Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Luigi on August 22, 2017, 04:14:16 PM
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Hi ladies
I'm in a bit of a panic, does anyone get a run of palpitations and then their heart starts racing? I've had a few of these attacks and am currently awaiting a referral to a rhythm specialist, health anxiety has set in big time, I'm 44 and generally fit!
I have antibodies for thyroid and am on a gf diet which has helped massively, not on any medication as yet as endo just wants yearly blood tests to monitor thyroid.
I'm at my wits end as I think it's hormonal, these attacks happen just before my period and when I'm ovulating but the docs don't want to put everything down to hormones!
Would just like to hear if anyone had any of these episodes?
Been waiting 6 months and docs don't seem overly concerned??
I'm in meltdown to be honest
L x
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Yes I've had palpitations and was diagnosed with arrythmia. They've been horrendous at times and as much as I'm not afraid of them, I detest the feeling they give me (jittery/nervous)
For me high dose oestrogen does it too but it could be hormonal or your thyroid
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Do you take anything for the arrythmia?
It does make me very anxious and have ended up in A&E twice but can't pin point it?
Did your episode last for a long time? Mine can last all night!
Feel wiped out after I have had these episodes😢
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I can't take anything for it because I carry epipens and beta blockers cancel out the epipens if I need them
Since I've been on oestrogen gel and testosterone gel they've really calmed down
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When I mentioned to my endo about the pattern of these episodes he said I don't advocate hrt and you are a little young even though my mum was 40 when she was done and dusted!
I'm at a loss to be honest!
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Hi Luigi - yes, I had episodes of irregular beats lasting an hour or so on & off day & night for a number of years, starting in perimenopause & continuing well into post-menopause. They can be very unnerving, not to say downright frightening & at first I found it hard to believe the heart could be affected by gynae hormone disruption, but it certainly can. They do occur in menopause & there are a number of previous threads on the forum discussing palpitations that might give you some reassurance - you could use the search facility & enter something like palpitations, ectopics, or irregular heartbeats.
If you have thyroid antibodies it's really important that your GP keeps an eye on thyroid function & given the palps (especially if your heart is racing) I would personally want a TFT more frequently than annually. If you are losing weight, feel jittery, a bit manic or excessively hot, this could indicate your thyroid is becoming overactive, so I would urge you to press your GP for a TFT sooner rather than later. Please don't worry about the possible thyroid link though - even if this is the cause, it will be treatable & it could just be down to gynae hormones. Like you, when mine first began they only occurred in the days just before a period. They continued to be at their worst during this phase of the cycle, though as perimenopause progressed they happened every day - this doesn't mean this will be the case for you though.
I'm long term hypothyroid & my palps were investigated by ECG, treadmill test, echocardiogram (ultrasound) & 24 hr holter monitor & found to be harmless ectopics & this is the case for many women. They finally stopped around 3 years post-meno, shortly after starting systemic HRT (& restarting T3 - the active form of thyroid hormone). Subsequent changes in HRT regime have caused them to return, so my money's on gynae hormones as the culprit, though thyroid disease can certainly cause them & muddies the picture at menopause.
Several years after mine had started, a gynae who had previously worked in Cardiology told me many women had presented at the clinic with palpitations & after extensive investigation no abnormality could be found - but they were all of menopausal age. I hope this is a little reassuring - I wished I had known it years earlier, as they can be a source of considerable anxiety, so I do feel for you. I think it's likely your cardio investigations will be reassuring with nothing serious found, but if you feel at any point this shouldn't wait, please don't be afraid to see your GP in the meantime.
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Horrid isn't it Luigi :(
I get sinus tachycardia when my oestrogen is low - the longest I've had it was for a couple of weeks, day and night. When it first happened I did have my bloods checked and an ECG to rule out anything serious.
It makes me worried to move to be honest, it's one of the symptoms I dislike the most.
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Salad , Wrensong
They are certainly horrid.
I feel awful tonight, I hope it passes soon.
I will be on phone to my gp in the morning to see how long I will have to wait for my referral to electrophysiology🙄
I'm convinced I have a mixture of hashis, stress and hormones!
This is bar far the most frightening symptom 😔
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Luigi - good luck with the GP. Thyroid probs, meno & stress are a very potent mix & I agree palps can be the most frightening symptom bar none - BUT many of us get the wretched things & more than 12 years since mine started I'm still here to tell the tale. I'm sure you will be fine but am sending one of these anyway :bighug: Forgot to say earlier - mine were definitely worse for stress, so anything you can do that will relax & distract you when they are at their worst should help, especially if you can get into something like meditation or yoga that you then practise regularly to bring down anxiety levels overall. The wee small hours can be the worst, so perhaps get up & read for a while if you are wide awake & fearful because of them (if reading in bed would disturb a partner). Let us know how you get on.
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Luigi this could help ....
Try a very quick, sharp cough
Or
Try bearing down as if to poo , it can make the hr regulate
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Thank you wrensong😊
I will let you know how I get on, it's the racing heart that really sends me into a spin!
I have been sitting here trying to relax but will definately look into yoga.
Maybe rest and bed will help me tonight.
