I'm like a walking textbook of menopause symptoms. *sigh* But here's the thing, and it's really important - why didn't I know what the symptoms were before they started? Because no one talks about it, that's why.
Here is a basic list of symptoms, culled from various places around the web:
- A change in the pattern of periods. Shorter or longer, lighter or heavier, more or less time between periods - you know your body and when there is a change. You may still be able to get pregnant at this time, due to the irregularities
- Hot flashes and/or night sweats. Sometimes these can be followed by a chill
- Trouble sleeping through the night, with or without night sweats
- Vaginal dryness
- Mood swings, feeling crabby and crying spells, which may be caused by lack of sleep
- Quick, unreasonable anger
- Feeling mixed-up, confused or unfocused
- Short term memory problems
- Hair loss or thinning on your head
- Hair growth on your face
- Racing heart
- Low energy
- Breast tenderness
- Headaches
- Dry eyes
- Itching
- Joint and muscle aches and pains, especially in the morning
- Change in sex drive
- Bladder control problems
I'm not a medical professional, but I think it's reasonable that if you are experiencing any one symptom that is interfering with your life; and/or at least three of the above, that you go to the doctor and begin to discuss how to handle this change in your body.
As always, our gal Oprah has compiled lots of the newest info on her website http://www.oprah.com/. She's a lifesaver, right?
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