Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Zimbomeno on January 17, 2015, 04:20:06 PM
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Hi. Finally found this site to be able to talk with ladies in/been through same situation. Despite a negative menopause blood test am 100% sure I am well into 'it'! Question I have - some years ago when some of the symptoms started I began to have racing heart (primarily when in bed during the heart) when it felt like my heart was racing (but no pain). Sometimes happens in early evening now. Ended up at my GP who did heart tests, so did heart specialists. I think we were all fooled as menopause test showed I was NOT in menopause. Argh. Anyway, I cannot go on to any hormone stablizing meds (long story...but can't take any type of artificial hormones incl. pill etc) and although by the looks of it from what I read about what some women are going through I am actually not going through too much at all, I would like to know (yes, finally the question....) are there any natural type of things I can take or dietary changes/things to include/exclude which may help me, particularly with the palpitations? Not missing not having my periods any more ;)
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I would advice not to eat foods that cause bloating and gas especially in the evening as this can cause pressure near the heart and cause palpitations, have small light meals.
Make sure there are not any foods that you eat that you could be sensitive to as this can cause the pulse to race.
Taking a magnesium supplement, Magnesium Taurate can calm palpitations and relax.
I would go easy on caffeine and dark chocolate too. Stress also can cause palpitations also, this can set them off for me.
Have you had your thyroid checked? another cause of palpitations.
Hope this is of some help.
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Palpitations were one of my perimenopause symptoms too. Before I was prescribed hrt I used menopace or supermarket equivalent. These supplements seem to calm the palpitations for me.
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I've had palpitations on and off for years, mainly after eating my evening meal. I tried lots of things to stop them. Relaxing, moving about, not eating certain foods but nothing seemed to work. Until my partner suggested cutting out caffeine. I started drinking decaf coffee and decaf earl grey tea and now I get them very rarely. I am so much more relaxed because they can make you feel very anxious even when you know they're not harmful. Chocolate, as it also contains caffeine can be a trigger. But, if I do ever get the occasional fluttering, the best thing to do is start moving around and being busy, that really helps.
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Hi,
My sympathies, palpitations have been my worst symptom by far. I get racing pulse and also 'skipped' beats (ectopics). Much better controlled now I take care of my stress. I take a low dose beta blocker (bisoprolol, but there are others) which also helps so might be worth considering.
Other things worth considering: yes cut caffeine and chocolate (shame - but needn't be for ever); might be worth getting a food allergy test (I had one done privately which showed mild intolerance to gluten and casein, so I'm very careful not to have much of either, just in case). Supplement wise magnesium definitely. Check thyroid as has already been suggested - also iron/ serum ferritin levels, and vit D levels. Iron and vit D can be corrected with supplements if low.
There are lots of herbal remedies which calm anxiety, and hawthorn and motherwort are identified particularly to help palpitations. I'd say worth consulting a herbalist about this (if you're interested). Avoid hawthorn if taking beta blocker unless doctor says ok as they both slow pulse. Finally - gentle exercise and hot baths - can't go wrong with these!
Hope this is of some help, I did a lot of reading up and trying things as they were so frightening, but I do think it's possible to reduce them and take the fear out of them. Wishing you well,
Starfish x
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Has anyone found that their heart palpitations are decreasing over time? I had an onset of palpitations 4 months ago along with severe anxiety. Anxiety, palpitations, feeling of shortness of breath and heavy breathing last 24x7 and came out of nowhere. Have made multiple cardio tests and blood tests and all normal so far. The palpitations and anxiety are debilitating. Have started Accupuncture 1 month ago 2-3x a week and it has helped a lot in addition to meditation, breathing exercises. Has anyone tried acupuncture and were you able to get back to normal. Doctors so far are all indicating that this is perimenopause/menopause transition and unfortunately is per of the hormonal changes. So scary. I also find that exercises are difficult because the palpitations get stronger. Walking a lot has been ok for the most part but any more rigorous exercise increases the internal shaking of the heart which gives a sinking feeling of fear. So exercise does not work even though it is supposed to help. Would appreciate any advice.
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Welcome. Jenny23.
Hormonal upheaval is normal, however it can throw up some weird and over whelming for women.