I'm a mum of two and am conscious I dont frighten them with the way I am feeling, they are 20 and 15 so are very much aware , I don't want to be that unwell useless mum😢
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Thank you Annie think I will try anything now, think maybe I need to go to bed and try and sleep it off
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My daughter gets episodes of this was diagnosed with SVT Dr said harmless but she can take a beta blocker if it worries her. What has your ECG shown, have you had one whilst getting the episodes?
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Those things I said were advised to me by the dr
I really do feel for you, my 24hr monitor showed ranges of 40-140bpm just through the night alone
And at its worst I've recorded 199bpm on my phone app, ghastly symptom they are
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Cassie
Yes I have been on ecg monitors whilst I've had these episodes in A&E they couldn't pin point it to anything when I was admitted in A&E cardiologist looked at readings and said it was slightly abnormal but not unusual and sent me home , I've had holter monitor and am awaiting an outpatients appointment from this too but in the mean time my gp has referred me to an electrophysiologist. I have been waiting 3 months but tonight I've had enough and will be ringing my gp in morning to see if I can have a private appointment , health anxiety has kicked in with a vengeance 😢
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Annie
They truly are awful, it just stops me in my tracks😢
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I'm about 3 years post meno and still I'm getting some and I do agree they're horrible
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Trey
Thank you so much for your response , I feel truly dreadful this evening, just wish I had some answers, I've been waiting which seems like forever to be seen.
I'm a fit 44 year old and walk miles with my dog most days, recently walked Snowdon and had no episodes doing that!!
My gp mentioned something about pill in pocket but wants me to see an electrophysiologist first after looking at my ecg's , I don't think anxiety is helping tonight either😧
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Thank you Trey, so nice to come on this forum for advice and reassurance, my hr at the moment is 110, the highest it has been is 158 and that was when I was in hospital!
I often think if the doctors were concerned I would have been seen by now do t you think?
I think anxiety definitely contributes to it and often makes it worse, I have come on here rather than go to Dr Google 😩
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Gosh this is an interesting thread. I am new this week on this site as my symptoms were becoming unbearable and i cant believe how many of us have the same things. I really feel as if i am going to die when the panicky thing starts but my symptoms are slightly different to others in that if i were to put a bp monitor on my reading and my pulse are both low even though i feel as if my heart is going to pop out. I have been to the docs today and she has started me on something called fluoxetine and sending me for an ultrasound scan. Ive had all the 24hr mons, bp and ecg and all ok so for me its just trying to accept that it is menopause and nothing else. But it sure is hard :'(
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Well ladies
I have just come home from a night in A&E being monitored very closely, I know have answers and I have Afib!
Beta blocker pill was like a magic pill.... within half an hour my heart rate had come down to normal, will be having more investigations but a lot is to do with my thyroid messing with the hearts electrics🙄
Feel absolutely fine today apart from exhaustion as didn't sleep a wink!
So glad I went to A&E third time lucky and had my answers!
Thank you for all your replys it really did help, what a wonderful forum this is
L x
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Glad you got answers and was taken seriously
I feel very envious that you can take BBs, I was gutted when I found out I'll never be allowed them
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Consultant was amazing and settled me straight away!
I feel more like my old self today even if I am exhausted as I have been so worried and down about it all.
Thank you all for your wonderful advice , I hope now I can stop being a nuisance to everyone!
L x
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Hi Trey
Drs were reluctant anyway to give me BBs for my arrythmia because of asthma but when the palps revved up a gear I said on here that I'd like to try them, a member pointed out I'd never be allowed them as I carry epipens for anaphylaxis. I read up about it and it's correct, they cancel out the effects of the adrenaline in the pens
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Oh that's interesting. I have allergy induced asthma and need my pump at any given time now. At first it was just when I was home (pet allergy) but for a few years now there's no pattern to my attacks.
Re: anaphylaxis, I'm actually very good with my triggers and these days don't need A&E much at all, just silly reactions that antihistamines deal with. But wherever I go medically they home in on my allergy, and stress how important it is that I carry the pens everywhere, I wonder too because I'm still developing new allergies, antibiotic was one so far this year. I never asked the dr but reading up about it seemed it'd be a flat no. Although I have to add since changing my hrt the palpitations have reduced to almost nothing but I also know they can start again anytime like they have before
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Luigi, I'm so glad to know you have a proper diagnosis at last. Well done for going back to A&E - plucking up the courage to do that can be stressful enough in itself if you felt a nuisance, as you say you have. You did the sensible thing & that's what A&E is there for. I'm sure you were never a nuisance to anyone & you were certainly not on the forum, if that's what you meant. I'm so glad the beta blockers did the trick & once they get your thyroid properly sorted you should be so much better. You must be wiped out after such a night, so I will shut up now. Take care & let us know how you get on.
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I got them since starting HRT. They panicked me. I stopped HRT for a week for blood tests and they disappeared. Started it again and they came back. I just stopped the estrogel and they have disappeared. I'm still taking the Utrogestan. For me the estrogel caused them.
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Wrensong
Thank you so much for your kind words, it did take a lot of courage to go to A&E again, the worst thing about it all for me was my children seeing me unwell. They are 20 and 15 and are amazing but felt guilty for being the unwell rubbish mum😢. Still tired but feeling more like my old self!!!
L x