I have these symptoms and my belief is that they are associated with stress as it relates to this time of life, in addition to all the physical changes our bodies continue to go through. Confused, forgetful, cannot think straight -- yes, I've been experiencing these things...in addition to having difficulty focusing, feeling foggy and as though I've lost my edge. I truly believe that stress plays a large role in all of this. What have I been doing about it? Clearly not enough because I continue to feel like my memory isn't as sharp as it should be and my confidence isn't what it was. Take heart in the fact that you are far from being alone in your symptoms. In addition to meeting with your doctor to discuss your concerns, I recommend that you go easy on yourself, and know that things will get better. To believe otherwise is to fuel the anxiety that may be contributing to the sense of hopelessness. p.s. My doctor advised against using HRT, though many times I almost went against her advice. Be good to yourself in as many ways as you can. You deserve it!!

Thanks so much for the info! Actually I have a regular prescription for the dizziness but I'm afraid to take it because I was taking it the last time right before I ended up in the hospital and I just don't know if it triggered it or not! I am so afraid to take anything because of it. The medical doctor even gave me a mild relaxer for the anxiety attacks that I was getting, and that too is still in the cupboard. One of the side effects was dizziness!! That makes alot of sense!! I just might have to give in and try it! I was also taking Black Cohosh until the headaches started and found out that even though they are natural, they can give headaches!! Listen to me, I sound like a hypocondriact(how ever you spell it)! Actually I believe in taking anything natural if at all possible. Bobbi54, what is HTP? And how much of the other stuff do you take? Thanks ladies for your help, I really need it. Doctors are no help at all.

Hi joan, Poor you! I can SO relate with your situation. I'm sure you've probably checked your neck for pinched nerves, right? How about your vitamins? Have you read up on which ones, when deficient, might cause your symptoms? I honestly believe that some of us cannot physically handle menopause very well, because so many of our systems have become so dependent on our hormones. I'm thinking FSH has some funky effects on some of us. I even wonder if we have some ovarian-type cells in areas we shouldn't have, and they react to increasing FSH levels too, when they shouldn't. I just wish more research was done on this, but because it just affects aging women, I don't think they're interested. :( To be honest with you, I've been afraid to use acupuncture for my various problems. I went through about 5 years during perimenopause of having horrendous headaches. In retrospect, I am very suspect of the PPI I was on, since now when I try to use them, I get a bad headache. I have a friend who is on MAO inhibitors for her migraines, and she tried acupuncture, and it worked for awhile, but then she had the worst headache of her life. So I'm afraid to have that rebound problem with acupuncture. My whole body would go crazy with hormone fluctuations. One day I had an estrogen level drawn and it was something like 45. A few days later it was 440!! So I'm not sure testing those levels is helpful. Plus......some of us are fine with certain levels and some of us go crazy with them. I'm sorry if I'm rambling. I have major thinking problems too! When I was going through perimenopause, I had a hypertensive crisis type thing. My heart rate was about 110 at resting, and my BP went through the roof. I was eventually put on Toprol, a beta blocker, and everything calmed down. Last December I decided to come off the Toprol after being on it for 5 years, and my BP has been pretty good, but the rest of my body started going crazy. I started having lots of pains, GI problems, and now the dizziness and nausea. It makes me wonder if I need to go back on the Toprol......even though its not really meant for those symptoms. (unfortunately, the Toprol has its own set of side-effects that I hate). But.....my point is, perhaps there is a drug whose off-label use could help you? I would do this: 1. figure out what vitamins you're low on make sure you don't have neck nerve problems 3. Go on a test dose of an H2 blocker or PPI. 4. Keep a really good food diary, in case your having food intolerance problems 5. Maybe consider a beta blocker for migraine variants. When I was on Toprol, it was like a miracle, the way it took care of my headaches. Are you finding you have other symptoms anywhere in your body? your bowels? your nervous system? I'm really pursuing my GI tract as possibly causing these problems for me. Do you have any stomach problems? Our vagus nerve is very close to our esophagus and when irritated can cause some funky problems. I have fibromyalgia, and was just reading that nausea and dizziness is common. Is it possible you have fibro too? Again, please forgive me for rambling. I have ADD/fibro and am in menopause, so its sort of good that I can even talk at all! lol!

Well first off are you still having normal periods or are they irregular? I am 50 and have all of the same symptoms as you are but I still get periods whenever they feel like coming...not fun. Your symptoms certainly can be related to menopause and sometimes it does feel like you are going crazy so try not to worry too much especially since it seems as if all of your tests have come back normal.