Some find that keeping a mood/food/diary useful to chart progress. If your tests have been 'within normal limits' that should ease worries a little.
Do the palpitations become worse with exercise? Have a good look at your diet/fluid intake to C if anything needs altering. Deep breathing can help anxiety as can appropriate medication. Some HRT might help .
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Keep to this thread?
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Thank you CLKD.
Yes the palpitations feel like they are increasing with exercise. The heart feels like trembling inside with higher heart rate. This came out of nowhere and I have always been such a healthy person eating a normal healthy diet. No alcohol whatsoever and gave up green tea and any caffeine when this started 4 months ago. Vitamin D is low so taking a supplement. Taking vitamin C occasionally but otherwise trying to get lots of vitamins through food intake. Not sure what to do with myself and not sure that anxiety medications are the answer. If this continues too much longer will have to give HRT a try. My hesitation with HRT is that I am very sensitive to side effects and any medication side effects throws off my balances and throws me into anxiety at this moment.
I hope accupuncture continues to help. I feel like one symptom is getting better for a week or so while another symptom is kicking in and then back and forth like that. Very hard to feel calm when the entire body feels so out of whack.
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Some find HRT levels can affect how we feel so they begin with a lower dose and work up to a comfortable level.
Some anti-depressants can help with anxiety as can some HRT regimes. It's Trial and Error.
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Hello Jenny23 :welcomemm:
Many of us on here have experienced palpitations during the menopause transition & they are known to be quite common at this stage of life. There are many threads discussing them if you'd find it reassuring to do a search. Mine started in perimenopause & continued throughout those years until 3 years post when I started HRT & had a change of thyroid medication, the 2 changes within a few weeks. Please don't think this means yours will persist for so long; I think the thyroid condition contributed to a difficult menopause & even now many years postmenopause after any change of dose, thyroid medication or HRT, the palpitations return for a couple of weeks, though they are far less troublesome than they were before starting HRT. I have also had a long period without HRT postmenopause & the ectopics didn't persist for long after the initial tapering off, so again, please don't think they will continue forever whether you try HRT or not.
I agree they can be extremely unnerving. Like you I had all the cardiac tests & only benign ectopics were found. Mine came in long episodes of an hour or so 24/7 & were especially bad when sitting relaxing in the evening & overnight which affected my sleep & even made me afraid to go to sleep. As you've found, exercise was also one of the things that set them off - cycling specifically, but even during fast walking (my usual pace) I found that when I stopped e.g. at a kerb waiting to cross the road, my heart rhythm would become irregular. The body's internal pacemaker seems to get upset by the hormonal changes. I was prescribed Propranolol for a while but this didn't stop the ectopics although it did blunt the sensation of each beat. That said, many women do find beta blockers helpful.
I haven't tried acupuncture for them but I did practice meditation & controlled breathing exercises to help me cope with the stress of perimenopause which I found very difficult, with extreme symptoms in addition to the ectopics. Meditation resets the body to a calmer default state when practised regularly over time & whatever you enjoy by way of relaxation should also help your body cope with the changes.
Please don't be alone with any worries & do post as often as you like, there is always someone here to hold out a hand.
Wx
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Thank you Wrengsong. I am at a loss and feel so alone at this. The change has been shockingly sudden. In addition to the palpitations which came out of nowhere I also have developed severe anxiety that came out of nowhere at the same time as well. I feel my whole body shaking and it affects my brains (brain fog) making me feel either that I will faint or that I can not engage in mental work in the same way. It is like out of body experience that is so scary.
I have to say the last four months have been a nightmare. There is a menopause clinic that I will reach out to discuss all of this and treatment.
The medications scare me especially because the side effects can make things worse.
But I have to find a solution to go back to normal. I feel like crying all the time for no specific reasons or for small reasons and even thought my life is technically supposed to be great with an amazing family I can’t escape the anxiety and palpitations and the feeling of doom that is grasping my whole body and mind. Hard to describe. My husband has been amazingly supportive but I feel like I am bringing him unnecessary anxiety as well that I have to figure out how to alleviate.
I appreciate your support. It is hard to share this without fearing people will judge you. This whole thing came out of nowhere.
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Wrengsong, how has HRT been for you and have you had any side effects from it?
