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[Happychick79]

Hi everyone I'm age 46. I don't know if I'm in perimenopause or not. I've had so many different issues in the last 12 weeks starting with back pain, soft stools, bloods test all clear, FIT Test and calpro test clear . Health anxiety through the rood..back pain changed to burning ribs which can spread to tummy, chest and the very odd time face (this has remained pretty much a daily thing since). They aren't hot flashes I have no rash or redness but my skin is hot to the touch and it can last for hours. Also have some jabbing pains in ribs, and the off time in my tummy. Had ultrasound on pelvis and ovaries all clear, pelvic exam fine and recent smear clear. Had a back xray and mri on that and it's showing an injury but no one can explain the rib burning. Also had upper abdominal scan and it was all clear. Ive had a real increase in anxiety and feelings of dread so scared that this is something awful.  Just this weekend ive had a bit of indigestion and I have noticed in the last couple of weeks that I'm clearing my throat more. Also had an increase in cherry angiomas like loads of them some really small ones, i had them checked twice once by the nurse practitioner and again by GP who says they are all normal and not concerning. All in all I feel hopeless. I started physio for my back last night (my job is an exercise instructor) and I've had to take the last 12 weeks off my job. I'm on busprione twice daily for the anxiety and a really small dose of amitriptyline at night. I guess I'm just looking to know if anyone has experienced anything at all similar to this
Must add I lost my mum just before Christmas last year to lung cancer and grief is giving me a kicking at the minute too. I'm so tearful especially leading up to ovulation but tbf I feel like I'm crying/up and down continuously most days. Tha is for listening and for any replies xx

[DottyD68]

Hi Happychick79

Sorry to hear you are in the wars. Sounds awful.

On a positive you sound like you have had loads of tests which is good but obviously doesn't explain the cause of your issues - and that personally drives me nuts.

So sorry to hear about your Mum. You have been through a lot losing your Mum and that has untold adverse effects on the body.

Has anyone suggested Acid or Silent reflux? I know that peri/menopause has caused that for me and it always gets worse when I am stressed/worried so a double whammy.

[Happychick79]

Hi Dotty thanks so much for replying lovely and for your kindness 💕. Dr's haven't mentioned the possibility of reflux but I have thought this may be an element. I do take probiotics symprove and my diet pre this episode 12 weeks ago was really good as im a PT and trt to practice what i preach but it has went downhill since this started back in May. As I'm typing here the hear has actually spread to the fronts of my thighs which does happen sometimes too. I've took my temp it's normal I just feel warm. Checked ChatGPT and they are giving me possibilities of nerve firing from my back injury/anxiety and stress which I know are a massive thing for me too. I just can't seem to find anyone on any forum no matter what that has these symptoms 😢 and I'm doing my own and my husbands head in. I've totally changed in the last 12 weeks going from an outgoing, happy person and taking 10 classes a week plus my own training to becoming a couch potato and not wanting to see a soul and crying loads xx

[DottyD68]

I'm so sorry to hear how anxious you are. I used to be  PT too and health anxiety has unfortunately played a huge factor in my life for the past 10 years. I lost a number of relatively young friends/family in quick succession at the same time as peri menopause kicked in. Needing to be on top form every day made me focus on every ache and pain and change in my body, worrying that it was the start of something sinister, so I can totally understand how you feel. It was exhausting. Have you tried any CBT or Meditation? I found that helped calm my racing mind. I still have health anxiety but try and manage it as best I can.

[Happychick79]

Awe Dotty lovely to hear from a PT also 💖.  Yes I'm actually in therapy CBT/EMDR and schema which is a new one for me lol. I'm heading into my 5th session this week. I'm so sorry that's you have experienced so much loss 😢 sending massive hugs 🥰. I'm missing teaching the classes too and haven't done any of my own training which I think is adding to my anxiety but I just could not face teaching atm...just like you say needing to be in top form every day. I do little bits of meditation but if I'm honest I spend more time on reddit/ChatGPT trying to pacify myself symptom wise. I can't find anyone with similar symptoms to me and that really scares me. You sound like you are doing a fab job of managing your HA Dotty 👏🏼👏🏼🫶 I'm delighted for you. Really hope I can follow your example xx

[DottyD68]

I hope you recover from your back injury soon and can start doing your own training at least. I know I always feel like a different person after exercise so I expect your inability to exercise at the moment is not helping matters. Look after yourself X

[common-lime]

Hi  I empathise with the health anxiety! I'm 40, and I've had a whole slew of weird health problems over the last few years - chronic gastritis with no discernible cause (non-erosive, not related to ulcers), low ferritin which didn't respond to iron tablets, and frequent, multiple styes in both eyes were some of the most annoying. All continued for a couple of years regardless of what I tried in terms of meds or lifestyle changes, and then disappeared, again for no apparent reason. Test results showed nothing untoward. Bodies are weird and awkward.

