Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Other Health Discussion => Topic started by: holidaylover on January 11, 2021, 02:42:27 PM
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Afternoon ladies,
Have been feeling really off the past few days. Lightheaded, sore boobs and tender swollen armpits. General body aches and sort of a stingy under the skin feeling. Light headache and bit of a soreish throat. All my joints feel stiff and sore. A bit of a tickly cough sent me to
get a Covid test yesterday which has come back negative. I have had all these symptoms flare up before and attended the local hosipital at a weekend on the advice of NHS24 about 18 months ago. I'm sure I was given an antibiotic but cant really remember! Phoned our local surgery which has taken all morning to get through and I have to wait a phone consultation 'sometime' tomorrow. Do you think this sounds like some sort of infection? Or hormonal? Am post menopause (2yrs) although last week I felt a bit 'periody' but that passed.
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Probably hormonal although swollen armpits do sound as though your body is fighting something. Low oestrogen can also cause aches and pains.
Have you tried 'nurofen' or similar? As well as plenty of hot drinks, I find Bovril in hot water with hot toast soothing.
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Taking ibuprofen and drinking water thinking I might 'flush' something out!
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Hi holidaylover, I have similar symptoms from time to time, I think it's an inflammatory reaction, to what exactly I have no idea. An autoimmune reaction perhaps. If ibuprofen helps it's possible that you have the same thing.
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Yes Uptick Ibuprofen takes the edge off. The stiff and painfully burning joints can just flair up overnight. Who Knows?!!!
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If it wasn't for the sore boobs I'd say it sounds more like a bug. Maybe take it easy and treat the symptoms. You could ask the surgery to check what treatment you had last time.
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The key thing is that you had it before, so it does sound like a bug, but without an actual bug, which points to an immune reaction to something, it doesn't need to be something specific, but hormones usually play a big role, hence more women affected than men. I think 2 years postmenopause still counts as perimenopause (around menopause) so it's possible your own hormones are playing up (ovaries and adrenals).
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Peri is considered the years when our periods wax and wane and some other symptoms may become bothersome.
Menopause is literally, the last monthly period; but bleeds can continue intermittently. 1 year without a bleed usually indicates that we are into menopause proper so don't need to think about periods although ovaries can kick in and cause some symptoms. If 1 gets a bleed after 12 or more months without, a GPs advice should be sought.
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I do remember now that the Doctor as the hospital 18mths ago said it may have been connected to me having recently shaved my legs/armpits and that I should also stop using a deoderant for a while. Shaved my legs a couple of weeks ago so there may be a connection. One thing I have just started to use when I come out of the bath (because my fav Johnsons baby powder is done) is Medipure Body Powder which was bought for a skin condition hubby developed. (What a healthy couple we sound). I did rub it under my armpits a couple of nights ago and onto my legs and bum! Have looked at the ingredients and it contains Magnesium Stearate and menthol, camphor, etc. I do remember a few years back when I was suffering tingly crawly sensations in my legs due to menopause that I tried a Magnesium spray which made my legs sting and burn.
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That may be the simple answer? Aggravation of already dry skin? Get some good hand cream on the areas, I find 'vaseline' in the yellow bottle fine, or 'Nivea' .........
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I do remember now that the Doctor as the hospital 18mths ago said it may have been connected to me having recently shaved my legs/armpits and that I should also stop using a deoderant for a while. Shaved my legs a couple of weeks ago so there may be a connection. One thing I have just started to use when I come out of the bath (because my fav Johnsons baby powder is done) is Medipure Body Powder which was bought for a skin condition hubby developed. (What a healthy couple we sound). I did rub it under my armpits a couple of nights ago and onto my legs and bum! Have looked at the ingredients and it contains Magnesium Stearate and menthol, camphor, etc. I do remember a few years back when I was suffering tingly crawly sensations in my legs due to menopause that I tried a Magnesium spray which made my legs sting and burn.
I don't think it's related, it wouldn't have caused the other symptoms. Why have you been given an antibiotic? How's you digestive system working?
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Uptick, I cant remember but I think they maybe thought I had an infection from the razor I used, (if I remember at the time I had a bit of a painful rash on one side and thought shingles.) I dont really know but when Doctor phones today I'll ask as I presume it'll be on my records. Digestive system? Always a bit iffy. I have IBS and bloat very easily after foods, get fatigue, etc. Been tested in the past for Celiac and negative. Definately a bit of a wheat intolerance.