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Thank you Wrengsong. I am at a loss and feel so alone at this. The change has been shockingly sudden. In addition to the palpitations which came out of nowhere I also have developed severe anxiety that came out of nowhere at the same time as well. I feel my whole body shaking and it affects my brains (brain fog) making me feel either that I will faint or that I can not engage in mental work in the same way. It
I have to say the last four months have been a nightmare. There is a menopause clinic that I will reach out to discuss all of this and
The medications scare me especially because the side effects can make things worse.
But I have to find a solution to go back to normal. I feel like crying all the time for no specific reasons or for small reasons and even thought my life is technically supposed to be great with an amazing family I can’t escape the anxiety and palpitations and the feeling of doom that is grasping my whole body and mind. Hard to describe. My husband has been amazingly supportive but I feel like I am bringing him unnecessary anxiety as well that I have to figure out how to alleviate.
I appreciate your support. It is hard to share this without fearing people will judge you. This whole thing came out of nowhere.
treatment.
That was me a year ago.I would lie in bed at night shaking from head to foot and heart going like the clappers v scary. It was anxiety it’s a total sod it really is but started hrt and 99%time I don’t get them at all if I do it’s like hello bye and breathe but it’s paralysing cos u think you’re going to die at the time.x
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Think I accidentally deleted some of your post am sorry mine went in the wrong place!
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Jenny23 - I wanted to reply as your story is similar to mine - sudden and overwhelming anxiety and despair. I was also very wary of HRT as I’m very sensitive to medications. In fact, I started at 50mcg Estradot patch and had to stop because I reacted badly. However my life became so horrific that I started again at 25mcg and have slowly worked my way up to 75 over nine months. I can honestly say HRT made my life worth living again. It hasn’t been a miracle cure but it has taken away the constant sense of horror. Please consider giving it a try and do start at a low dose if you’re worried. Good luck.
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I hear you Jenny23 - we understand. This is a safe place to tell it like it is & no one judges us here. I will come back & reply properly later when I have more time. Meanwhile sending a hug. I know it doesn't feel like it now, but you will get through this.
Wx
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I can’t thank you enough ladies for the support. Your light shines in my heart today. Just hearing you share your stories gives me courage. Thank you!
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Jenny, you’re so welcome. This is a difficult journey but there is hope at the end of it. The women in this forum are absolute, actual lifesavers - use the support and wisdom whenever you need it. X
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Jenny23, you are definitely not alone, many, many members know how difficult & frightening a time menopause can be & everyone here does their best to help each other. So please never hesitate to post, nothing is taboo, nothing too trivial & for anything you want members only to see, we have the Private Lives section.
The change has been shockingly sudden.
As with you, the start of perimenopause brought really quite extreme symptoms for me & I struggled to believe that's "all" it was. Menopause had a much lower profile back then, so the various symptoms were not so widely publicised. I had no access to MM, none of my friends had got there yet & I had no remaining close female relatives to compare notes with, so it was all a huge shock to the system & very isolating. I bought every menopause book I could get my hands on & amassed a shelf full over the first couple of years! If you learn as much as you can it can be reassuring that what's happening is par for the course.
I found the palpitations very frightening like you & also felt very unwell with flushes & night sweats, which lasted far longer than the few minutes menopause authorities state is typical. The palpitations often came at the same time as flushes & at their worst at night the combination used to make me shake uncontrollably (again like you & Booroo), to the extent I found it physically exhausting. I became afraid of palpitations & flushes striking when away from home & felt very claustrophobic when they happened in restaurants, at concerts or the theatre. I distinctly remember flushing badly, heart racing & like you - fearing I'd pass out - in the middle of a big city centre M&S cafe which was packed with people eating lunch & also in the dark of concert halls when all I wanted was to get out in the cool night air, but felt trapped because with the lights down I'd have to disturb so many people to get along the row & down the stairs! In the first months when these horrible sensations are all so new, we fear we won't survive them, but we all do & if you have a good look around the forum you'll see you are far from alone with the anxiety it all gives rise to.
I feel like crying all the time for no specific reasons
That can be bewildering but it's sadly very common at this time of life. As Peri22 says do use the forum as much as you need to, you will find a lot of support, understanding, knowledge & experience here.
