's going to be soon. I have been experiencing MANY of these symptoms randomly in the past year and have always blamed menapause/perimenapause. My girlfriend thinks I'm joking. Anyway...it's going to be fun (sarcasm)

Alex said...

Good list of menopause symptoms. Here's a website that list all 34 menopause symptoms as well as treatment information.

Post a Comment