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Thanks, holidaylover. I have asked about digestive issues because I had similar symptoms and antibiotics have made things worse, not immediately though, months later. Many symptoms have gradually got better once I began to drink kefir. I think perimenopause and menopause can affect the gut microbiome and antibiotics add fuel to the fire. Kefir is really good to help with gut issues, which I believe now, is the source of many aberrant immune reactions, including general inflammation. Good luck with doctor's phone call.
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Doctor Update!
He has just called and considered all symptoms and thinks it is probably a virus. He said there are lots going about. Who knew? He looked back my records to see what antibiotic I got when I presented with same symptoms in June 2109. I was wrong, I had been given antihistimine! Well it worked then so although he thinks virus, he is leaving me a prescription for antihistimines at my chemist. I'm actually feeling a wee bit better today, no chills. I'm still wondering if it was the body powder. I also know food intolerances can throw out a hoard of symptoms so I think I might start making a food diary, just for my own benefit. If I'm no better in 7 - 10 days I have to call him back and he will see me.
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Can't ask 4 better than that?
I had to take an antihistamine this morning as my mouth, lips, back of my nose, roof of my mouth have itched for several days and kept me awake in the night. Eyes OK. Deep in the ears OK.
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Thanks for the update. Antihistamines can ease allergies caused by food and apparently some people are very sensitive to histamine (intolerance) and there's a hormonal connection (oestrogen).
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Hormones have a hell of a lot to answer for!!
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'Hell' is the perfect word to describe them.
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and just when I thought I was better a bit yesterday........ today back to feeling horrid! Boobs sore again, just look swollen and heavy, underarms stingy. Last night I was really itchy, all over, very strange, and the skin on my neck had a slight raised rash (not red) just bumpy. I woke in the night and my cheeks were stinging too. Daughter went down to the chemist to pick up my prescription but it wasn't there! Will ring the surgery to chase it up. Feeling fed up. :(
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I bet your are fed up!
I itched a lot yesterday :-\ in places that I don't usually notice. Have taken anything with feathers out of our bed room.
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and just when I thought I was better a bit yesterday........ today back to feeling horrid! Boobs sore again, just look swollen and heavy, underarms stingy. Last night I was really itchy, all over, very strange, and the skin on my neck had a slight raised rash (not red) just bumpy. I woke in the night and my cheeks were stinging too. Daughter went down to the chemist to pick up my prescription but it wasn't there! Will ring the surgery to chase it up. Feeling fed up. :(
Sorry to hear that, welcome to the apocalypse rollercoaster. Could neck rash and stinging cheeks be an allergic reaction to masks? Sore boobs and armpits sounds like inflammation or high oestrogen. Have you ever tried drinking kefir every day? It has solved a lot of my apparently unrelated ailments. Sorry, I'm a microbiologist and I always think bugs are at the root of most problems, and solutions. Hope you feel better soon.
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Uptick, No I've never used kefir. What are the benefits? (please excuse my ignorance). Rash nothing to do with facemasks, I've never worn one apart from when at the hairdressers for 10mins once a month. I'm not anti mask, but suffer with anxiety and hyperventilation syndrome, so masks cause too much of a panic for me unfortunately. I only go out for a walk once a day and that's it. Eventually my prescription is here, daughter had to 'dangerously' enter the Doctor's surgery to enquire and it had been mislaid! Just taken my first cetirizine so will see if the itching eases and my boobs 'go down'. Do tell about the benefits of kefir please.
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Hi holidaylover, sorry I've been busy trying to figure out what's wrong with my tongue, I have a red patch for months now.
Kefir is a mixture of microorganisms that are symbionts (they help each other live by providing complementary nutrients) forming macroscopic 'grains' and used to ferment drinks, traditionally milk, but it can be grown in water and sugar as well, and it's a potent probiotic. It used to be shared by people cultivating the grains, but now they're available in some shops. There's lots of information online.
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/how-make-kefir
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Thanks Uptick, I'll give it a read. Sounds interesting.
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I'm back to square one! Boobs are so stingy and sore today, underarms too. They feel hot and I have a strange couple of, what I would describe as, tender spots under where the band of my bra goes at the back under my should blades (almost where the bra strap meets the band). Itchy at times too. Really sore in bed last night. Skin feels like its on fire. My neck feels stiff today today and burning. The antihistimines I got from the doctor last week gave me terrible diarreah. I feel stiff all over with fingers especially tight. Any ideas?
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A drop of oestrogen? It can make muscles lax = aches and pains.
Is there a history of rheumatoid arthritis in your family?
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No CLKD. I know I have arthiritis in my knees, but fingers lately have been so sore, a couple seem to 'stick' when stretching them. Hips, back, neck, all ache. I think I need some sun!
