Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Personal Experiences => Topic started by: Starla76 on February 27, 2017, 02:48:08 PM
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Hi there,
I'm not sure how to describe what I'm feeling other than I feel like I'm losing my mind. If I'm not filled with rage, I'm wanting to cry but now I have the added bonus of anxiety and panic.
I have all the "usual" perimenopause symptoms - palpitations, periods heavier, hot flushes, mood swings - it's like I can almost feel my levels drop if that makes sense.
But I am also suffering with nerves, shortness of breath and dizziness/vertigo. This in turn is giving me extreme health anxiety. Today my legs felt like jelly, I felt off balance and went shaky. I also get a stomach upset every period. I had to come home from work with this and still feel stressed.
My question is does anyone have anxiety/panic like this and if you do, how do you cope? I don't really want HRT because I've heard it just delays things...
Please help!
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Oh yes, it's one of the running threads through the Forum, along with Vaginal Atrophy.
Have a browse round. Make notes. How old are you? When was your last period, have they gone apparently hay-wire ? Mine came and went for a few years then disappeared ::). B4 each period during my menstruating years I had 'the runs' 10 mins prior to each bleed, even when a period wasn't due. No chance of travelling at 'that time of month' >:(.
Don't dismiss HRT. It can be a Life saver. Also although The Change is 'natural' symptoms can totally unbalance the best of us! Better to read up on HRT so that you are informed: in case. Keeping hydrated, eating well, gentle regular exercise, 'me time' are important. As is working on a good relationship with your GP, hopefully one informed enough to give good advice and not fob you off!
HRT can protect heart and bones. It can prevent osteoporosis. Panic attacks can be eased by HRT, yoga, walking, medication ......
:welcomemm: Ask away!
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Yes I sound just like you , plus I have the Vaginal atrophy, so some days I do feel like I am loosing my mind.
Fresh air/ walking is key for me.
I have the vertigo also.
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Vertigo is the pits ....... I do have a nerve in the back of my neck I think which sometimes makes me go 'oh' when I move, not dizziness exactly but sort of woozy for an instant. I had vertigo years ago for which my GP gave me anti-sickness tablets, I knew when I opened my eyes in the morning that it was 'there' ........ I couldn't dare move!
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I have seems on some medical programmes where vertigo can be relieved by a procedure where the patient lies on their side. Think it is called Epley manoevre?
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Yep. That's for sufferers of Meniere's disease usually and not to be undertaken lightly! I believe that some Members have needed it.
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But I am also suffering with nerves, shortness of breath and dizziness/vertigo. This in turn is giving me extreme health anxiety. Today my legs felt like jelly, I felt off balance and went shaky. I also get a stomach upset every period.
This site amazes me some days... I am feeling exactly like this today. I am due a period anyday but have been logging my symptoms the last few months and have noted that before each period i am feeling dizzy, off balance, nervy. I feel shivery and cant get warm and when i'm standing up i feel off balance and my legs feel like jelly.
Always reassuring to read others experiencing the same sypmptoms.
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Megamind - have you tried eating every 3 hours, 24/7 - that included in the night when you wake? It can ease that light headed feeling and haps with anxiety which can be caused by a drop in blood sugar ......... little and often might help! that's 24/7 don't forget ;)
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Hi CLKD,
I can see where you are coming from as yesterday i didn't eat much for dinner then woke in night hot and sweating on chest and when i woke up i felt hungry. I'm not a breakfast person but do eat a banana every morning then at work i felt hungry again. I had quite a substantial lunch but then felt tired and for the last few hours i feel shivery and can't get warm and a bit off balance.
This does seem to happen more before a period so i think there's a connection.
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If you ate a substantial lunch mid-day then your body will naturally need to sleep it 'off' ::) .... could you spread your meals?
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You have made me think about it and i do go too long without eating and not always the right foods.
I shall give the every 3 hours a go. Thanks.
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i have had the epley manoeuvre several times over the years.
I have BPPV basically crystals in the wrong place in the ears , with 24/7 tinnitus x 35 years , caused by a horse riding accident.
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Oh yes, it's one of the running threads through the Forum, along with Vaginal Atrophy.
Have a browse round. Make notes. How old are you? When was your last period, have they gone apparently hay-wire ? Mine came and went for a few years then disappeared ::). B4 each period during my menstruating years I had 'the runs' 10 mins prior to each bleed, even when a period wasn't due. No chance of travelling at 'that time of month' >:(.
Don't dismiss HRT. It can be a Life saver. Also although The Change is 'natural' symptoms can totally unbalance the best of us! Better to read up on HRT so that you are informed: in case. Keeping hydrated, eating well, gentle regular exercise, 'me time' are important. As is working on a good relationship with your GP, hopefully one informed enough to give good advice and not fob you off!
HRT can protect heart and bones. It can prevent osteoporosis. Panic attacks can be eased by HRT, yoga, walking, medication ......
:welcomemm: Ask away!
Thank you all for responding. Well thinking back I've had symptoms for a while, dizziness before periods as far back as four years ago but they have intensified of late.
I am only 40 however, it runs early in our family (my Aunt was only 34). Yes my periods have started to go haywire - I'm still monthly at the moment but haywire in that it almost starts with the end of the period if that makes sense then goes heavy - periods seem to last longer as a result. Occasionally I have 14 day mid cycle spotting too.
Combined with my other symptoms as well as weight gain, joint ache and tiredness I basically feel normal for about two days a month now :o
The runs gets almost like I imagine IBS to be. The health anxiety is the worst though - when I had a turn earlier, my head feels like it's on a boat and the jelly legs, I was really scared! :'(
I feel like I have every symptom going!
