Hi Sparkle, my symptoms were/are likened to a bad dose of food poisoning but with headaches, brain fog, confusion, depression,anxiety, palpitations, waking too early, fatigue and hot flashes. It started a year ago, after my periods had stopped for over 12 months. I lost 15kg really quickly so the doctors didn't think about menopause, as usually people put on weight. I ended up in hospital for a week and had every test and scan but everything came back normal. But I was still so sick and couldn't go to work. If it wasn't my own business I would have lost my job. In the end I realised it must be hormones causing all the strife. I started on HRT but it made the symptoms even worse. I've spent so much time just lying on the couch, freaking out! They tried be on anti depressants but it stripped all the sodium out of my body and nearly killed me! The doctor said that it was a very rare reaction and only ever happens to really old people...I'm 54! I tried herbs and other things but nothing helped. In the end I found a product called Amberen and it helped. I have to be on a double dose and stick to a Fodmap diet and its helping. I still wake early and have morning depression, brain fog etc but the symptoms disappear about lunch time so I get half a normal day now!