For about two years, maybe three, unbeknown to me I was going through a natural early menopause from about the age of 37yrs.
I had all the following symptoms - aching joints, sleepless nights, terrible night sweats, very low mood , sometimes depression, gaining weight despite eating sensibly, very bad mood swings that really affected my family and I badly.

The GP said it was my thyroid, being overweight, doing too much, IBS, and told me to not do so much!

I also began to get less organised, quite muddled and foggy in my brain and the highly organised, always on time, reliable, happy person I had been suddenly became a nervous wreck who excluded herself from family and social situations and had lots of time off work sick with various ailments but lots emotionally related.

It came to a real head this summer, 2004, when I began having sever panic attacks and got very down, having had many occasions when I seriously wanted to run away and exit my life, it felt the strongest and most serious now. I do not know how my husband stayed with me as I was sooooo horrible to him. The kids have really had to put up with a crap time too with me just not being enthusiastic or interested any more and being very irritable and touchy with them. I suddenly became quite agoraphobic without realising it and always managed to get out going out anywhere by getting others to do things for me and by shopping on line etc

I did however venture out one day with my head low and in town an ex colleague spotted me and asked why I was signed off sick. I was mortified she’d seen me with glasses instead of contact lenses and no makeup - but I’d really let myself go like that too. Now I am so happy I bumped into her - she dragged it out of me what had been going on and she said she had been like that when she went through the menopause. I went off home, got on the net, tapped in a few searches and saw a description of menopause symptoms - someone had written about me - I also had the weak bladder and the hairy bum!! I was so surprised. Off to the GP I trotted the next day and a week later HRT patches were in place.
Now feeling so much better, still could sleep every afternoon and not at night. Still get some night sweats, and I’m still a bit fuzzy brained and often late for school!! However the main big improvement is I am coping, I have a diagnosis and I am emotionally so much more stable. Have my days but got the excuse now so just go with it.

The best thing about it is this lot here - WOW are they supportive!
Advice, help, listening ear, and quite a fair helping of madness to help one along!

Hope you find my story useful.
Ally