I have been having what I consider to be menopausal symptoms because I can't really classify them any other way, migraines, female issues, hot and cold issues, and now I have this very severe dry mouth.  I have been dilligently testing my blood sugar and its been good so I know its not that, I drink tons of water but I actually feel like I have symptoms of dehydration, headaches, and dizziness.   My labs were fine when they were last tested, so I am really not sure what could be going on NOW.  I started taking big doses of B12 because I read that being low can cause dry mouth.  I am not diabetic and I don't have any of the other symptoms to go along with the other disorders that cause it other then a very severe anxiety disorder.  I honestly think I am driving myself nuts, I have been trying to lose this ten lbs I gained, and I am so miserable because it won't budge.  My jeans are tight, I feel like I am going to burst, I feel huge and horrid.  I caught a co-worker looking at me yesterday, she always mentions when I lose weight, so I know she notices these things.  I wanted to say YES I KNOW I AM FAT.  I can't sleep, I am so tired but nothing makes me stay asleep.  I keep waking up in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep.  I don't even know what to tell my doctor, I won't call her unless I really think I need to go in but this might just be another anxiety attack.  They are just getting so bad I cannot even tell anymore.  Mental illness is such a stigma I hide it from everyone all the time, the only place I ever even mention it to anyone is on here.  I was so over the edge last night I started reading and came across this memorial site for parents who lost children, I was strangely unaffected by it.  I guess I honestly don't feel connected to anything right now.  I really am not sure what I should be doing, or if this is all part of the menopause process or I am really having a nervous breakdown.  Advice appreciated.  And please don't suggest counselling, thats not a option.

 It could all be the anxiety talking at this point.

Are you treating it?

Nothing works for me except Xanax but I won't take it unless I feel like I need it, which I don't thats why this is ******g with my head.  

 It totally sounds like menopause coming.  My mom went stark-raving mad when it came upon her, and we were so relieved when she had her first hot flash, for we knew it could be fixed.  
I swear women are getting it at younger ages these days.  Your PCP or GYN would be my next stop.

My PCP put me back on birth control issues when this all started last year because I was getting my period all the time, that seems to have helped that part of it.  Now I just have all the other issues.  The dry mouth thing is driving me nuts, I can't possibly drink any more water.  You would think this would aid me losing weight as everything tastes wrong, but no such luck.

My mom didn't start menopause until she was in her 50's and had tons of issues right up until her death at 61.  Oh goodie something to look forward too.  lol

 Whatever it is I hope you get to the bottom of it .... don't know what to say besides 'hormones suck' .. 'menopause is a biatch' and I keep getting woken up by my son at all hours of the night as he has disordered sleep then I have to start counting sheep ... once I ran out of sheep and started to count my ferrets ... and when that did not work I started to clean the house and I guess I hate housekeeping enough that I got tired before I really started and fell asleep on the couch with the broom in my hands.... 

Feel better ... sending you big hugs and feel free to fling my cyber arms off too ((((((((HUGS)))))))) ... you are still my beautiful sista!!!! take care of yourself ... changes and more changes ... I wonder if men go through the same ... I see Al sitting there nonchalant most of the times and I want to pinch him (joking) ...  

Stress can cause all those things as well as menopause ... and when in doubt and on the verge of a nervous breakdown seek that which you do not want us to mention ... it DOES help!!!

Thanks Beautiful!

Just because I am sick and crazy doesn't mean I forgot my painting, I soooo want it, since my swans have all gone there seperate ways I so miss my family.  I think that has me more depressed then anything.  I just want to feel normal again, if I can remember what that is.  lol

I started menopausal symptoms in my late 30's and was totally done at age 46, so yes it could be the start of menopause.

I know its menopause but is the dry mouth associated with it also?  That is driving me nuts.  I drink water all day long and its still dry.  I am not thirsty at all, I just drink to wet my mouth.

I have a very dry mouth and have to drink all day.  Never go anywhere without something to drink with me.  Can't remember when the dry mouth started, years ago.

