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[jenster]

I don't know about everyone else who is 46 and feeling this peri-menopause thing - but I am losing my mind.  I have been to the cardiologist, my general practitioner, the neurologist and been cleared of everything after MRI thinking I had MS or Parkinsons - I have been to ER many many times with heart palpitations thinking this is it.... I have forced my general doctor to draw blood every time I feel weird and so far nothing - but every day I wake up feeling shakey, tired, weak, foggy, irritable, weak, sometimes trembling inside my skin, sore joints - heart palpitations, can't sleep great, hair is thinning and the list goes on and on -

I feel like I am not myself and I wake up every morning praying I will feel better... does anyone have advice or feel like this as well and is there an end in sight!

[CLKD]

Yep - many feel like you do, it's probably 'within normal limits', particularly as your GP has gone through all the investigative routes.

How is your diet?  If the body is hungry it can cause adrenaline surges = anxiety.  Have a look at what you eat and when.
Exercise can help.
There are medications that can ease anxiety, have a chat with your GP.

[Millykin]

It is horrible and sounds normal to what we are all suffering on here! Are you on any meds at all ? Eating often really does help, x

[dazned]

Yep most US know what you are feeling all to well,you are not going mad  !
The feelings are real. Have you mentioned to your doctor that it might be linked to hormones?

[jenster]

I have mentioned to my doctor on many occasions to check my hormone levels and when he does - he's days they are fine and then says I have anxiety and sends me off with ativan! 

[Millykin]

You know Dazned, I rememebrr my GP saying to me "these feelings are real," eh I know I'm feeling them!
She was trying to be nice by letting me know I wasn't going mad 
Jenster the old anixety eh now there's a new one! 

[dazned]

Unfortunately checking hormones levels are really a lottery,depending on where you are in your cycle so not much use usually,that's why most doctors go on symptoms instead. Ask to be referred to a gynecologist or find where your nearest woman's/ menopause clinic is if you feel your not being heard. Start keeping a health diary write everything down so you can see if a pattern emerges ,it will help .

[dazned]

CLKD ...or anyone can you tell me how hunger can lead to adrenaline surges please as I'm quite guilty of not always eating when I m not feeling good 

[honorsmum]

CLKD ...or anyone can you tell me how hunger can lead to adrenaline surges please as I'm quite guilty of not always eating when I m not feeling good 

Your.blood sugar drops and your body sends out cortisol (the stress hormone) in response, to stop you passing out! That's why they describe it as being "hangry" - angry when you're hungry!
I need to eat every couple of hours since peri started, otherwise I start to feel horrendous.

[CLKD]

'hangry' is a word in the news this week - never heard of it 

I was advised by NAPS to eat carbohydrates every 3 hours even though the night 24/7.  So having biscuits by the bed - my puppy learned that there was a biscuit to be had once she'd been out to pee at 3.00 a.m. - bananas and other slow release foods and try to eat before the body is hungry.  I didn't keep to meal 'times' for years which was difficult when visiting his family in particular    so I got to taking my own food ……… if it bothered them TUFF!

[dazned]

Thanks for that Honorsmum and CLKD knew you always tell people to eat but now I understand the importance of it will try to better 

[CLKD]

It took me MONTHS to realise that I needed to remember to eat before my body was hungry.  I would forget when I felt well until the next dip + nausea = anxiety.  DH would be saying 'eat, eat, eat' but I felt too ill    ………. I don't recognise hunger feelings. 

Having nibbles to hand: always eat breakfast - then keep dried fruits and nuts; Dextrose tablets; bananas; porridge, chocolate …… great standbys.  Make sure that you have comfort food once a day.  Our Grandparents were right, they ate stodge which filled their bellies, there wasn't money to buy much else.  Meat with potatoes and 2 veg., usually home grown or fresh from the greengrocer.  Puddings made with farm milk/cream, delivered daily - free range eggs, meat from the butcher …… very few 'ready' meals ………. so Yorkshire pudding as a starter with gravy to fill you up; meat/poultry/rabbit - roasted, stewed; cold, made into soups …….. and those Spotted Dick-type sponge puddings with custard made from scratch 

Soups are a good filler.  Beans on toast is highly under-rated.  Poached egg on toast.   

[holidaylover]

Hi Jenster,
I can so associate with the problems you are having.  I too have had numerous bloods taken, heart checks and when I became so desperate and convinced I had MS or the likes my doctor sent me to see the Neurologist (this was my second visit). My anxiety was through the roof with almost every waking minute spent worrying they were missing something. I was finding it so hard to believe that with so many symptoms I was not on death's door!  Anything sinister was ruled out and the Neurologist suggested I should see the Physiotherapist.  I was very dubious, to say the least, but I had my appointment last week and found it very interesting.  She said that she has seen numerous woman of 'my age', all being sent to her by this particular Neurologist, all with similar symptoms. The problem they think is caused by Hyperventilation Syndrome.  She monitered me as I sat beside here and she commented that I was breathing far quicker than I should have been and I was also breathing wrong! I know I have hyperventilated during a panic attack, but this 'wrong breathing' was effecting my health.  She sent me off with a load of information, exercises and a follow up appointment.  Physiotherapy for Hyperventilation has a website which is quite interesting.  I'm not saying this will be the answer to all my symptoms but I shall give it a go.  I do think a lot of my symptoms are definately hormone based, but if I can learn to breathe better, then become calmer, I may not panic and worry quite so much.  Health anxiety is a truly horrible time consuming thing, and the constant worry is such a vicious circle.  Take care x

[CLKD]

Interesting aspect - 

[jenster]

holidaylover - I cannot thank you enough for all of that information. I do feel like I am breathing to hard or like I can feel my pulse more then I used to pumping in my neck - I will look into what you suggested. Anything helps, this am I was nervous to get out of bed that I told my husband and I just started crying - I didn't want to add any more pressure to his world so I haven't been talking about it. He made me feel a lot better - but it is just hard not feeling yourself... especially with a 12 and 15 year old at home who need me.  Thank you again - I so appreciate it.