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[Marshabookworm]

There are so many ways to describe these! I've had these on and off for as long as I can remember, but every now and then I get them for days at a time. I'm at that time now.

I've had these for the last 3 days, not constant but near enough. They worry me when they're like this. I've just come back from GP about them. My husband is convinced they are hormonal. I'm 49, I think I've been peri for years. I have never been as regular as I am now, I can set my clock by my menstrual cycle. At the moment I'm smack bang mid cycle. My GP thinks as I'm so regular it can't be hormonal. Keep a diary and if they get worse I'll either get referred to cardiology, or go to A&E.

(BTW I do see a cardiologist for LQTS but as far as I know palpitations aren't a known symptom. My last ECG was also fine.)

Can palpitations (or whatever you want to call them) be hormone/cycle linked? Can I do anything to help ease them?

Thank you

[Dierdre]

I had palpatations alot in my 40's and my periods were regular but looking back I suppose it was the start of peri menopause but didn't connect it. Had ECG and heart monitor and heart scan too but all was well. I also get them when anxious sometimes and had them for a few weeks after Covid (had ECG then too but all fine).
If you're ECG is fine then try not to worry, that will help.

[Keep On Swimming]

Yes, it's deffo hormonal! I have the same and am in the full swing of peri. I even was taken to hosp in an ambulance a few months ago with a BPM of 150. All check ups ok, but my thyroid meds dose was wrong so that's more hormones in the mix.

In peri our hormones are like roller coasters and for some of us that translates as all kinds of symptoms, palpitations etc. included.

I take 1/8 of Propanolol 40mg 3 times a day and that has calmed things down.

It's scary but your ECG etc. is ok, so that reassuring.

xxx

[sheila99]

Yes, it can be a meno symptom. It might be worth reading the 'advice for husbands' pinned post to see if you have others.

[VanillaLover]

Hi, yes I suffered terribly before I went on HRT. I too had an ECG which was ok. I wasn’t expecting HRT to help much but surprisingly they stopped completely after about a week on oestrogen patches.

[Songbird]

My experience was exactly the same as VanillaLover. HRT sorted out my palps 

[DottyD68]

Hi Marshabookworm,

I am in a similar position to you at the moment. Been peri-menopausal for probably 7-8 years with phases of palpitations during that period. Started HRT 18 months ago and things settled. However whilst recovering from Covid and having a badly timed change in HRT regime (because of my age 54) in August 22  anxiety and Palps returned amongst other symptoms. They did settle for a while but kicked in again in the run up to Xmas, really badly one night after a hectic day. I put this down to other stressful family stuff going on along with the pre-xmas pressures. It calmed for 3 weeks but this week has kicked off again especially in the evenings. I am due a withdrawl bleed any day and hadn't considered it being related to periods as never experienced it prior to peri until I started reading that it might be a thing. I feel like my own hormone levels have changed again this last few months as many of my other symptoms have calmed down and bleeds are less frequent. I have no idea what's going on.

 Have had bloods taken this week to check thyroid etc isn't causing it but GP isn't expecting that to be an issue and seems quite relaxed about it. I have booked myself in for an ECG next week as I want to get to the bottom of it. It's driving me mad and I'm starting to dread the evenings. Let's hope it all calms down.

[KaraShannon]

Marshabookworm, yes been there.  It's horrible isn't it. 

Can you think back to any other times when you've had a run of these?  And whether it was bang in the middle of your cycle?  It might be that your body is struggling to ovulate as usual.  I think mine were around this time in peri menopause.  It always seemed to be when my body was doing it's best to ovulate and for me HRT (Evorel Sequi) calmed it all down.

I think it's a known thing that palpitations are more common in certain parts of the cycle. 

I actually called a private cardiologist after having 2 day's worth of them, like pop corn popping in my chest.  Thankfully they gave me an appointment for that evening and the cardiologist gave me a check over and said he wasn't worried at all.  He did say the definitive check would be to have an echocardiogram, as if the heart is strong and structurally ok, it's usually considered benign.  He said from listening to my chest he believed all would be ok and that it was ok to wait for an NHS appointment for that if I wanted.  So I did.  The test came back normal.