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Oh I guess I should look more into HRT I've ordered some natural remedies so will try those :)
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What have you ordered :-\ - there is an Alternative Therapy room here somewhere. Let us know how you get on. Some ladies find that symptoms are eased until their own hormones take over ::).
There is a Daisy web-site to look at too ...... ladies with early menopause should have HRT to protect bones and heart [I may have said this already :-\ ]
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Everything you have mentioned is what I am going through as well,and iam two years post menopause.this site and the lady's on here help a great deal, keeping you sane also knowing you are not alone help a great deal. Hope you are soon feeling a bit more yourself :o
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Oh yes, I get this, I manage to work myself into a right state and have to give myself a kick when I start wondering what songs I'd like played at my funeral :o ;D
It is really unpleasant though, and it seems as if doctors just don't understand how horrible this symptom is.
I tend to focus on one set of symptoms, always worst case scenario, and then move on to the next. I never visited the doctor before menopause started, but I feel I need them on speedial now.
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I've gone through quite a stressful period but I know that my anxiety and panic are much much worse depending on where I am with my periods. Underneath it all I feel happy and positive but I have this constant fog and spaced feeling which it appears is anxiety and lack of sleep related. I end up panicking I'll feel like this forever and so the circle continues!!!!
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Well almost a week later my period has lasted over a week and I'm as motion sick and panicked as ever. Literally every time I go out I feel sick and scared of going weak.
Hot flushes cause nausea and panic - no sweating just hot.
I'm terrified and have googled so of course my health anxiety has gone mad again.
The fear causes me to have shortness of breath and then that cause more panic and stress.
I just want it to go away so I can have a normal life again!
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It won't! It's The Change. By reading sites on GOOGLE, unless they are UK and medic led, what do you expect to find out, other than giving your brain too much to whizz about ::)
Hot flushes can cause panic attacks. Anxiety causes shortness of breath. So SING! as loud as you are able to in the shower, sing under your breath and concentrate on the singing ...... my music teacher told me that very few people breath correctly so singing can help enormously.
Eating regularly can ease anxiety surges, that is, every 3 hours 24/7 ....... relaxation therapy helped me for a while, my biggest problem being, finding time to relax but oh my cat enjoyed it when I did sit down ........ Yoga, swimming, gentle exercise can help - several years ago I was unable to leave the house even to go into our garden :'( but with Valium as necessary, relaxation therapy and time I improved.
I never let our cupboards go bare, so I'm not pushed into a corner to have to shop right this minute. I don't plan too far ahead so that I am not plagued by anxiety.
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Thank you, I've got myself into a right state I must say - worried as anything about how I'm going to go to work tomorrow but knowing I have to 🙈
Is it mind over matter? I just don't know I just know this is really tough and being so young, none of my friends are going through it.
I know my family members all had the same thing and we have history of anxiety. It's huge - my Mom had agoraphobia and I don't want that. I had a turn last night, the hot flushes (I don't sweat, just go hot and nauseous).
What do you guys do to try and ease it and distract yourselves or calm?
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I've never managed mind over matter. Anxiety is a response to 'fight or flight', dating back to the Cave Man days >:(.
Hot flushes can cause anxiety surges. I think that once you have recognised the hot flushes as they arise, the anxiety may subside.
I take an emergency medication when anxiety floors me. I also make sure that I eat B4 my body is hungry to stop the nausea which pre-empts anxiety. Yoga, relaxation, brisk walking, swimming, cycling .......... using up the extra adrenaline?
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Hi there,
I'm not sure how to describe what I'm feeling other than I feel like I'm losing my mind. If I'm not filled with rage, I'm wanting to cry but now I have the added bonus of anxiety and panic.
I have all the "usual" perimenopause symptoms - palpitations, periods heavier, hot flushes, mood swings - it's like I can almost feel my levels drop if that makes sense.
But I am also suffering with nerves, shortness of breath and dizziness/vertigo. This in turn is giving me extreme health anxiety. Today my legs felt like jelly, I felt off balance and went shaky. I also get a stomach upset every period. I had to come home from work with this and still feel stressed.
My question is does anyone have anxiety/panic like this and if you do, how do you cope? I don't really want HRT because I've heard it just delays things...
Please help!
Go to gp they can give you beta blocas to help with the panic the breathless feeling the fear and sweating hands etc. I had really bad ones i thought i was having a heart attack
See gp ok xxxx
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I went to the gp he gave me beta blockers - he was awful tbh very unsympathetic and dismissed hormones. I really didn't like him. It doesn't matter how many books they read a man could never understand this ever! :(
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What advice about the BBs., I take 20mg morning and 20mg a night. Do you have a Practice Nurse to see next time, some can prescribe ;-). Let us know how you get on.
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CLKD do you get a low pulse rate. I take a much lower dose than you but if I take more my pulse and BP drop too low :(
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I've no idea. I don't take my pulse etc., years ago Himself took his BP every morning but I never showed up on it ;D
I do know that 40mg in one dose gave me background early morning headaches which is why I split it into a.m. and p.m.. If I miss a dose I feel hung over ........
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Starla, hope you start to feel a bit better and more in control soon. I read somewhere about trying to imagine your time like pearls on a necklace, each pearl resembling a second , and if you can breathe and just get through the first second, then move on to the next second and so on. Don't think beyond the first second, get through that and nothing else, then think about the next. Slowly the seconds turn into a minute and then you have managed to get through five minutes . It really does work.