HEIDI-I know, as women, we "like" to blame alot of things on "hormones"..but..well...they just ARE to blame so often...

I was "perimenopausal" from age 34, when I had my 2nd/last child (had the first at 32)..I was 300+ lbs, which didn't help..and thought I was stark raving nuts..and I was/am Diabetic, etc, etc..

Have you had extensive hormone levels checked?

Klonopin helped ME more than Xanax-but that was ME, of course-we're all different

Not sleeping well drives EVERYTHING out of wack

Mental "illness" IS a stigma..should NOT be but it IS a fact of our society...if we're Diabetic, we take insulin...but we're not supposed to  be Manic, Depressed, etc..stupid..just stupid..

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE always feel safe to share HERE...I will ALWAYS keep your confidence

Thanks Gina,

I guess I think I am hiding being nuts from the world, kinda like I hid being MO, I doubt anyone who knows me doesn't really know but there is so much shame associated with it.  I hide from so many things, I honestly have gotten worse then I have ever been this past winter and I don't know why, usually there is an obvious trigger but now I am just free falling.  I am scared, really scared.

Thanks for being so kind.

It could very well be menopause, I felt horrible until I got my hormones in check.  Any chance you can get your hormones checked?

My PCP put me back on birthcontrol pills last years to get my hormones in order.  Maybe I need to take something else?

BC always make my hormons level crazy. They are not bioidentical hormones and IMO - they do more harm than good.

I started perimenopausal in my mid 30's and had my last period the day of my RNY at the age of 46.  My hot flashes are unbearable but they were when I was perimenopausal also - it has been this way for years.  I walk around with a batterie operated fan all year long.

You should really get some labs done now - dont go by what they were.  You should atleast get a CBC, comprehensive metabolic panel, your iron, ferritin and B12 due to the dizziness - if low enough can cause severe fatigue and dizziness.

For the dry mouth - you should ask your PCP to run some specialized blood tests - a SED RATE, a SSA and SSB - these are for a disorder called sjorgren syndrome - it causes severe dryness - most noticibly in the mouth, can also be causd GI problems due to dryness and difficulty swallowing to lack of saliva (severe dryness) - this is an autoimmune disorder usually treated by a Rheumotologist.  you might want to look into this. There are treatments that can really help you if this is the case.

Have you had cavities in your mouth lately? Do you have difficulty swallowing? Do you have GI troubles? These are all symptoms of Sjogrens.

I read about Sjorgren syndrome because I like to self diagnose these things and it mentions dry eyes also, and I have no issue with that at all.  Just my lips and tongue always seem super dry.  I have no diffeculty swallowing but I do notice that things don't taste right all the time.  Although that doesn't seem to stop me from eating at all.  We had a big family dinner tonight and we had shrimp with ****tail sauce and it seemed too spicy to me.  I had some aspargus (my favorite veggie) and it didnt taste the same as it usually does, but then again my bf's brother sometimes uses different seasoning when grilling so it could be that. 

I really hate to keep going to my doctor over nothing.  It makes me think she thinks I am crazy.

Thanks for your advice.

Good Lord... it could be anything, or nothing!  GO TO YOUR PCP AND GET IT DIAGNOSED - you are driving yourself crazy (or crazier!!!??? lol) by trying to self diagnosis!

It could be a combination of a few different things...it could be you need therapy...it could be.....it could be.........................

GO SEE YOUR PCP!!!

IT seems wortht asking for the blood testing to be sure, just my thought - it is one of the most under diagnosed disorders there is because it is unknown

There's no shame in having mental illness - all the really cool people have it!

Seriously, if you bring up the subject of psychotropic meds, depression meds, anxiety meds, in a social group, I estimate half the people will start talking about what med's they're on, what they used to be on, and what their friends are on. And the ones who don't speak up are probably on meds too but they just won't say.

Talk to your PCP and think about a low dose anxiety medication.  It can really make the difference in whether you are able to deal with your stuff and enjoy  your life, or if you just feel overwhelmed and anxious all the time. That's a miserable feeling.