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[Machair]

Oh Sparkle - "mucus alert" really made me laugh. On a serious note though I think it is proof that we are both still having oestrogen surges at times, and are some way off things settling down yet- hence the headaches and anxiety.
I really hope you feel well for Christmas and you too ER- and thank you for being so open about the dryness, it is so helpful to hear what is happening for so many of us as it will be an issue soon I am sure.
Sparkle are you having mucus everyday or just here and there?

[Elizabethrose]

We are all clearly ready for the knackers yard!

I'm really sorry you've had a poorly week Sparkle, is the sciatica no better then? Well the migraine, mood and all of the other rotten symptoms could be PMT or the pesky PMT symptoms we experience when the oestrogen surges mid cycle. You'll have to wait to see if you experience a bleed now. Are you keeping a note of this yet? If not whizz through this thread, we have the details of all of our cycles going back for much of the year!! Given you've had a really good run lately I'm sure this is hormone activity.

Machair, this all seems to come in fits and starts: for months we'll follow a pattern of sorts and then it's all change for the next few. Even with the six months without a bleed, my oestrogen was surging massively before plunging dramatically, and very frequently: it was a total roller coaster ride. I had dinner with some pals last week, six of us: we all discuss everything and thank God we do because it makes you feel normal. Three of them are using Vagifem and one immediately got her phone out and started googling VA and Vagifem so she clearly also has a problem she needs to resolve but hadn't done anything about it. It's good to talk and exchange info, I think women have suffered in silence for far too long.

Sparkle, we do have to laugh because the alternative is to lock ourselves away and I have enough of that forced upon me, I will not let this spoil the good times. It's my way of coping with it, deal with each day, if it's bad close down and wait for the next as that may be better! Trouble is, if the head's not hurting, my back's hurting, or they're both hurting and now I've also got a burning fanny to contend with: jeez it's enough to drive you to 

I really hope you both feel better soon: the week ahead will not be a relaxed and peaceful one that's for sure!

Lots of love x

[Elizabethrose]

Sparkle, don't want to sound like a nagging harpy BUT did you set up a routine with the back exercises? It takes a couple of days to make a difference but then all really eases. I've had a manic weekend of entertaining the masses, tons of cooking, lifting heavy Le Creuset casseroles etc and didn't do my exercises. As a result last night all seized up again. Honestly do give them a go, I feel sure they will help. If you can at least tick one thing off the list of peri ailments, you'd be better able to manage the rest. It's like holding back a landslide for you at the moment.

Wildly busy next few days, seriously on the run    but then hopefully all will calm. Just about to hit town with my daughter, that'll cost me!! xx

[nearly50]

I know what you mean Elizabethrose, I haven't been doing my neck exercises recently and can feel it seizing up again.

70 days since my last period today - woohoo. Have constantly burning neck and ear at the moment, remember I had that last summer for months on end. What's weird is that my headaches have stopped completely. I do feel that I rejoice in losing one symptom, but then immediately get hit with another one.

I am really trying to stop talking about this to my friends, I'm the only one going through it to this extent and am aware that I am becoming boring after 3 years of constant talk of my aches and pains.

Five more days of work, can't wait to have a break from 6am starts.

[Elizabethrose]

Oh congratulations nearly50, this is for you.... 70 days, hot on my tail! I know what you mean about constantly bleating on, every one knows my story, haha three different friends have 'outed' me on this site! It's really good to hear that the heads have calmed, wish mine would. I truly don't think I could do the 5.30/6am starts nowadays, I think that would completely finish me off!!  xx

Sparkle I'm sorry, I didn't realise that you were really struggling, I'm sure that's really the last thing you need now. Try not to push yourself too hard, you don't want a repeat of June. Pass as much as you can on to your girls and hubby, I'm sure they'd be delighted to lift the load as I'm sure they want to see you happy and healthy. These are for you  :for you:  xx

Well just returned from an all day shopping session with darling daughter and it's cost me dear!! Haha that girl knows how to spend, well spend my money! Off to have dinner with son and girlfriend tonight so got to run the gauntlet of the tube when what I'd really like to do is put my feet up with a steaming mug of tea. Have a lovely evening ladies xx

[Machair]

Sparkle I have ME so I know how you feel. I hope you improve soon- take it easy.x

[Elizabethrose]

 

I hope you feel better girls, I feel really badly for you xx

[Machair]

Yes Sparkle twitching muscles, IBS - horrendous at times - frequent diarrhea and sometimes gastroparesis where the gut almost stops altogether and food stays undigested for days. Palpitations, massive drops in BP from lying to standing and abnormal BP - eg lying 110/70 standing 80/65. Headaches and low body temp in relapses eg 34.9 is common and I often sweat too then.

