I am someone who suffered with awful PMS, hormonal hell, physical symptoms w/menstruation, etc...and for me, menopause has been almost completely a blessing and a godsend! Actually my sisters (all of whom had the same bad pattern) formulated a theory. Women who never had the experience of that kind of nightmare probably have a worse time with menopause because suddenly the mood swings, period effects and so on are really severe and unpleasant. Whereas, for women like us that stuff is par for the course and the final cease fire of menstruation is mostly a huge relief. At least that's my story and I'm sticking to it-or should I say living it. My last menstrual period was 2+ years ago and I can't honestly say I miss it for a second. I feel great, no more mood swings, and not having to deal with periods from hell (perimenopause was a horror show too of course)...what's to miss or mourn?! As far as symptoms, I have hot flashes but then again my skinny bones husband is constantly cold so usually when I feel really warm I discover he's turned the AC up to 88 degrees again. Otherwise, so far so good.

I felt the vibrating in my left arm for the time today, so I did internet search to look for possible cause. It led me to this conversation. I am diabetic (30 years) and just recently got a CGM. I have alarm for high blood glucose readings set to vibrate. When I felt the sensation today, I assumed I had better check my phone app to see what was going on with sugar level. I looked for my phone, and was surprised to see it lying on the table in front of me. Not "attached to me" in the pocket next to my stomach where I normally keep it. Scared me. Interested that so many diabetics seem to report similar problem. Just had Doc appt yesterday, so won't see him again for 3 months. Definitely something to discuss. I'm wondering why left arm though. Is diabetes really that specific? :-) Thanks to all for sharing!

I have a few apps on my iPhone. iTriage is a great medical/emergency app for just in case. You can store your health records (I don't), research diseases, find medical treatment from wherever you are, look up symptoms, etc. It's free. I have a California Highway Patrol app that can alert me to accidents and road construction. I downloaded an app called 'Volume Up' that makes my phone easier to hear videos and songs without the need for the earplugs that Jack chewed up. I have Twitter but can't remember my user name or password so it's useless. I downloaded 'Google' just because I think it's one of the better search engines out there. I also have Ebay and PayPal apps and Facebook. Oh! MapQuest too but don't use it much because I have Nav in my Prius. I use my 'Yelp' app when I'm out of town and want to get something to eat. I love that app. I have a free 'Spider' game app too. I enjoy that when I'm waiting around somewhere where there is poor cell reception.

I've had tinnitus for about a year as a result of fluid in ear and subsequent nerve damage and partial deafness in that ear. I have been on Neurontin for a couple of weeks. It is an anti-convulsant but has a lot of off label uses. A friend with severe rhumatoid arthritis told me about it. It lessened her pain and brought her out of a severe depression in 24 hours. I noticed that my tinnitus was much more bearable after a day or so on 300 mg of Neurontin. I asked the doctor to let me increase the dose but got tired and depressed so I quit for a few days. Am now back on 300 mg a day and feeling good. the ringing in my ear is no longer distracting and I am functioning better at work and at home. My mood is brighter too. Tinnitus and hearing loss tend to make one feel withdrawn and down. There is a lidocaine patch under development that may offer hope for tinitus. Lidocaine works IV and eliminates tinnitus in most subjects but has to be injected every 30 minutes so isn't a practical cure. If it works as a patch behind the ear that would be great.