From hot flashes and night sweats that soak your sheets every night to hormonal fluctuations that have you screaming at your spouse for no good reason, according to the Mayo Clinic, there are several symptoms traditionally associated with menopause. You prepared yourself for all those "normal" symptoms, but were not ready for all the strange things this life change can have on your body. Here are a few seemingly-bizarre symptoms associated with menopause that are actually quite normal:
A Burning Sensation In Your Mouth
Also known as Burning Tongue Syndrome or Glossodynia, Burning Mouth Syndrome is as uncomfortable as it sounds and characterized by a very uncomfortable sensation on the tongue, lips and inside the mouth.
According to WebMD, burning mouth syndrome can also result in a nasty, metallic taste inside the mouth and can be caused by many disorders and illnesses, including diabetes or a vitamin B12 deficiency.
Unfortunately, this irritating condition can occur during menopause, and the problem is your ever-decreasing hormones. As your hormonal levels fluctuate and drop during menopause, your taste buds can become more sensitive, which can lead to the symptoms associated with burning mouth syndrome.
If the culprit is menopause, your doctor and dentist will provide you with several options to ease the burning sensation. These could include hormone replacement therapy and changes to your diet, including increasing your water intake and putting down the spicy chicken wings!
Panic and Anxiety
Are you having trouble sleeping, feeling panicked or are beginning to worry about situations and ideas that never really bothered you in the past?
Unfortunately, one of the stranger symptoms associated with menopause is increased anxiety and panic. Once again, the problem is your plummeting hormones, but thankfully, the issue will begin to resolve as you get through this unusual experience.
If you're experiencing increased anxiety, the first step is to speak to your physician to discover any other underlying causes of this issue. Once your doctor determines menopause is the issue, there are several things you can do to get back to normal.
In addition to antidepressants and hormone replacement therapy, you can also try a few simple lifestyle changes. These include skipping your morning cup of coffee, snacking throughout the day to normalize your blood sugar levels and drinking more water.
Skin Issues
It's not uncommon for women to experience itchy, dry skin during menopause. Drinking more water and switching to a moisturizing lotion will help, but there is another, more aggravating problem that can seriously affect your life: formication.
This seemingly-innocent sounding disorder is characterized by the feeling there are small insects crawling underneath your skin. Formication can occur during menopause when the nerve endings on your skin suddenly stop getting a steady supply of hormones. As your hormone levels continue to decline, the formication can get much worse.
There are other conditions that can cause formication, including psychiatric disorders and thyroid issues, so it's best to contact your doctor. The symptoms associated with formication can be very uncomfortable, but thankfully there are many things you can do to find relief:
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Hormone Replacement Therapy – The most effective treatment for formication is hormone replacement therapy. Once your skin receptors start receiving the hormones they were accustomed to again, the feeling of bugs crawling under your skin should decrease.
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Hydrate Your Skin – Turning down the temperature in the shower, drinking more water and applying a moisturizing lotion to your skin throughout the day can also help.
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Change Your Diet – Increasing your intake of omega-3 fatty acids can help lessen the uncomfortable symptoms of formication, as well. Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids include certain varieties of fish and nuts.
For many women, menopause marks the beginning of a new chapter of their lives. Instead of simply living with the dozens of symptoms that are commonly associated with menopause, read more on what you can do to start feeling like your old self again!
