Glad Dr. Google gave you some comfort. He's been helpful to me on many occasions!

Yeah, just knowing other women were experiencing the same weird surging feeling in their arms and legs was a comfort. I was worried something was going on with my blood pressure or heart, but I didn't have any other symptoms. Sigh. I'm such an old lady.

Dr. Google... I like that.

(whuffles to little Oliver : )

I will pass along your whuffles! He is passed out flat on his Dad's chest at the moment- missing out on the parade of nations!

Pips, as soon as I saw what your google search was, I knew what the answer would be before you even wrote it.

*raises hand as a menopause sufferer*

Crazy ass hormones.

My gyno recommended a vitamin regime that seems to be somewhat helpful (in that I don't have as many symptoms as I did a year ago; my menopause was surgically induced and whiplash strong in its immediate intensity). I too am not a candidate for HRT because of a blood clotting disorder, and I have found this vitamin program to be moderately adequate. Good luck, girl!

He is passed out flat on his Dad's chest at the moment

"Still tired from the move."

I started taking ground flax to counteract the hot flushes (as we call them in the UK), a couple of tablespoons in the morning with orange juice, I'd add it to soup, mix it in with my muesli, and it really worked.

Then I started getting really awful pains in my hands. I thought "Oh no! I'm getting arthritis" (I have psoriasis, and so I have a greater chance of developing arthritis.) The pain was so bad some days that I couldn't type. At first it didn't occur to me that it could be the flax, because all that Omega 6 had to be good for my joints, didn't it?

Dr Google told me that for a small percentage of people an excess of Omega 6 can cause an inflammatory reaction, and for me it mimicked the symptoms of arthritic inflammation. I stopped taking it and the pain went away. For the most part, the hot flushes have gone too, although my theme song is still "I am woman, hear me roar - open the f'ing window!"

Appreciate the support and shared stories... it's kind of fascinating in a way to watch my body change (not sure I'll feel the same after a couple years). It's funny you mention vitamins, msali... I have some gummie multi-vitamins (I'm bad with pills) that I hadn't taken in awhile, and I've been craving them lately. I've also been trying to make some changes in my diet (more fruits and veggies, less junk, watch the portions, watch the grazing, swap out water for some juice/soda) and go for walks (40 minutes a few times a week -- my goal is daily, but I'm not there yet). And I've lost 10 pounds! In just a few weeks, and I don't even feel like I'm trying.

I'm certainly not suffering. I've eaten chicken with garlic sauce with white rice from Chinese take-out a couple times (skipped the egg roll -- small changes), pizza (with mushrooms instead of bacon), a quarter pound cheeseburger from my favorite burger joint, the Merrit Canteen (skipped the onion rings -- that one hurt), all of which I never would have let myself eat in the past on a "diet," and I even had a piece of lemon coconut cake the other day (cake is a great motivator for going for a walk, the bakery being on my route. :) In the past I've always crash dieted and it's never worked. I end up starving and binging. I've been stunned by the weight coming off. I would've been (and will be) happy with a pound a week. Life changes, not a diet, as they say. Could it be this easy? Maybe I shouldn't talk about it. I might jinx it.

Of course, we're going on a cruise next week, which is awesome and I can't wait, but not so great for losing weight. But I'll try to keep it reasonable -- three lobster tails is my limit (lost cause?). Well, at least I'll have a very nice place to go for walks!

Good for you pips!

I thought I was starting to get hot flashes after I drank a 5 hour energy shot, but it turned out to be a reaction from the drink.

I wish Dr. Google could tell me what's going on with my eyes. I just had an mri which didn't show anything and the neuro-optho is sending me to one who specializes in retinas.

Glad Dr. Google gave you some comfort. He's been helpful to me on many occasions!

SO good to hear a succesful health-Google story! Usually I type out my symptom, hit enter, and wait for the words "brain tumor" to appear. EVERY TIME I TELL YOU.

I now know that, for me, one of the first signs of a sinus infection is a phantom smoke smell. But while I researched this, Dr. Google did its level best to diagnose me with either OH NO BRI-AN TUUUUMOR or ghosts/demons/arsonous poltergeist.

brujita, that sounds both annoying and upsetting. But at least Dr. Google didn't diagnose you with OH NO GHOSTIES IN THE HOUSE!

Pips, the cruise sounds dreamy! Please eat some lobster for me, too.

Yeah, Elsa, one thread mentioned MS and I was briefly alarmed. You're right to take Dr. Google with a healthy dose of salt. I should still see my gynecologist, which I've been avoiding for a few years now, but it was good not to feel I had to rush out to the ER or anything.

And thanks, Brujita... Hope your eyes feel better.