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Do U take VitD capsules regularly ? a bit of WD 40 ;-)
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Yip, I do, might have to think of something else for the joints though! The boobs, well that's a mystery!
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No proof but my SinL swore by Fish oil capsules.
Sore breasts is likely to be hormones.
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Hi holidaylover, I have read all your posts on the forum. I had and still have similar symptoms, hence my interest in your menopause journey. I see that you have had these symptoms before and that they flare up from time to time. It does look like my own symptoms. I have been diagnosed with a number of things, including fibromyalgia, chronic pain syndrome and peripheral neuropathy, although none of these conditions have specific causes, so I guess the hormonal link is still the most plausible common denominator. I have migraines since childhood, worse during my entire fertile time and not bad after menopause. Neurologist thinks they have transformed into chronic daily headaches, along with the weird symptoms, tingling, crawling, burning. When have you had your last period? Have you ever been on HRT?
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Hi Uptick, Yes, the symptoms seem to just flare up overnight. The last time I felt like this was June 2019. But I do usually get all the symptoms (or most of them) at one time. It seems to me like some sort of flare up. Tingling is not so bad now, and that, I felt, really died off once periods had stopped. My last period (I think!) was August 2018. I've never had HRT. I'm still wondering if I have a bit of an infection as opposed to it being hormonal as my armpits feel a bit 'sticky' . I've not being very active today at all but I feel like I'm a bit sweaty underarm if that makes sense. I've often came upon Fibromaylgia when 'googling' symptoms but I dont know if I fit into the criteria for that as I can go quite a while without any symptoms and I dont get that really tired feeling so many say they have. I think I'll get back in touch with Doctor tomorrow. He did say if I was no better I was to phone. I'm sure you'll agree, its the not knowing whats wrong that causes all the constant questioning.
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Yes, once you have a diagnosis you can try to deal with it and move on. Not to mention that some doctors don't feel comfortable dealing with so many different symptoms in one patient, they usually think the symptoms are caused by anxiety or depression and not the other way round. If your last period was August 2018 you're still considered a menopausal 'newbie'. IMHO, 2 years after menopause is still a sort of 'perimenopause' in the sense that 'peri' means 'around', so I would expect some hormonal woes. I hope that's your case. Sticky armpits could be a change in local microbiota, it also happens in the groin area. Have you ever had migraines?
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ooh, what is a change in local microbiota? I'm not very clued up am I? No I've never had migraines. I sometimes think I may be confusing the doctors with such a list of symptoms. I always assume they are linked but I think doctors like to look at one symptom at a time. My doctor definately dislikes when I tell him what I think I have, or ask 'Could it be this?'
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Microbiota, microbiome or flora is the name we give to all microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, viruses) living in our digestive system and skin. Skin microbiota changes throughout our lifespan, one of the factors that influence its function, structure and composition are sex hormones, in other words, they're responsible for stinky teens ;D There are different types of sweat glands, eccrine (all over the body, open directly onto your skin), apocrine (armpits, perianal area, scalp, nipples, ear canal, eyelids, open into hair follicles) and apoeccrine (an intermediate gland found in armpits after puberty, influenced by sex hormones). Hormonal changes affect these glands along with sebaceous glands (mainly influenced by androgens) and their secretions, which are used by our microbiota as nutrients. The sticky feeling, sweating and smells are all by-products of this process.
Regarding migraines, you can have silent migraines without headache, the tingling sensation is a common feature of migraine aura.
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Thanks Uptick, very interesting.
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Well I phoned the doctors after a horrendous night. (Pain and burning all over!) Different doctor than last week, a locum who was really nice who gave me a phone consultation first. She had me down this afternoon and gave me an examination, temp was fine, blood pressure high (it always is at doctors), no lumps and bumps found but I did have some spots that have appeared under one armpit and some spots under boob (which I would not have noticed). She thinks like the doctor last week that its most probably a virus and thinks it could be shingles! She has prescribed tablets for that and I have to go back in the morning for bloods, B12, joint issues etc. Very good service and I was quite surprised there were so many people in the surgery, in fact no different that before Covid. Blinking facemask kept creeping up into my eyes which no doubt added to the high blood pressure, I just cant deal with them.
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Hi holidaylover, thanks for the update. Are the spots all in the same side? If it is shingles, I hope the tablets do their job quickly.
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Yes Uptick they are on the one side. I remember now back in 2019 I also had spots on the same one side, although I'm sure its quite rare to get Shingles twice. Trust me! (if that's what it is). Interested though to know if the blood tests throw anything up.
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'It's possible to have shingles more than once, but it's very rare to get it more than twice.'
https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/shingles