Hi, I am a 50 year old Irish woman. This is my first time to ask a question on this site. I have been experiencing hot flushes for over a year. A recent blood test revealed that I have not started the menopause. I was coping with the hot flushes by taking a product called Menoaid which contains red clover and sage. This product stopped the hot flushes. I ran out of the product and stopped taking it for a few days. The hot flushes came back. I'm now taking the product again but it doesn't seem to have any effect on my symptoms. It's possible that the product has to build up in my system again. What is really worrying me is that now when I get hot flushes it also feels like I'm short of breath and my arm muscles go weak. Is this normal?

Suggest you talk to your doctor but hormone imbalance can cause any number of symptoms.

Menopause can happen quickly or it can take years, and the symptoms vary widely. It happened to me at 50, at least in terms of when my periods stopped. I had no other symptoms at all - in fact for me, it was a relief, because I stopped going way down in mood every months.
I see no reason to count on a blood test as an indicator. 50 year old woman with hot flashes is going through it, plain and simple. I highly doubt that you have anything else, even with weak arms, as long as your doctor as already ruled out the usual things like high blood pressure.
Google 'menopause treatments' for all sorts of diet and herbal ideas, some sold and some just passed around among women.