I'm glad to know you have an amazing family & that your husband has been so supportive. Please try not to feel guilty though, none of what you're going through is your fault. Be as open as you feel you can about how this is affecting you & don't be afraid to take what help & support they offer. The more rested & relaxed you feel, the easier it will be for your body to adapt to the changes.
You asked how HRT has been for me & about side effects. I'm better with it than without & a lot better than I was throughout perimenopause when I was not on HRT, but it's not been a panacea, nor can we realistically expect it to be. It has helped with the majority of my symptoms, though I'm frustrated to still struggle with overheating at night, the related insomnia & occasional flares of GSM. Please don't be put off by that, I have other chronic conditions in the mix that mean I was never going to be the poster girl for HRT! I have had side effects, yes, but some of those have been dose-related, so improve or resolve at the right dose & some have been because of progesterone intolerance, which affects a few of us but not most by any means. Part of the problem with needing cyclical progesterone for me has been thyroid interaction & if you don't have a thyroid condition that won't apply to you. I'm assuming, given the palpitations, that your thyroid was checked with your recent blood tests?
My daytime flushing now only tends to strike in stressful situations & I only have occasional palpitations, except as I said earlier, when adjusting to changes of medication. A lot improves postmenopause when we are no longer affected by the chaotic fluctuations of peri & we are then just dealing with a steadier state of relative hormone deficiency that makes it easier to replace whatever we need to as individuals.
The medications scare me especially because the side effects can make things worse.
Yes, that's only natural & many of us feel that way, but you are in control. If something doesn't suit you, you can stop & if you want to, try something else & if not, at least you'll know you have given yourself that opportunity. I agree with Peri22 that if you decide you would like to try HRT, starting at a low dose & increasing gradually if need be is a good idea.
There is a menopause clinic that I will reach out to discuss all of this and treatment.
I think that's a very good idea. Reassurance & guidance from a sympathetic expert can be invaluable. Meanwhile I'd carry on with acupuncture if you are comfortable with that, have a good look around the forum & learn what you can so that you can ask the right questions if/when you see a doctor.
Wx
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Wrengsong- thank you so much for taking the time to respond in great detail. It means so much. My thyroid was checked. T3 and T4 and THS were normal. I have thyroid antibodies but the endocrinologist said that if T3 and T4 and THS are normal then we should not worry about the antibodies because they should not be creating issues or causing symptoms for now. I can get a second opinion on this to make sure if it is the correct approach. I am efficient in vitamin D and taking supplements for that as suggested by the endocrinologist. Wondering how long did the perimenopause last for you?
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Jenny, hi, I'm so sorry to be so long responding - I have not been looking at the forum for some time due to other issues.
It's good that your thyroid function looks OK & the presence of thyroid antibodies doesn't necessarily mean you will go on to develop a thyroid condition that requires treatment. If you know the results of your tests & would like members with thyroid experience to have a look at them, do post them (together with the reference ranges) but if not, don't worry.
Good that you are on Vit D if this has been recommended for you. Wondering how long did the perimenopause last for you?
I had obvious menopause symptoms for about 7 1/2 years before final period & with hindsight there were changes prior to that I now know were likely due to sex hormone decline.
How are you now?
Wx
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Jenny23 - I wanted to reply as your story is similar to mine - sudden and overwhelming anxiety and despair. I was also very wary of HRT as I’m very sensitive to medications. In fact, I started at 50mcg Estradot patch and had to stop because I reacted badly. However my life became so horrific that I started again at 25mcg and have slowly worked my way up to 75 over nine months. I can honestly say HRT made my life worth living again. It hasn’t been a miracle cure but it has taken away the constant sense of horror. Please consider giving it a try and do start at a low dose if you’re worried. Good luck.
Hi there I wondered what reactions you had to hrt when going on 50 patch?
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Hi Scampidoodle. Initially I started at 50mcg and felt totally drugged, wired, agitated…just awful. I didn’t feel like myself at all. I stopped cold turkey but my peri symptoms got worse and worse so I decided to try HRT again at 25mcg. My mood gradually improved within days/weeks and I incrementally increased to 37.5 then 50 over a period of about 6 months. I’m glad I persevered.