 Other symptoms include horrific nightmares often in colour, if I sleep at all which is rare as I have very poor sleep with breathless episodes. Vertigo and dizzy spells and tinnitus. Very poor memory, and when I first got sick I lost all the ability to spell words at all without a dictionary. Really poor concentration especially in noisy environments and social events - though this is also worse when standing. Hot weather is also very hard for me as I love it but it makes everything worse especially the heart issues.

There is more but you get the idea I am sure! I do best by the sea in silence! When I was first ill I had a virus related to polio and it caused a heart infection - two weeks later all this started and I was bed bound for a year. I relapsed in 2005 and was also bed bound for 6 months. Both times I couldn't walk more than a few paces. My muscles would contract on their own and you could watch them it was very frightening.The main muscle in my lower leg had a mind of its own.

The good news is I am reasonable today but it relapses and then abates, and it is difficult to say when it will but stress doesn't help, and I have a bucket of that at the moment with Mum and Dad being sick and of course the hormones fluctuating which I am sure plays a part.

I wish you all the love in the world Sparkle and you too ER. Your help and ER's too has been absolutely amazing and has kept me sane. Rest as much as you can and hopefully your episode will pass.

I have some really good links to some videos by world expert Dr Nancy Klimas on ME that may help you. If you would like the links let me know and I will PM you with them.They are very helpful.Also the ME association has a fantastic book that they sell, and if you are a member they will send a copy free of charge to your GP anonymously if you wish. It is an excellent publication as it has all the symptoms listed with help and advice from experts.

All this helps keep sane as most people think it is tiredness, even some professionals, and as they are also tired it is rather upsetting.When you go for an eye test for example as I did last year and the young optician says to you "what is ME does that make you tired or something?" you realise they are in the dark as well. Bad really as blurred vision can happen with the illness- I have had that too!

[Elizabethrose]

Oh Machair, I don't know what to say, I'm so sorry, I feel terrible for you. I will never moan about my migraines again.

I know nothing about ME, sorry totally ignorant. I suppose it's like anything, you become an expert when illness hits friends and family but we are all so blissfully unaware of most of the horrors that exist out there.

I really hope you are able to find some end to all of this, if that is possible. I will do some reading and try to better understand the condition. I feel sure that trying to juggle the difficulties of peri cannot be helping your health also the pressure of ageing, unwell parents. It must be impossibly difficult for the many women having to deal with disease and illness, elderly often dependent sick parents, perhaps children who are not yet self sufficient, to also then suffer the horrors that peri/meno can bring. It must be overwhelming.

I wish you a peaceful calm and healthy Christmas and that your US trip brings you much happiness.

With love to you xx

[Machair]

Thank you ER. I don't normally talk about the illness as having had it for 20 years you just learn to accept it. I thought it would help Sparkle and anyone else with the illness going through peri to know they are not alone and where to find help.I feel very blessed because I had completed my family by the time I became ill as I know this decision affects so many women today who have ME.
I would just add that there are all levels of the illness from moderate to severe which I am, to mild which many people have, and this group really function quite well and are able to live a normal life with adequate rest periods.

[nearly50]

What a shame, you're both going through such a lot. Perimenopause is bad enough without having it on top of a chronic illness, especially one so misunderstood. There's so much the medical profession doesn't understand at all.

I have had vivid mad nightmares every night for about 6 months now. I could always sleep through the night so I really hate waking up all the time.

Had a silent migraine today - really bizarre to have zigzags appear and be unable to see properly for a while. And not ideal when you have a room of teenagers in front of you!

Hope you all keep well over Christmas.

[nearly50]

Thanks sparkle, at least I know that a wee pain killer sorts it out so it passed in about 45 minutes or so, so not too bad. Everything's scary the first time but now I know it does go away I'm fine. Have had a weird crawling feeling in my head since I fainted a couple of weeks ago, it is all very odd.

Nightmares are horrible, I always wake up with me being blamed for something terrible that has happened so they're just classic anxiety dreams. Annoying when this is probably the most stress free time of my life in a long time, other than these stupid hormones!

I'm avoiding the doctors from now on if I can possibly help it, that's my New Year Resolution

[Elizabethrose]

Dear Sparkle, Machair, nearly50, Autumnlady, Elainediva and all of the other ladies who contribute here.

Thank you all so much for your help support and guidance lovely ladies!

I hope you all have a wonderfully peaceful and happy Christmas and I send you every good wish for a healthy and happy 2017.

With love

Elizabethrose xxxxxxx

PS Off away to the wilds!! 

[Machair]

Have a wonderful time ER and thank you for everything.xx

[nearly50]

Maybe it'll come to nothing sparkle, here's hoping. I can't even tell what my body's trying to do now, been 11 weeks since my last period and for the last wee while I've only really had stomach problems. Wish I knew if it was caused by hormones, by my fibroids or by mainlining mince pies and marzipan. Probably a combination of all! Really wish there was a way of monitoring what is going on inside my body!