menopause

[dryface]

I am 45 soon to be 46 I started missing my periods since I was 38 and at this time hav'nt experienced night sweats but alot of other things are happening and I am worried about all the different problems, I feel I am slowly losing energy, I get so exhausted, I take multivitimins and just recently added b12 and flaxseed and black cohash all this has'nt helped so I wonder if menopause no matter what you do you are going to feel lousy. I am pale and sick looking, skin dry, gain and lose wieght, alot of gas and bloating, restless sleep, moody, depressed but not to the point of help, I am really confused and wonder if these things are normal, my doctor just laughs and says I am ok.

[Machelle Seibel, MD]

A. Sounds like you are having a tough time, what ever the cause. Menopause is certainly able to cause the very problems you are describing.  But other conditions like anemia and thyroid problems, particularly low or hypothyroid are common other conditions with similar symptoms and depression and low adrenal problems can also be to blame.  Even if you are going though menopause, that doesn’t mean you couldn’t have another problem as well.

I would suggest going for a second opinion, perhaps to a primary care doctor or medical internist to be sure there isn’t another medical problem going on. You might also want to get a colonoscopy to be sure there is no problem with your intestinal tract. Colon cancer is a more common cause of death than breast cancer in women. While you are there, also get a blood test for FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) which goes up as menopause approaches.  If no general health or medical problem is found, see someone in your area that deals with menopause.  There is a lot that can be done but it may have to be individualized for you and more history and an examination are needed to be sure what is best for you.
Machelle M. Seibel, MD

[dryface]

I am waiting the results of blood tests and urine and getting a mammogram and ultrasound. I am getting worse and worried. I smoke and am trying to quit. when I breath deep, my right rib cage feels like deep inside a pain, the pain I feel is generated on my right side, pale stools, I felt nauseated and almost puked but nothing happened, exhaustion, and since I had a hernia operation it feels like that is prickly, crampy no period for at least 6 months, small heat flashes then cold, shakey off and on, restless sleep, headache occationally never had headaches much, no appetite only eat so I can work, no sex drive, I feel good at work at first then within a few hours tired and eat mortin 800 every 6 hrs, feel stomach acid pain starting and been on prilisc for 5 years. what I am worried about is all the tests may be directed towards thyroid and estrogen levels, if all these tests come back negitive and I die what should I do before I die sounds crazy but I am not well and am very worried I am only 46 and just had a new grandson and a 6 yr old grandson and they love me so much and I am so tired and don't want to die yet.