I will say that I'm also athletic, and a gynae I saw recently for endometriosis suggested that peri and its myriad weird effects might have been brought on earlier and more intensely by that. I "got away with" pushing my body pretty hard for decades, but it has definitely become less resilient to this in the last five years. I've gained a bit of weight (on purpose) since I saw the gynae, and started HRT (which he recommended - I'm high risk for osteoporosis regardless of whether my peri is entirely natural or a bit premature), and a lot of the other weirdness has calmed down. Exercise is so good for mental and physical health, but my limits and tolerance for it have clearly changed over the years and I'm having to learn to adapt to this.

[DottyD68]

Hi common-lime,

Glad to hear that your symptoms have settled.

Interesting to hear what your gynae suggested about the possible effect that (intense) exercise may have had. I haven't heard that before.

I'm 57 and started peri mid 40's when I was super fit. The last 5 years I have really seen a difference and I too have had to adapt. As frustrating as it is, I try not to beat myself up too much and try to accept it is part of the ageing process, despite social pressure to maintain eternal youth and fitness. I just exercise within my limits and listen to my body these days.

[Happychick79]

Hi Dotty and Comon-lime how are you both today ladies? Back at the GP today 🙈. She is checking me for H pylori stool sample to be given and for my peace of mine she is going to run full bloods again tomorrow. She is querying gastritis or GERD and she thinks my skin feeling hot but no rash or redness is a combination of my bodys weird take on hot flushes and possibly stress. Also says the same about the increased cherry angiomas being a combination. Have to say she has been brilliant. We 3 are very alike with the training/fitness levels. I was for a few weeks a bit angry with ny body thinking like it was letting me down but like you Dotty I've decided to just embrace this new season and do what I can. Really interested in that gynae information too Common-Lime, I must mention it to my GP tomorrow too. Xx

[DottyD68]

You sound better today Happychick79. Good to hear the GP is checking other things to hopefully put your mind at rest.

I am currently lying on my side after putting new ear drops in. I have an issue with post-nasal drip in my throat which also seems to have caused a blocked eustachian tube. Have had multiple visits to GP with it. This prescription has been given to try while I wait 4 weeks for my appointment!! Not holding my breath.

Good luck with your new tests.

[Happychick79]

Hi Dotty oh no 4 weeks for an appointment you poor thing 😢.  I'm glad they gave you the script for before the app and I really hope the drops help. I've just had a food old glug of gaviscon (first since my pregnancies lol) to ease the acid feeling. I hate running to the GP so often but to be fair mine has been great and never makes me feel like I'm over reacting or being a nuisance. At the end of the day you know your body better than anyone else and the way peri and meno affects some of us is absolutely scary and horrible. Fingers crossed the new tests are all clear 🤞. There were no appointments for bloods free until 2 weeks time and I'm on hols then, so my GP knowing I'd be worried to death said she will do them herself tomorrow morning 🙌 xx

[DottyD68]

Your GP is a keeper!
I have to battle with lengthy Econsult forms in order to even contact the surgery and then they will do whatever they can to fob people off having an appointment. And the chance of seeing the same GP twice is unheard of, so you have to start from scratch everytime. I find the whole process stressful and that's even before I get onto the actual issue.

[Happychick79]

Awe Dotty that's awful. I can't imagine how stressful that would be. Such a drawn out process. It's bad enough at the best of times, but for those of us with Health Anxiety that's a whole other level of anxiety right there.

[Happychick79]

How you feeling today Dotty? Hope the drips are kicking in for you. I was back at my GP for my bloods and so they should be back next week, along with the h pylori test 🤞🙏 hoping for the clear. We are heading to the Lake District the following week on a short break so if all is back clear I will be a happy girl on holidays 🙌🤞🙏 xx

[DottyD68]

Hi Happychick79

Glad you got your bloods taken. Hope they are all clear and you can enjoy your holiday. We have had many happy holidays in the Lake District.

I think the ear drops are easing the feeling of fulness (even though Mr Google says they are not meant for Eustachion Tube Disfunction) so I'm not confident I've been prescribed the right thing as I hadn't had an examination.

Just back from dinner at friends where I had an embarrassing episode of trying to clear my thoat as something irritated it. I really need to get this sorted.

Let us know how you get on X