Hi. This is my experience which may be of some help, and certainly wont harm you trying. I was found to have three 4-5cm fibroids when investigating why I wasn't getting pregnant four years ago, seen by internal ultrasound and keyhole surgery. The fibroids were left and endometriosis was dealt with and I became pregnant. Towards the end of my pregnancy I was given regular ultrasounds as one of the fibroids was right next to the cervix and they were not sure if I would be able to have a natural birth. My cervix stretched and it moved out the way so all was fine. Now here's the mind blowing bit...14 months later I had my 12 week ultrasound with my second baby and there was NO sign of them. We asked, they checked...not even small ones! They were certainly not detected throughout the rest of my pregnancy. Of course I have wondered how this could be having read surgery was the only and undesirable way to get rid of them. My conclusions based on my life style are....I have been a non-meat eater for 20 years...so not that. I have never smoked, rarely drink...didn't cause them. My diet is ok, but not really healthy; eaten oily fish for years so not that. BUT I had become lactose intolerant (too many anti-biotics) around 5 years ago, and maybe those fibroids were actually already shrinking when they were discovered? I had also been taking Vitex to help get pregnant and maybe some other herbal things but certainly nothing that promised to get rid of fibroids. After a year of eating no milk products I read that some hard cheeses such as English cheddar, Edam etc have only traces of lactose (see the 'carbohydrates - of which sugars' label on the cheese) which I can tolerate, and have eaten for four years now, but I do not eat any other products containing milk including chocolate, some crisps, cakes etc...check your labels. I would love this info to help someone...worth a try? its not proven and I haven't had them checked out in the last year since childbirth - could have been something else im not thinking of? From my searches they don't look like they just disappear after childbirth? Good luck all XX

I get heart palpitations but then I always have - I have a prolapse valve - one in eight women have it - no big deal. It was very difficult to get it diagnosed at the time though - found out 20 years ago. Menopause has not made it any worse. I do take one shot of Estrogel each day along with a Prometrium pill - but no other meds. Might not hurt to ask for test for prolapse valve. Only thing you would need to do for this condition is to take a big dose of penicillin (or alternative) prior to surgery or any form of dentistry that would result in blood being "spilled" to be rather graphic. The condition causes palpitations when the heart valve closes a little too "hard" during its normal opening and closing - if blood should come out during a surgical process you could get blood poisoning - hence the penicillin. Might not be this, but doesn't hurt to ask - and as I said it most definitely requires a special - and very easy test. It does not show up on the regular EKGs or if you wear a heart monitor - I know this because my doctor did these procedures. Palpitations can of course be caused by certain medications - I don't sedate as per normal - anything that would put the normal person to sleep or cause drowsiness such as antihistamine/decongestant, gravol, codeine, not to mention the "happy shot" before surgery - causes my heart to pound at an alarming rate - and then of course the joys of surgery itself - and waking up way too soon. Procedures don't scare me - it is the not sleeping part that does. I am an insominiac - and sleeping pills will have me up for 5 days straight. Hope you find an answer to your problem.

pleblanc, I know you posted this a while ago but I have just read it and wondered if you got the itching and skin dryness sorted. I have had exactly the same symptoms as you only on the soles of my feet which makes even standing up some days excrutiating. I have been near to tears on a couple of occassions recently. Mine started two years ago out of the blue and I thought it might be menopause related as I had some severe hot flashes start at the same time. My doctor doesn't think so and has been prescribing creams for Pompholyx excema. I am finally seeing a dermatologist next month so we shall see what happens. I also for a few months have had the vaginal and rectal itching. I thought it was thrush but I have no other symptoms. I have been using canesten cream which gives me relief. I find it worse during the night which could be related to feeling hot. Finally, I also get the joint pain deep in my right hip if I lie on it too long and it also wakes me during the night. I would say all my menopause symptoms started about 8 years ago but in the last 2 years it has been constant and I have been trying everything I possibly can to help myself. I am of the belief that if these problems happened to men there would be specialists in every major city in every part of the world. Unfortunately because it is the other half of the population, Drs with a special interest are few and far between. P.S I tried HRT but had a horrendous migraine which was really scary-thought I was having a stroke-and my doc took me off them immediately. My BP and cholesterol were also sky high. Sorry this is so long but wanted to let you know you're not alone.

I just wanted to thank everyone here for being so helpful and sharing your stories about perimenopause. I used to be so full of energy, happy, positive -- all that began to change once perimenopause kicked in, which for me was around 47. The first sign was when I had a period just two weeks after my last one. My period became erratic after that. But the crap really hit the fan when I turned 50. I had always told myself that I would never act/feel frumpy/unhappy like a lot of women I had seen who were in their 50's. Well that's because I didn't know how very difficult perimenopause could be, and no one gave me a heads up about what can happen. I think many women go on hormones and thus do not suffer from much of this. But my doctor made it clear that she did not think they were a good idea. There have been days, though, where I've thought, enough is enough, I'm going to take them. I've experienced almost every symptom that's been discussed on this forum. I've had some truly awful panic attacks, which for me begin with a sensation of vertigo and feeling like I might pass out. My doctor gave me xanax for this, and I take a half or whole pill when the symptoms start. Since I now recognize what's happening, I know it will pass. The panic attacks usually occur when I'm out somewhere -- in a mall, grocery store, etc. Stress does play a big role in all of this, but it's made far worse my the fluctuating hormones. Regarding heart palpitations, I, too, have had them throughout my life, and wore "halters" from time to time to look for rhythm disturbances, etc. Of course nothing was found because magically when I wore the halter I must not have had any palpitations. Fast forward to a few months ago -- one day out of the blue my heart started flip flopping such that I had to sit down. After a minute or two it passed, but it got my attention. My doctor did an EKG which of course found nothing because again, at that moment, I was not having them. My doctor prescribed a low dose of Lexapro to address underlying anxiety. I have the pills but have chosen not take them right now. I've been taking Wellbutrin for the past twelve years to help with depression and it's done a pretty good job. I get them a couple times a day. I will say that since I cut out caffiene (including my beloved chocolate), the palpitations have decreased a little -- but I still have them. On the advice of several friends, I started taking CoQ10, which my doctor said was "unnecessary." I'm taking it anyway in the hope it might somehow help. Sometimes the palpitations start at night when I'm laying on my side in bed. But they can appear anytime during the day, whether I'm dealing with something stressful or not. I"m also trying to eat healthier and drop some weight, knowing that can only help in terms of feeling better. I'm tired of feeling like a sick, old person!! No one in my family understands so I don't talk about what I'm going through. I often pray and ask God to heal me from these symptoms. Sometimes my muscles/joints are so sore it's an effort for me to turn over in bed. I do not sit around all the time, I have three teens and tend to my family's needs, and I am involved in other things as well. My oldest is going to college this Fall, and I can see a time in the near future when I will have to get a job. Given how difficult some days are for me, I dread this thought. As many of the ladies here have said, "I want the old me back!!" And I wonder if that will ever happen. I truly hope so. Back to the heart palpitations, maybe I will try the calcium/magnesium supplements. I think I read somewhere that one should only take these for a certain amount of time. Thank you again to all who come here and honestly tell what's going on. I am very grateful for all the stories, advice, information and support I see here. Hoping and praying we can all move past this phase and get back our peace of mind, good health and happiness!