Working and menopause:
During the years before I had tried to continue to work but physically fell apart.
I pushed myself to keep working, despite my body showing clear signs of distress. I ignored the increasing joint pain, stomach bloating, reflux, whole limb swelling, back herniated discs, the frozen shoulder on one side and ruptured ligaments on the other leading to instability, the ankle giving away so badly I was dragging it from the train to the car, the allergies, the increasing lack of energy and fatigue, sleep disruptions, burning pain, convincing myself that I was okay. The doctors had said I was within normal range so nothing to do, but my body wasn’t on the same page.
The constant pain from my joints, the random allergic reactions, the muscle cramps that would not relax and the strange sensations like the "red ants" became overwhelming. The red ants started late evening and throughout the night. They were so real I could 'see' them crawling up my arms, my back, neck into my scalp. The health practitioners at first 'rolled their eyes' at me. To be fair, it did seem a little far fetched to have ants under my skin on my arms and back and yet they were so real!
Looking back, I realise how much of it was related to hormones exacerbating the already comprised connective tissue from puberty and onwards and the erroneous hormones given to me in my 50s atapulted me into a cytokine storm. I had had no guidance for going through this phase while still trying to maintain my professional career.
Ultimately, I had to step back from work as my health collapsed and physically burnt out. Due to my literalness and years of being called a hyponchondriac I had tried to continue. I was so ill, I could not open my eyes at times as it felt like heavy concrete was being poured into me and it left me bed bound for a long time.
So back to the red ants. The doctor was going to put me on the Multiple Sclerosis pathway but in the end I asked about the menopause as I was 57. I had received my Chronic Fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia diagnosis many years before. I received my hypermobility Ehlers-Danlos diagnosis later on after breaking down. The doctor said I could try HRT.
Result- Ants were instantly gone! It was called formication paresthesia and can happen during the menopause. The 'red ants' were a notable symptom and does happen to some people although this is not common.
Here is a link to the menopause guidance if you are working.
Jane Green
My goodness, I can totally relate. The number of times I have had the GP "eye roll" is beyond a number - the most recent was after a clinically mild anaphalaxic, where I was told "it might be a bit of an intolerance!" I was told to take an antihistime and go home. I had a bit of an uncharacteristic meltdown and I left the GP's office that day in a lot of distress, emotional and physical, but I did eventually end up with a blood test form to test for allergies to soya and fruits.
It transpires that the IgE levels were through the roof. I have had hayfever since I can remember, the 'red ants' for at least…
I can relate Jane as I have had horrible skin sensations for quite some time . I have also been communicating to the GP about tingling in my arms and hands and pins and needles and it was no real concern for some GPs (when I was starting to worry that it was MS symptoms after experiencing these unpleasant skin symptoms and muscle issues for considerable time ). There were no links made to the menopause either even though I have been menopausal last 2 years. I have also suffered with allergies all my life and my skin is extremely sensitive to temperature and changes in my environment and what I put on and in my body and usually flar…