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Wrengsong - thank you for responding. Really appreciate it. I have been doing lots of Accupuncture. 2 times a week for 2 months now. This is the only thing helping. In a clinic owned by a Chinese MD that has owned the clinic for 30+ years. Slow progress but progress. I have prescription for the HRT lowest dose (estrogen patch and progesterone pill) and waiting to see if Accupuncture will bring normalcy. I have blood clots in the family so worried about that when deciding on HRT. I am also journaling what foods I can tolerate. Meat causes heart palpitations, large meals also causes palpitations. Started running for 15 minutes daily to get back into exercise. Hoping that I can do this going forward daily and the heart feels good. Now I started to get significant hot flashes during the night which wake me up but I am finding a way to fall asleep after the hourly furnace on my face and neck. Sleep is less than ideal but doing best to get 6-7 hours of sleep all in to get through this.
You are right that the symptoms started much earlier and now they are at a peak. I just do not realize how we were not educated on this important stage.
I am sending healing thoughts to all of you ladies.
I will keep updated in case I find anything else that works. If it helps someone that would be miraculous. I so much appreciate everyone’s support.
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Jenny, thank you for the update. It's good to know that acupuncture is helping you & you have some HRT to try should you feel this is your next appropriate step. Transdermal oestrogen (like your patches) & micronised progesterone (Utrogestan/Prometrium & other body identical brands) are thought not to increase clotting risk.
With meal size, as you've found, smaller meals rather than large, not going too long between & not exercising on empty, can help stabilise blood sugar, minimising spikes & crashes that can make menopause symptoms worse. Sorry if we covered this before - I've not re-read the thread in detail today.
Exercise is good too :), but just be aware of feedback from your body as you increase what you do, so that you get the pace & quantity right. Doing too much or at too great an intensity can overly stress the body at this challenging time & I found that one of the factors that induced episodes of ectopics.
That's great that you're finding a way to get back to sleep when woken by night sweats. If you want to share what works for you I think that could be very helpful to others (me included!)
I just do not realize how we were not educated on this important stage.
So, so many of us have said the same, Jenny. It's shocking to realise that the range, magnitude of effects & duration of menopause symptoms can be so great for some women, as well as just how much individual experiences can differ, when most of us have had little idea of what may be in store for us. This forum is fab for reducing the isolation & worry about what's happening though.
I wish you as smooth a transition as possible. Do let us know how you get on.
Wx
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Wrensong - thank you so much. Here is how I am managing to sleep a little better.
Going to sleep before 10pm. Wake up always at 2am, have not been able to change that :-(…If I can’t fall asleep then I listen at low volume to a book like the Code Breaker (the woman Nobel laureate who contributed to the covid vaccine) or something historical that won’t keep you too engaged. I spend the next 4 hours sleeping while listening to soft voice narrating a book on my earphones. Also, in bed when getting ready to fall asleep I only read kindle and not iPhone because phone light keeps me alert. Don’t read news before bed because lots of tragic news are always emphasized. Keeping temperature cold at 20 degrees Celsius. Melatonin helps but it gives me stomach disturbance so I can’t do that. Trying to do calm reading of something nice like the Wisdom of Menopause :-). No stressful conversations before bed. Eating only before 5pm and light meals because heavy meal give me palpitations these days. No red meat at dinner because it rises the heart rate and causes palpitations. If this helps anyone I would be happy.
Please keep me posted how things are with you and hoping for progress for all of us!
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Peri2022 - i am so glad that HRT is helping you. I May end up doing the same soon at minimal dose to start with. This journey is not easy.
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Thank you Jenny for sharing your strategies for promoting restful sleep. I also read at bedtime, but good old fashioned physical books rather than anything from a screen. I've also used meditation tracks & calming music on my MP3 when awake in the night. And experimented with evening meal times & content to see what works best. A cool, dark bedroom is a must, I agree. Good tip about avoiding stressful conversations & distressing news broadcasts close to bedtime. Like you I can't take melatonin :(
I hope you will find you continue to manage well.
Wx
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Thank you Wrensong. I hear you on the good old fashioned physical books!! Sleep is so important. Key to recovery. Hope we continue to get better. Keep me posted please. Thank you!!