I am a 42 year old female and lately I have been becoming tired easily. First started about a week ago, body aches and tired a lot. I was going to bed early and getting plenty of rest. Then I started my period early it had only been 10 days since I had stopped my last period. Got a boost of energy the next day and then crashed again the day after. Woke up ok, then by afternoon tired. Started taking liquid B-12 hoping to help with the energy problem. Now, I’m up and down a lot. Could this be part of early menopause? I have put on weight over the last few years, but lately not more then 15 pounds, however my stomach is where it is showing bloated a lot. I am truly about 80 pounds over weight, but would feel better if I could lose 50 or 60 pounds. I have been watching my food intake, but not steady. Also, been having headaches, some times really bad on the left side of my head. Any thoughts will be greatly appreciated. I am going to the doctor for a check up. Any special test I should ask for concerning I think I’m falling apart. (haha) I am usually a person who goes all the time, so this is out of the norm for me. My blood pressure is always good and I’m a non-smoker and non-drinker. My biggest problem is Coca-Colas. Thanks for your help.
Dr. Joshua’s Answer:
To summarize, these are the problems that are suggested by your message: Obesity, fatigue, irregular period, poor diet, headache, bloating.
Obesity and recent weight gain may have an effect on your hormone balance and cause menstrual irregularity. Obesity also causes insulin resistance, which means that you are at risk of developing diabetes and other related health problems. Bloating and other stomach problems may be related to poor diet, low-fibre diet and lack of exercise. Fatigue and headache may also be related to all of the above mentioned problems.
I’m happy that you are seeing a doctor soon. A medical history, physical examination and gynecological examination are important, and your doctor may want to make some tests to exclude some common conditions which may either contribute to or result from the above mentioned problems. These include: Thyroid function, diabetes, hormone levels, electrolytes, liver and kidney function.
Menopause typically occurs between the ages of 45-55. The symptoms of menopause include menstrual cycle changes, changes to the bleeding pattern, hot flushes, sweats, mood changes, weight changes, vaginal dryness, incontinence and increased frequency of urination.
Your symptoms do not immediately suggest that you are experiencing premature menopause, but it’s worth mentioning this concern of yours to your physician.
The only recommendations I can make are: Talk to your doctor about your concerns, leave it up to him/her to determine what sort of tests need to be done, and, perhaps most importantly, avoid sedentary lifestyle ad all costs; exercise, spend time outdoors, and make it your mission to lose weight.
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