All the while my GP's were talking about anxiety    It was only when I came here and so many people here told me that they too suffered and that palpitations are a menopausal symptom that I asked my GP to consider HRT (I had other symptoms as well).

I'm not saying HRT is always the answer, I'm just saying that yes it can definitely be hormonal.

Sometimes having some extra salt on your food, and some magnesium and any foods containing taurine (meat mainly which I don't eat) can calm them down.  Another thing the cardiologist said was if you notice it mainly at rest, that's very typical of a lot of healthy women, at rest is likely benign (but that doesn't mean it's not if it happens during exercise). 

The GP's thought that you are too regular for it to be hormonal, I can see what they mean, but palpitations are known to occur at certain parts of a cycle anyway, and also I would query whether your oestrogen levels are low even though you are regular.  I was regular but peri menopausal and hrt helped it so thinking it could still be hormonal.

[KaraShannon]

Just one last thing Marshabookworm

Years ago now, but I called the doctor very upset about them.  They tried to calm me down.  I took the day off work I was so worried.  I ended up 'giving up' and going to bed as I didn't know what else to do.  I fell asleep.  When I woke up they had almost gone and over the course of the rest of the day they disappeared.

I told the doctor and he said you surrendered to them and rested and that was what you needed.  Of course my anxiety made me ask him why.  But now I know why.  I was trying to hatch an egg 

[Booroo]

Thank you all for your replies.  I'm trying my best not to worry about them and to ignore them, but it's very difficult when the thumps are almost constant!  I've been out and about today and can hardly feel or notice them, but as soon as I come home to relax they start up again.  I can hear the thump in my right ear as well, but this does feel a bit congested so I assume that doesn't help either.  I'm definitely hormonal at the moment, I have right boob pain, bloated, full of wind and more over anxious than usual, so I the sensible side of me says that as I've had these beats for years, it's nothing to worry about.  That illogical side of me takes over though and I'm convinced my heart is about to give in...I'm sure we've
all been

So with you there,started hrt 3 weeks ago and after 3 or so days they went but have had them again yesterday and today, shaky too
I had ecg and was fine too pesky hormones totally terrify us all x

[DottyD68]

Sorry to hear you are still suffering. I am too, to varying degrees. It's worse at night. I started a withdrawal bleed today so I am hoping they will ease off but I've also got a gurgling stomach so there feels like there's a lot of activity going on and I can't tell what is what!

I have been trying to keep hydrated and minimise/avoid any stimulant like caffeine, alcohol and sugar. I've also been doing my meditation apps. I am convinced it's hormones but like you now beginning to think it's either my thyroid or something else. Waiting for test results doesn't help.

Can you ask your GP to test your thyroid or give you another ECG? When are you due to see your cardiologist next? Maybe he/she could reassure you? I hope you have a successful appointment with GP tomorrow.

[DottyD68]

Hi Marshabookworm,

Just wondering how you are getting on? Did you manage to speak to GP?

[DottyD68]

That's really good to hear and you sound a lot calmer. Been thinking about you. Look after yourself x

[DottyD68]

I had my blood test results (thyroid, iron, B12 etc etc) and all came back "normal" which is good news as I had come to the conclusion they would find a million things wrong with me  Now awaiting ECG and hoping that is ok. I have major white-coat syndrome so although I want reassurance and/or find out what is causing a problem, the whole process causes me more anxiety. I annoy myself 

[Gilla999]

Just to add - I have also been experiencing horrendous palpitations (I suffer from PVCs) and increased heart rate, and it absolutely correlates for me with being on too high a dose of Estrogen, or the time in my cycle when my Estrogen soars. Just wondering if you're still ovulating and it happens when your Estrogen spikes and the continues into your luteal phase when your Estrogen is also rising, if it could be something similar? I've witnessed quite a few ladies on the forum observe too high Estrogen causing palpitations.

Though confusingly as always, some women also experience it as part of low Estrogen.